Doof Top Albums 2025
Same format as previous years - these albums are ordered by scrobbles (track listens) rather than by my own ranking of preference. My traditional rankings are listed too, as are 'Top 30' song of the year picks (and the number one song of the year is marked up too). This was a decent year for music so also check out the extra albums from my Top 100 that didn't make the list (see position 101), this was due to me discovering them too late to pick up enough listens in many cases.... Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CAuNFHYkqC1rjlG2csxSv |
| 1 |  | Cass McCombs
Interior Live Oak
Scrobbles: 337
Finally a stone cold classic from McCombs and I was starting to worry he’d never deliver one. ‘Wit’s End’ showed sporadic genius and ‘Mangy Love’ was a lot more consistent, but on ‘Interior Live Oak’ all the pieces just fit together seamlessly and effortlessly.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 1st
Top 30 song of the year: Missionary Bell |
| 2 |  | The Tubs
Cotton Crown
Scrobbles: 296
Really coming into their own on this second release, this was the catchiest set of songs of the year - jangle pop lives.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 11th
Song of the year: Narcissist |
| 3 |  | Real Lies
We Will Annihilate Our Enemies
Scrobbles: 279
I was highly dubious that Real Lies could capture lightning in a bottle for a second time after the brilliant breakthrough 'Lad Ash', but blow me down and call me Doofarelli, they somehow bettered it.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 9th
Top 30 song of the year: I Could Join the Birds |
| 4 |  | James Elkington
Pastel de Nada
Scrobbles: 273
Magical double album of the most dreamy, short multi layered acoustic pieces adorned with the occasional subtle embellishments. He's getting better, an even more immersive ramble than this album's predecessor 'Me Neither'.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 56th |
| 5 |  | Turnstile
Never Enough
Scrobbles: 235
They can still turn on the style…but unlike the previous album this brings nothing new to the table.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 85th
Top 30 song of the year: Look Out for Me |
| 6 |  | Alex G
Headlights
Scrobbles: 211
Starts very strong but fades ever so slightly in the second half, so not Alex G's strongest release overall, but 'Headlights' still continues his great run of form.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 38th
Top 30 song of the year: Beam Me Up |
| 7 |  | Ariel Pink
With You Every Night
Scrobbles: 211
Close to his most consistent album as a full listen and that was really, really unexpected. Better still, 'Everyone's Wrong' and 'Life Before Today' would both make an Ariel Pink 'Best Of' compilation. Best comeback of 2025?
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 15th
Top 30 song of the year: Everyone's Wrong |
| 8 |  | Crippling Alcoholism
Camgirl
Scrobbles: 211
The first minute of ‘Pay Pigs’ was the sound of the summer 2025...which is to say it’s the soundtrack to the UK government testing the ‘three minute warning’ security alert on my mobile phone at 3pm on a sunny September afternoon.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 21st
Top 30 song of the year: Monet |
| 9 |  | The Young Gods
Appear Disappear
Scrobbles: 211
Back to to their classic more full blooded approach this time, with more rock and less ambience, and as such this classes as a true return to prime form for the Swiss industrialists.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 24th |
| 10 |  | Salif Keita
So kono
Scrobbles: 210
Always drawn to this sort of music in the AM, Salif still has the voice and keeps motoring on this more stripped down acoustic effort here.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 64th |
| 11 |  | Oneohtrix Point Never
Tranquilizer
Scrobbles: 205
His least adventurous in a while but actually that approach has its benefits - it's a welcome return to OPN pre 2014 style.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 22nd
Top 30 song of the year: Lifeworld |
| 12 |  | Destroyer
Dan’s Boogie
Scrobbles: 202
The ever prolific Dan Bejar returned and the super encouraging news was that three songs here feel like top tier Destroyer, and not only that but they account for a whopping 17:24 of the run time ('The Same Thing as Nothing At All', 'Bologna' and 'Cataract Time'), so that was a mighty fine start. 'Bologna' in particular rates as a top five post-'Kaputt' anthem and is something of a 'return to 'Chinatown'.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 16th
