December is here and it is time for the only end of year poll that matters – The Afterword Album Of The Year. I suggest the same rules as usual. Name your Top 20, preferably using the format number, artist, album name (e.g. 1. Radiohead – OK Computer). Your number 1 choice will earn 20 points and the rest will be awarded 19, 18 etc.down to 1 point for your number 20. I know there will be those that think we should do it differently but over the years this seems to be the method that has ticked most boxes. Any questions of albums’ validity will be judged on a case by case basis, but I’m not looking to fall out with anyone over these judgements – it’s just a bit of fun innit?
The poll closes on 31st December at 11.59pm – results to be posted early in the new year.
Thanks everyone, and may the best album win….
Mods – any chance this could be pinned near the top of the blog?
I’ll be opening the Archive & Historical Poll in a week or so’s time.
π
Whatβs that Mr T? A best of all time poll?
No. As in re/released in 2025.
π
1 Tingsek – Lights Out Association
2 Young Gun Silver Fox – Pleasure
3 The Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon
4 Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace
5 Boylife – Jones
6 Vulfpeck – Clarity of Cal
7 Jacob Jeffries – You Got The Right Idea
8 Tom McGuire and the Brassholes – A Name for Everything I’ll Ever Be
9 Monkey House – Crashbox
10 Iain Hornal – Return to the Magic Kingdom
11 Rikas – Soundtrack for a Movie That Hasn’t Been Written Yet
12 Goose – Everything Must Go
13 Snarky Puppy and the Metropol Orkest – Somni
14 Cory Wong – Live at L’Olympia
15 Cat Burns – How to Be Human
16 Kristina Train – County Line
17 David Byrne – Who is the Sky?
18 Elton John and Brandi Carlile – Who Believes in Angels?
19 Couch – Big Talk
20 Royal Arctic Institute – Royal Arctic Institute
Well down for getting in first. I have heard precisely one of those. As ever the Afterword list will be gloriously and educationally eclectic.
Apart from numbers 3, 4, 17 and 18 you may as well have invented those as far as I’m concerned! As always with the end of year list I will discover a lot…
I’d say you were the Quietus if it wasn’t for the Divine Comedy at number 3. π
I’ve got those four as well and they will most likely make an appearance in my list, and in similar positions, about 28 days from now…
Echo, in that I have heard none of these, even if there are two I would like to, namely Ron Sexsmith and Snarky Puppy. I don’t think I have heard of most the others, outside Elt’n’Brandi, The Divine Comedy and Cat Burns, and she (they?) only via Traitors.
Is there a diversity of genres, @Matthew-Best or loosely similar?
It’s a bit diverse, as you would expect from us at the Afterword, but it’s all quite listenable, so not at all like the Quietus chart, which I have tried to sample all of in a previous year and found it to be utterly unmusical and almost painful. None of this is like that.
Some interesting things there, thanks. I’m a big Isbell fan but the limitations of bloke and acoustic guitar usually wear me down after 4 or 5 songs and he’s no exception.
@retropath2 the Ron Sexsmith is a great album – back to his old self.
1, 2, 5, are quite souly
6, 7, 8, 14 are funky
9 is basically Steely Dan
10, 11, 15, 19 are poppy
12 is a jam band
13 jazz
16 country
20 ambient country (if there is such a thing)
Hope that helps.
No snark meant by the quietus comment honestly. I’d just genuinely never heard of, let alone heard, most of them. But that’s why this thread is so good every year. So much stuff!
This yearβs Quietus 100 is up. I can see how sampling it all might test your nut, but if you read the little snippets of reviews you can be guided to some real treats. So far I am extremely grateful to them for drawing my attention to Elijah Minnelli and Nadeem Din-Gabisi. Who else is going to do that for me?
Re: the Quietus Top 100 albums.
It’s good to see Laura Cannell’s “LyreLyreLyre” holding down the coveted no. 51 spot. That’s a nice record.
Young Gun Silver Fox should tick all the boxes for me but I find that I canβt listen to more than four or five songs before I have to give up. I donβt know if itβs his voice, the production or what. I should give it another go but it being second on your list makes me want to check out the others, so thanks for that.
They get extra points from me for doing a song about David Cameron and calling it “The Greatest Loser”.
Unfortunately it was the rest of us that were the losers.
Interesting to see Tingsek at number one, I didn’t know he had a new album out. I’m sure I’ve missed several of his later albums, because the last one I bought came out in 2016! He’s never mentioned in Swedish press, despite being Swedish (or perhaps because he’s Swedish?) so I tend to forget about him…
Just three fromme Iβm afraidβ¦is this allowed?
1. Sparks – Mad!
2.James Yorkston – Songs for Nina and Johanna
3. CMAT – Euro-Country
James Yorkston could easily have been No 1, itβs a lovely album as recommended by some on here. (Apologies, I canβt remember who.) But Sparks are Sparks! The CMAT album is an unexpected pleasure.
Sparks are Sparks and I’m a completist but I don’t think Sparks even made the best “Sparks” album this year. That honour goes to David Byrne!
Iβm three short, but I guess that doesnβt matter.
1 – Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
2 – Robert Plant – Saving Grace
3 – Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels
4 – Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol 1
5 – Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
6 – Midlake – A Bridge to Far
7 – Chris Eckman – The Land We Knew the Best
8 – James McMurtry – The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy
9 – Rodney Crowell – Airline Highway
10 – Autumn Defense – Here and Nowhere
11 – Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter – Forever Iβve Been Being Born
12 – AVTT/PTTN – AVTT/PTTN
13 – Jerry Joseph – Panther Tracks Vol 1
14 – Jeffrey Foucault – The Universal Fire
15 – Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
16 – Kassi Valazza – From Newman Street
17 – Thea Gilmore – These Quiet Friends
Nice to see a vote for AVTT/PTTN! I have it but have yet to listen.
Nothing better than AVVT/PTTN! It’s been out there for two whole weeks and it’s boscar! (I seem to have wandered into an alternate universe where apparently I know what I’m talking about. Wish me luck)
Never heard of AVTT/PTTN before this thread. The Quietus hates it, if that helps?
Itβs the Avett Brothers teamed up with Mike Patton from Faith No More. An unusual combination, I grant you, and Iβve also seen a 1-star review that says itβs terrible and musically all over the place. To my old cloth ears itβs rather good. I expect to see it on the βalbums with only 1 voteβ list.
I like the Avett Brothers (less so over recent releases) so gave this a listen. I thought it pretty poor to be fair. Though wouldn’t go as far as the 1-star review ( I guess we read the same one) which made it pretty clear throughout that the reviewer couldn’t stand the Avetts.
15 from me:
1. Suede – Antidepressants
2. Len Price 3 – Misty Medway Magick
3. Jim Bob – Automatic / Stick
4. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
5. Sam Fender – People Watching
6. Pulp – More
7. Sparks – Mad
8. Paul Weller – Find El Dorado
9. Block 33 – The Promised Land
10. Wreckless Eric – Englands Screaming
11. Humdrum Express – Rastrophiliopustrocity Pomposity
12. Wet Leg – moisturizer
13. Alice Cooper – The Revenge of Alice Cooper
14. James McMurty – The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy
15. Matt Berry – Heard Noises
Aha! Wreckless Eric proof, if any were needed that best of the year lists should not be compiled on 1st November!
1. Robert Plant β Saving Grace
2. Jason Isbell β Foxes in the Snow
3. Paul Weller β Find Eldorado
4. Mavis Staples β Sad and Beautiful World
5. Thea Gilmore β These Quiet Friends
6. Rodney Crowell β Airline Highway
7. CMAT β Euro Country
8. Luke Haines & Peter Buck β Going Down to the River to Blow my Mind
9. Patty Griffin β Crown of Roses
10. Eve Adams β American Dust
11. Benmont Tench β The Melancholy Season
12. Ringo Starr β Look Up
13. Carson McHone – Pentimento
14. Amanda Shires β Nobodyβs Girl
15. Snocaps – Snocaps
16. David Byrne β Who is the Sky
17. Neko Case β Neon Grey Midnight Green
18. Emma Pollock β Begging the Night to take Hold
19. Wreckless Eric β Englandβs Screaming
20. The Black Keys β No Rain, No Flowers
I will be posting mine on rerun from my holidays – could do t new but I know I will forget some that have to be there.
Thanks for the Eve Adamβs reminder: an excellent record!
Good to see Benmont Tench in there. I was initially unimpressed but it has grown on me as the year progressed.
Here’s a prediction – Robert Plant will be No 1
Oh lordy – please don’t tell me yet another aged rocker approximately 25 (?) years past his prime is going to take the Coveted AW Trophy. Don’t let it happen, we’re all better than that..
Iβll be voting for people much older than Percy. And some younger.
Here we go and wishing everyone a great december:
1. Caroline – Caroline 2
2. Yttling Jazz – Illegal hit
3. Emergence Collective – Swimming in the early hours
4. Coastal County – Coastal County II
5. Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight
6. Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke – Tall tales
7. Snocaps – Snocaps
8. Cerys Hafana – Angel
9. Kathryn Mohr – Waiting room
10. Greg Freeman – Burnover
11. Geckos – Geckos
12. Sunking – I don’t like my telephone
13. Ebi Soda – Frank dean and andrew
14. SML – How you been
15. Cornwall Youth Noise Orchestra – Ensembles of industrial Cornwall
16. Anna Tivel – Animal poem
17. Orna – Slacker
18. Tian Qiyi – Songs for workers
19. Alexandre Tharaud – Satie: Discoveries
20. Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble – Groove in the face of adversity
That’s an interesting list. I have never heard of any of them, except for two – Alexandre Tharaud and SML, both of which will be on my list!
(And of course I’ve heard of Don Was but not that album)
Tian Qiyi is next generation Wobble, the Sino-Dub sons of Jah. Dad appears on a couple of tracks, it all sounding much up the end of his more exotic diversions.
The Don Was album is a peach and will feature in my list.Havent heard Snocaps yet – waiting for the physical release in March – it is annoying that they have done that.
This is a list that honestly reflects my listing habits of the year. I could have included some jazz, ambient and/or a few other recordings but tbh I’ve not really listened to much music other than classical for much of 2025. The heart wants what the heart wants I guess.
I’ve abridged some of credits on these recordings as classical credits can get a bit unwieldy.
Sweet sixteen…
The Nash Ensemble – Debussy.
Pavel Hass Quartet – MartinΕ― / String Quartets 2-3-5-7.
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Petr Popelka – Smetana / MΓ‘ Vlast.
Julia Hamos – Eliis Island.
Sinfonia of London – Walton / Violin Concerto.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason – Shostakovich & Britten / Cello Concertos.
Finnish Radio Orchestra, Nicholas Collon – Sibelius / Symphony No.5.
MirΓ³ Quartet – Ginastera String Quartets.
Isabelle Faust, Jean FrΓ©dΓ©ric Neuburger – Ligeti / Concertos.
Bojan ΔiΔiΔ, Illyria Consort – Heinrich Biber / Complete Violin Sonatas.
Sueye Park – Echoes of Exile.
TakΓ‘cs Quartet – DvoΕΓ‘k & Price / Piano Quartets.
Simon Rattle, Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Mahler Symphony No.7.
Donnacha Dennehy, Alarm Will Sound – Land of Winter.
George Xiaoyuan Fu – Colouring Book.
Stephen Hough – Piano Concerto.
Interesting list – including some releases Iβve missed and that I need to hear, eg, the MartinΕ― and Ginastera quartet recordingsβ¦
Both stellar. Pavel Hass might just be the best string quartet currently working at this moment although the Pacifica Quartet have just released some new meanderings that will undoubtedly be top notch. I’ve yet to hear them though.
I listened to the MartinΕ― this evening on the streamer – I now have to buy it, probably the best thing Iβve heard this year. And I agree re Pavel Haas Quartet – I have CDs of them playing Prokofiev, DvoΕΓ‘k and Shostakovich – they really are at the top of their game.
I knew you would dig them. Fingers crossed for a second disc. The Panocha Quartet recordings of the MartinΕ― quartets have been the reference recordings and they are excellent but these are a cut above. There is a cheap set of them played by the Stamic Quartet on Brilliant Classics that is perfectly serviceable too.
Some great recommendations there; only ones Iβve heard are the Hamos, Faust and Takacs. I generally don’t include classical recordings in my list unless it is literally new music. Would there, I wonder, be enough interest in a separate thread of recommendations/poll specially for 2025 classical records? If so, happy to set it up.
I include some classical. I have no qualms about covers albums, so why not. The ranking is tricky when you have Simon Rattle rubbing up against Wet Leg, though. π
Thanks for that, Tiggs – now I canβt unsee that image.
If it’s released in the year in question then it’s a new release including covers albums. Taking any other position on the matter is mearly nitpicking to bolster one’s anorak quotient.
Yes I think itβs the ranking thing I struggle with – itβs hard enough as it is. And it seems kind of unfair to set the latest brilliant recording of a great Shostakovich symphony against, say, James McMurtyβs new album. But I agree thereβs no particular logic to my approach – Iβm happy to include jazz albums in my list for example.
I always end up repeating myself over this poll or any other poll by saying its fundamentally preposterous to try and objectify something as subjective as musical preferences. I just list the music that’s brought me the most joy. I haven’t any opinion on whether it’s the ‘best’ as that would be impossible to prove and I don’t actually care whether it might be or not. That kind of silliness is just plain daft. Shostakovich or McMurty both equally valid musically, all that matters is the pleasure each invokes.
agreed – exactly my position. Not the ‘objective best’, just what I have enjoyed the most. I do think that over time some music emerges as ‘better’ than other, but that doesn’t in any way invalidate the joy that any music brings each of us individually. I hate the musical snobbery that looks down on people for liking certain music. If it’s important to me, its important to me, and that’s all anyone needs to know.
(β¦wild applause from the cheap seatsβ¦)
The rest of you can rattle your jewelleryβ¦
These days, I just rate them on how they make me feel, rather than the complex scoring system I applied as a teenager.
