The music left my heart on my birthday, January 10, 2025. Nearly a year later, I am not whole and never will be again. But Chris wouldn't want music to be absent from my heart. It was his life, and it was a big part of our relationship. I didn't listen to any music at all for the first couple of months of 2025 until the new GBV album came out, and I didn't listen to it that much, either. Eventually, though, I had to hit Play.
I saw a couple of live shows in March - Inhaler and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, both sitting down because of a broken ankle. Snow Patrol was in April, a seated show when the whole crowd stood up, me included. I didn't see another show until Gin Blossoms on June 11, the day I lost my job of ten years. Pigs Pigs Pigs came later in the month at 9:30 Club. Heedfest Labor Day weekend. Waterboys, Pulp, Garbage, Kingfisher, and David Byrne in September. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in October. Flock of Dimes and The Saints in November. That was it. Thirteen shows and the GBV fanfest, just a third of what I saw in 2024.
2025 saw the release of dozens of albums from some of my all time favorite artists and other bands I like, many that I missed when they came out. While everyone is gushing about Turnstile and Geese, many established acts put out some great albums that have been overlooked. Here are some of my favorite albums from 2025:
1. Guided By Voices - Thick, Rich and Delicious
Of course I'm going to be biased towards any album GBV puts out, but this one is on another level and it's a shame it doesn't top every single list of this sort. This is Bob Pollard at his best and the best album of 2025. I will forever cherish getting to hear its debut with the band in Dayton back in August. Why haven't you listened yet?
Standout tracks: Don't Go Back to Oxford (Talawanda), Phantasmorphic Upstarts, Lucy's World, Our Man Syracuse, Tribute to Beetle Bob, Replay, Siren, The Lighthouse Resurrection, Captain Kangaroo Won the War, basically all of them
2. Doves - Constellations for the Lonely
This is the first Doves album since 2020 and the second since 2009. How it didn't get more attention is puzzling to the point of indignation. I've absolutely loved this band since I learned about them from Larry Mullen, Jr. back in 2000. Rooting for lead singer Jimi Goodwin to get well soon. Would love to see him on tour. God, this album is just so great.
Standout tracks: Renegade, Cold Dreaming, In the Butterfly House, Strange Weather, Stupid Schemes, all of them
3. Pulp - More
Pulp's first album since 2001 is unbelievably good and has been included on many of 2025's best lists. Jarvis is a poet for the people, as songs like A Sunset show. I can't gush enough about the Anthem show in September. I can't gush enough about Pulp. One of my favorite bands ever.
Standout tracks: Spike Island, Grown Ups, The Hymn of the North, A Sunset
4. Guided By Voices - Universe Room
The first of two GBV records to be released in 2025. A lot of great tunes on this album. I should take a second to express how much I love Kevin March, the perfect drummer for GBV's collage-style songs, switching up times and rhythms without a blink. This whole lineup is just so damn good.
Standout tracks: I Couldn't See the Light, I Will Be a Monk, Great Man, Clearly Aware, Dawn Believes, Hers Purple, Independent Animal
5. David Byrne - Who Is the Sky?
My favorite show of 2025 was David Byrne at the Anthem, though admittedly it was the Talking Heads songs that made it so. (My dream of a Talking Heads reunion at Sphere lives on.) Still, songs from this fantastic album were thrilling to hear. This is genius at work. Bonus: Moisturizing Thing is hilarious.
Standout tracks: Everybody Laughs, My Apartment Is My Friend, What Is the Reason for It?, Don't Be Like That
Pete Doherty - Felt Better Alive
Honestly can't believe Pete Doherty has made it this long. He got married, moved to Normandy, had a kid, ditched the drugs, and is making good music with his bands Libertines and Babyshambles in addition to this excellent solo effort. Glad he finally got his life together. He's a great talent.
Standout tracks: Calvados, The Day the Baron Died, Felt Better Alive, Poca Mahoney's, Pretre De La Mer
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be the Light
This is one of Garbage's better albums of the past couple of decades. The Anthem show in September was one of my favorite shows of the year. I just hope it wasn't the last time I get to see them live.
Standout tracks: There's No Future in Optimism, Hold, Have We Met (The Void), Love to Give, The Day That I Met God
Neko Case - Neon Grey Midnight Green
One half of the singing duo for one of my favorite bands, New Pornographers, and a fantastic solo artist, Neko Case runs circles around today's female pop stars. Another gem to add to her collection. The title track from this album absolutely rocks.
Standout tracks: Destination, Wreck, An Ice Age, Neon Grey Midnight Green
Sharp Pins - Balloons Balloons Balloons
Lo-fi retro with some downright Beatlesque tunes written by talented twenty year old, Kai Slater. This is a side project to his post-punk band, Lifeguard. You'll find it difficult to believe how young this guy is listening to this album. Looking forward to hearing his music for a long time.
Standout tracks: I Could Find Out, I Don't Adore You, I Don't Have the Heart
Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking
Another top 25 band for me. Always topical, always critical, always righteous, always good pop songs.
Standout tracks: Critical Thinking, Decline and Fall, Hiding in Plain Sight, People Ruin Paintings, Being Baptised
The Beths - Straight Line Was a Circle
New Zealand's hottest band have been nailing it on their albums since their debut in 2018. This one is no exception.
Standout tracks: Straight Line Was a Circle, No Joy, Metal, Mother Pray for Me, Til My Heart Stops, Take, Ark of the Covenant
Rip Van Winkle - Blasphemy
Did you think I would leave a Pollard record off this list? One of many of Bob's non-GBV projects. Something a little different, but Bob all the same.
Standout tracks: Six Black Horses, By the Water, Quiver and Quill
Ex-Void - In Love Again
I didn't know much about this band except they were from London and this was their second album, but I guess they broke up in October and there will never be another one. Too bad. This is some good straight-up pop.
Standout tracks: Swansea, In Love Again, Pinhead, Sara, Strange Insinuation, Down the Drain, Outline
Counting Crows - Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!
Two words can describe this album: comfortable and nostalgic. It's a good album. It's not breaking any new ground, but it will give you all the feels you had in their nineties heyday. Sometimes you just need that.
Standout tracks: With Love From A-Z, Boxcars, Bobby and the Rat-Kings
Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory - Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory
Siouxsie Sioux vibes going on in this one, a departure for Van Etten. Not a bad song on it.
Standout tracks: I Can't Imagine (Why You Feel This Way), Something Ain't Right
Horsegirl - Phonetics On and On
This Chicago indie band has a folksy feel. A record for a quiet mood.
Standout tracks: 2468, Switch Over, Frontrunner
Lifeguard - Ripped and Torn
Kai Slater channeling his inner Fugazi. Travel back to the seventies with this twenty year old talent.
Standout tracks: It Will Get Worse
Geese - Getting Killed
Well, it is a good album. Maybe not worth all the hype, but worth listening to. Every now and then I hear Van Morrison in these songs.
Standout tracks: Cobra, Getting Killed, Long Island City Here I Come
Biggest disappointment of 2025? Hands down Arcade Fire's Pink Elephant. A real snoozer. That's the third mediocre album in a row, each worse than the last. I hope it isn't the end of the band.
Also, the Bob Mould album disappointed me. I couldn't get over the boring drumming.
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