Delighted to see Foxwarren here! No Ripcord is the only publication to even include this on an EOY list this year, which I think is inexplicable - it's such a special record. I fully expect a folk-rock deep dive next year - "If you like Pentagle, you'll love X..."!
The McKinley Dixon album is also really good and just missed my list. It was nice to see what you culled on account of your rules too. I really appreciated the Rosalía album, but I didn't find myself returning to it much after the initial rush.
Although it might be considered favoritism to choose a band from my hometown, I am continuing to immerse myself in These New Puritan's fifth album. Crooked Wing is a work of impressionist folk music, bound by church organ, steeped in gravitas and off kilter tension. It feels like it's been drawn up from English soil by some kind of weird capillary action. At times it reminds me of Rachel's or The Blue Nile, but it is far from derivative. At present I am ignoring the lyrics and absorbing it as an abstraction.
I also enjoyed Lael Neale's Altogether Stranger - its Catholic themes of man's fall from grace, and peevishness at modern existence while being complicit in it.
lael neale was on an earlier edition of this list! i need to give TNP another shot but I wouldn't have included them regardless. one record you just reminded me I left out of my “should have” grid is the Horrors, though they were excluded for the same reason
Love that your list is unique. I haven't seen that Umm, Jennifer on anyone else's list. It's a good one! Thanks for building this space for music nerds to talk about and learn about cool stuff!
Delightfully surprised to see Egotrip on here, havent seen anyone else hyping it up.. it's wild that very little is known about these guys... also Blue Rev gang! 🤝 maybe my favorite of the decade.
The New Eves really remind me of Comus, a folk-rock band from the early 70s (I recommend their 1971 album First Utterance, and especially the song The Herald). The New Eves are like what Comus would have sounded like if they had waited a few years for punk to explode before making their music.
Great list! I also had Foxwarren on mine - excellent album.
But for me my favorite album of the year was Caroline Rose - year of the slug. Every great album seems to have a story behind it to add to the lore and for year of the slug it was recorded direct from phone notes into Garage Band and only available on Bandcamp.
I have enjoyed Caroline's work in the past but the sparse arrangements and lofi production really allow for her lyricism and songwriting to shine creating an intimate listening experience that is playful, reflective, sad, and funny. One of my most played albums this year for sure.
Prewn !!! Yes !!! I agree this was a hard year to pick a #1. For me though this is it. I recently attended the full band record release show. One of the best sets I have ever seen. This is a very special record by a very special artist.
The New Eves - the thing they really reminded me of when I first heard them (as a support act to Daisy Rickman) was The Fates - a band / feminist collective Una Baines formed in the mid-80s after The Fall and Blue Orchids, mixing post-punk and folk influences, eventually reissued by Jane Weaver’s label.
“Comprising all the DIY traits and snarling attitudes of Manchester’s smartarsed punk retaliation, with haunting mechanical folk, pastoral drones and a back story that unites sleeve artist Linder Sterling (Ludus), Spider King, Martin Hannett, Tony Baines, Martin Bramah and John Cooper Clarke with the 16th Century Pendle Witches, this virtually unknown LP is a vital missing piece in Manchester’s self-help anti-pop industry. Lost in the ether, lauded by collectors and likened by Mark E. Smith to the Third Ear Band this unclassifiable arty-fact renders tags like Pagan punk utterly redundant. File-Under-Ground”
I think by utter coincidence rather than any influence, or maybe that shared influence from drama.
I will check out as much as I can from this list. Maybe my picks from this year are too “old head,” but I really loved Jonathan Richman’s Only Frozen Sky Anyway, Marc Ribot’s Map of a Blue City, and The Waterboy’s Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper. While all these guys have been around for decades, I was surprised at how much I appreciated these three albums. I had kind of written off Richman as someone who put out one great album and a few silly but catchy songs. The Frozen Sky album is profound and moving in its simplicity, especially Frozen Sky, Night Fever (yes a BeeGees cover), and Little Black Bat.
I also never expected to hear from The Waterboys again. I have always liked Whole of the Moon and Fisherman’s Blues but gave little thought to their (really Mike Scott’s) work beyond that. I was blown away by the outlandish idea and brilliant execution of a Dennis Hopper tribute album!!
I was not a surprised that I would appreciate Ribot’s new album. It is an interesting companion to Richman’s Frozen Sky in that they are both minimalist, guitar-centered albums that explore themes of mortality, but from totally different perspectives. Daddy’s Trip to Brazil is my favorite song on the album, but When The World’s on Fire and Elizabeth are also great.
old heads still make great music!! i just personally try to showcase newer artists (again, on the assumption you guys already know the older ones). but lots of old dogs with new tricks for sure.
The Prewn record looks kind of interesting, considering that I did like Fetch the Bolt Cutters. I'll give it a listen this week.
My pick for the best record this year is Ethel Cain's "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You". It is so visceral and "Nettles" rips through me much like Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here".
"Nettles" is probably my pick for song of the year, though Rabbitology's "Preybirds (The Watched Version)" is a close second.
curious what you think but I also need to warn you it's really a vibes comparison more than anything. not a great sound match (I'm generally better with that!)