Did this complex teenage scoring system include how alluring to girls owning any particular album might make you by any chance? If so how many points were garnered and please include some examples in your answer.
Girls weren’t part of the equation back then. I can’t remember the details but I think several elements got a score out of five: songs, musicianship, singing (they all involved singing until No Pussyfooting), cover art (No Pussyfooting scored high on this one π), the listening experience from beginning to end. I’m sure there were others.
I have no option other than to believe you. π€
Why do you think I first listened to Joni Mitchell?
I dread to think. π²
Wasnβt MirΓ³ Quartet β Ginastera String Quartets.released in 2023?
OK itβs back to pedantsβ corner
π£
It was released July 2025.
Beat me to it – an inaccurate pedant is so decadent, donβt you think?
Positively louche.
I may add a couple before the watershed. I’m awaiting their arrival before passing judgement. I’m assuming an amendment will be acceptable if these releases turn out to be as exceptional as I think they may turn out to be. Thanks in advance.
Hi Paul. Would you be a brick and add the following two to my list.
The Nash Ensemble – Ravel.
Alain Altinoglu, Frankfurt Radio Symphony – Shostakovich Symphonies No.4 & No.5
Diolch.
Great choices! That Shostakovich is incredible. And I prefer the Pavel to the Debussy.
I can’t choose between the Ravel and the Debussy as both are so lovely. The Shostakovich is superb and it looks like it’s the first disc in a proposed full symphonic cycle. If the rest are of a similar quality it will be yet another outstanding set of Shostakovich symphony recordings.
I am interested. What is the content of the Ravel and the Debusy?
The Nash Ensemble. They have had two releases this year, both exquisite. The first is the music of Debussy and the second, released last week, is Ravel.
Hi Chesh.
The Ravel disc contains.
Introduction and Allegro M.46
Piano Trio in A minor M.67
La Valse M.72a
String Quartet in F M.35
The Debussy disc contains.
PrΓ©lude Γ I’aprΓ¨s-midi d’un faune I.87
Sonata for flute, viola and harp I.145
Cello Sonata in D minor I.144
String Quartet in G minor I.191
That’s very tempting. I’ve got and known versions of half of those for decades, but others would be new to me. Frankly, every time I listen to Introduction and Allegro, I wonder why I don’t listen to it every day for the rest of my life. It’s gorgeous.
Both recordings are wonderful. Buy them both as a Christmas present to yourself Chesh. You won’t regret it.
Le nouveau Ravel CD est arrivee.
Oh jolly good show. I’ve purchased yet another recording of the Debussy string quartet, this one from the Belcea Quartet on the rather marvellous Alpha label. It arrives tomorrow. I’ve now lost count of how many recordings of it I own. It’s a lot.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/04/nash-ensemble-ravel-album-review-catches-the-musics-dazzling-light-and-intriguing-shade
Le nouveau Debussy CD est aussi arrivee.
C’est magnifique mon brave.
Mais ce ne peut pas Γͺtre mieux que le CD de Ravel, non?
Γ lβeau, cβest lβheure!
Listening to the Shostakovich 4th just now – very impressive!
Funnily enough I finished listening to the 5th a short while ago. I’m onto Rachmaninoff’s Vespers now. A lovely peaceful way to end a day.
And hear are the votes from Spain:
1. Constance Amiot β After Summer
2. Baxter Dury – Allbarone
3. Pulp β More
4. Robert Forster β Strawberries
5. Edwyn Collins β Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
6. Mavis Staples β Sad and Beautiful World
7. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan β Public Works and Utilities
8. Wet Leg β Moisturizer
9. Saint Etienne β International
10. CMAT β Euro-Country
11. Luke Haines/Peter Buck β Going Down to the River to Blow My Mind
12. Stereolab β Instant Holograms on Metal Film
13. Brian Eno β Luminal
14. Allo Darlin β Bright Nights
15. Ron Sexsmith β Hangover Terrace
16. Bryan Ferry β Loose Talk
17. Panda Bear β Sinister Grift
18. Alison Goldfrapp β Flux
19. James Yorkston β Songs for Nina and Johanna
20. Tunng β Love you All Over Again
Seemed a quieter year, but 14 albums I enjoyed. Suzanne Vega was the most welcome surprise
1)Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels
2)Robert Forster – Strawberries
3) Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
4) Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
5) Big Thief – Double infinity
6) Thea Gilmore – These Quiet Friends
7) Gwenno – Utopia
8) Lorde – Virgin
9) Dar Williams- Hummingbird Highway
10) Sabine Mccalla – Don’t call me baby
11) Lily Allen – West End Girl
12) Ringo Starr – Look Up
13) Van Morrison – Remembering now
14) Delines – Mr Luck and Ms Doom
Oooh, a couple of votes for Robert Forster. Is it Go-betweeny?
How could it not be? I think it’s his best solo album (don’t like the title track though). The below is one of the songs of the year for me.
“I taught English/ You were French/ We kissed/ On a bench/ Your world/ So different to mine”
All so very Robert Forster.
Seems like Taylor Swift won’t be winning our poll this year…..
I think she’ll make an appearance in my list – l quite like what I’ve heard so far. Haven’t played it all yet…
It is a very good album (although hasn’t hit the top 20 for me) & would certainly be my 10 year olds album of the year. The big issue with it for me is that there are 3 awful songs in a row* which unfortunately temper the rest of it. The first half of it is fantastic though
* one of these 3 is the godawful Wood, which is the worst thing she, or anyone else in music, has done
Honestly, that’s one of my favourite tracks on the album. Catchy AF!
βSeems like Taylor Swift wonβt be winning our poll this yearβ¦..β
βTaylor who?β
βThatβs showbiz!β
Music world shaken by shock result from influential, leading poll of experts.
Or should I say from two-bit Wordle and cricket based, online forum?
Well, quite. Lodeyβs assertion shook me to the core – especially since itβs only day 7 of 31β¦
I can only scrape 10. New albums seem to be less likely to fit in with my music listening spaces. But these are all very worthy of being on a list. I am somewhat bemused of the paucity of nominations for the Geese album though. Such a fresh, clever a nd witty record. The Four Set/Fred Again is available on Apple Music so I am counting it as an album.
1. Geese – Getting Killed
2. Sam Fender – People Watching
3. Tom Hickox – The Orchestra of Stories
4. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
5. Olafur Analds & Talos – A Dawning
6. Baxter Dury – Albarone
7. Lily Allen – West End Girl
8. Rosalia – Lux
9. Pulp – More
10 Four Tet & Fred Again – Live from Toronto, Canada, Nov 14, 2025 (DJ Mix)
Re. Geese. I’ve only recently started listening to it thanks to a mention on here. I suspect if I’d made my list in a couple of weeks time it would make it. I like it but just don’t know how much yet!
I didn’t put Geese on my list, but I did put Goose. That must count for something, surely?
I assumed that was their band name for singlesβ¦.
still working on my list but I can pretty much guarantee Geese will be my number one by a country mile.
Also debating if I can put the Geese front mans solo album in the list seeing as it came out last December but no one realised till February.
No new albums cos too deaf, but would like to remind people that Cerys Hafana released two albums this year and they’re probably very worth listening to and voting for as her first two were excellent and she should probably win.
They are both most lovely but I must own up to being biased due to being a lot Welsh. Cerys should produce a semaphore version just for you her most ardent fan.
I just looked up “music via semaphore” and apparently it’s not a thing! Yet! An unexplored niche market that young entrepreneurs should be looking to invest in, I reckon.
It would certainly revive flagging interest in more recherchΓ© musical diversions.
I think using Aldiss lamps would be quicker and less draining on the human body.
@pencilsqueezer “flagging interest” ISWYDT.
1. Gigspanner – Turnstone
2. Professor Yaffle – Everyone Wants To Dream
3. Bonnie Dobson & The Hanging Stars – Dreams
4. Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol.1
5. Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels
6. James McMurtry – The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy
7. Robert Plant with Suzi Dian – Saving Grace]
8. Eve Adams – American Dust
9. Chris Brain – New Light
10. Delines – Mr Luck And Ms Doom
11. The Third Mind – Right Now
12. Benmont Tench – The Melancholy Season
13. Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band – New Threats From The Soul
14. The Waterboys – Life, Death And Dennis Hopper
15. Dropkick Murphys – For The People]
16. Alison Krauss & Union Station – Arcadia
17. John Leesβ Barclay James Harvest – Relativity
18. James Yorkston – Songs For Nina And Johanna
19. Kassi Valazza β From Newman Street
20. Merry Hell – Rising Of The Bold (a certainty for a 1 pointer)
Blast! I forgot the Alison. Krauss album – pretty good it was too. There are some others on your list I shall check out too.
At last, a name that could feasibly appear in my list! In fact, I have performed on stage with them.
Merry Hell?
Indeed.
That Ryan Davis album is ace.
π
I only bought one ‘new’ album this year and it was ‘Life, Death and Dennis Hopper’ by The Waterboys. Very good it is too.
Here are my 20 – a lot tougher than I expected.
1. CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY
2. Maribou State – Hallucinating Love
3. Antony Szmierek – Service Station At The End Of The Universe
4. JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
5. Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov And No Fresh Air
6. UNIVERSITY – McCartney, It’ll Be OK
7. Just Mustard – WE WERE JUST HERE
8. Yann Tiersen – The Liquid Hour | Rathlin from a Distance
9. Max Cooper – On Being
10. BIG SPECIAL – NATIONAL AVERAGE.
11. Jessica Winter – My First Album
12. Disiniblud β Disiniblud
13. Hollie Keniff / Goldmund – When We Are Free
14. Nightbus – Passenger
15. House Of All – HOUSE Of ALL SOULS
16. Grandbrothers – Elsewhere
17. lilo – Blood Ties
18. DUG – Have At It!
19. Floodlights β Underneath
20. The Murder Capital – Blindness
A couple that did not make the cut
Iona Zajac β Bang
Idlewild β Idlewild
Kellan Christopher Cragg – WRONG BALLOON
Kieran Hebden & William Tyler – 41 Longfield Street Late β80s
I also need to spend more time with Pulp, Beirut, Jim Bob, Japanest Breakfast, Das Koolies, The Divine Comedy, Arcade Fire & BIg Thief albums too.
All artists I love, but none of their new ones have landed with me yet. (Although I should note that The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter from the Divine Comedy album is a beautiful song, but the album needs further listens)
I have only properly listened to 3 new albums this year (however one is a triple!). I may add others later, very much doubt anything could beat no. 1 though, a masterpiece. No. 3 is a pretty poor album for me but I did listen to it in 2025
1 Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
2 Van Morrison – Remembering Now
3 Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
@dai Blimey, I get the sentiment but you are now giving a βpretty poor albumβ points in the rankings. Just leave it off.
I must admit, I wondered about that – 18 points gifted to a βpretty poor albumβ?
A question:
What’s the verdict on never-before-released historic recordings?
In this here 2025 Releases list or in Tiggs’s forthcoming Archive & Historical list?
Play it safe. Both.
I would say the latter (but this is discussed every year without fail)
Mine. If over five years old. For example, Silver In Seattle: Live At The Penthouse is Historical though never previously released.
OK.
Tigger’s List for the unreleased oldies and Paul’s list for the freshly-minted.
I have enough contenders for both.
1. McKinley Dixon – Magic, Alive!
2. Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
3. Grayceon – Then The Darkness
4. Water Damage – Instruments
5. Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty & Hahn Rowe – Second
6. Heartworms – Glutton For Punishment
7. Floating – Hesitating Lights
8. Anna von Hausswolf – Iconoclasts
9. Emily Breeze – Rats In Paradise
10. Kassa Overall – Cream
11. The Bug Vs Ghost Dubs – Implosion
12. Craig Finn – Always Been
13. bow church – Unknown Realms
14. Bonnie Trash – Mourning You
15. Rosalia – LUX
16. Antony Joseph – Rowing Upriver To Get Our Names Back
17. Kuniyuki Takahashi – We Are Together
thoughts and clips
Magic, Alive! – McKinley Dixon
Jazzy hip hop that tells the story of three young friends who lose a fourth, and start messing around with magic to bring him back. It becomes a celebration of the magic in everyday life, from the joy of just getting outside to getting away with something by ducking the authorities. Itβs a tight 37 minutes with none of the flab that has historically beset hip hop albums, and itβs lush, ebullient and vibrant. A genuinely great record.
Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
Quite possibly the best album yet from these AW faves.There are seeds pointing to the sound here in each of their last three albums, and theyβve teased them out and unified them. I saw them twice this year, and they might just be the best live act on the planet right now, pounding, ecstatic, cathartic, and a band that play like their lives are depending on it. You lot are all going to hate this, mind you.
Instruments – Water Damage
Austin twelve piece play motorik slow and low, four tracks, eighty minutes of repetitive minimalist drone post rock that will elevate you to the astral plane
Second – Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty & Hahn Rowe
Famed (it says here) sound artist joins with the drummer from Fugazi and someone out of Hugo Largo to create an album that takes in ambient, krautrock, post-punk and dub to create dense hypnotic grooves.
Then The Darkness – Grayceon
Proggy post metal, Grayceonβs USP is that the trio forego the traditional electric bass in favour of a cello. And it works brilliantly, adding an unexpected texture and melodic force to some epic compositions. Itβs sorrowful and melancholy, but hey so am I. But be warned, at a full eighty minutes thereβs a lot to digest here
With you entirely on Deafheaven, as you know. So glad they’re back to doing what they do best, and still improving year on year.
I can only assume you were so excited to see Deafheaven you missed the Brendan Canty album!
Know Taylor (who will never ever ever be forgiven for “Wood”) and Geese (which is obviously Best of 25): the rest live somewhere else far, far away.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-2025-1235466292/
Surprisingly, that’s actually a pretty great top 10.