Top 30 song of the year: Bologna |
| 13 |  | Craig Finn
Always Been
Scrobbles: 197
A guilt addled priest who ‘never really believed’ makes for the perfect central character here, immense song writing from Finn and finally an album of the year contender from him - if you go in with an open mind and sink into this densely packed concept album, well, it’s more consistent than ‘Boys and Girls in America’.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 3rd
Top 30 song of the year: Luke & Leanna |
| 14 |  | Pendulum
Inertia
Scrobbles: 196
Trim this to the ten tightest tunes and this could have been their comeback special to rival The Prodigy’s ‘Invaders Must Die’; as it is this album has some powerful framing tracks like the scene setting opening two cuts and the surprisingly elegant closer, plus some scattered punchy one-offs like ‘Cannibal’ and ‘Napalm’, but as a full listen it’s a bit muddled...even taking into account this band’s sprawling approach to albums.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 15 |  | Sam Fender
People Watching
Scrobbles: 193
There’s a hint of indulgence here, and there are probably four songs included that sound too damn similar to each other, but overall it’s hard not to embrace the enthusiasm and the resultant sprawl. The dreaded descriptors ‘artistic growth’ and ‘increasing maturity’ both apply, but in this case very little has been lost and the gains feel well earned and genuine.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 17th
Top 30 song of the year: People Watching |
| 16 |  | Bruce Springsteen
Tracks II: The Lost Albums
Scrobbles: 191
What a mighty compilation from the Boss - even his castoffs strut.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 39th |
| 17 |  | Daniel Knox
Mercado 48
Scrobbles: 181
Everyone's favourite Matt Berry voiced motherfucker (sorry, that's not actually you Matt Berry) returns and he's now occupying the fertile unguarded middle ground between Rufus Wainwright's witty baroque cabaret and Nick Cave's knowing, actorly doom mongering - this is an artist at complete ease with themselves.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 5th
Top 30 song of the year: Alligator |
| 18 |  | Mac DeMarco
Guitar
Scrobbles: 177
An understated gem from the Mac meister, perhaps the most overlooked album of the year?
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 82nd |
| 19 |  | Paddy Hanna
Oylegate
Scrobbles: 171
Fatherhood hits like a tonne of bricks and here Paddy responds by recording a soothing balm of a record, smooth as caramel, while the title of the opener asks the question all new parents ask… ‘have I signed up to no sleep for life?’ Elsewhere the standout ‘Caterpillar Wine’ could have featured on Air’s ‘Moon Safari’ in a different life.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 40th
Top 30 song of the year: Caterpillar Wine |
| 20 |  | Cardiacs
LSD
Scrobbles: 170
I feel very strange about finding this 'effectively posthumous' album the overall most satisfying Cardiacs release, but it's still where I sit at the end of 2025.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 2nd
Top 30 song of the year: Volob |
| 21 |  | mclusky
The World is Still Here and So are We
Scrobbles: 165
Fun kickaround album that is maybe a little too hit and miss but overall a good time.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 88th |
| 22 |  | Patrick Wolf
Crying The Neck
Scrobbles: 165
A lot of negative reaction to this mostly due to the OTT production but if anyone can roll with that it's probably Patrick Wolf. Not his best but not bad.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 94th |
| 23 |  | Jeff Tweedy
Twilight Override
Scrobbles: 163
This is a Tweedy tour de force and it's hard to argue this isn't the best 'Wilco album' for two decades. A couple of throwaways but the remainder is all worthy of inclusion - on a triple set with a two hour runtime no less - this was a Jeff gold bloom 🌹
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 12th |
| 24 |  | Doves (UK)
Constellations for the Lonely
Scrobbles: 158
It's been a long road for me getting into Doves but this album finally cemented them as favourites.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 51st
Top 30 song of the year: In the Butterfly House |
| 25 |  | Adrianne Lenker
Live at Revolution Hall
Scrobbles: 157
Wasn't sold at first, and definitely something where I cherry pick a few songs on most revisits, but there's something very special here. Lenker is well placed to enter the pantheon of great folk artists.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 26 |  | Matt Berninger
