Favorite Music of 2025!
If you’re in the position to, try the music on your preferred streaming service, but please please please….
BUY THE MUSIC ON BANDCAMP.COM!
GO TO A SHOW.
BUY A SHIRT.
Ideally, if you purchase on bandcamp, aim for the first Friday of a month, in which the artists get 100% of their sales.
Another great option is your local record store…like my personal favorite…Andy’s Records.
As always, here are the previous lists:
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021,2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 , 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Playlists
Feel free to subscribe!
There is WAY more music in the playlists than posted on here.
Go exploring!
Everything I listened to (on Spotify)
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I post the things I dug, or left a mark, but there is so much more on there.
My Favorite Records of 2025 (Spotify)
Just a collection of the records listed below.
Favorite Records of 2025
(In no particular order)
If Justin Vernon releases music, it’s pretty likely I’m going to dig it. This came in two installments, the somber acoustic heavy SABLE, and the more modern fABLe. It’s a fun & complex record, and I loved the release roll out.
Carl is a friend. I’ve known him for 20+ years. He’s released a ton of incredible music with his solo gig, and his rad band, Sunjacket.
Having said that, this is my favorite thing he’s done. It’s stunning, haunting, and beautiful. He’s flawless voice only takes a backseat to his lyricism.
Cloakroom – The Last Leg Of The Human Table
God this band rules. One of the best of the modern slowcore shoegaze bands going. This record is far more varied than their others, and that’s such a positive. They really show their range.
What can I say. It sounds like Deftones. It’s heavy, grooving, uniquely melodic. If you like anything they’ve done in the last 15 years, you’ll like this too.
Great Grandpa – Patience, Moonbeam
I wasn’t sure we’d get another record. This album is an absolute journey, front to back. It should be consumed all at once, and not as singular songs. It’s such a great example of that modern indie/folk. Perfect.
Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling
Hot damn. Lucy is such a gifted lyricist. She just makes songs feel so obvious. Like the song already existed, and she simply plucked it out of the air, and presented it to the world.
Pile – Sunshine and Balance Beams
These guys do no wrong. Every record just feels like they’re refining their unique angular heavy indie sound. Rick’s voice is just getting strong, and the riffs are just getting cooler.
Runnner – A Welcome Kind Of Weakness
I love Runnner so much. This record feels like the most realized and polished version of his sound. There are dense layers, fun production, and his unique brand of melodic vocals. It also had the most bizarre release schedule, with one song a month for like 9 months!
I can’t believe it’s 2025, and I get to write about how great a new Shiner record is. I celebrate their entire catalog. This is the most modern and polished album of theirs to date. Mario from the incredible band Spotlights handled the mix, and it’s so rad. Heavy adjacent, mathy, gazey, and super melodic.
The dream of the 90’s is still alive with superheaven. Downtuned, mid tempo, fuzzy grunge. They have their sound dialed in. If you like one song, you’ll like them all. This has always worked out great for me.
Another band whose catalog feels custom made for me. This is another meticulous heavy alternative record. The songs are just perfect. Dustin’s voice and lyrics are aging so damned well. Scott Evans’ mix feels so damned good.
A newcomer to the top records. This is my favorite release of their brand of indie folk. This also the second year in a row for MJ Lenderman to see the top ten. He must have the magic touch.
Stuff I worked on!
Produced / Tracked / Mixed / Mastered
Produced, tracked, mixed, mastered
Tracked / Filmed / Edited / Mixed / Mastered
Tracked/Mixed
Other Great Records That Could Be Listed Above
Seriously. This are absolutely incredible. They could be in my top list of the year, but on the day I wrote this, those other albums felt right. It doesn’t make these any less amazing, and I’m grateful to have listened to them (a lot).
Andrew Bird – Borrow or Rob – I’m all aboard the Bird train these days. What a gem.
Beach Bunny – Tunnel Vision – Absolutely brilliant pop rock. Perfect.
Big Thief – Double Infinity – One of the best indie folk acts going.
Blake Mills / Pino – That Wasn’t A Dream – Two legends at the craft toying with indie jazz. COOL.
Blondeshell – If You Asked For A Picture – I guess cool female indie rock is my jam these days.
Cloudkicker – Things You Can’t Change – An all time all timer putting out a few instrumetal bangers.
Dijon – Baby – Genre bending indie hip hop r&b.
Dropsonic – S/T – Comeback record from ATL hard alt rockers.
Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley is so damned cool. This album has some perfect pop jams.
Jackson Wooten – Reprieve – Singer songwriter’s followup to one of my favorites of 2021.
Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow – On the Mount Rushmore of the best songwriters going today.
Jay Som – Belong – Perfect pop rock.
Jesse Welles – Middle – You know him from instagram, but holy cats, he’s just a remarkable folk songwriter.
Jesse Wells – Pigrim – He puts out a lot.
Lafayette – Unsolved Miracles – Indie rockers with that KC Sound.
Lowswimmer – Godspeed, Fantasy – Ed Tullet, producer /writer from Novo Amor & Hailaiker writing beautiful textured songs.
Lowswimmer – World Over – Think of it like Welsh Bon Iver
Momma – Welcome To My Blue Sky – Killer Midwest indie emo
Motion City Soundtrack – The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World – One of the best comeback records from any alternative band ever.
Moving Mountains – Pruning of the Lower Limbs – Alt rock band hasn’t missed a step after reuniting.
Pet Symmetry – Big Symmetry – Chicago’s favorite pop alt rock.
S.Carey – Watercress – Bon Iver’s longest bandmate making his perfect fall indie folk.
Sharp Pins – Radio DDR – Meticulous Power Pop from some absolute children.
Sharp Pins – Turtle Rock – They’re releasing a ton of music.
Sharp Pins – Balloon Balloon Balloon – And they don’t miss.
Snooze – I KNOW HOW YOU WILL DIE – Grayslake’s own. The most realized version of this heavy, mathy band.
Splitting Arrows – S/T – Angular Mathy Indie from some homies. It rips. I mixed it.
Suzzallo – The Quiet Year – Rocky Votolato’s new rock trio. What a treasure.
Swervedriver – The World’s Fair EP – SWD getting produced by their most famous fan, Rick Beato!
Town Portal – Grindwork – Maybe the best mathy band going. Love them so much. That Bass Tone!!
Turnstile – NEVER ENOUGH – If The Police wrote “hardcore” music for the mall. It works.
Wet Leg – moisturizer – Maybe the last record they release before take over the world.
Viagra Boys – viagr aboys – The Swedes are back with another perfect post punk jam.
Favorite Songs of 2025
Other Records I Really Enjoyed
The Armed – The Future is Here
The Beths – Straight Line Was a Lie
Bonnie Prince Billy – The Purple Bird
Chat Pile / Hayden – In The Earth Again
Chevelle – Bright As Blasphemy
Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker
Flock Of Dimes – The Life You Save
Horsegirl – Phonetics On And On
Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
Julien Baker, TORRES – Send A Prayer My Way
Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
La Dispute – No One Was Driving The Car
Matt Nathanson – King Of (Un)Simple
Mclusky – the world is still here and so are we
Pelican – Flickering Resonance
Pool Kids – Easier Said Than Done
PUP – Who Will Look After The Dogs
Rainbow James – Thanks, I’ll Have Another
Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
Sisters – Wings Of Deliverance
Soft Blue Shimmer – The Will Leave Us With Nothing