I’m still waiting for the delivery of my final purchases of 2025, so I expect to have my list ready in a week or two. And for once I will have more than one or two entries for Tigger’s list as well!
To help y’all choose….
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2025/
https://thequietus.com/tq-charts/albums-of-the-year/best-albums-of-2025/
I know how much you all value their erudite opinions…..
Quietus – oh dearβ¦
Pitchfork – oh dear, oh dearβ¦
TBH, the only annual poll to which I pay any attention is this one!
I checked out the Quietus list. Itβs possible to create your own mix by pressing play on several of the song samples at the same time, which to my mind significantly improves some of them.
I had about a dozen playing at the same time – an enormous improvement
Somebody, somewhere- I canβt remember, described The Quietus as unreadable writing about unlistenable music which would appear to about right.
Here goes the eagerly awaited input from yours truly (with the usual proviso that I will change my mind the moment I press post) …..
1. Held By Trees – Hinterland
2. Steven Wilson – The Overview
3. The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre
4. GoGo Penguin – Necessary Fictions
5. Rose City Band – Sol Y Sombra
6. MONO – Forever Home: Live in Japan with Orchestra PITREZA
7. Little Feat – Strike Up The Band
8. Lunatic Soul – The World Under Unsun
9. Wolf Alice – The Clearing
10. Alison Krauss and Union Station – Arcadia
11. Midlake – A Bridge To Far
12. Ty Segall – Possession
13. Butler, Blake & Grant – Butler, Blake and Grant
14. Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels
15. Robert Plant – Saving Grace
16. Sam Fender – People Watching
17. Snarky Puppy – Somni
18. Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World
19. Katie Spencer – What Love Is
20. Tanita Tikaram – LIAR (Love Isn’t a Right)
Bubbling under (in alphabetical order)…..
Big Thief – Double Infinity
David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
Envy Of None – Stygian Waves
Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov And No Fresh Air
Sophie B. Hawkins – Whaler Re-Emerging
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Hard Road
Van Morrison – Remembering Now
Overall 2025 has been a good year. Whilst some of the usual suspects make this years list, I am pleasantly surprised that a couple of “new” artists (Last Dinner Party, Wolf Alice) are up there in my most played albums of the year.
Rose City Band I should have placed them in my Top 10
Here is the votes from the North Cotswolds.
1. Anthony Toner – Long long way.
2. Josh Rouse – Streets of your Town.
3. Pulp – More.
4. Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow.
5.Edwin Collins – Nation shall speak unto Nation.
6. Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels.
7. Baxter Dury – Allbarone.
8. Bathers – Pandemonia.
9. Last Dinner Party – From the Prye.
10. Frank Ferdinand – The Human Fear.
11. Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman.
12. The Head and the Heart – Aperture.
13. Van Morrison – Remembering Now.
14. Miles Kane – Sunlight in the Shadows.
15. The Tubs – Cotton Crown.
16. Saint Etienne – International.
17. Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon.
18. Paul Weller – Find El Dorado.
19. Josh Ritter – I Believe in you, My Honeydew.
20. Florence & the Machine – Everybody Scream.
Thought I would struggle but it was a lot easier than I thought. Bet I have missed a few bangers.
Agh, I forgot about Anthony Toner it wouldnβt have been my #1 but definitely Top 10
As someone has already remarked it has been a really strong year for quality releases
I love Josh Rouseβs music but I completely forgot that I bought that album. This always happens if I donβt have a physical copy.
In fact a quick check tells me that I have made eleven purchases of his music from Bandcamp over the years, none of which I ever think to listen to.
@chrisf
I keep meaning to check out Held by Trees because of the Talk Talk comparisons. Do they hold up?
Absolutely – there is a very much a Talk Talk influence, but they are not a pastiche and hold up in their own right.
Thereβs not a massive catalogue from them, so dive in.
Taβ¦am I right in thinking itβs all instrumental?
Pretty much – although they did an EP with Martin Smith which has vocals (and very good it is too – two 12 minute songs and a 4 min song)
No one is more surprised than me that new albums by Van, Stephen Bishop, Midlake and (God help me) Gary Kemp have made the Top 4 on my list this year. But they are either real ‘return to form’ records or just simply (in Gary’s case) a surprisingly great set of songs and are therefore deserving of their place amongst the records that I’ve played and enjoyed the most.
1. Van Morrison β Remembering Now
2. Midlake β A Bridge to Far
3. Gary Kemp β This Destination
4. Stephen Bishop β THIMK
5. Cass McCombs β Interior Live Oak
6. The Apartments β Thatβs What the Music is For
7. Pulp – More
8. Steven Wilson β The Overview
9. The Delines β Mr Luck and Ms Doom
10. Young Gun Silver Fox β Pleasure
11. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart – Looking for the Thread
And I also should check out the new Midlake album. Is it a, ahem, return to form?
It is indeed Freddy. Van Occupanther is one of my favourite albums of this century but Iβve been hugely underwhelmed with their subsequent releases. This one I feel get back almost to the standard of VO (also could I suggest you check out Tim Smithβs long awaited solo album Harp from last year which is also very very good)
Thank you FF! I loved Van Occupanther too but Iβm like you on subsequent albums. Will investigate!
Damn! I missed out Midlake a superb album thatβs 3 that should have been in my Top 20 maybe itβs a good thing I forgot them because Iβd be still ruminating over my selection
Here are mine – for once, I actually managed to listen to lots of whole albums…
1. Iconoclasts – Anna von Hausswolff
2. Lux – Rosalia
3. Lonely People With Power – Deafheaven
4. IT’S SHOWBIZ BABY – Jade
5. Forever Is A Feeling – Lucy Dacus
6. Dressed Like Boys – Dressed Like Boys
7. Bleeds – Wednesday
8. Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
9. And Your Song Is Like A Circle – Skullcrusher
10. Heavy Metal – Cameron Winter
11. Volver – Sofia Kourtesis
12. Radio DDR – Sharp Pins
13. Appaloosa – Orville Peck
14. Sable, fable – Bon Iver
15. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Soundtrack
16. Who Wants To Talk About Love – Jade Bird
17. NEVER ENOUGH – Turnstile
18. The Clearing – Wolf Alice
19. Glory – Perfume Genius
20. Under Tangled Silence – DJrum
That Skullcrusher is rather good, isn’t it? And not, as it sounds, hardcore metal, but woozy trip-hop electronica blending Lana Del Rey with Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star). My d-i-l pointed me toward her last week. Wil also be in my 20.
I’ve really enjoyed that record, and the pleasing dissonance between the artist’s name and the way it actually sounds.
I listened to your number 1 on a walk round the woods today – as your 2 and 3 will be on my list. Sheβs new to me, I liked the record a lot. Is that Iggy on one track? He scared the whits out of me!
It is indeed! Seemingly adding some extra wobble to his voice.
Iβve managed to nab a ticket to see AvH play live in late January. Very much looking forward to it.
I havenβt been able to listen to any more than the track that was posted (by KFD?) of your #2 Bingo of Rosaliaβs Lux I could but I could on line but Iβd rather wait until Isis hands it to me on the 25th
Well worth the wait, that one – enjoy!
Here are mine – have a good Christmas all
1. Sam Fender β People Watching
2. Jason Isbell β Foxes in the Snow
3. Paul Weller β Find Eldorado
4. Robert Plant β Saving Grace
5. Van Morrison β Remembering Now
6. Rodney Crowell β Airline Highway
7. Tyler Childers β Snipe Hunting
8. Edwyn Collinsβ Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
9. Delines β Mr Luck & Ms Doom
10. Charlie Crockett β Lonesome Drifter
5 fave albums from this year but I have enjoyed all 120 of these : https://thegardencharts.tumblr.com/
Juana Molina : DOGO
Oneohtrix Point Never : Tranquilizer
Caroline : Caroline 2
Verloren Schatten : s/t
Djrum : Under Tangled Silence
5 of the best old vinyl finds
The Beatles : Please Please Me – black & gold Parlophone first 1H/1H pressing
Mahler : Symphony No.6 – DGM box set
The Jam : In The City – Japanese 7″ pressing
Mozart, Tartini : Devil’s Trill – 1st Blue & Gold Columbia
Beethoven : Sonatas for Violin & Piano – HMV 1st press
Just the eleven from me –
1. The Necks – Disquiet
2. Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, & Andreas Werliin – Ghosted 3
3. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan β Public Works and Utilities
4. Kara-Lis Coverdale – A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever
5. Jason Isbell β Foxes in the Snow
6. Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov And No Fresh Air
7. The Bug & Ghost Dubs – Implosion
8. Hania Rani – Non-Fiction
9. GoGo Penguin – Necessary Fictions
10. Anouar Brahem – After the Last Sky
11. Yunchan Lim – Chopin Etudes
Wow, new Hania Rani! I managed to miss that somehow…
J.S. Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
RaphaΓ«l Pichon
Pygmalion
Even just for Lucile Richardot singing Agnus Dei.
1. Self Titled – Kae Tempest
2. Sixes and Sevens – John McKay
3. The Making of Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake
4. The Wind Doesn’t Blow This Far Right – Lisa O’Neill
5. Maxi EP – The Wedding Present
6. MAD! – Sparks
Thank you!
1 Madison Cunningham – Ace
2 The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre
3 Robert Plant and Suzi Dian – Saving Grace
4 Lorde – Virgin
5 Clayhill – One Day We Will Settle
6 Sabrina Carpenter – Manβs Best Friend
7 Taylor Swift – The Life Of A Showgirl
8 Bioscope – Gento
9 Bernard Butler, Norman Blake and James Grant – Butler Blake Grant
10 OK Aurora – Hope
11 Lichen – In My Dreams You Were Golden
12 Pulp – More
13 Buddy Guy – Ainβt Done With The Blues
14 Larry McCray – Heartbreak City
15 Deacon Blue – The Great Western Road
16 Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird – Cunningham Bird
17 Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels
18 Josienne Clarke – Far From Nowhere
19 CMAT – Euro Country
20 Anthony Toner – Long Long Way
I believe the Cunningham Bird album was in 2024 – not to be pedantic, but…
It wasnβt released in the UK until 2025, but I did pause before putting it on the list. I thought that maybe no one would show your commendable standards of pedantryβ¦
Thanks for reading it though! I often assume that most entries this far down the thread get only cursory glances.
I’m pedantic about reading threads to the end as well! π
Also, the albums on your list that I’ve heard/own will appear on my list as well, so thumbs up!
Although released this year, I think the Clayhill compilation belongs in the archive thread (see Tigg’s five-year rule). After all, Gavin Clark died in February 2015.
I bought 21 released this year. I liked them all except 1 and my top 20, based mostly on how often I listened to them is as follows:-
1 I’m With Her – Wild And Clear And Blue
2 Gigspanner Big Band – Turnstone
3 Anthony Toner – Long Long Time
4 Katie Spencer – What Love Is
5 Jaywalkers – Move On
6 Andrew Cadie – Flooding The Ocean
7 Thea Gilmore – These Quiet Friends
8 Molly Tuttle – So Long Little Miss Sunshine
9 Nishla Smith & Tom Harris – Live in Manchester
10 Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage – The Strangers’ Share
11 The Hunch – Long Time Coming
12 Granny’s Attic – Cold Blows The Wind
13 Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire
14 Merry Hell – Rising Of The Bold
15 Broom Bezzums – Standing Strong
16 The Guilty Men – Invisible Confetti
17 Vickie Vaughn – Travel On
18 Held By Trees – Hinterland
19 Herding Cats – By Hook Or By Crook
20 Earl Thomas & the Gospel Ambassadors feat. Sister Leola – Live In London
The album I listened to most this year is probably Say What You Mean by Hana & Jessie Lee’s Bad Habits which is a corking slice of Americana by an Australian band who I saw at Port Fairy Folk Festival in March of this year. Released in 2024 so it doesn’t count
Didnβt know the Hunch had put out a second album, ta for the heads up.
Nice list Vince, nice to see,a fellow fan of Merry Hell, Gigspanner & Anthony Toner I discovered Gigspanner this year via Mark Radcliffeβs excellent Folk Show and have been picking up their albums and Iβve been very impressed. Iβve been a fan of Merry Hell and Anthony Toner a while now both are v.good albums.
Here’s my Top 13
Xuefei Yang – Chapeau Satie
SML – How You Been
Alexandre Tharaud – Satie : Discoveries
Rachel And Vilray – West Of Broadway
Frozen Music Library – Haliando Montmorencyβs Far Away Place
Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson & Sam Wilkes – Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes
David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
Darren Watson – Darren Watson sings John Hiatt*
Chloe Kim – Ratsnake**
Keith Jarrett – New Vienna
Annie And The Caldwells – Canβt Lose My (Soul)
Wet Leg – Moisturizer
Dog Trumpet – Live Forever**
*NZ
**Australia
Thanks for doing this, Paul
Every time I see another list I want to investigate new records (There was a new Iβm With Her album this year? I had no idea), but at some point you have to draw the line and say βthese are the ones that meant the most to me from the many Iβve lived withβ.
My top two are way in front of the other 18; thankfully @pete above has put Kae Tempest as his number one which made it easier for me to decide between them.
