What happened to 2025? I don't know. It felt like a big year for music. There were lots of classic artists coming back out of the woodwork, maybe for one last go around. There was a lot of new stuff, too. I enjoyed some gems from some familiar favorites and came across some stuff new to me that was impressive and different from my typical tastes. Also, it felt like the world was crumbling down and per usual, music reflects the times. The destruction and the hope for the future... it is all in there somewhere. Meanwhile, 2025 felt like the year LLM AI finally launched an assault on music, with slop infecting the streaming sites from every direction. (Yeah, maybe that one song was funny that one time, but I don't want recommendations popping up on my feed!!) This was the year, anybody with an internet connection could prompt and pump out something almost listenable and shove it in somebody else's face, watering down the ocean of music in big ways and making it harder and harder to find the real artists out there making magic. But they do still exist. My great hope is that the live performance will resurge, the indie basement recording will rise to the surface, the magic of the one-take will gain new life, the over produced pop perfection will take a back seat... because who's to say that person didn't just AI a song into existence, and nobody should have to pay hard earned cash for that. Oy. I digress. This list is about my favorite albums of the year, by some great artists. Check it out... in no particular order (almost).
Men I Trust - Forever Live Sessions Vol 2
Forever Live Sessions Vol 2 is my favorite album for 2025. Usually I am not sure on this topic, but this has been my number one since I learned about it, through Bandcamp. Men I Trust sounds good live, mixing up some jazz and lo-fi and indie, and singer/song writer vibes together. The vocals are breathy, which I like, but seems like that kind of thing is in these days. I don't know. I have lost any finger on the pulse of cool I may have had at one point. Now I just like what I like. This is it.
Favorite Track: Billie Toppy
Witchcraft - Idag
I have kept trying to keep up with Witchcraft's releases since The Alchemist (one of my all time favorite albums!) and while there have been some tasty tracks, for sure, none have gripped me in the same way. Then comes Idag. It is nearly as solid as The Alchemist. Great guitar tone, riffage, clean metal vocals (some in Swedish), that classic metal sound with a touch of doom. Ohh... this is an album you can enjoy any time of day. If they come to my town, I'm going.
Favorite Track: Drommar av is
NewDad - Altar
Gosh... I want to have a party day where I sit around with my friends and appreciate NewDad. They're what I would plainly refer to as a good band. Admittedly, Altar doesn't stir me like last year's Madras (which I didn't hear until this year or it would definitely have been on last year's list... can I go back in time??). Altar is more polished, feels more pop, or something less indie, hard to exactly put my finger on. I still like it plenty. No complaints. I want these songs to be on some lost forgotten soundtrack to an 80s movie that was decent, but the soundtrack kicked ass. Those are the vibes. Thump the bass.
Favorite Track: Pretty
Grant-Lee Phillips - In The Hour of Dust
It feels like my chances to see live performances are fewer and farther between than they've ever been, these days. I still had a chance to see Grant-Lee Phillips tour in 2025. Pure magic. The man is a treasure. In the Hour of Dust showcases all his troubadour glory. Somehow he's getting better with age, the way his voice quivers sometimes and some of the guitar notes are not quite perfect, somehow making them more perfect. When things are shit, something feels right if you can just put on an album like this and sink in... it reminds one to appreciate, notice the small details, and live in the moment.
Favorite Track: Did You Make it Through the Night Okay
The Discussion - All the Pretty Flowers
I don't think it is a hot take, but I'm gonna put it out there... Laura Pleasant has been underrated for a long, long time. And, maybe she's been a little pigeonholed by the shining beacon of awesome that is Kylessa because they're so dang good at their one thing they do. Awesome band. But, I'm glad she's branching out because the creativity on display is glorious. This album would probably never be in the metal section (unless it was just filed under Kylessa) at the local music store, but I would say still call it metal. More mellow and somewhat goth (maybe?! I hope that isn't a diss), this is some cool music and excellent songwriting.
Favorite Track: Desire
Castle Rat - The Bestiary
Half performance, half awesome music... Castle Rat is a bright spot on the metal forefront. Somehow they've made on so many 'best of' lists for the year in metal and I've been pleasantly surprised. They have managed to stand out. I am still kicking myself for skipping out on an opportunity to see them! Part old school swords and sorcery energy, part retro doom metal, The Bestiary is more of what you would expect from Castle Rat (tasty solos!) and all you could hope for for a follow up album to Into the Realm. And it's probably better.
Favorite Track: Siren
Kadaver - Kids Abandoning Destiny Among Vanity And Ruin
Dang it I hate the title to this album because it's too long and I can't remember it, but I support everything else (and... it is somewhat clever... I guess). If someone asked me who's the best metal band in the world right now, I might pick Kadavar. Everything they release is worth paying attention to. KADAVAR is no exception. Great tone, great space within the songs, unmatched vocals and metal song writing. If you have that friend that says metal is just not for them, well... go find some Kadavar. Put this album on. Turn their picture. Change their mind. It could not be helped. Favorite Track: Lies
Dope Lemon - Golden Wolf
Is Dope Lemon pure good old fashioned weed smoking music? I feel like it is. Back in the undergrad days, yeah... this kind of thing would have been popular around my dormitory. Maybe I like it for nostalgic reasons, maybe I just like the summer time and sitting by a swimming pool, or at least an album that reminds me of that. Golden Wolf is an album you can listen to and forget the cares of the world, a worthwhile tool to have in the album toolbox. It's music that sounds like it's not about anything. Leave the album and come back, you won't miss a thing except many try to do this kind of thing and don't succeed on the level Dope Lemon does. Favorite Track: She's all Time
Lily Allen - West End Girl
To be honest, Lily Allen's style of music is not really typically my thing. I read an article about West End Girl and decided to check it out and found myself impressed. She had a lot to say with this album, subject matter that had her fired up and that emotion shone through in a way so that I couldn't help but pay attention. I listened to this one start to finish twice once I started in on it. It's a very good album with some song writing that could shine through in any genre, despite the talk-singing. And, it has managed to be an exceptionally explicit album without really swearing too much (I do love that). Kudos. Lilly Allen is a talent, if you ask me. Favorite Track: Madeline
Haunt - Ignite
I'm in the habit of pre-ordering any new album Haunt releases (and there are many!) and am yet to regret it. They have a formula but it is one of success, as far as my metal tastes are concerned. Very easy to listen to with a solid riff (or 3) in every track. The tone and song writing are consistently solid and each album has a theme. The solos are exactly what each song needs. I'm listing Ignite here because it is new and it is very, very good. However, just do yourself a favor and pick up anything in their discography. Favorite Track: Ignite
Rock on. Share a favorite album or 3 from 2025 in the comments if you have something! I always find a few I missed and wish I could add to the list.
