2025 was an interesting year. Here is my 2025 mix.
50. You Without Me by Brandi Carlile
OK I'm a sucker for songs of a parent talking to their child, especially as my daughter was running toward turning 16.
49. Billionaire by Kathleen Edwards
I like Kathleen Edwards and enjoyed this album. A couple of songs stood out to me, "Billionaire" being one of them. Love her sound.
48. Lay Me Down by Mabel
Not as much electronica this year, but this song was a fun one.
47. Here All Night by Demi Lovato
I find that I like Lovato when she's making straight pop and that's what this song is, a fun tune to dance around to or run to.
46. Feeling by Billie Marten
I like the vibe of this song. As we head toward the 2000 influences, I find this to be a good representative of the good from that time. I could hear this song on the Starbucks label, you remember that.
45. Pretend You're God by Miley Cyrus
Not the best Miley Cyrus, but she always manages to have a few good songs per album and this one works.
44. Elinam by Yukimi
Part of the group Little Dragon this is Yukimi Nagano's first solo album. She's a very good vocalist and the album though not great is a solid album with some good songs.
43. Pockets by Panic Shack
OK this band made me smile the most this year. Just a fun album with some fun songs like this one. A bit crude and vulgar, but sometimes that's the point of youth.
42. TARDIS by Greentea Peng
I really like the sound of this song.
41. It's Not Your Fault by Max McNown
The best country artist I've heard in a while, I really like this album. Great voice and nice to hear a country artist singing about something other than beer, God, and guns.
40. Godspeed by Erin LeCount
Such a great throwback song to the mid 2010's just enjoyed it.
39. Fast by Demi Lovato
Like I said I like it when Lovato is doing straight pop.
38. Hush Baby, Hurry Slowly by Sigrid
OK I have a thing for Sigrid. I just like her vibe her thoughts as a lyricist and find her music enjoyable. I don't know that we'll ever get as good an album as her debut, but I'll be here for whatever she does going forward as long as she give us some good pop songs.
37. Say Goodbye, Tell No One by Kathleen Edwards
I like Kathleen Edwards' sound as I said, but I also enjoy her mature lyrics. It's nice to hear someone talking about life in a very straightforward way.
36. Richardson by Shura
Like Sigrid I'm there for Shura and I did enjoy this album. Very different in many ways, but I like the chill vibe she brought to this album.
35. T.H. by Sault
I found this album interesting. I liked it, but then at the same time I found it too repetitive. This song was by far the best one and I really like the feel of it.
34. mOnumental by Asian Glow
Another album where I liked the sound and the feel but felt a bit underwhelmed overall. This song stood out to me and in many ways it feels the most 2025 of anything I heard this year.
33. Favourite Daughter by Lorde
When I think back to Lorde's debut this is not the direction I thought her sound would go. The album was OK but I do like this song.
32. Leonard Street by Shura
Continuing on the vibe of the last song.
31. He's Not You by Sally Shapiro
Another artist I'll be there for. I really like Sally Shapiro. Their music just feels like home to me.
30. Personal Best by Panic Shack
My daughter ran cross country this year and this became her go to song ahead of each race.
29. Break Me Down by Yukimi
As I said I really like Yukimi's abilities as a vocalist and I like the sound and vibe of this song.
28. Mega Circuit by Japanese Breakfast
This was one of the first albums I listened to in 2025 and I found myself enjoying this song all year.
27. Striptease by FKA Twigs
This album did not disappoint and this was literally the first song I added to my best of 2025 list in Jauary.
26. World's Worst Girlfriend by Shura
This is a great video and so on brand with Shura.
25. The Touch by Ashley Monroe
Ashley Monroe is another artist I can't quit and she always delivers a couple of songs on each album that I really enjoy.
24. Take Me Back to LA by The Weeknd
This whole album was so The Weeknd. He can't help but make these enticing songs.
23. Pompeii Statues by Benjamin Booker
I couldn't get away from this song all year. Not sure why, but I really dig the vibe of it.
22. Sacred by Samia
I really enjoyed this album. The feel the lyrics, her vocal performance across the songs.
21. Enything by quickly quickly
A fun song.
20. Hard to Love by Sally Shapiro
Sally Shapiro still getting it done 16 years after I first discovered them.
19. Here is Someone by Japanese Breakfast
I spoke earlier about the influences of the 2000's in an album, this one falls under that spell as well.
18. Night Driving by Max McNown
Not sure why Max McNown isn't a big star. Love his vocals and the sound of this whole album.
17. The Other Days by Sally Shapiro
This is such classic Sally Shapiro.
16. Do It Again by Sigrid
I thought this album was a strong bounce back for Sigrid.
15. Baptized in Fear by The Weeknd
As I said he seems to create these songs with such ease.
14. Easy Lover by Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus is still a very good vocalist. This album I thought was a bit rough around the edges and had the feeling of an album that felt very throw away, but she can still pull off these songs.
13. Post Breakup Beauty by Kevin Abstract
Maybe the best vibe song of the year. Not enough R&B in my life this last year.
12. Glum by Hayley Williams
Now we are getting into the songs that I fell into this year and for some reason felt a connection to. This was one such song. Maybe it was the timing of when I was listening to it, but this song really hit a chord with me.
11. Canyon by Cam
Cam is so good. I really don't understand why she isn't a big star. This album was solid, though not as good as her last two albums.
10. Sticky by FKA Twigs
She had me at referencing one of her older songs that I still listen to all the time.
9. Dare by Samia
The album that stuck with me the most this year was this album from Samia.
8. Cry For Me by The Weeknd
A lot of this year for me was about the mood I found myself in. Listening to this top 12 I'm realizing that I guess i was feeling a bit dark this year.
7. This House by quickly quickly
Look if you are feeling a bit down and want to take a walk somewhere alone this is a good song to throw on the mix.
6. Jellyfish by Sigrid
Just me and you and all our insecurities
If you go dancing, I'll go dancing too
If you're a loser, then I'm just like you
5. Everblue by Cam
Like I said Cam is very good. If you haven't listened to Cam give her a try.
4. Amen Love by Ashley Monroe
Since I discovered Ashley Monroe I don't know if anyone does a better job than her of getting songs like this onto her album. These desperation love songs are a specialty of hers I would say.
3. Perfect Stranger by FKA Twigs
I hold onto this idea that if FKA Twigs wanted to, she could make one of the best electronic pop albums of the century.
2. Love I Couldn't Mend by Mac McNown
As I said I really like his sound and the songs. This is such a classic American country rock song I'm not sure how it didn't find a larger audience.
1. Lizard by Samia
I think the hardest part of being in your 20's is having no idea what the hell you are doing with your life. Samia is 29 years old and I think this album does a great job of reflecting what if feels like as you are about to move into your 30's. There is still the youthfulness of being in your 20's but also a doubt of the person you are or the people around you. Growing up is right in front of you and should have been in front of you long before, but now it's right there. This whole album had this feel, but nothing more to me than this song.