1. Backxwash – Only Dust Remains In the imaginary conversations I have with ver kids when I tell them βthatβs not proper hip hopβ and they reply βgive us an example, thenβ and I cite something at least 25 years old, they go βpiss off granddadβ. Well, Ver Kids, this is a proper hip hop album. It bites and fights like Itchy and Scratchy. And the darker this year got the more I treasured it. Afterword Friendly Score: 1/10
2. Kae Tempest – Self Titled This dropped the same week as his sensational Glastonbury set. Brilliantly articulated and accepting zero compromise, still catchy enough to deserve to be mainstream AFS: 5/10
3. Good Neighbours – Blue Sky Mentality βFatha, come quick. Thereβs been an explosion at tβ melody factory!β Joyous AFS: 8/10
4. Skrillex – FUCK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT Another album that offered respite in the oblivion between the speakers. Thank you for not skipping. AFS: 0/10
5. The Pony Collaboration – Donβt Pretend You Donβt Remember Smart, tuneful, kitchen sink pop touched by the hand of an exceedingly dull man AFS: 9/10
6. Wretch 32 – Home? A satisfying stew of multiple black British influences with something to say AFS: 4/10
7. Lady Gaga – Mayhem Irresistible pop juggernaut AFS: 5/10
8. Hand Habits – Blue Reminder Creates its own little tuneworld and takes its own sweet time to do it AFS: 6/10
9. Galactic/ Irma Thomas – Audience With The Queen Quality r & b like your Momma used to make AFS: 10/10
10. Joey Valance & Brae – HYPERYOUTH Itβs a broβs party record that makes the case that thereβs nothing more satisfying than a broβs party record AFS – 3/10
11. Joy Crookes – Juniper AFS: 7/10
12. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out AFS: 4/10
13. Earl Sixteen & The Co-operators – Concrete Rockers AFS: 8/10
14. Saint Etienne – International AFS: 9/10
15. Phill Most Chill/ Djar One – Deal With It AFS: 4/10
16. Dub Syndicate – Obscured By Version AFS 7/10
17. Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful AFS: 5/10
18. Saba/ No ID – From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID AFS: 4/10
19. Tobi Lou – Dirty Synthesizer<3 AFS: 2/10
20. Babygirl – Stay Here Where Itβs Warm AFS: 8/10
I like the AFS scoring system. Helpful and immediately pigeonholeable, with a nice twist of irony.
Why, thank you @boneshaker. I do aim to please..
I want to like Kae Tempest but Jesus is he full of himself. His voice has really started to grate on me as his career has progressed. Was better before he was championed by 6music who have gone completely over the top on everything he has done.
Guardian reader hip hop.
Arf! I do like a genreβ¦
Summed up to, but without, a T.
One of the best of the year or the greatest crime against music evah!
Intrigued by such wildly different views, youβre going to have to listen to it yourself now, eh reader?
*blushes*
Well, I think 2025 has been a cracking year for new music, if largely away the mainstream and stil further from anything that might much trouble whatever counts as the charts these days, apart from a few elderly stalwarts, that is. With over a 100 albums acquired this year, and over half of those reviewed, I have had to learn to listen and love at speed, which may explain how this list could change content and order in an instant.
Mainly folk, a little country and a sprinkling of dub makes retro a happy boy!
1. Ruth Lyon – Poems & Non-Fiction
2. Sian – Araon
3. Ex-VΓΆid – In Love Again
4. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart – Looking for the One
5. Jenn Butterworth – Her By Design
6. Drink the Sea – Drink the Sea I & 2
7. Varo & Friends – The World that I Knew
8. Brown Horse – All the Right Weaknesses
9. Hartwin – Unfolding
10. Mavis Staples – Sad & Beautiful World
11. Kim Carnie – A Chailleach
12 The Tubs – Cotton Crown
13. Saving Grace with Robert Plant – Saving Grace
14 Staran – Ruins From Gold
15. Katie Spencer – What Love Is
16. Dreamviewer – Kirsten Adamson
17. English Fiddle Ensemble – Engrained
18.Adrian Sherwood – The Collapse of Everything
19. Gaudi – Jazz Gine Dub
20. Willie Nelson – Working Man Blues, Willie Sings Merle
I take it The Tubs is one of the dub albums. I’ll give it a listen. π
Tubs?
Rhymes with Dub
Thatβs where the similarity ends Mr Tigger
Unless you were being droll
Not a tribute to the king, then?
My 20 no-hopers (on this list) of ’25:
1) Marshall Allen – New Dawn
2) Jim Watson – Calling You Home
3) Dave Mannington’s Riff Raff – Weightless
4) Mary Halvorson Quartet – John Zorn’s Bagatelles Vol. 1
5) Don Was And The Pan-Detroit Ensemble – Groove In The Face Of Adversity
6) Muriel Grossmann – MGQ Live im King Georg, KΓΆln
7) Donovan Haffner – Alleviate
8) Phi-Psonics – Expanding To One
9) Theo Croker, Sullivan Fortner – Play
10) Shai Maestro – Solo: Miniatures & Tales
11) Sophia Domancich – Wishes
12) Linda May Han Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tyshawn Sorey – Strange Heavens
13) Nala Sinephro – The Smashing Machine (Original Soundtrack)
14) Anouar Brahem, Anja Lechner, Django Bates, Dave Holland – After The Last Sky
15) Emma Rawicz, Gwilym Simcock – Big Visit
16) Tom Skinner – Kaleidoscopic Visions
17) Alfa Mist – Roulette
18) Ruby Rushton – Legacy!
19) Allexa Nava – No Language
20) Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
Oldest recipient of 20 instant points, released when Allen was 101!
His debut solo album, after an enormously long career.
What a guy!
323 separate albums so far, of which 257 are unique selections. Two of your choices were also chosen by one other. You’re in good company.
Number; Nine
1. Foxes in the Snow – Jason Isbell
2. Lux – Rosalia
3. Broken Homes and Gardens – Michael Hurley
4. Rock’n’roll Philosopher – Dion
5. Double Infinity – Big Thief
6. Euro Country – CMAT
7. The Delines – Mr Luck and Ms Doom
8. Neil Young – Coastal: The Soundtrack
9. Track Dogs – Tracks Laid, Tracks Covered
1. The Lovely Eggs – Bin Juice
2. CMAT – Euro-country
3. Luke Haines & Peter Buck – Going Down to the Riverβ¦
4. Wet Leg – Moisturizer
5. Alison Goldfrapp – Flux
6. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Live God
7. Suede – AntiDepressants
8. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
9. Dave – the Boy Who Played the Harp
10. Lorde – Virgin
11. The Belair Lip Bombs – Again
12. Anna Von Hausswolf – Iconoclasts
13. Geese – Getting Killed
14. Rosalia – Lux
15. Pulp – More
16. Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power
17. Sharon Ban Etten – and the Attachment Theory
18. Stereolab – Instant Holograms β¦
19. Lily Allen – West End Girl
20. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
In typical fashion, I have now stumbled across a really lovely 2025 album too late to include it in my list.
Butler, Blake & Grant. Totally missed this earlier in the year: former members of Suede, Teenage Fanclub and the human being that is John Grant in a kind of close-harmony supergroup.
It isnβt doing anything new or radical, but my goodness itβs very nice to listen to. Iβm assuming everyone else heard this and it was only me who missed it.
I saw them at Cambridge FF last year. It was most enjoyable; I shall check that out.
As the world’s biggest Norman Blake and TFC fan (don’t know much about the other two admittedly), before its release I was hoping/expecting this would be record of the year, even if the first single had been a bit underwhelming. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the best song, and the rest sounded like some half-arsed demos of some half-baked songs and still do. Disappointment of the year for me. OOAA of course!
Yβknow, my hopes were high too, but it turned out to be turgid todger wash, start to finish. Dull, dull, dull. Flogged it on swiftly.
And I like James Grant as much as I like Norman Blake. Butler has form on and with the artists he produces, like Sam Lee, more familiar with those than his earlier stuff with Suede, a band always too histrionic for my palate.
I’ve only bought four contemporary 2025 releases, but FWIW here’s my list:
New
L.S.D – Cardiacs
Leviathan Whispers – Tim Hill
More – Pulp
Rainy Sunday Afternoon – The Divine Comedy
Reissues
Ghost Story – Ron Geesin
They Came From Outer Space OST – James Stevens
The Shout OST – Rupert Hine
SKY tv series OST – Eric Wetherell
Yeah Man, It’s Bloody Heavy!! Proto metal comp –
It’s nice to pop back to the old place. I hope you’re all keeping well.
It’s been a weird old year for me this year and I’ve found myself listening to lots of classical and ‘old’, particularly 70s stuff I’d neglected at the time. Who knew The Strawbs were so Prog (you probably)? So it’s only 10 albums for me this year (and an EP which is probably not going to appear any other list.
1. Joris Voorn – Serotonin
2. David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
3. RΓΆyksopp β True Electric
4. RosalΓa β LUX
5. Elton John and Brandi Carlyle β Who Believes In Angels?
6. Γlafur Arnalds β A Dawning
7. Bon Iver β SABLE, fABLE
8. Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov And No Fresh Air
9. The Divine Comedy β Rainy Sunday Afternoon
10. Mavis Staples β Sad And Beautiful World
And an honourable mention for the SAGES EP by Γlafur Arnalds and Loreen.
Nice to see your name in the posts HPW!
Struggled to get a clear winner this year, so finally chose the record I probably played the most in 2025.
1. HMHB – All Asimov And No Fresh Air
2. The Delines – Mr Luck & Ms Doom
3. Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace
4. The Mayflies USA – Kickless Kids
5. The Tubs – Cotton Crown
6. Edwyn Collins – Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
7. Josh Ritter – I Believe In You, My Honeydew
8. Dropkick – Primary Colours
9. The Gentle Spring – Looking Back At The World
10. Valerie June – Owls, Omens & Oracles
11. Brideshead – You Are The Light
12. Great Lake Swimmers – Caught Light
13. The Radio Field – Air + Sunlight
14. The Telephone Numbers – Scarecrow II
15. Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector, Vol 1
16. Allo Darlin – Bright Nights
17. The Autumn Defense – Here + Nowhere
18. The Slow Summits – Every Intention
19. Cowboy Mouth – Faultlines
20. Monnone Alone – Here Comes The Afternoon
For those who give a flying wotsit (and are not allergic to Spotify) I have made a start on the playlist
I hate trying to rank them, it could be completely different by next week. Although I think the top 6 are pretty solid.
1. Suede β Antidepressants
2. The Necks β Disquiet
3. Sinskuke Fujieda Group β Fukushima
4. Reb Fountain – How Love Bends
5. Bleak Squad – Strange Love
6. Ami Taf Ra – The Prophet and the Madman
7. The Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre
8. Pulp β More
9. Steven Wilson – The Overview
10. Yazz Ahmed – A Paradise in the Hold
11. Knats – Knats
12. Wet leg β Moisturiser
13. Stereoloab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film
14. Katie Spencer – What Love Is
15. Anouar Brahem – After the Last Sky
16. All India Radio – The Unified Field
17. Danny Widdicombe and Trichotemy β Iridescence
18. Marshall Allen – New Dawn
19. Robin Kester – Dark Sky Reserve
20. Mogwai – The Bad Fire
My usual, comparatively mainstream, faves from this year:
1. Paul Weller – Find Eldorado
2. Sam Fender – People Watching
3. Steven Wilson – The Overview
4. Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley- Somni
5. Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon
6. The Orb – Buddhist Hipsters
Geese – Getting Killed – would probably make my list as I really like it but haven’t had enough time to listen enough to be sure and this is supposed to be a “best of” list, after all.
These have all brought me much joy and listening pleasure this year:
1. Lucy Dacus – Forever is a feeling
2. Sam Fender – People Watching
3. Big Thief – Double Infinity
4. Van Morrison – Remembering Now
5. Rosalia- Lux
6. Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles – Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles
7. Nadia Reid – Enter Now Brightness
8. Fergus McCreadie – The Shieling
9.:Valerie June – Owls, Omens, and Oracles
10. Craig Finn – Always Been
11. James McMurty – The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
12. The Delines – Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom
13. James Yorkston – Songs for Nina and Johanna
14. S.G. Goodman – Planting by the Signs
15. David Byrne – Who is the Sky?
16. The Haar – The Lost Day
17. Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
18. Salif Keita – So Kono
19. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis and Karin Polwart – Looking for the Thread
20. The Head and the Heart – Aperture
Sorry not to be able to include Alison Krauss and Union Station, Margo Price, Robert Plant, Victoria Canal, Lord Huron, and Kokoroko amongst others. I think itβs been a really good year, and looking at otherβs lists there is much I need to catch up with, like Geese and Anna van Hausswolff. And Iβd completely missed that Tom Hickox and Laura Cannell have released new records this year. Itβs this information and these recommendations that make this thread a great boon every year. Thanks Paul for collating it.
Iβll have to check out the Valerie June album I have her first 2 LPs but I wasnβt impressed with the follow-up, a bit too mainstream for my taste
Iβm also intrigued by the Alan Sparhawk/T.B.T. album so Iβll check that out
Nice list B.B.
@Pyramid Your list alerted me to the fact that Benmont Tench released an album this year. I loved You Should Be So Lucky all those years ago so must check out the new one.
Here are my 20
1. WILLIE NELSON-Oh What A Beautiful World
2. JASON ISBELL-Foxes In The Snow
3. IAIN BALLAMY-Riversphere Vol. 1
4. VAN MORRISON-Remembering Now
5. JEFF TWEEDY-Twilight Override
6. ROBERT PLANT-Saving Grace
7. CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT-Oh Snap
8. I’M WITH HER-Wild and Clear and Blue
9. ROBERT FORSTER-Strawberries
10. JAMES MCMURTRY-The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy
11. MAVIS STAPLES-Sad And Beautiful World
12. RYAN DAVIS & THE ROADHOUSE BAND-New Threats From The Soul
13. ROX SEXSMITH-Hangover Terrace
14. RODNEY CROWELL-Airline Highway
15. EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY-Weirdo
16. CHARLES LLOYD, JASON MORAN, MARVIN SEWELL-Figure In Blue
17. THE TUBS-Cotton Crown
18. GEESE-Getting Killed
19. SUZANNE VEGA-Flying With Angels
20. JOHN SCOFIELD & DAVE HOLLAND-Memories Of Home
OK, after much deliberation I have finally come up with an order I can live with (despite the arbitrary nature of rankings).
1. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
I mean – a brilliant new 3 disc Jeff Tweedy album? Where did you think I’d place it? π
2. Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover – What of Our Nature
Max is a new name to me, but I’ve enjoyed Haley since her brilliant debut album – this is a timely album of beautiful folky protest songs and snapshots of American life. If you like Alynda Segarra and early Bob Dylan, this is the album for you!
