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My 7th Annual “Year In Music” Review: Top 20 & 35 Honorable Mentions.

December 21, 2025 / / No comments

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“In a world on fire,

music is my one sure thing.”

 

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I confessed to a musician friend recently that I was spending far too much time organizing my “best of” music list for the year. That it felt self-important and, well, dumb. I’d say that “nobody cares” but, well, here you are. So I’m not alone after all.

And isn’t that the writing life in a nutshell?

Here or not, I’d do it anyway. But thanks for being here. Pull up a crate, there’s chips in the bowl.

Anyway, my friend quickly countered that it wasn’t dumb — it was a reflective way to take stock of the art that made a dent.

So: Blame Eric for the outrage that follows.

I feel like more than ever, music has pulled me through a difficult year. A distraction, a pleasure, an obsession & inspiration. In a world on fire, music is my one sure thing. It might be too much to say that I owe music my life. But it’s not entirely wrong, either. I don’t know. Living without music would be like existing in a world without trees or meadows, birds or clouds, wind or rocks or mountaintops.

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The truth is, I’ve been intensely, passionately listening to music since my youngest days, the baby in a family of seven children, in a house filled with records and powerful influences. Weaned (not Weened!) on Dylan and the Stones and whatever else I was digesting in 1966 at five years old. During the birth of rock’s greatest era, I was a sponge soaking up the atmosphere.

A quick word about process: This year, I listened to 598 full-length albums. Starting seven years ago, I began to keep meticulous track. This year, I listened to 168 full albums that were released in 2025. Obviously, there’s a lot I’ve missed. And a lot, assuredly, I didn’t really hear. I am aware that when an album doesn’t connect, the fault is often with the listener. Failing to hear deeply enough, attend thoughtfully enough. My apologies all around.

What makes an album push its way to the front? How does it get on the list? I wish I knew. But when I pretend to know, I say that in art I most admire singularity. The album that only one artist or band could have made, no one else. That feels powerful and original. For the annual list, I also seek a wide range, breadth, because that’s how I listen, a little bit all over the map. 

I’m just a guy, this isn’t perfect. Hopefully you find something new, worth checking out. I love a lot of music, and I enjoyed so much new music that isn’t represented here. Catch me in a month and I’d probably lop five off and urgently add five new ones. 

What follows is my Top 20 and then 35 Honorable Mentions. 

 

 

TOP 20 (in alphabetical order)

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Annahstasia: Tether 

Bad Bunny: Debi Tirar Mas Fotos

Beirut: A Study of Loses

Blood Orange: Essex Honey

Laura Cannell: The Visible Light of Other Worlds 

Clipse: Let God Sort Em Out 

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse: New Threats from Soul

Alex G: Headlights

Geese: Getting Killed

S.G. Goodman: Planting by the Signs

Horsegirl: Phonetics On and On

Salif Keita: So Kono 

Ben Kweller: Cover the Mirrors

Linda May Han Oh: Strange Heavens 

Juana Molina: DOGA @ 2025 

Wednesday: Bleeds

Sharp Pins: Balloon Balloon Balloon

Alan Sparhawk w/ Trampled By Turtles: s/t

Yann Tiersen: Rathlin from a Distance/Liquid Hour

Jeff Tweedy: Twilight Overdrive

 

 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

 

 

JAZZ 

Fieldwork: Thereupon 

James Brandon Lewis: Apples Cores

Myra Melford: Myra Melford Splash

 

 

 

 

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ROCK, INDIE 

Big Thief: Double Infinity

Craig Finn: Always Been 

Robert Forster: Strawberries

Friendship: Caveman Wakes Up

Fust: Big Ugly @ 2025 

Liminanas: Fader 

Cass McCombs: Interior Live Oak

Mekons: Horror

Perfume Genius: Glory 

Joanne Robertson: Blurry

Gruff Rhys: Dim Probs 

Stereolab: Instant Hologram on Metal Film

Wreckless Eric: England Screaming

The Beths: Straight Line Was a Lie

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AMERICANA, FOLK, COUNTRY & ALT-COUNTRY 

Sam Amidon: Salt River

Jason Boland & the Stranglers: Last Kings of Babylon

Bonnie “Prince” Billy: The Purple Bird

Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunter

Richard Dawson: End of the Middle 

Florry: Sounds Like . . . 

Greg Freeman: Burn-over

Will Johnson: Diamond City

Hayden Pedigo: I’ll Be Waving . . 

Esther Rose: Want

 

EXPERIMENTAL, AMBIENT, NEW MUSIC 

Wednesday Knudsen: Atrium

William Tyler, Kieran Hebden: 41 Longfield Street

Water From Your Eyes: It’s a Beautiful Place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HIP HOP, R & B, WORLD

Mulatu Astatke: Mulatu Plays Umlaut

Jim Legxacy: Black British Music

Little Simz: Lotus

Rosalia: LUX @ 2025

Songhoy Blues: Heritage

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Artists pictured, top to bottom: Annahstasia, Alan Sparhawk, Karly Hartman (Wednesday), Juana Molina, Devonte Hynes (Blood Essex), Laura Cannell, Salif Keita, Linda May Han Oh, Horsegirl, Geese, Clipse.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

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Talking to the Bassist from The Vivian Girls at the Woodsist Music Festival

September 25, 2025 / / No comments

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I recently attended a two-day “Woodsist” music festival with my daughter Maggie at Arrowood Farms in Accord, NY. This was our second trip to Arrowood together, nearly a tradition. The first time it poured. We wore heavy yellow rain suits for two days. Despite our sunniest efforts, we felt waterlogged and weary by the end of it.