I did give that record a listen, and I get more of an Alanis Morissette vibe (albeit a bit more angry), combined with the minimalist quality of a typical bedroom pop song. It definitely works well, even if her voice takes a bit to warm up to.
Much like you, System and My Side shine, in my opinion. Unlike you, I didn't find Easy to be the best. I did like Dirty Dog though a fair bit.
Excellent stuff, Gabbie! So much to ponder! I am still reflecting on my year in music (lots of jazz there). Top of that pile would be Too Long, Didn't Read by TL; DR and Peter Knight. So much Brisbane, Australia music too , especially Lost In Space by the wonderful The Double Happiness, and a compilation of Brisbane shoegaze bands on 4000 Records called Gazed and Bemused. Succumbed to the charms of Wet Leg, Geese, Mcleay and Mogwai, but they are excluded by your rules. But very strong albums indeed. An embarrassment of riches once again! Thank you for 2025 and enjoy your break and here's to the promise of 2026 and more music, the gift that keeps on giving!❤
Give Too Long, Didn't Read by TL; DR and Peter Knight a go on Bandcamp and About Ghosts by Mary Halvorson a spin. She's a great contemporary jazz guitarist. They would be my picks for 2025. As to jazz in general (the past), see how you fare with those 2025 recommendations from me and I'll take it from there! Hope that helps.
Delighted to see Foxwarren here! No Ripcord is the only publication to even include this on an EOY list this year, which I think is inexplicable - it's such a special record. I fully expect a folk-rock deep dive next year - "If you like Pentagle, you'll love X..."!
The McKinley Dixon album is also really good and just missed my list. It was nice to see what you culled on account of your rules too. I really appreciated the Rosalía album, but I didn't find myself returning to it much after the initial rush.
you know what I'm surprised! i really was so sure that one would be on every list
Although it might be considered favoritism to choose a band from my hometown, I am continuing to immerse myself in These New Puritan's fifth album. Crooked Wing is a work of impressionist folk music, bound by church organ, steeped in gravitas and off kilter tension. It feels like it's been drawn up from English soil by some kind of weird capillary action. At times it reminds me of Rachel's or The Blue Nile, but it is far from derivative. At present I am ignoring the lyrics and absorbing it as an abstraction.
I also enjoyed Lael Neale's Altogether Stranger - its Catholic themes of man's fall from grace, and peevishness at modern existence while being complicit in it.
lael neale was on an earlier edition of this list! i need to give TNP another shot but I wouldn't have included them regardless. one record you just reminded me I left out of my “should have” grid is the Horrors, though they were excluded for the same reason
Wow i will NEVER unhear that Bittersweet Symphony comparison. Great catch! Delighted to see Smerz and Prewn here, and CMAT in the should have
it was a complete thought!!
I hit the send button too soon here but honestly? It works
1. *Heet Deth - Bad Reading
2. *M(h)aol - Something Soft
3. *La Dispute - No One Was Driving The Car
4. *Cucuy - People Talking
5. *Black Eyes - Hostile Design
6. *Sorry - COSPLAY
7. *Deadguy - Near-Death Travel Services
8. *Florence + The Machine - Everybody Scream
9. Aya - Hexed
10. Wednesday - Bleeds
11. *Mclusky - The World Is Still Here And So Are We
12. Um, Jennifer? - Um Comma Jennifer Question Mark
13. *YHWH Nailgun - 45 Pounds
14. *Sprints - All That Is Over
15. *Brian Damage - All Hell Broke Loose
(* just means I own a physical copy)
Prewn is near the top of my next tier.
amazing list!!
Smerz and Foxwarren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yessss
ugh so good
My top 10:
1. Deep Sea Diver - Billboard Heart
2. Rodeo Boys - Junior
3. Soot Sprite - Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon
4. Laura Stevenson - Late Great
5. CMAT - EURO-COUNTRY
6. Weakened Friends - Feels Like Hell
7. Momma - Welcome To My Blue Sky
8. The Criticals - S/T
9. Spellling - Portrait Of My Heart
10. The Backfires - This Is Not An Exit
Love that your list is unique. I haven't seen that Umm, Jennifer on anyone else's list. It's a good one! Thanks for building this space for music nerds to talk about and learn about cool stuff!
i always love your picks so much!
Delightfully surprised to see Egotrip on here, havent seen anyone else hyping it up.. it's wild that very little is known about these guys... also Blue Rev gang! 🤝 maybe my favorite of the decade.
i thought it was insane how nobody was talking about it??
The New Eves really remind me of Comus, a folk-rock band from the early 70s (I recommend their 1971 album First Utterance, and especially the song The Herald). The New Eves are like what Comus would have sounded like if they had waited a few years for punk to explode before making their music.
Victor Jones is a revelation. Been listening all day. This is why I love this age
Just subscribed and discovered. It’s fucking fantastic!
Great list! I also had Foxwarren on mine - excellent album.
But for me my favorite album of the year was Caroline Rose - year of the slug. Every great album seems to have a story behind it to add to the lore and for year of the slug it was recorded direct from phone notes into Garage Band and only available on Bandcamp.