3. Vasas Flora och Fauna – Berg i dagen
The Swedish-Finn indie darlings strike again, better than ever. These are, as always, clever stories cut from mundane everyday lives, set to all styles of music. But you’ll have to take my word for it, or take up DuoLingo…
4. Anna Tivel – Animal Poem
More stories, whispered into your ear late at night and delicious like a box of fancy chocolates. Her albums are always great, but this may be her best one yet. Just gorgeous!
5. Sarah Klang – Beautiful Woman
Naked and personal about the female experience, sung in THAT amazing voice of course…
6. Noura Mint Seymali – Yenbett
Finally, she’s back, and doesn’t disappoint. Her voice is a little lower and more mature and the songs are even more hypnotic and sometimes almost psychedelic. Gorgeous.
7. Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
Banger after banger. If you (like me) think that her best album is Lover, you will absolutely love it. If you’ve never moved on from Folklore; commiserations… π
8. Lily Allen – West End Girl
Another showgirl, but unlike Taylor’s happy relationship album, this is the falling apart in real time messy relationship divorce album to break all divorce albums. Turns out she married a Strange Thing, and she will let the world know every detail about it – thankfully it’s also funny and clever and musically interesting beyond a first nosy listen.
9. Mdou Moctar – Tears of Injustice
Unfairly, this album received much less attention than last year’s Funeral for Justice, although this is a much better acoustic version of that album!
10. Viagra Boys – viagr aboys
The Swedish punk rockers don’t stop, an album a year seems to be the norm – and I say Please and Thank You, if they can keep up the quality of this one (and the previous ones). Funny, original, loud and energetic, a shot in the arm to improve your mood.
11. Billy Idol – Dream Into It
Yup, the old Sir William `BillyΒ΄ Idol is still at it, and in fine form on this album (and on the EPs that predates it). This puts a big happy grin on the face of this 80s kid, and life-long fan of his.
Jumping around, fist-pumping and old dance moves may also occur.
12. Big Thief – Double Infinity
Ah – a surprise…you’d expect me to put it higher up on my list, but although the songs are mostly as good as always, I really don’t love the production of this album. It makes me disconnect from it, and I haven’t returned to it as much as I’d usually do. Still; twelfth best!
13. Ezra Furman – Goodbye Small Head
Another gritty and naked album from them, and although not my favourite, it’s still a very good one. The growling and howling and vulnerability of the vocals are, as always, brilliant.
14. RosalΓa – Lux
If you rate originality and innovation this should probably be much higher on this list, but the problem is that I find it slightly depressing and I’m not really in the mood to listen to it all the time – and for an album to be at the top, it needs to be re-playable in a much more uplifting way for me to really appreciate it. But when I do listen to it, I really like it – I just have to listen to Billy Idol afterwards to feel happy again…
15. Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
This, on the other hand, is a happiness tonic all the way through, despite dealing a lot with bad relationships. Pure pop fun to bop around to in the kitchen.
16. Titiyo – Hemland
A big star in Sweden, Neneh Cherry’s sister don’t release new albums that often anymore, and at first it felt a bit disappointing that she chose to make a covers album rather than new original songs. But this is a suitably eclectic choice of songs, lovely performed with and without featured artist friends. The title means “Homeland”, and all songs are by Swedish artists, in Swedish (although one track is by Bob Dylan, but it’s the Swedish lyric version she’s recorded).
17. Galactic & Irma Thomas – Audience With the Queen
This meeting of New Orleans royalty was of course meant to be. A cornucopia of soul and funk to feast on and Irma’s voice is still impressive.
18. Haim – I Quit
Another divorce album, where one of the sisters (sorry; can’t tell them apart) is exorcising her ex in the lyrics and beginning again. It’s pop, it’s rock, and it’s a bop, as the kids say.
19. Rufus Wainwright – I’m a Stranger Here Myself
The music of Kurt Weill interpreted by Rufus in his most theatrical mood (and live). Which suits him very well, and perhaps it should be higher on the list, but I’ve yet to listen to it six times…so I’m exercising caution.
20. Sofia Karlsson – En sΓ₯ng till Selma
Another album by Swedish folk princess Sofia where she has put music to the words of a famous (dead) Swede. Her biggest hit of these was of course her album of Dan Andersson poetry set to music, this project uses texts by Nobel laureate for Litterature Selma LagerlΓΆf. Not a poet, but I believe they’ve used mostly quotes from letters to make the lyrics (it’s a bit unclear from the liner notes). This is another one that requires DuoLingo for The Afterword…
Only a few bubbling under that could have made my list:
Foxwarren – 2 would have been quite high on the list if they hadn’t used way too long and many film dialogue samples! The songs are great, but those samples are just annoying.
Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels; Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World; Tame Impala – Deadbeat – all good but not quite great.
And I’m – finally! – done waffling. π
It was worth waiting for, @locust.
I should have included the Haim album on my list.
You have inspired me to make more discoveries before the year is out, especially your Suecophile entries. And I shamefully had not realised that Billy Idol had released new music in 2025.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, hope you’ll find something to enjoy among them!
Yikes! At no.9 in Locust’s chart: the Mdou Moctar album “Tears of Injustice”
I’ve got that and I like it … but I forgot about it when I was compiling my Top 60 Favourite new albums of 2025.
Oh dear … I’ll just have to go ahead and launch my chart countdown tomorrow morning without poor old Mdou Moctar.
Hopefully, there’ll be a few other good’uns in my list, anyway. Tune in tomorrow morning when we get the ball rolling…
The news we’ve all been waiting for.
Genuinely the end of year list that I look forward to more than any other. I am excite!
That’s nice to hear, Hoops.
I hope you won’t be disappoint…
1. Theon Cross – Affirmations (Live At The Blue Note, New York)
Powerful, incendiary live jazz with a star to be on sax, Isaiah Collier. If you’ve missed Shabaka Hutching’s farty bottom end, Cross’s enormous tuba fills the gap.
2. Alain Altinoglu Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra – Shostakovich: Symphonies 4 & 5
I’ll stick my neck out and declare the 5th the best symphony ever written. π This is a magnificent performance, fierce, dramatic & intense.
3. Yunchan Lim & Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra – Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3
This won young musician of the year in 2023. It is so passionate and joyful, it’s as though Rachmaninoff himself is on piano.
4. RosalΓa – Lux
Part of me might have spent all year listening to Aya, Oklou and FKATwigs but Lux is extraordinary. Utterly soaked in European tradition and cutting edge at the same time. A Pop album of the century if genre can contain it.
5. Myra Melford, Michael Formanek, Ches Smith – Splash
I needed dissonant jazz in 2025 and these three press hard on the weird button, including nods to Out To Lunch.
6. Vikingur Γlafsson – Opus 109 (Beethoven/Bach/Schubert)
The most beautiful album of the year best heard on repeat. And it is an album, putting 109 in its historical and contemporary context.
7. Ches Smith – Clone Row
Drummer of the year undoubtedly. Mary Halvorson has been busy but she excels as one of three sidemen on guitar
8. Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko – Schoenberg Transfigured Night Opus 4
Oof! I love a bit of night drama. Petrenko has the Berliner Phil under the spell of his wand. Dark, dangerous and deadly.
9. Fieldwork – Thereupon
More dissonance from Lehman, Iyer and Sorey, the latter pair revelling in being outside their comfort zone. Under headphones, every squeak, peep and crash has profound effects on my mind.
10. Simon Rattle & Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra – Mahler Symphony 7
Is this the best orchestra in world right now? They sail through the tricky 7th with complete authority. Masters at work.
11. Sault – 10
Not seen much love for Sault this year. Is there much left between Sol and Inflo? What about Little Simz’ money? Nevertheless, this the ultimate Sault album, stripped-back, sultry and soulful. It’s a soothing balm of an LP in the old-fashioned sense.
12. Mary Halvorson – About Ghosts
Her best ever album languishing down here. It must be an exceptional year for music.
13. The Nash Quartet – Ravel
Absolutely exquiste, a fitting tribute to Amelia Freedman, their originator, who died this year. The earlier Debussy is equally superb but misses out because my mind doesn’t allow two albums from the same artist when there is so much quality around.
14. Mavis Staples – Sad & Beautiful World
It takes six listens but has the gravitas and authority of Solomon Burke’s Don’t Give Up On Me.
15. Xhosa Cole – On A Modern Genius Vol. 1
If you thought Monk was a free spirit, just listen as Cole and team take you into back allies you never knew existed.
16. Emma Rawicz – Inkyra
Emma experiments with a bigger electric band and the results are a testament to her fantastic talent. I could happily live with this album for ever.
17. Pavel Hass Quartet β MartinΕ―: String Quartets 2-3-5-7
Another stellar ten out of ten in 2025. Stirs the loins, fires up the belly and gets the blood pumping. Bravo.
18. Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, Andreas Werliin – Ghosted III
Always welcome, always a complete pleasure, this trio’s third recording is a great palate cleanser after all the excitement of the year.
19. Linda May Han Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire Tyshawn Sorey – Strange Heavens
Oozes class. Oh and Sorey provide a perfect foil for Akinmusire and some fireworks of their own. sorey makes me rethink my nomination of Ches Smith as drummer of the year, just by the way he plays the rim of his snare.
20. Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
I haven’t heard the album but she gets a point for telling MAGA to fuck off. Apologies to all the wonderful musicians pushed out.
Your comment of comparison betwixt Mavis S and Solomon B. hits a spot of aptness immaculate. Good call and good connect.
Also right that it takes a number of listens to reveal its quality. I have played it several times since posting my list and would almost certainly place it a lot higher now.
1. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
2. Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow
3. Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
4. Robert Plant – Saving Grace
5. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
6. Iβm With Her – Wild and Clear and Blue
7. Craig Finn – Always Been
8. Patterson Hood – Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams
9. Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter
10. The Weather Station – Humanhood
11. Hayes Carll – Weβre Only Human
12. Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels
13. Neko Case – Neon Grey, Midnight Green
14. Amanda Shires – Nobodyβs Girl
15. Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
16. Rodney Crowell – Airline Highway
17. Van Morrison – Remembering Now
18. Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire
19. Patty Griffin – Crown of Roses
20. James McMurtry – The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
Matt Berningerβs last was my number 1 of a few years back, yet this I found entirely underwhelming, maybe I need another listen.
It took this far down the list to see Hayes Carll feature. His album will definitely feature in my top 20 too.
I’ve trawled through my saves in Qobuz and these were 2025’s pick of the pops in my ears….
1.Suzanne Vega – Flying With Angels
2.Pulp – More
3.Paul Weller – Find El Dorado
4.The Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday
5.Wet Leg – Moisturizer
6.Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
7.Brian Eno & Beatie Wolf – Luminal
8.Young Gun Silver Fox – Pleasure
9.Stereolab- Instant Holograms on Metal Film
10.The Delines β Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom
11.Durand Jones & The Indications – Flowers
12.Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
13.Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles β Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles
14.Brown Horse – All The Right Weaknesses
15.Jeb Loy Nichols – This House is Empty Without You
16.Jonathan Jeremiah – We Come Alive
17.The Milk – Borderlands
18.Chip Wickham – The Eternal
19.New Street Adventure – What Kind of World
20.Louis Dunford – Be Lucky
1. Fergus McCreadie β The Shieling
2. Kathryn Williams – Mystery Park
3. Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov And No Fresh Air
4. Emma-Jean Thackray – Weirdo
5. Admiral Fallow – First of the Birds
6. Blue Rose Code – Sold Out, Live in LDN
7. Wet Leg β Moisturizer
8. Ancient Infinity Orchestra Itβs Always About Love
9. Morgan Szymanski and Tommy Perman – Songs for the Mist Forest
10. Chip Wickham – The Eternal Now
11. David Boulter – Whitby
12. Gwenno – Utopia
13. Levitation Orchestra – Sanctuary
14. David Boulter – Whitby Sketches
I have not bought, or heard in full, many new releases in 2025. Any pocket money for pop platters has, like most years, gone on older things. This year, I have bought things I missed first time round such as Thick as a Brick (cripes, it ainβt half bad) and two from Tangerine Dream (Phaedra and Rubycon, which were a bit ho hum really). Any big pennies left after Christmas will probably go on the VDGG box set at long last (and yes, I know, I know!).
So for this year here are my three votes:
1. Paul Weller – Find El Dorado
2. Pulp – More
3. Van Morrison – Remembering Now
I am no great fan of any of these three artists/groups, but these records are each excellent in their own way. Top vote goes to Paul Weller, though, simply for his interpretation of one of my favourite songs: Journey by Duncan Brown. The kora just adds to the overall sound!
I have to ask: what is it that you know, you know?
The last time I mentioned VDGG, somebody commented ‘omg, there’s now two of them’ or similar, I presume the two being me and thee. The I know, I know comment was put there simply in the knowledge that some gentle and joking scorn was soon likely to come my way. Come to think of it though, I quite like being in a small group of discerning afficianados rather than simply being a member of the masses!
To be fair, this site would be rubbish if we all had the same tastes and it is the wide variety of those tastes that makes it interesting. This poll and others prove that, and my congratulations and thanks go to those who freely give up their time to run them.
Huzzah!
A Plague on your houses.
A blue plaque, maybe?
..of Lighthouse Keepers, perhaps..
Listened to few new records and fewer that I liked
But.
1 James McMurtry – the Black Dog and the Wandering Blues
2 Gaudi- Jazz Gone Dub
Here are my 20 favourite albums of the year. For a fully annotated rundown of my Top 60, head on over to the dedicated thread, which you may have already seen.