Get Sunk
Scrobbles: 157
A significant shade better than the recent National albums, and while this is still a bit patchy, you get a track like 'Bonnet of Pins' popping up that's just superb.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 86th
Top 30 song of the year: Bonnet of Pins |
| 27 |  | Deftones
private music
Scrobbles: 156
The most approachable and instantly satisfying Deftones album since ‘Diamond Eyes’ - as such this might not be as dense and knotty as hardcore Toneys (wut?) would like, but it’s definitely my favourite of theirs for quite some time. ‘CxZ’ and ‘milk of the madonna’ roll back the years and could have been ‘90s Deftones rippers, while the melodic ‘infinite source’ and well judged ballad ‘I think about you all the time’ hit the mark too.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 84th
Top 30 song of the year: Milk of the Madonna |
| 28 |  | Tuung
Love You All Over Again
Scrobbles: 151
‘Love You All Over Again’ isn’t as thematically focused or as tightly wound in general as its predecessor and that’s a relief in some ways; this time the delicate pitter-patter sing-songy, almost nursery rhyme’ish, vocals are matched with lighter hued and more overtly playful musical backdrops. The looping vocal lines and arrangements remain the Tunng trademark, which is reassuring, and they are deployed with such time-honed skill they quickly make ‘Love You…’ an irresistible blurring, blending hypnotic triumph.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 35th |
| 29 |  | Loscil
Lake Fire
Scrobbles: 149
Not one of his more distinctive releases but I just welcome getting two or three new Loscil releases every year.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 30 |  | The Apartments
That's What the Music Is For
Scrobbles: 146
Sticks to the same format as the previous comeback album but this one seems even more reflective and maybe morbid..though it never loses the romance.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 10th
Top 30 song of the year: Death Would Be My Best Career Move |
| 31 |  | Old Saw
The Wringing Cloth
Scrobbles: 145
Within the realms of instrumental near-ambient pastoral Americana this is as close to orgasmic as it gets.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 6th |
| 32 |  | clipping.
Dead Channel Sky
Scrobbles: 142
Still needs to be edited down by maybe as much as ten minutes, mostly because the tempo really drops in the final third of the album until you get the sweet relief of the drum n' bass beat that comes in half way through (the excellent) closer 'Ask What Happened'. There's a bit more variety this time and as such this rates as my favourite clipping album just about.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 38th
Top 30 song of the year: Dodger |
| 33 |  | Jens Lekman
Songs for Other People's Weddings
Scrobbles: 142
Finally Jens returns with a fully focused effort after releasing a slew of more minor works over the last decade, and even more impressive is that he's delivered a concept double album that's based on an accompanying book. Ooh, la dee da. Perhaps this lyrically dense and melodically rich outing could still prove impenetrable for those unaccustomed to Lekman, but if you have the perseverance it will be rewarded; this ends up close to some sort of meisterwerk, an endearing out of step enterprise that's wholly refreshing.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 45th |
| 34 |  | Gigi Perez
At The Beach, In Every Life
Scrobbles: 141
A repetitive song writing approach but a few ear worms that gave me more of what I wanted than the latest Bon Iver effort.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 35 |  | James McMurtry
The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
Scrobbles: 138
Super reliable operator and a sturdy set of toons.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 32nd |
| 36 |  | Jim Ghedi
Wasteland
Scrobbles: 137
‘Wasteland’ is an album I’ve been anticipating for a while now, one that articulates the instinctive gut reactions of an Englishman returning home to a country he can no longer recognise (in this case coming back to dilapidated Yorkshire after time spent in Dublin), and one that specifically gets to the heart of the perverse and dispiriting identity crisis being suffered by England right now.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 4th
Top 30 song of the year: Wasteland |
| 37 |  | Geese
Getting Killed
Scrobbles: 133
Bit torn over whether this rates higher than last year's Cameron Winter solo deal...they're very close in quality, so a ringing endorsement for the Geese!
