2025 Faves / 20 years of this...
I noticed the other day marked twenty(!) years since I made this account (I’d created one in the spring of ’05 coming over from mxtabs but later forgot the password). Kinda wild to think about… I was just a kid eagerly discovering new music, reading (and probably writing) track-by-track reviews, buying CDs at the mall or the secondhand shop downtown and hunting down megaupload files to load up tunes on my beloved 1st Gen iPod…a simpler time (in hindsight anyway). I’m not very active on here these days and I have no idea what state of the site is even in, but I remember the first few years really felt like being part of a community and I was grateful because I had no one else to really talk music with (besides classic rock with my dad). I discovered a ton of great music, lots of which I still listen to today and which I would've likely never even heard about were it not for this site (or wouldn’t have found as soon as I did). Anyway I still drop by now and then to rate a few albums or read the occasional review, more out of habit than anything. I don't know why I felt compelled to write all this, but I did.
List is 2025 releases I checked out/enjoyed, since I try to make one of these things every year. Order isn’t very strict, gets even less so as it goes on. Let’s see if the third time trying to submit this list is the charm. |
| 1 |  | PUP
Who Will Look After the Dogs?
My most listened to album of the year by a considerable margin. I’ve loved these guys ever since I saw them open for the Menzingers in 2014, and they are still at the top of their game (despite the less than stellar average rating on this site). Top tracks: Concrete, Hallways, Needed to Heat It |
| 2 |  | Alex G
Headlights
One of my favourite guys making music these days. It seems he’s only getting bigger and has caught on with the younger crowd and good for him. It’s well deserved. Top tracks: June Guitar, Oranges, Louisiana |
| 3 |  | Frog
1000 Variations on the Same Song
Love how prolific Frog is these days. I listened the shit out of this album. Top tracks: WHERE DO I SIGN, HOUSEBROKEN, MIXTAPE LINER NOTES |
| 4 |  | Friendship
Caveman Wakes Up
Another band I’ve listened to in passing over the years but finally and totally fell in love with, and that’s because this album fucking rules. Top Tracks: Hollow Skulls, Tree of Heaven, Resident Evil (really this one’s great top to bottom). |
| 5 |  | Ryan Davis and The Roadhouse Band
New Threats From The Soul
My favourite discovery of the year. Lyrically this guy is among the very best in the game right now, for my money. And if his appearance on the Kreative Control podcast is any indication, he seems like a genuinely good guy. |
| 6 |  | Jeff Tweedy
Twilight Override
Jeff’s back with a mammoth of an album and some of his best songs yet. A songwriting machine. I can listen to 'Enough' on repeat. |
| 7 |  | Wednesday
Bleeds
Their best and/or my favourite album yet. Wound Up Here (By Holdin on) might be fave Wednesday song. |
| 8 |  | Greg Freeman
Burnover
Was looking forward to this one after digging his debut. Wasn't let down. Recommended if you’re into that whole alt country/indie rock sound as I am. |
| 9 |  | The Smith Street Band
Once I Was Wild
One of my very favourite bands since I got into 'em back in 2013, I always look forward to a new SSB album and they are still churning out some of their best work (even if this site seems to have stopped caring about them a few years back - I remember 'Throw Me in the River' was being pretty hyped on here). Top tracks: American Heaven, The Morning After, Star Child |
| 10 |  | Snocaps
Snocaps
a very nice surprise from the Crutchfield sisters and MJ Lenderman (sorry I don't know the other people in the band) |
| 11 |  | Mac DeMarco
Guitar
Is Mac not cool anymore? Was he ever cool? I don’t know. I like Mac, and have for a while. And he’s back with this first ‘real’ album since 2019. I like this album quite a bit, was a pleasant surprise. Mac has settled into a sweet spot one might write-off complacent, or say he's past his prime, but I think there’s some real strong writing here and some of his most quietly infectious songs in a long time, like Shining and Nightmare. |
| 12 |  | Friends in Real Life
Friends in Real Life
I’ve been a fan of Pat since stumbling across ‘Love Songs for the Apocalypse’ way back in the day. One of the most underrated songwriters out there and a voice I respect. I was happy to hear a new release from him. Guy’s been through it. |
| 13 |  | Craig Finn
Always Been
One of my favourite living songwriters and the vocalist for one of my all-time favourite bands. Finn’s one of those guys for me where with each new album I think ‘this might be his best outing yet’, but with this one I might actually be right. Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs) produced this one and you can definitely tell (though whether that’s a good thing depends on you - I like it). Top tracks: Fletcher’s, Luke & Leanna, People of Substance |