1. The Necks β Disquiet
2. Sean Pratt β Prairie Whistle Call
3. Toby Hay β New Music for the Six-String Guitar
4. Guitari Baro β Guitari Baro
5. James Yorkston and Friends β Songs for Nina and Johanna
6. Piers Faccini & BallakΓ© Sissoko β Our Calling
7. Cameron Knowler β CRK
8. Jason Isbell β Foxes in the Snow
9. Okonski β Entrance Music
10. Joan Shelley β Real Warmth
11. Sven Wunder β Daybreak
12. Hayden Pedigo β Iβll be Waving as you Drive Away
13. Anouar Brahem et al β After the Last Sky
14. AblayΓ© Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto β Djiyo
15. The Breadwinners β Hi Dynamic Instrumental & Dub
16. Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band β New Threats from the Soul
17. Divine Comedy β Rainy Sunday Afternoon
18. Vega Trails β Sierra Tracks
19. Fergus McCreadie β The Shieling
20. Phi-Psonics β Expanding to One
Iβve been adding to this list and changing the order – on reflection, itβs dancing on the head of a pin and the precise order is perhaps less important. So, more or less, in some kind of order:
1. Pavel Haas Qt – MartinΕ―: string quartets 2,3,5,7
2. Fabia Mantwill Orchestra – IN.SIGHT
3. Aasgaard/Sinfonia of London/Wilson – Walton: cello concerto/symphony no. 1
4. Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels
5. Rebecca Trescher – Changing Perspectives
6. Hedvig Mollestad trio – Bees in the Bonnet
7. Bezaly/Togawa/Gerassimez/Lahti SO/St Michel Strings/ Bihlmaier/Lasonpalo – Kalevi Aho: Moonlight Concerto For Viola & Percussion/Concerto For Alto Flute & Strings
8. Katie Spencer – What Love Is
9. Patricia Brennan – Of the Near and Far
10. Anthony Toner – Long Long Way
11. Olivia Cuttill – Β …And Writing and Singing and Tunes to beΒ Swinginβ
12. Snarky Puppy/Metropole Orkest – Somni
13. Alex Clarke Quartet – Out of the Woods
14. Bridget St John – Covering my Brothers
15. Emma Rawicz β Inkyra
16. Ege/BBC PO/Andrews – Avril Coleridge Taylor: piano concerto, etc
17. Sinne Eeg/ Jacob Christoffersen – Shiniori
18. Edvard Graham Lewis – Alreet
19. Dorie Jackson – Stupid Says Run
20. Ring van Mobius – Firebrand
Pavel Hass Quartet have podiumed. Huzzah!
Yes indeed! Best thing Iβve heard all year!
Better than Sabrina Carpenter?
Once again, you have the advantage of me, Tiggs, and I am forced to ask: Sabrina who?
(Edit to add: although, on closer inspection, I notice that she is holding down the coveted no. 20 slot in your own list – so I assume that I am missing out on something special?)
Yes. And I noticed that I placed Pavel Hass above her.
π
Well, okayβ¦
Iβm no longer sure what your point was, Tiggs, old chap. My fault probably – not enough caffeine or something.
I was talking bollocks. Your list is very refined, with very little smut.
1 Robert Plant – Saving Grace
2 Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
3 Van Morrison – Remembering Now
4 Mavis Staples – Sad & Beautiful World
5 Patterson Hood – Exploding Trees and Airplanes
6 The Delines – Mr Luck & Ms Doom
7 Thea Gilmore – These Quiet Friends
8 Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
9 Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band – New Threats from the Soul
10 Suzanne Vega – Flying with Angels
11 CMAT – Euro-Country
12 Charles Lloyd – Figure in Blue
13 Alison Kraus & Union Station – Arcadia
14 Paul Weller – Find El Dorado
15 Lily Allen – West End Girl
16 Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace
17 Brown Horse – All the Right Weaknesses
18 Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
19 Chrissie Hynde – Duets Special
20 The Tubs – Cotton Crown
Thank You
Some terrific new records this year – these are the ones I’ve played the most:
1. Bonny Prince Billy – The Purple Bird
2. These New Puritans – Crooked Wing
3.Saving Grace – Saving Grace
4. Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart & Mary Chapin-Carpenter – Looking For The Thread
5. Big Thief – Double Infinity
6. Brown Horse – All the Right Weaknesses
7. Colin Steele Quartet – The Blue Nile
8. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
9. Billie Marten – Dog Eared
10. I’m With Her – Wild and Clear and Blue.
I didn’t get to hear much live music this year, but did anyone else see
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings in London in October? Just stunning.
Thanks
1. Okonski – Entrance Music
2. Geese – Getting Killed
3. Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
4. Midlake – A Bridge To Far
5. Tortoise – Touch
6. De La Soul – Cabin In The Sky
7. Neil Young – Talkinβ to the Trees
8. Myka 9 – God Takes Care of Babies and Fools
9. James Brandon Lewis – Apple Cores
10. Ichiko Aoba – Luminescent Creatures
11. King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island
12. GoGo Penguin – Necessary Fictions
13. Damien Jurado – Motorcycle Madness 25
14. Doves – Constellations of the Lonely
15. Resavoir – Horizon
16. Maria Somerville – Luster
17. Mark William Lewis – Mark William Lewis
18. Turnstile – Never Enough
19. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
20. Sharon Von Etten – The Attachment Theory
Here’s the votes from the west Yorkshire jury.
1: Geese – Getting Killed
2: Hanna Frances – Nested in triangles (Great bit of folk americana with great arrangements that seems to be getting lost in these lists. Which is a shame.)
3: Wednesday – Bleeds
4: Wet Leg – Moisturizer
5: Viagra Boys -Viagr aboys
6: Stereolab – Instant Holograms
7: Sparks – Mad
8: The Beths – Straight line was a lie
9: The Moonlandingz – No Rocket Required
10: The Horrors – Nightlife
11: Pulp – More
12: BC Camplight – A Sober Conversation
13: Cheekface – Middle spoon
14: Jeffrey Lewis – The even more free wheeling
15: Throwing Muses – Moonlight Concessions
16: Squid – Cowards
17: Tropical Fuck Storms – Fairyland codex
18: Osees ( Thee Oh Sees) – Abomination revealed at last
19: Little Simz – Lotus
20: Tunde Adebimpe – Three black boltz
Iβm seeing a lot of late love for the Geese album. A late surge.
It’s good, but didn’t quite make it onto my list. I’m sure they will still be able to sleep at night.
I listened to it on Spotify after reading so much about it. I’m afraid I thought it was discordant, charmless and tuneless (these days I get impatient with new music and tend to pass if I can’t whistle or hum any of theor songs. And with so many bands/artists, I sadly can’t). But, again, I’m sure my opinion won’t affect these Geese fellows in any way. And rightly so.
It might be many things but it certainly isn’t tuneless.
It does take a few plays to bed in like most classic albums,
Well, Revolver and Rubber Soul were- and are still- pretty darn immediate.
A new Throwing Muses album – how did I miss that?!
They toured the UK with it, so it wasn’t a quiet release.
Head must have been elsewhereβ¦
Saw them at the H and H – excellent.
Now, as if the Quietus had got into traditional Breton folk dance.
Juana Molina and Le Vent du Nord marked down for not being available on CD. I just know that I will play an album less frequently, if it is not there to pluck out of my IKEA racking. I wouldn’t care, the latter have produced CDs, but not for the UK market. I shall hope they’ve got some with them at Cropredy. As for Brighde with a sixth of her album being one held droned note, albeit beautifully done ….
1. Naragonia Quartet – Nehalennia
2. The Nash Ensemble – Ravel
3. Juana Molina – Doga
4. Leveret – Lost Measures
5. Black Hauge – Black Hauge
6. Dreamers Circus – Handed On
7. Aoife NΓ Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy – CosΓ‘n Casta
8. War-Sav – Septet
9. Boss Morris – Boss Morris
10. Trio Roblin Evain Badeau – Vivons
11. SeΓ‘n Mac Erlaine & CaoimhΓn Γ Raghallaigh – Old Segotia
12. Brighde Chaimbeul – Sunwise
13. Sokratis Sinopoulos Yann Keerim – Topos
14. Le Vent du Nord – Voisinages
15. Hartwin Dhoore – This is the Place
16. Tamsin Elliott – The Meeting Tree
17. Carpenter Fowlis Polwart – Looking for the Thread
18. The Destroyers – Argonaut
19. Laura Jurd – Rites and Revelations
20. Guitari Baro – Guitari Baro
Sorry, @thecheshirecat , but Boss Morris came out 6/12/24β¦β¦
May I suggest Nigel Eatonβs Lymington Fair instead? If only as I only discovered it yesterday?
How on earth do they expect to get in either year’s ‘best of’ list if they go releasing things in December?
Very well. It was Lisa and Gerry who had just missed out on the cut – nicely odd as ever.
1. Naragonia Quartet – Nehalennia
2. The Nash Ensemble – Ravel
3. Juana Molina – Doga
4. Leveret – Lost Measures
5. Black Hauge – Black Hauge
6. Dreamers Circus – Handed On
7. Aoife NΓ Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy – CosΓ‘n Casta
8. War-Sav – Septet
9. Trio Roblin Evain Badeau – Vivons
10. SeΓ‘n Mac Erlaine & CaoimhΓn Γ Raghallaigh – Old Segotia
11. Brighde Chaimbeul – Sunwise
12. Sokratis Sinopoulos Yann Keerim – Topos
13. Le Vent du Nord – Voisinages
14. Hartwin Dhoore – This is the Place
15. Tamsin Elliott – The Meeting Tree
16. Carpenter Fowlis Polwart – Looking for the Thread
17. The Destroyers – Argonaut
18. Laura Jurd – Rites and Revelations
19. Guitari Baro – Guitari Baro
20. Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver – Hinterland
I’m sure Paul will noticed that I’m voting twice, when there’s a sudden surge of support for the Flemish dance experts.
Nice to see Laura Jurd in the chart. And thumbs up for her production work on Fergus McCreadie’s “The Shieling”, as well.
1.Β Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
2.Β Ting Tings- Home
3.Β Β Doves β Constellations of the Lonely
4.Β Big ThiefΒ – Double Infinity
5.Β Manic Street Preachers β Critical Thinking
6.Β Rosalia – Lux
7. My Morning Jacket – Is
8.Β Brandi Carlile – Returning to Myself
9. Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer
10. Bon Iver – Fable
11. Craig Finn – Always Been
12.Β Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
13. Haim – I Quit
14. Wolf Alice – The Clearing
15. Cass McCombs – InteriorΒ live oak
16.Β Titiyo – Hemland
17.Β Melanie Pain – How and why
18.Β Coeur De Pirate – Cavale
19. Waterboys – Life death and dennis hopper
20. Boo Boos – Young Love
Happy (and surprised) to see another vote for Titiyo!
Always amazed by those who have their twenty ready to go. After exhaustive re-listening I am finally confident these are, for me, the best twenty albums of the year. Less confident that the Mogwai album is one place down from Bicep, but there you go.
1 Haim – I Quit
The only album I reviewed in 2025, repeated listening does not diminish its staying power. Top Track: Take Me Back.
2 Getting Killed – Geese
So much commentary here there and everywhere that there seems little to add, other than how fantastic and singular their sound is, while at the same time being hewn from a rock line-up. Top Track: Cobra
3 Barker -Stochactic Drift
This is a stately album that develops each track in its own sweet time, but his textures and rhythms – sometimes beatless, sometimes with glitchy skittery drums – gradually draw you in. One of the electronica albums of the year. My Top track: Fluid Mechanics for a sense of enormous space between the keyboard, crisply skittering drums and bass. Most AWF: title track, which turns up the 70s squelchy analogue synths near the end.
4 Hotline TNT – Raspberry Moon
A joyous confection of gauzy guitars, big choruses and pulsing Sugar-style tunes. A standout from the many, many American bands revisiting the Scene that Celebrates Itself. Saw them at the Hare and Hounds in October and they were great, albeit some of the subtle edges that this album revels in were lost in the chunky guitar attack. Also took their stuff off Spotify. Top Track: Juliaβs War
5 Fabric presents Laurent Garnier – Rhythm Resonance (mixed)
After retiring from DJing live and issuing the monumental artist album 33 1/3 and thatβs your lot in 2023, Garnier is back and released a 4-volume mixed set this year with Fabric, each separately themed. This for me is the pick – warm, tuneful, lots of fat analogue squelchy sounds and immaculately selected. Top Track: itβs a mix cd so not really, but Copy Paste Soulβs The Fall is an excellent representative.
6 Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquillizer
Getting an instantly recognisable sound is one of the hardest things to do in electronic music, but OPNβs – 80s video game soundtracks meets ambient meets glitch meets chopped up drum and bass (thatβs just for starters) – gets pretty close. Itβs gorgeous from start to finish. Tracks
fold in on themselves, reverse, change direction abruptly and close down without warning. Yes itβs a soundtrack to an imaginary film or game. Top Track: final one Waterfalls which does all the above plus for about 20s towards the end threatens to turn into something much more conventional before folding back.
7 Doves – Constellations for the Lonely
A band I saw twice this year, both hugely moving and joyous occasions. Twenty-five years into their career itβs a question of tweaking the widescreen Mancunian romanticism rather than any great changes. But itβs a very solid set of songs and I canβt help but love them sorry.
Top Track: Renegade though another excellent one, Lean Into The Wind, is an extra digital track.
8 Miki Berenyi Trio – 8th Deadly Sin
This album couldnβt scream more 1992 if it was on 4AD and had a gauzy out-of-focus Vaughan Oliver artwork. Ok itβs Bella Union, but everything else is pretty much in place. Mikiβs way with an infectious chorus and sense of propulsion is undimmed. Top track: A Different Girl.
9 Sharp Pins – DDR Radio
Technically a rerelease, but as its first outing was on a homemade cassette I think it qualifies. Three minute power-pop bursts are always welcome here, and this is the jangly guitar album of the year surely. Hooks, harmonies and huge choruses are everywhere you look. Top Track: I Canβt Stop.