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 7th
Top 30 song of the year: Au Pays du Cocaine |
| 38 |  | The Delines
Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom
Scrobbles: 131
The Delines remain a fantastic nocturnal country soul infused follow up group to the legendary alt country masters Richmond Fontaine and Willy Vlautin certainly deserves a great deal of credit for being the mastermind behind both of these acts. His latest novel 'The Horse' is even better than his most recent music and is well worth checking out.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 26th
Top 30 song of the year: Her Ponyboy |
| 39 |  | GFOTY
INFLUENZER
Scrobbles: 128
I like there to be at leat one wtf inclusion on this list and I guess this one qualifies. She's becoming increasingly listenable!
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 40 |  | Cory Hanson
I Love People
Scrobbles: 124
Interesting stylistic change to sly retro folk rock but the compositions are catchy and the personality still shines through. Relatively disappointing after the previous solo record though.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 65th |
| 41 |  | Modern Nature
The Heat Warps
Scrobbles: 115
Still indebted to Mark Hollis but this time even more obviously moving into the space vacated by Low - as such I'd label this the best thing they've put out so far.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 82nd |
| 42 |  | Friendship
Caveman Wakes Up
Scrobbles: 113
Loose and warm Americana that's as understated as Lambchop...and destined to remain as underrated as Lambchop? Probably.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 27th
Top 30 song of the year: Resident Evil |
| 43 |  | My Morning Jacket
is
Scrobbles: 113
Enjoyable latter career romp, maybe their easiest start to finish listen? A 'sling it on and don't overthink it' semi guilty pleasure I guess.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 92nd |
| 44 |  | Half Man Half Biscuit
All Asimov and No Fresh Air
Scrobbles: 113
Worth the price of admission for the epic ventriloquist act storytelling of ‘Falmouth Electrics’ alone. All together now…”oh I do like to re-release my B-Sides…”
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 85th |
| 45 |  | Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
The Purple Bird
Scrobbles: 112
‘The Purple Bird’ should complement the mysterious and downbeat alt country of ‘I See a Darkness’, the chilly windswept folk of ‘The Letting Go’ and the skeletal ‘out of time’ solitude of ‘Master and Everyone’ as Oldham’s ‘bright full band country record’.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 20th
Top 30 song of the year: Is My Living in Vain? |
| 46 |  | Royksopp
True Electric
Scrobbles: 110
My dad sold the family holiday home two years ago so for the first time in years it's back to hotels and it's a very different experience - this album really clicked with staring at 'infinity pools' and that impersonal sun lounger vibe. The versions of 'What Else is There?' and 'Sordid Affair' are top notch.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 47 |  | Anna von Hausswolff
Iconoclasts
Scrobbles: 107
As much as the oppressive witchy atmosphere of 'Dead Magic' is 'more my vibe' than the airier/jazzier presentation here, the sheer ambition and quantity of impressive material included makes sure 'Iconoclasts' ends up the superior album at the final reckoning.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 8th
Top 30 song of the year: Struggle with the Beast |
| 48 |  | Tamino
Every Dawn's a Mountain
Scrobbles: 105
I haven't a huge amount to say about this third full length release from Tamino, it's a logical progression from its predecessors and keeps up the consistency he's (hopefully) recognised for. Detractors could say 'Every Dawn...' is predictable following 'Sahar' but I'd shoot back that he's just showing how reassuringly dependable he is.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 14th
Top 30 song of the year: Elegy |
| 49 |  | Jonny Nash
Once Was Ours Forever
Scrobbles: 103
More great guitar ambience from Nash but I wasn't drawn to this quite as much as with the previous one.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 69th |
| 50 |  | Astronauts, etc.
