Another great year in music. Below are my ten favorite albums of 2025, in no particular order. In 2026, I’m aiming to keep a better running list as the year goes on.
Thrice - Horizons / West
An incredible album by incredible people. An old friend of mine has been doing live sound for them for about ten years, and I’ve been lucky enough to see them many times and get to know them a bit along the way. With each album, they keep pushing their songwriting and recordings, and on top of that, they’re still one of the best live bands around.
Downward - LP2
I've listened to the first four songs on this album more than anything else this year. For a stretch this was my go to album during my travels (and I was flying a lot). Great album and was awesome catching them on tour with Thrice.
Town Portal - Grindwork
Some of the best instrumental rock out there. Always a good music year when they put out a new album. Plan on keeping this on repeat for quite some time.
Tyler, The Creator - Don't Tap the Glass
Even I surprised myself by how much I listened to this album. The video and song Stop Playing With Me hooked me and I was in from there. I've had so many front to back listens.
Snooze - I Know How You Will Die
When I first put this on, I didn’t get it. Then the third song hit, and my face and brain were melted. Since then, this labyrinth of melodic, technical, heavy, progressive metal has been on repeat.
Murs - Love & Rockets 3:16 (The Emancipation)
I'll be honest, I've heard of Murs but had never listened to any of his records. This one though has been a staple in my rotation since it came out. Love the production and his style.
GoGo Penguin - Necessary Fictions
Saw them play at Thalia Hall in Chicago and they were incredible. Been a big fan for years and this album does not disappoint. Not your traditional jazz, jazz band often feeling like an acoustic electronic jazz hybrid.
Juan Pastor's Chinchano - Memorias
I don't remember how I came across this but am sure glad I did. I'm not going to be able to describe it with justice so I pulled a quote from the Bandcamp listing that this could be described as "Afro-Peruvian rhythms with jazz." Fantastic record and it sounds incredible and to top it off, from Chicago!
Deftones - Private Music
I’ve tried to get into Deftones on and off over the years, and while I’ve been an inconsistent listener, this one finally stuck. This album grabbed me in a way their past releases never quite did.
Lucy Dacus - Forever is a Feeling
My list gets a bit fuzzier toward the back half of the ten. I snuck this one in while listening again on a flight home, and her voice and songwriting really landed, so beautiful. Making a note here that I want to spend more time with this one.
The Rest
One of my favorite songs of the year: Militarie Gun - B A D I D E A
While they didn't release an album in 2025, I listen to Everything Everything A LOT! 🙂 Here's a scrub through of my Apple Music 2025 Replay.