| 14 |  | Shame (UK)
Cutthroat
I’ve listened to these here and there in the past but never totally clicked with them. This one felt more immediate, with Quiet Life, Plaster, and Spartak being among my most listened to songs of 2025 |
| 15 |  | Algernon Cadwallader
Trying Not To Have A Thought
Liked these guys a lot in my early 20s. A new LP in 2025 was not on my bingo card. And it's good! |
| 16 |  | Saintseneca
High Walllow and Supermoon Songs
I liked 'Such Things' when it came out in 2015 and this is about on par with that one. Indie folky stuff that grows on ya. |
| 17 |  | Elway
Nobody's Going To Heaven
Solid band, solid album. I’ve got nothing to really add here, but I’m glad these guys are still putting out albums because they’re…solid. |
| 18 |  | The Brokedowns
Let’s Tip The Landlord
ditto the above |
| 19 |  | Car Seat Headrest
The Scholars
This was came out while I was in Japan and I remember putting it on on the train from Osaka to Kyoto and just being like ‘hell yeah this sounds great’ but I almost never return listen to it in full anymore (those 20 minute songs man) but The Catastrophe is one of my favourite CSH songs and I come back to that one quite a bit. |
| 20 |  | Laura Stevenson
Late Great
Laura's just great |
| 21 |  | Geese
Getting Killed
Honestly I don’t think I’d even heard of these guys before September and then overnight it seemed they were everywhere. I dig em though. Cobras, Taxes, and Au Pays du Cocaine... Last LP isn't bad either. |
| 22 |  | Big Thief
Double Infinity
Comparison is the (big) thief of joy, so I will not compare this to DNWMIBIU and just say I liked this and it's grown on me. ‘Los Angeles’ in constant rotation. Lenker is an interesting one, got a unique thing going. |
| 23 |  | Destroyer
Dan’s Boogie
Dan churns em out, I check em out. I’ve accepted that I’ll probably never truly LOVE an album of his (tho Kaputt comes close) but he’s consistent, and I dig him quite a bit. |
| 24 |  | The Mountain Goats
Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
Darnielle is one of the (mountain) GOATS |
| 25 |  | Jonathan Richman
Only Frozen Sky Anyway
A few years back I became basically obsessed with Jonathan Richman. His music simply puts me in a good mood, and has been the soundtrack for countless trips around this country and neighbouring countries - I remember the first time ‘I, Jonathan’ really clicked was in back Cambodia back in 2022, I was in a van full of locals driving from Sihanoukville to Kampot, the 100km trip taking about five hours because the road was so underdeveloped (felt like driving on the moon) but we were having fun (the driver frequently stopped for beer at the passengers request) and I had some good tunes and that may have been where it all started. ANYWAY - I was just happy to have a new Richman release in 2025. Nothing really touches his 80s/early 90s stuff for me (I’m separating his solo work from the Modern Lovers) but I enjoyed this for what it was. He's still at it, and he's still got it. |
| 26 |  | Frog
The Count
Blessed with not one but two Frog Lps this year...unfortunately this one doesn't come close to the first one but what can I say...I like Frog. |
| 27 |  | Japanese Breakfast
For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
A step down from Jubilee to be sure but I like Honey Water, Picture Window and a few others. Nice overall, but didn’t keep me coming back like the last one. |
| 28 |  | Liquid Mike
Hell Is An Airport
New discovery me this year, these guys. Solid power pop/pop punk/indie rock/whatever ya wanna call it. Fun jams. |
| 29 |  | Cory Hanson
I Love People
Another new discovery, this guy. He loves people. I like this album. |
| 30 |  | Laura Jane Grace
Adventure Club
Don't return to it much but 'Poison in Me' is one of the my favourite songs Laura's written since going solo |
| 31 |  | The Smoking Popes
Lovely Stuff
First song is definitely lovely stuff |
| 32 |  | Home Is Where
Hunting Season
Need to return. I like their sound and a few songs, but remember this dragging a little...will return. |
| 33 |  | Tyler, the Creator
Don't Tap The Glass
Listened to this like 3 times when it came out but honestly can't remember much of it |
| 34 |  | Propagandhi
At Peace
I was very excited at the prospect of new Propagandhi in 2025 (even if I haven't really loved anything since Supporting Caste), so I'll have to go back and give this another go, see if I can connect with it more. |
| 35 |  | The Dirty Nil
The Lash
Another band I used to really like but like a little less with each album but keep coming back to because they're local and they know how to make bangers... I was just indifferent to most of this though. Spider Dream's pretty good. |
| 36 |  | Sharp Pins
Balloon Balloon Balloon
new discovery. very GBV-esque. |
| 37 |  | Guided by Voices
Thick, Rich And Delicious
Almost forgot about this but the above reminded me of it. 'Lucy's World' is great. gbv forever. |
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