Professional Void
Scrobbles: 101
A complete departure...is this the same fella? The album must have intrigued me going by the plays - but I wish I'd been served up the same style as the previous two albums really.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 51 |  | The Wildhearts
Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts
Scrobbles: 101
This sounds like the work of a band that have been frozen in ice since the ‘80s…in mostly a good way. This new band Ginger has assembled around him obviously have an affinity with the era of big hair rockers - but he writes well to incorporate the more polished widescreen guitar and glam metal gang vocals into the usual Wildhearts format.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 52 |  | Midlake
A Bridge To Far
Scrobbles: 98
Very consistent album that starts and finishes especially strong with an ever so slight dip in quality in the middle - 'Eyes Full of Animal' is the exception in that stretch and is, I guess, 'a Midlake bop'. No one likes to dismiss this band as 'mid'...ok, actually I love doing that...but dare I say this release rivals 'Van Occupanther' as the least deserving of such a dismissive assessment.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 79th |
| 53 |  | Darkside
Nothing
Scrobbles: 96
One of Jaar's more rockist releases, it also takes some upbeat cues from the A.A.L project. That's a good combo in my book, this one gets straight to the groove and mostly maintains it.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 46th |
| 54 |  | Bon Iver
SABLE, fABLE
Scrobbles: 96
There's hints of what could have been here, but overall this is a forgettable release.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 55 |  | Willi Carlisle
Winged Victory
Scrobbles: 95
He's entered that 'reliable' bracket of artists now - he's not about to shock anyone but he's found that comfortable niche that satisfies.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 51st |
| 56 |  | Robert Forster
Strawberries
Scrobbles: 94
Definitely one of his strongest solo releases, his unassuming shtick still hits the ol' pay dirt in 2025.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 61st |
| 57 |  | BIG SPECIAL
National Average
Scrobbles: 93
One of those sophomore releases that is equally impressive as it is dull for following the exact same format as the debut.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 48th |
| 58 |  | Big Thief
Double Infinity
Scrobbles: 92
An exercise in how you release a decent enough new Big Thief album while also giving the relentless Lenker a bit of a break in terms of dense lyrical content and tight song craft.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 28th |
| 59 |  | Machine Head
Unatoned
Scrobbles: 89
I know I know.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 60 |  | De La Soul
Cabin in the Sky
Scrobbles: 87
Can't remember a thing about it other than it has an annoying intro you have to skip on repeat plays.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 61 |  | Steve Gunn
Daylight Daylight
Scrobbles: 84
Every year there's one, and this is crowned 'grower of 2025' - I'm going to go the whole hog and claim this the man's best work (though yeah, there's a few gaps in what I've listened to from Gunn but whatyougonnado?). Be a good lamb and give this one some thyme.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100:
Top 30 song of the year: Hadrian's Wall |
| 62 |  | Red River Dialect
Basic Country Mustard
Scrobbles: 82
Still one of the more consistent folk outfits operating but it'd be a push to label this as an essential.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 75th |
| 63 |  | Bambara
Birthmarks
Scrobbles: 81
Hmmm...ahhhh....hmmmm....hmmmph...new direction and I'm not completely sold to tell you the truth. By no means awful though and has its winning atmospheric moments.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 64 |  | Dean Wareham
That's the Price of Loving Me
Scrobbles: 81
All the best singers can't sing-core, and very touching with it too. Another minor, understated gem of 2025.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 62nd |
| 65 |  | William Fitzsimmons
Incidental Contact
Scrobbles: 81
Beneficiary of coming out in early January: 2025 edition. 'Sensitive hipster contemp-folk' is the genre, of course.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 66 |  | Dove Ellis
Blizzard
Scrobbles: 80
Not to be confused with the late Villa chairman Doug Ellis, this is some fresh Radiohead/Jeff Buckley-ish arty chamber pop fare. The most promising debut of the year no less.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 23rd |
| 67 |  | Tropical Fuck Storm
Fairyland Codex
Scrobbles: 79
One of their best efforts this one, though they still trade in a sound that's far from 'play it to death', at least in my household. You have to really be in the mood...and I'm still not sure what that mood is...the technicolour where the wild things are mood I suppose.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 29th |