10 Barry Canβt Swim – Loner
The Fatboy Slim of this generation. Starts with a couple of weakish tracks but the beats and samples pick up and this is a very solid house record, if nothing ground-breaking and perhaps not as freshly detailed as his debut. Top Track: Childhood which samples Otis Redding and Willie Hutch to full Fat Boy effect.
11 More – Pulp
Jarvis arrived in the puerile atmosphere of the early nineties as a quizzical adult, so itβs no surprise that ageing in real time and in music suits him and his band-mates down to the ground. Plenty of big tunes, ruminative lyrics and just well bags of confidence that this is what they do. Thereβs an underlying chill to some of the last few tracks – weβre nearer sunset than sunrise (calling back to the final track of The Trees) – that adds to this albumβs impact. Top Track: Got To Have Love.
12 Bicep – Chroma 000
Bicep have released their current album in eps throughout the year, but as itβs finally appeared as a collection on vinyl at least (whereβs the CD lads?) Iβm counting it as a 2025 release. Like many others this year it grows as you get 3 tracks in. Their sound has always been about detail, repetition and gradual shifts of tone and texture, and Chroma stays true to this. Top Track Chroma 005 Aloe has a beautiful drop before returning harder and stronger.
13 Mogwai -The Bad Fire
Any year they release an album theyβre on the year end best-of from me, just so consistent (but hey Fanzine Made of Flash has vocals, so theyβre branching out as well). Top Track: Lion Rumpus has an irresistible riff.
14 Sofia Kourtesis – Corazon
2023βs stunning Madres was no one-off, as this very short lp/long ep (28 minutes) is another slice of propulsive house meets dreamy pop, all anchored by her wistful vocals. My god I bet this sounds great on the beach at Cafe Mambo as the sun goes down. Sounds pretty good in dark December in the West Midlands (no beaches). Top Track: Corazon
15 Wet Leg – Moisturizer
Another very consistent album with those hypnotic vocals and bass lines well to the fore. Passing the sophomore album test with ease. Top Track: Davina McCall for a more sparse sound that suits them perfectly, allowing those vocals to really shine.
16 Call Super – A Rhythm Protects One
What a clever album this is. A fake mix, in which Call Super hides behind varies personas (DJ Flowerdew, Conny Slipp, Clam 1) and makes a fabulous mix album that is actually a series of his tracks brilliantly sequenced. All his own work. This absolutely benefits from being listened to all the way through. Top Track: Four Yolks by Cleo. Superbly nagging rhythm and melody.
17 Matt Beringer – Get Sunk
Mopey middle-aged dad icon Matt with another sparkling collection of slightly melancholy tunes. Itβs the uptempo numbers, particularly standout track Bonnet of Pins, that push this up the charts.
18 Alex G – Headlights
Such a warm gentle sound from an artist new to me. Probably the βrockβ album of the year and yet another to bear some fingerprints from the softer side of shoegaze, here perhaps in the first MBV album. Copper-bottomed songwriting. Top track: Real Thing
19 CMAT – Eurocountry
Pop album of the year without a doubt. Iβm not sold on the consistency across the album, but the highs are so brilliant – hang on that is a proper pop album, four bangers and eight album tracks. Top Track: Take A Sexy Picture of Me
20 Stereolab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film
Like the Sam Fender, Florence and Matt Beringer albums thereβs precious little new ground being broken here. Just as well that Stereolabβs combination of motorik rhythms, analogue synths and French cafe vocals is as bewitching as ever. Top Track: Colour Television.
What makes you think that those who posted their lists earlier havenβt exhaustively re-listed to their selections?
And here are those that for many many reasons I listened to but did not make the list.
Absolutely not Album of the Year
Can we have a 2026 free of the Swift Industrial Zone please.
Life of A Showgirl by Taylor Swift.
If it ainβt broke
Hereβs our new one, an album that sounds exactly like all the others:
Everybody Scream by Florence and the Machine
No, really you shouldnβt!
Slightly unwanted, irrelevent and underwhelming return of the year
Arcade Fire – Pink Elephant
Wait for the Book/Musical/TV series
Heavyweight lyrics, lightweight tunes album of the year
Lily Allen – West End Girl
Ahhhβ¦well
Album I really, really wanted to be better than it actually was (first couple of tracks excepted):
Saint Etienne – International
You really want to make the list?
For dumping a 34-track album/mixtape/thing out in mid-December, some of which may have been released before so we donβt even know which chart it should go in.
Fred Again -USB
Here goes
1)Robert Plant – Saving Grace
2) Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
3) Robert Forster – Strawberries
4)Beirut – A study of losses
5) Cass McCombs – Interior Live oak
6) Don Was -Groove in the face of adversity
7) Charles Lloyd – Figure in Blue
8) Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace
9) James Yorkston – Sings for Nina and Johanna
10) Osees – Live at the Broad
11) Rodney Crowell – Airline Highway
12) Everything is recorded – Temporary
13) Hayes Carll – We’re only human
14)CMAT – Euro Country
15) Waylon Jennings – Songbird
16) Mavis staples -Sad and beautiful World
17) Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal
18) Big Thief – Double infinity
19) Jeff Tweedy – Twilight override
20) Third Mind – Right now (Really should be in top 5, cd I have played most but forgot while I was compiling.)
I am sure Paul H will reveal if this is my imagination, but this year seems possibly the most diverse yet, with the most broad ranging set of artists, genres and tastes ever. I guess that, if brought together by the relatively tight confines of (The) Word, the more longstanding denizens of this little oasis of apidastrae have had 13 years to widen their, and by osmosis and dissemination, our, musical horizons. So, thank you, one and all, for all the discoveries and pointers of your varied selections.
For example, I found this, via Facebook, on YouTube, only today. It seems apt. (And doesn’t @el-hombre-malo look young!!)
Oho! The Magnificent Beat Poets in excelsis!
Arithmetically, this was nearly thirty years ago! that guitar is still going strong, as are most of that lineup. Gigs next year to celebrate our fortieth birthday!
I’d had the same thought. Is it possibly the ‘Spotify factor’? There are two things I can think of….a. The ubiquity of streaming means that we are all much more able to take a gamble on a whole album which can quickly become a favourite. b. The ‘dreaded’ algorithm which knows what you like so can take you in a deep dive in a direction that others perhaps aren’t going. In the old days, perhaps as recently as 13 years ago, we were far more beholden to the radio to make our tastes but half my list this year are artists that I’ve never heard on the radio and have ‘discovered’ on Spotify.
Possibly so; I sort of like to imagine tastes expand as we (ha!) mature. Much as I loathe over genrification, I could do a top 20 for each of folk, americana (spit!), with top 10s for jazz blues, electronic and rock. Rock, as in guitars, bass and drums, +/- keys, would likely be the hardest to fill. Mind you, I donβt file old players like Percy Plant, under rock any more.
And there seems far more infiltration of classical into the list this year. Yet to reach these ignorant ears, but my wife is working on meβ¦
Ben de La Coeur would have definitely been on my list but there is one discordant track that really irritates me in what is otherwise a great album.
I know the one you mean. BTW, he plays KItchen Garden cafe in, I think, March.
Yes he is also supporting Lucinda at the Town Hall. Prior to his own headline gigs. Will see what he is like before getting a ticket for the later gig.
512 separate albums so far this year, 557 last year. But there’s usually a flurry in the last week.
How many voters?
69 last year, 56 so far this year.
Quite a few on my list are ones that I’ve only just got round to listening to, but never mind:
1 Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov And No Fresh Air
2 Steven Wilson – The Overview
3 The Lottery Winners – KOKO
4 Lord Huron β The Cosmic Selector Vol.1
5 Wolf Alice – The Clearing
6 The Last Dinner Party β From The Pyre
7 Divine Comedy β Rainy Sunday Afternoon
8 Pulp – More
9 Sam Fender β People Watching
10 alison goldfrapp – flux
11 midlake – a bridge too far
12 Wet Leg β Moisturizer
13 Skullcrusher – And Your Song Is Like A Circle
14 suede – antidepressants
15 The Black Keys β No Rain, No Flowers
16 jason isbell- foxes in the snow
17 Held By Trees β Hinterland
18 robert plant – saving grace
19 Luke Haines & Peter Buck β Going Down to the River to Blow my Mind
20 matt berry – heard noises
Only 9 and the order is approximate
1 Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre
2 Lady Gaga – Mayhem
3 Jade – That’s Showbiz Baby!
4 RosalΓa – Lux
5 Geese – Getting Killed
6 Sabrina Carpenter – Manβs Best Friend
7 Pulp – More
8 Taylor Swift – The Life Of A Showgirl
9 Suede – Antidepressants
1. Esther Rose – Want
2. David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
3. The Castellows – Homecoming
4. Sparks – Mad!
5. Willow Avalon – Southern Belle Raining Hell
6. Brennen Leigh – Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love
7. The Pink Stones – Thank the Lord… it’s The Pink Stones
8. Barbara – Barbara
9. Lilly Hiatt – Forever
10. Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
11. Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History
12. Craig Finn – Always Been
13. Neko Case – Neon Grey Midnight Green
14. Coach Party – Caramel
15. Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
16. Margaret Glaspy – The Golden Heart Protector
17. Wreckless Eric – England Screaming
18. Molly Tuttle – So Long Little Miss Sunshine
19. The Davenports – You Could’ve Just Said That
20. SnoCaps – Snocaps
I can see from other people’s lists that I seem to missed some albums altogether. I feel a little bit mean not including the Joe Ely release but for some reason I only played it once or twice (I think it must have come out when I was still working my way through the albums I missed in 2024!) but I’ve listened again this week and it’s very good. I’m amazed the Esther Rose album isn’t on anyone else’s list as it’s sooo good and it was a privilege to see her at The Lexington again in May.
A quick list from me – three no-one else seems to have voted for yet:
1. Bush Gothic – What Pop People Folk This Popular
2. Gasper Nali – Chule Chule Iwe
3. Peggy Seeger – Teleology
Merry Christmas all!
Chris x
Funnily enough I only downloaded the Bush Gothic album yesterday, in a quiet moment alone on Bandcamp! And good tidings back atcha!
I ordered the Bush Gothic CD before Christmas itβs got a long way to comeβ¦
And Best Wishes for β26 to all the decent people who populate this forum
My picks of new records this year :
1. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives – Space Junk
2. Pippa Blundell – Common Thread
3. Charles Lloyd – Figure In Blue
4. Patricia Brennan – Of The Near and Far
5. Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
6. Sparks – Mad!
7. The Necks – Disquiet
8. Marshall Allen – New Dawn
Pippa Blundell – https://youtu.be/BVvQSZ6lyls?list=RDBVvQSZ6lyls
Marty Stuart – https://youtu.be/zL_Iw9Jqr-k?list=RDzL_Iw9Jqr-k
A fan of Marty Stuart here but Iβve yet to play that LP, that will be rectified later.
Iβm now going to check out Pippa Blundell and check if Iβve bought βFigure In Blueβ
Figure in Blue is absolutely stunning. (Itβs in my list too).
Gosh, reading these lists of records and artists I’ve (largely) never heard of and, having occasionally dipped out of curiosity into certain mentioned random titles and bands (only to be left in a state of advanced meh-ism) has brought home to me how brutally uninterested I have become in current music. I salute you chaps and chappeses who (to use the old Peelie phrase) have stayed on the bus.
Then youβve been listening to the wrong music Eddie, honestly as someone who was actively buying music and attending gigs from the 60βs onwards there is plenty of very good music about, plenty of βmehβ music also but hasnβt that always been the case?
Indeed. And it’s me, not the music. To be honest, ever since I first became interested in music I was always more gripped by past era’s such as the 60s and the early 70s (which, apart from chart acts, I largely missed prog-wise etc and am still catching up). These days I would say that 98 per cent of my purchases are ‘historical’- either re-issues or second hand- and even though I’m more than happy to follow up my more current music-orientated friends’ recommendations on Spotify etc I rarely (if ever!) find myself hooked. I suppose the only ‘current’ band that has grabbed me in recent years has been The Lemon Twigs but then they actually ‘sound’ like a 1972 band so it probably speaks volumes for my rather strict criteria of pop or rock wonderfulness- i.e. a proper tune, a proper chorus, a lovely guitar solo, a superb middle eight and a glorious fade out after three minutes. They somehow manage to make hummable tunes even if they are sometimes about chimpanzees which go to school…
Keep sampling on Spotify* Eddy and keep your ears open I promise you there is good stuff out there every bit as good as The Lemon Twigs. Lots of new music sound like the bands/artists have been listening to bands.artists from the 60βs/70βs and a lot of them are very good Iβve not named anyone because for me itβs better discovering what you like
*I donβt use Spotify I discover new music by hunches buying blind/without first sampling sometimes if I simply like the album art Iβve also not bought albums if I dislike the album art. Itβs very rare I by a dud but I wouldnβt recommend my methods
I’m sure you’re right. Happy to hear some of your recommendations.
1) Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History
2) Chris Eckman – The Land We Knew The Best
3) Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire
4) Amanda Shires – Nobodyβs Girl
5) Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace
6) Rodney Crowell – Airline Highway
7) The Delines – Mr Luck & Ms Doom
8) Patterson Hood – Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams
9) Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart – Looking For The Thread
10) William Prince – Further From The Country
11) James McMurtry – The Black Dog and The Wandering Boy
12) Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow
13) Robert Plant – Saving Grace
14) David Gilmour – The Luck and Strange Concerts
15) Liz Longley – New Life
16) Lydia Luce – Mammoth
17) Sam Outlaw – The Nonessential Sam Outlaw
18) Faeland – The Remedy
19) Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter – Forever I’ve Been Being Born
20) The Necks – Disquiet
This is the first time I have ever included an album I haven’t bought. Much as I would like a physical copy of Lydia Luce’s Mammoth, it’s only available to buy as MP3 downloads in Europe. Postage from the US more than doubles the price. Therefore I have been enjoying it by streaming it. Hopefully it won’t be too long before she tours again over here and I can buy a CD at a gig.
