Favorite Albums of 2025
Every year I find joy in revisiting all of the albums I've listened to throughout the year and compose a list of my favorites to share.
2025 was a year spent with less new music than most, but I still enjoyed a lot of really great music! I hope you will check out some of the artists and albums listed below.
Ghosted Trio: Ghosted III
Jazz, Experimental
When Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling & Andreas Werliin get together to make music, magic happens. Oren’s soundscapes paired with Johan’s thudding baselines, and Andreas’ mathematical percussion will take you places.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “Chahar”
Orcutt Shelley Miller: s/t
Instrumental, Alternative, Jazz
This is the trio I didn’t know I needed. Bill Orcutt is a guitar virtuoso. In this album he got together with Sonic Youth’s drummer Steve Shelly and bass player Ethan Miller to craft my favorite album of 2025. I don’t think there’s been a single time I put this album on and didn’t just let it finish. Despite Orcutt’s guitar work, I think Ethan’s basslines might steal the show for me here.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “A Star Is Born”
Rafael Toral: Traveling Light
Ambient Jazz, Experimental
Rafael Toral was a new find for me this year. This album is full of droning ambient electronic soundscapes. Heavily processed guitar is featured throughout, and is a route to inner peace each time I put it on.
Bandcamp / Apple Music
Key Track: Easy Living
Panda Bear: Sinister Grift
Indie, Experimental
“Sinister Grift” got my attention with the Cindy Lee collab “Defense”. I haven’t paid close attention to the last Panda Bear releases, and I’m thinking that’s a shame because this album is outstanding.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “Defense”
Vibin' Psybin and the Sunlight Band: To the Wind EP
Indie Rock, Psychedelic
Vibin' Psybin and the Sunlight Band is the creative outlet for Joseph Cochran. The “To The Wind” EP is a wonderful showcase of his songwriting and guitar playing. The title track “To the Wind” is a journey I’m happy to go on each time I hit play. I think his full-length album “Reflections” is due in 2026…be on the lookout.
Key Track: “To The Wind”
Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band: New Threats From The Soul
Americana, Indie Rock
Add beautifully lyrical storytelling with indie Americana music and I’ll be hooked. Put on the title track and I have a hard time thinking you’d be able to hit skip.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “New Threats From the Soul”
Alex G: Headlights
Indie Rock
Trace Mountains and Wild Pink made my 2024 list and this Alex G release is in the same family. Absolutely phenomenal songwriting, beautiful musical compositions, and groove define this one.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “Afterlife”
Cole Pulice: Land's End Eternal
Ambient Jazz
Cole Pulice might be the modern master of ambient sax. This is an album full of “shimmering, otherworldly beauty” and deserves to be put on anytime you need to find your center in meditation.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “After the Rain”
Destroyer: Dan's Boogie
Indie Rock, Alternative
It’s almost a guarantee that if Dan Bejar (Destroyer) releases an album, it will be on my year-end best-of list. This album harkens back to his 2007 album “Destroyer’s Rubies” which is one of my favorites. Poetry put to blistering guitars throughout…
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: "Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World"
Fepeste: This World Ain't Mine To Change
Indie Rock
This album was my introduction to the songwriting and composition of Eric Jett. While the songwriting is great, I really fell in love with the music here. I know Eric is a huge fan of Velvet Blue Music and the inspiration he has taken from Richard Swift, Frank Lenz, and Jason Martin are very evident here.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “Gotta Sing It”
Ronnie Martin: Consume Like A Moth What Is Dear
Analogue Electronic Pop
Ronnie Martin continues his musical renaissance under his own name. This album is full of amazing analog synth programming, beautiful lyrics, and amazing artwork.
That I may
Walk before God in the light of life
For my soul tonight
Is forever bound in light
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: "That I May Walk, Before God in the Light of Life"
Fine China: I Felt Called
Indie Rock
“I Felt Called” is the culminating artistic statement from a band I’ve loved for nearly 30 years now. In 2024 they released a couple EPs experimenting in New Age compositions. This album combines those experiments with Rob’s natural pop sensibilities and songwriting. It’s always inspiring to see artists making their best albums late into their ‘careers’.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “No Long Face”
Nils Frahm: Night
Solo Piano, Classical
Nils Frahm goes back to his solo piano roots and put out one of my favorite ‘chill out’ releases of 2025. I’m a sucker for solo piano compositions and Nils always hits the spot.
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: Wesen
Wednesday: Bleeds
Alternative, Indie Rock
This is one of those albums you listen to and wish you had it growing up. It’s full of all the emotions you feel growing up in a small town…
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: “Townies”
'•. ¸¸ .•´¯data cluster ¯'•. ¸¸ .•´: Coalescence
Electronic, IDM, Experimental
Thanks to my buddy Steve for pointing me to this one. This is an album full of electronic texture. I think that’s the best way to describe it. It’s a must-listen for fans of Autechre!
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music
Key Track: Panorama