I have enjoyed Caroline's work in the past but the sparse arrangements and lofi production really allow for her lyricism and songwriting to shine creating an intimate listening experience that is playful, reflective, sad, and funny. One of my most played albums this year for sure.
i must return to it!
Prewn !!! Yes !!! I agree this was a hard year to pick a #1. For me though this is it. I recently attended the full band record release show. One of the best sets I have ever seen. This is a very special record by a very special artist.
it's not getting enough love imo
The New Eves - the thing they really reminded me of when I first heard them (as a support act to Daisy Rickman) was The Fates - a band / feminist collective Una Baines formed in the mid-80s after The Fall and Blue Orchids, mixing post-punk and folk influences, eventually reissued by Jane Weaver’s label.
“Comprising all the DIY traits and snarling attitudes of Manchester’s smartarsed punk retaliation, with haunting mechanical folk, pastoral drones and a back story that unites sleeve artist Linder Sterling (Ludus), Spider King, Martin Hannett, Tony Baines, Martin Bramah and John Cooper Clarke with the 16th Century Pendle Witches, this virtually unknown LP is a vital missing piece in Manchester’s self-help anti-pop industry. Lost in the ether, lauded by collectors and likened by Mark E. Smith to the Third Ear Band this unclassifiable arty-fact renders tags like Pagan punk utterly redundant. File-Under-Ground”
I think by utter coincidence rather than any influence, or maybe that shared influence from drama.
wow! i haven't heard of them but the description sounds absolutely spot on. i love discovering old music through new music.
The album is called Furia and on the Finders keepers website if that helps.
I will check out as much as I can from this list. Maybe my picks from this year are too “old head,” but I really loved Jonathan Richman’s Only Frozen Sky Anyway, Marc Ribot’s Map of a Blue City, and The Waterboy’s Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper. While all these guys have been around for decades, I was surprised at how much I appreciated these three albums. I had kind of written off Richman as someone who put out one great album and a few silly but catchy songs. The Frozen Sky album is profound and moving in its simplicity, especially Frozen Sky, Night Fever (yes a BeeGees cover), and Little Black Bat.
I also never expected to hear from The Waterboys again. I have always liked Whole of the Moon and Fisherman’s Blues but gave little thought to their (really Mike Scott’s) work beyond that. I was blown away by the outlandish idea and brilliant execution of a Dennis Hopper tribute album!!
I was not a surprised that I would appreciate Ribot’s new album. It is an interesting companion to Richman’s Frozen Sky in that they are both minimalist, guitar-centered albums that explore themes of mortality, but from totally different perspectives. Daddy’s Trip to Brazil is my favorite song on the album, but When The World’s on Fire and Elizabeth are also great.
old heads still make great music!! i just personally try to showcase newer artists (again, on the assumption you guys already know the older ones). but lots of old dogs with new tricks for sure.
Check out the 2015 album from Waterboys - "Modern Blues" its one of their best!
I too loved the old stuff and when this came out I was blown away - saw them on the tour for Modern Blues as well and they were fantastic!!
Oh my gosh. We have one of the same no 1 albums. Foxwarren is one of my fav bands ever. 🤩
yay I'm so in love with that record
The Prewn record looks kind of interesting, considering that I did like Fetch the Bolt Cutters. I'll give it a listen this week.
My pick for the best record this year is Ethel Cain's "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You". It is so visceral and "Nettles" rips through me much like Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here".
"Nettles" is probably my pick for song of the year, though Rabbitology's "Preybirds (The Watched Version)" is a close second.
curious what you think but I also need to warn you it's really a vibes comparison more than anything. not a great sound match (I'm generally better with that!)
I did give that record a listen, and I get more of an Alanis Morissette vibe (albeit a bit more angry), combined with the minimalist quality of a typical bedroom pop song. It definitely works well, even if her voice takes a bit to warm up to.
Much like you, System and My Side shine, in my opinion. Unlike you, I didn't find Easy to be the best. I did like Dirty Dog though a fair bit.
Excellent stuff, Gabbie! So much to ponder! I am still reflecting on my year in music (lots of jazz there). Top of that pile would be Too Long, Didn't Read by TL; DR and Peter Knight. So much Brisbane, Australia music too , especially Lost In Space by the wonderful The Double Happiness, and a compilation of Brisbane shoegaze bands on 4000 Records called Gazed and Bemused. Succumbed to the charms of Wet Leg, Geese, Mcleay and Mogwai, but they are excluded by your rules. But very strong albums indeed. An embarrassment of riches once again! Thank you for 2025 and enjoy your break and here's to the promise of 2026 and more music, the gift that keeps on giving!❤
i need somebody to put me on to jazz! lmk what I should check out
Give Too Long, Didn't Read by TL; DR and Peter Knight a go on Bandcamp and About Ghosts by Mary Halvorson a spin. She's a great contemporary jazz guitarist. They would be my picks for 2025. As to jazz in general (the past), see how you fare with those 2025 recommendations from me and I'll take it from there! Hope that helps.