| 68 |  | Tyler Childers
Snipe Hunter
Scrobbles: 79
His most snappy release, and one of the better country aligned albums of 2025.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 96th |
| 69 |  | Blood Orange
Essex Honey
Scrobbles: 77
Heartfelt but becomes unengaging across an album's length of material.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 70 |  | Lunatic Soul
The World Under The Unsun
Scrobbles: 77
Now Anathema are no more Vincent Cavanagh should really listen to the work of Lunatic Soul and try and record a solo album this good, he has such a similar vocal tone to Mariusz Duda. This is a real epic from Lunatic Soul but it holds my attention throughout the runtime, it's a world builder.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 57th |
| 71 |  | Wu-Tang and Mathematics
Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman
Scrobbles: 77
After some initial excitement this fell off a bit for me but there's some salvageable material here for sure.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 94th |
| 72 |  | Deacon Blue
The Great Western Road
Scrobbles: 76
Why is this, the 12th Deacon Blue album (and one arriving forty years after forming in 1985) their second best release overall? It's a little perverse. With 'The Great Western Road' we're looking at 60% solid, if a little unremarkable, pop rock mixed with an all important 40% swirl of Paddy McAloon style mellow sophisti-pop - and by this I mean this mix is evident on nearly all the songs rather than some being one or the other, which helps an awful lot.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 73 |  | Jason Isbell
Foxes in the Snow
Scrobbles: 76
This album is near faultless for Isbell...but at the same time not my favourite approach from him. I prefer him going a bit more full band and electric at this stage.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 34th |
| 74 |  | The Antlers
Blight
Scrobbles: 75
The (nuclear) winter version of ‘Green to Gold’ with a strong Grizzly Bear ‘Yellow House’ influence in there too, most evident on the runaway standout ‘Something in the Air’. Basically, 'It’s the end of the world (and I don’t feel fine)'.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 33rd
Top 30 song of the year: Something in the Air |
| 75 |  | Wednesday
Bleeds
Scrobbles: 74
Maybe I'm being mean but this band still land more on the 'respect' rather than 'love' side of the equation - now I'm going to be nice...this is my favourite of theirs overall.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 19th
Top 30 song of the year: Elderberry Wine |
| 76 |  | Voices From The Lake
II
Scrobbles: 74
One of the electronic albums of the year, ambient techno to sink into, might have got lost in the end of year shuffle for some folks.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 43rd |
| 77 |  | Alfa Mist
Roulette
Scrobbles: 72
This seems to be getting a muted response but I'd say Alfa Mist is proving to be one of the more consistent operators working in the contemporary jazz fusion scene. A scene I know next to square fook all about, admittedly.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 100th |
| 78 |  | Hans Chew
Land of Dreams
Scrobbles: 72
Piano led country rock is as far from the zeitgeist as you can get but this is just such a good time it matters not.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 78th |
| 79 |  | Kauan
Wayhome
Scrobbles: 72
Some of their best work, it has that majestic emotional sweep to it again.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 25th
Top 30 song of the year: Arrive / Resolve |
| 80 |  | Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter
Forever, I've Been Being Born
Scrobbles: 71
Surprisingly good, can't separate this from the quality of her previous work, has a killer vibe to it even if some of the tunes aren't all that diverting.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 81 |  | Squid
Cowards
Scrobbles: 71
Further down the Radiohead rabbit hole they go, like many intrepid musical explorers before them, but it has to be said that they're wearing the influence pretty well at this point - I'd go as far as to say this just about ranks as their best effort so far. There's still a slight lack of memorability with their work, this music is happy to reside in that experimental zone where the ear worms are short snatches of melodies, rhythms or vocal tics, rather than full songful compositions you'll be humming the rest of the day.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 88th |
| 82 |  | Biohazard
Divided We Fall
Scrobbles: 70
This sounding so youthful and punchy is a surprise - their best in a very very long time, but still inessential unless you're feeling nostalgic.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 83 |  | Robert Plant
Saving Grace
Scrobbles: 70
Typical tasteful latter career Plant solo fodder that lands somewhere between awesome and snoresome.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 84 |  | The Swell Season