Quite agree. See my comments above about Juana Molina et al.
1. Benmont Tench β The Melancholy Season
2. Jason Isbell β Foxes In The Snow
3. Lucius β Lucius
4. Songhoy Blues β Heritage
5. Robert Plant β Saving Grace
6. Various β A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco
7. The Divine Comedy β Rainy Sunday Afternoon
8. The Waterboys β Life, Death and Dennis Hopper
9. Michael D. Higgins β Against All Certainty*
10. bΓkl β Blue Ghost In The Memory Machine**
11. Suzanne Vega β Flying With Angels
12. Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov And No Fresh Air
13. Ringo Starr β Look Up
14. Ron Sexsmith β Hangover Terrace
15. Alison Krauss & Union Station β Arcadia
16. Steven Wilson β The Overview
17. Julien Baker & Torres β Send A Prayer My Way
18. Alice Sara Ott β John Field Complete Nocturnes
19. Baxter Dury – Allbarone
20. Robert Forster β Strawberries
Honourables:
Brandi Carlisle
David Byrne
Big Thief
Wolf Alice
Taylor
Elton & Brandi
Paul Weller
Lorde
Marlon Williams
Margo Price
Rodney Crowell
*Our former UachtarΓ‘n na hΓireann (President Of Ireland) β A spoken word album of his poetry focusing mainly on quite a difficult childhood. Ambient musical backing by Myles OβReilly. The Betrayal and The Death Of The Red Cow are quite devastating.
**bΓkl (a phonetic spelling of the Irish word βBuachaillβ (“BOO-khull”) meaning βBoyβ
An album written, recorded and produced by a chap in Cork that I know only through emails β Shane Healy. I havenβt got the skills to write a proper review that would do it justice but I think he makes a very Afterword-friendly noise and I commend this album to the house.
Vinyl / CD / Download available on Bandcamp – https://bukl.bandcamp.com/album/blue-ghost-in-the-memory-machine
Vinyl / CD available from Musiczone Record Shop in Cork – https://musiczone.ie/?s=bukl
Currently playing The Necks “Disquiet”.
Ghost Net is a beast of a track.
it is a wonderful thing. I think you might enjoy the Pippa Blundell, too
I realise that I don’t do full albums as much as I use to. Listening to more individual songs and relying on older records (and old records that are new to me) when I go for the full album experience. For instance, I never listened to Black Sabbath records until this year. Having said that, here is a short list:
1 – Pulp – More: Proper album, right length, right number of songs, each track a winner, simple.
2 – CMAT – Eurocountry: Some extraordinary songwriting here. The third album is where you find out if someone is going to go the distance, and here she is.
3 – Sparks – Mad!: I didn’t really connect with the previous …Latte album, but this is top tier Sparks.
4 – RosalΓa – Lux: I still don’t know this album well enough, but I sense I will be listening to it a lot in the next year.
5 – David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?: A very consistent solo album from DB, great pop production, good in Atmos.
6 – Ringo Starr – Look Up: 55 years on from Beaucoup of Blues, Ringo returns to the genre that truly suits his voice. Better than we had any right to expect. Another country album follows next year.
Apologies for the late delivery from Avalon…
1. The Tubs β Cotton Crown
2. Lily Allen β West End Girl
3. Robert Plant β Saving Grace
4. Stereolab β instant Holograms on Metal Film
5. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan β Public Works and Utilities
6. Half Man Half Biscuit β All Asimov and no grass
7. Cat Burns β How to be Human
8. Idlewild – Idlewild
9. Saint Etienne β International
10. Robert Forster β Strawberry
11. David Byrne β Who is the Sky?
12. Pale Blue Eyes β New Place
13. Franz Ferdinand β The Human Fear
14. Bon Iver β Sable Fable
15. Professor Elemental β The Love Album
16. Ash β Ad Astra
17. Miki Berenyi Trio β Tripla
18. Throwing Muses β Moonlight Concessions
19. CMAT β Euro Country
20. Lottery winners β KOKO
Hovering outside because I am not sure if it counts is Khruangbin β The Universe smiles on you II – A rerecording, so not new? Anyway happy to leave it outside.
Taylor Swift’s album just doesnt do it for me the way Folklore/Evermore did. Suede nearly made the list. Also Gruff Rhys – one day I will understand why I like his solo stuff but not SFA.
Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone. See you on the other side.
Hope all AWers are fine and dandy?
Here are the votes from this bit of Notts.
1 The Young Knives – Landfill
2 Divorce – Drive To Golden hammer
3 HMHB – All Asimov and No Fresh Air
4 CMAT – Eurodisco
5 Heartworms – Glutton For Punishment
6 Mac De Marco – Guitar
7 Viagra Boys – Viagr Aboys
8 Lemonheads – Love Chant
9 Little Barrie/Malcolm Catto – Electric War
10 Sterolab – Electric Holograms…
11 Ditz – Never Exhale
12 Baxter Fury – Allbarone
13 Nation of Language – Dance Called Memory
14 Saint Etienne – International
15 Say She She – Cut and Rewind
16 White Lies – Night Light
17 Billy Nomates – Metal Horse
18 BC Camplight – Sober Conversation
19 Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre
20 Lambrini Girls – Who Let the Dogs Out
Happy new year.
Only five from me this year, 3 of which look to be holding up the bottom end of the charts.
The Airport 77`s – Dont Let Go
Powerpop from Maryland USA. Their third album of catchy nuggets. If you liked the much missed Fountains of Wayne, these are the guys for you.
The Adventures – Once More With Feeling.
Unexpected comeback & most anticipated release of the year. Stands up with the classic Theodore & Friends and The Sea of Love Albums. Probably viewed as one hit wonders by most punters so time for a reappraisal.
Sparks – Mad.
Astonishing the two 70+ year olds can continue to produce such vibrant and original songs. Their last four albums are certainly as good as their mid 70`s Island releases
The Humdrum Express – Rastrophiliopustrocity Pomposity.
Mr Express ( or Ian to his mum) continues to highlight the absurdities of modern with his tongue rammed firmly against his Turkey Teeth.
Kim Wilde – Closer.
Time to flag wave a homegrown national treasure and pop princess. As with Sparks her last few albums have as much merit as her 80`s heyday.
Now after reading through the lists, I must go and add The HMHB and Wreckless Eric albums to my taxdodgers list.
That’s 2 appearances now for the Humdrum Express.
So glad someone else has (a) heard of them, (b) continues to support them, and (c) rates the content enough to mention it on these here pages.
Wreckless Eric – you will not be disappoint
Totally unaware of that Adventures album @uncle-mick
Theodore and Friends was a fave back in the day, a stronger album overall than the hit follow up
If you enjoyed the first two albums, then you will enjoy this one!
1. Everyone Says Hi (self-titled)
2. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
3. Pulp – More
4. Stella Donnelly – Love and Fortune
5. Rialto – Neon and Ghost Signs
6. Camille Schmidt – Nude #9
7. Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory (self-titled)
8. Wet Leg – Moisturizer
9. The Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon
10. The Charlatans – We Are Love
11. Doves – Constellations For The Lonely
12. Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov And No Fresh Air
13. Midlake – A Bridge Too Far
14. Uwade – Florilegium
15. The Lemonheads – Love Chant
16. Youth Lagoon – Rarely Do I Dream
17. Other Lives – Volume V
18. Unbelievable Truth – Rich Inner Life
19. Boo Boos – Young Love
20. Ed Harcourt – Orphic
It was difficult to whittle it down to 20, as I’ve got a longer list of excellent albums from this year (plus a few promising ones I’ve yet to check out). A good year for releases.
I also put out an album at the start of this month if anyone fancies a listen (search “Rog Estranger”).
Happy new year all!
Good luck with the album, I’ll give it a listen if I can.
1. Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film
2. CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY
3. The Delines – Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
4. Geese – Getting Killed
5. Lonnie Holley: Tonky
6. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
7. Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight
8. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
9. Mark Pritchard, Thom Yorke – Tall Tales
10. Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Jules Buckley – SOMNI
11. Lux – Rosalia
12. Robert Plant – Saving Grace
13. Nels Cline – Consentrik Quartet
14. Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
15. Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer
16. Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
17. Hayden Pedigo – I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away
18. Bonny Prince Billy – The Purple Bird
19. The Autumn Defense – Here + Nowhere
20. Femi Kuti – Journey Through Life
Iβve come to it too late to justify adding it to my list but goodness the CMAT album is really good.
Oddly, as I tend to err towards Irish artists and love country, music I can’t stand it or her. Horses for courses, however, as she is going to be top 10 here, overall, I reckon. Very hard to second guess others, but Percy Plant and Geese seem to have attracted a lot of acclaim and votes.
β¦and Taylor? Whither the Swifties this year?
The TS album is what we call in the business “not good”.
It really isn’t “good” but, goodness me, The End of Eras series is simply stunning television – makes them Beatles look like slackers and ne’er do-wells
01. The Necks – Disquiet
02. Robert Plant with Suzi Dian – Saving Grace
My last minute entry.
1. Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film
2. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Overdrive
3. Big Thief – Double Infinity
4. Geese – Getting Killed
5. Alex G – Headlights
6. Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
7. El Michels Affair – 24 Hour Sports
8. DJ Koze – Music Can Hear Us
9. Midlake – A Bridge To Far
10. Pulp – More
11. Kieren Hebden & William Tyler – 41 Longfield Street Late 80s
12. Saint Etienne – International
13. Emma Jean Thackray – Weirdo
14. The Barr Brothers – Let It Hiss
15. Tame Impala – Deadbeat
16. David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
17. Andy Bell – Pinball Wanderer
18.Billie Marten – Dog Eared
19. Ze Ibara – AFIM
20. Maribou State – Hallucinating Love
Many, many thanks to Salwarpe for literally doing all the work on this.
It isn’t going to trouble the charts, but my favourite album of this year is:
The Pursuit of Pleasure – Songs Mostly in Waltz Time.
The lathe-cut LP is noisy and I’m first to admit it is front-loaded – you can skip side two without really missing much – but I think it is fab. All the better for encountering them as a support band, even more so as support at my fave gig of the year.
I listened to plenty of other stuff, but none of it really landed in quite the same way.
If you like, please scatter the points equally between these (I don’t think it will affect the end result):
Fuzzy Lights – Fen Creatures
Sunday Driver – Silk And Filth
The Divine Comedy β Rainy Sunday Afternoon
Pulp – More
Saint Etienne – International
Joe Stilgoe and The Entertainers – Welcome To The Club
I found this to have been an underwhelming year and the positions on the list have changed a fair few times since the poll was announced, but as of this moment this is my top 20.
Thanks to Salwarpe your doing a grand job and all involved in organising
1 – James McMurty – The Black Dog and The Wandering Star
2 – Richard Dawson – End of Middle
3 -Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov and No Fresh Air
4 -Benfits – Constant Noise
5 -Pulp – More
6 – Alice Cooper – The Revenge Of
7 -Devine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon
8 -Dave – The Boy Who Played Harp
9 -Michael Donoghue – Hotel Real
10 -BC Camplight – A Sober Conversation
11 -David Byrne – Who Is The Sky
12 -Various – Sing Yonder 2
13 – Jeffrey Lewis – The Even More Freewheelin
14 – Bob – Mould – Here We Go Crazy
15 – Edwyn Collins – Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
16 – Cat Burns – How To Be Human
17 – The Lovely Eggs – Bin Juice
18 – Yann Tiersen – Rathlin From A Distance
19 – Cherry Mint Koala – Connections Drawn
20 -Distant Animals – Night Swimming
I almost forgot to post, not that my list will set the world alight. Not been a great year for new music and I spent any free listening time on podcasts rather than new LPs. Here’s what I did enjoy (in no particular order)-
Melin Melyn- mill on the hill
Ad waith- Solas
Lambrini Girls- who let the dogs out?
Half man half biscuit- all Asimov and no fresh air
Scott Lavene- cars, buses, bedsits and shops
Doves- constellations for the lonely
Jeff Tweedy- twilight override
Billy Nomates- metal horse
Emma Pollock- begging the night to take hold
Reviewing that list I think that the Tweedy album is overlong. Although the songs are good, it’s hard to listen to the whole thing in a single sitting. The Doves album would be better if Jimi sang on all of the songs, but musically it’s right up there with their better stuff. Lambrini Girls are very route one, but it made me smile as soon as I heard it. I’ve tried to get Mini Paws to listen to it as I reckon it’s perfect for teenagers, but she doesn’t trust her dad’s taste in music. Probably a good thing.
Thanks for compiling this list. I’ll enjoy the chart countdown when it’s ready.
Happy new year Afterworders!
Could you add in-
Rainy Sunday Afternoon- Divine Comedy
It’s Mrs Paws album of the year so we’ve had it on the turntable a fair few times. It has a couple of Scott Walker-esque tunes, and that’s ok with me.
Not a classic year for new stuff, but some corkers nevertheless:
1. Big Special – National Average
2. Half Man Half Biscuit – All Asimov & No Fresh Air
3. Robert Plant & Suzy Dian – Saving Grace
4. CMAT – Euro Country
5. Kae Tempest – Self-titled
6. Nick Cave – Live God
7. Hawkwind – There Is No Space for Us
8. Midlake – A Bridge To Far
9. Pulp – More
10. Margo Price – Hard-Headed Woman
11. David Byrne – Who Is the Sky?
12. Craig Finn – Always Been
13. Edwyn Collins – Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
14. Poor Creature – All Smiles Tonight
15. Big Thief – Double Infinity
16. Anna von Hauswolff – Iconoclasts
17. Perfume Genius – Glory
18. Richard Dawson – End of the Middle
19. Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
20. Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant
1. The Delines β Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom
2. Suzanne Vega β Flying With Angels
3. Jason Isbell β Foxes in the Snow
errr that’s it for 2025, imho not one of the best years…
Results will be published this weekend – the wait is nearly over!
Huzzah! My breath is bated!