Forward
Scrobbles: 70
Very pretty in places but somewhat spotty.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 85 |  | Grant-Lee Phillips
In the Hour of Dust
Scrobbles: 69
Still a great vocalist but the song writing is too pedestrian - superior background music.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 86 |  | Junk Drawer
Days of Heaven
Scrobbles: 69
One of the better slices of indie rock this year, strangely emanating from Belfast.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 87 |  | Neko Case
Neon Grey Midnight Green
Scrobbles: 69
An unexciting latter career workout but all very professional, worth a spin for fans.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 88 |  | Greg Freeman
Burnover
Scrobbles: 68
Still Molina influenced but finding his own voice on this one.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 37th |
| 89 |  | Califone
The Villager's Companion
Scrobbles: 68
'When have I ever given anyone what they want?' - every Califone album release day Mr Tim Rutili, swoon. Even when it's a companion piece B-Sides thingy.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 90 |  | Paradise Lost
Ascension
Scrobbles: 65
Classy but also a teeny bit dull, this being the 2000th Paradise Lost album. I jest, this probably rates somewhere in their top ten but I can't get any more decisive than that. They keep trucking.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 91st |
| 91 |  | Viagra Boys
Viagr Aboys
Scrobbles: 65
Yes, the band I consider to be baby stranglers return in fine, catchy form. Sorry, I must clarify...the band I consider the baby version of 'The Stranglers' are back. Four albums in can they still be considered a baby anything? Babies will be all grown up by album five I promise.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 55th |
| 92 |  | Shame (UK)
Cutthroat
Scrobbles: 64
Another change of style album in 2025...but this one was a decidedly mixed bag. Hard to get a handle on, so for that reason as much as anything else it called me back.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 93 |  | Saint Etienne
International
Scrobbles: 63
Their swansong, just as I'm starting to understand the appeal of this band.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 82nd |
| 94 |  | Joanne Robertson
Blurrr
Scrobbles: 62
Her best album, should be her breakout album but maybe there's not the hunger for that atmospheric Grouper style deconstructed folk right now?
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 39th |
| 95 |  | Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke
Tall Tales
Scrobbles: 61
Couple of good ones here and always interesting what Thom gravitates to, but overall was left stuck on the fence with this.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 96 |  | Melody's Echo Chamber
Unclouded
Scrobbles: 60
Entirely pleasant and the easiest Echo Chamber entry point...but no earth shaker.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 97 |  | Memotone
Smallest Things
Scrobbles: 59
I have the smallest amount of things to say about this other than at this rate Memotone will end up my most played artist of 2030.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: didn't qualify |
| 98 |  | Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band
New Threats From The Soul
Scrobbles: 59
Longest alt country songs in the land. Somehow don't overstay their welcome.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 31st |
| 99 |  | Blut Aus Nord
Ethereal Horizons
Scrobbles: 59
By Blut Aus Nord standards this almost qualifies as easy listening, but as ever this is super accomplished and addictive.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 30th |
| 100 |  | Songs of Green Pheasant
Sings the Passing
Scrobbles: 59
One of my finds of the year, even if it's a bit 'bandcamp geography teacher' type folk.
Actual Position in my 2025 Top 100: 38th |
| 101 |  | Veilburner
Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy
EXTRAS
Remaining Top 100:
13th: Veilburner - Longing for Triumph
42nd: Bruit - The Age of Ephemerality
47th: Insecure Men - A Man for All Seasons
49th: Niechec - Reckless Things
50th: Sandwell District - End Beginnings
52nd: Oldstar - Of the Highway
53rd: Hannah Frances - Nested in Tangles
58th: Baxter Dury - Allbarone
59th: Clark - Steep Stims
60th: Esoctrilihum - Ghostigmatah
63rd: Hayden Pedigo - I'll Be Waving
66th: Maruja - Pain to Power
67th: Quade - The Foal Tower
68th: Perfume Genius - Glory
70th: Nathan Salsburg - Ipsa Corpora
71st: Steve Von Till - Alone in a World of Wounds
72nd: William Tyler - Time Indefinite
73rd: Colin Miller - Losin'
75th: Gloios - Polvorosa
76th: Grab - Kremess
77th: Stimming - Friedrich
81st: Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo - In the Earth Again
83rd: Shallowater - God's Going to Give You
93rd: Joshua Burnside - Teeth of Time
95th: Patterson Hood - Exploding Trees
99th: Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power |
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