Not this year!

The weather was a gift, sunny and warm, all weekend.

On Day Two, we enjoyed a set by The Vivian Girls, an all-female rock trio. It was a lively set, full of blistering energy and good vibes. The truth is, it’s still a thrill whenever I see an all-female band. A band that rocks, that takes the stage, and owns it — and just so happens to be made up of women.

Later that day, as sometimes happens at festivals, I was wandering around and saw the band’s bassist, Katy Goodman, standing beside a male friend, presumably her husband. I’m not normally one to approach a celebrity. And if I do, I try to be respectful of that celebrity’s personal space.

 

 

But on this day, I paused and asked, “Hey, do you mind if I say something?”

They stiffened a bit, exchanged uncertain glances, but gave me the nod. It was okay if I said something. Quickly, I gathered.

And so I looked at Katy and said something along these lines:

“I watched your set earlier today with my daughter, Maggie. We both loved it. She’s twenty-four years old and has been playing guitar and singing a lot lately, just loving music in general. And I just want to say that as a father, it was so nice for me to watch her, watch you. For her to see three powerful women rocking out. Thank you for that. It means a lot, really. You’re doing good work.”

And that was that. They thanked me, a little surprised, and seemed genuinely touched.

I didn’t linger, just smiled and drifted away.

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Flowers for the living, as the Irish say.

 

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My 6th Annual Music “Year In Music” Review: Top 20 & 35 Honorable Mentions

December 26, 2024 / / No comments

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Each year I make an effort to listen to new music. Full, complete albums. And like a nut, I keep track of it. There are lists and files. In 2024, I listened to 137 new albums, frequently more than once, always straight through. Overall, I listened 524 full-length albums.

Of course, I curate and reflect my own bubble. I’d like to think that my palate is more colorful, more inclusive than most. But I surely have my blind spots, weaknesses. This year I haven’t listened to enough world music, for example; and though I like rap, I don’t have a deep knowledge; and I really need to do better with Latin music, which is exploding. And on and on and on. 

I mean to say: this is what I found, what I liked. Albums that hit me, that stood out, that seemed distinctive, original, exciting, “new.” Annually, I keep the list to 55 albums, but this year that meant eliminating a lot of really good music that I loved — but that didn’t, for me, quite make the cut. 

Hopefully, you arrive at this list with fresh ears and an open heart. If so . . . you are my kind of listener.

If I waited another week, or 17 more minutes, the contents here would change. There will be things I’ve missed or over- or under-rated. That’s why I embrace the “nobody cares” aesthetic. It’s liberating. I’m free. I’m not going for perfection. It’s all for fun, folks.

 

 

TOP 20 (in alphabetical order)

 

Being Dead: Eels

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Wild Love 

Waxahatchee: Tiger’s Blood

The Cure: Songs of a Lost World

Sierra Ferrell: Trail of Flowers 

Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown

Hurray for the Riff Raff: The Past Is Still Alive

Kendrick Lamar: GNX

MJ Lenderman: Manning Fireworks

Adrianne Lenker: Bright Future 

Laura Marling: Patterns in Repeat 

Peter Perrett: The Cleansing

Phosphorescent: Revelator

Jessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch

Bill Ryder-Jones: lechyd Da

Sturgill Simpson, Johnny Blue Skies: Passage du desir 

Nala Sinephro: Endlessness

Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Myers: Central Park Mosaics 

Vince Staples: Dark Times

Nulifer Yanya: Method Actor

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS (35)

 

EXPERIMENTAL, AMBIENT, NEW MUSIC

Terry Riley & Maya Beiser: In C

Sarah Davachi: The Head as Form’d in Crier’s Choir 

Four Set: Three 

Gastr del Sól: We Have Dozens of Titles

Godspeed You! Black Emperor: No Title As Of . . .

Mk.gee: Two Star and the Dream Police

 

JAZZ

Charlie Ballantine: Love Letters and Graffiti

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Open Me, A Higher … 

Amanda Gardier: Auteur.

Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still be There Tomorrow

Milton Nascimento, Esperanza Spalding: Milton

Matthew Shipp: New Concepts in Piano Trio Jazz

 

ROCK, INDIE

Amyl and the Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness

Camera Obscura: Look to the East, Look to the West 

Eels: Eels Time!

Father John Misty: Mahashmashana

The Fountaines DC. Romance

Hovvdy: s/t 

Nick Lowe: Indoor Safari

Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven 

Gruff Rhys: Sadness Sets Me Free 

Shannon and the Clams: The Moon Is In Wrong Place

The Smile: Wall of Eyes

This is Lorelei: Box for Buddy, Box for Star

 

AMERICANA, FOLK, COUNTRY & ALT-COUNTRY

Dave Alvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Mexicali 

Beachwood Sparks: Across the River of Stars

Naima Bock: Beneath a Massive Dark Land

Bonnie Light Horseman: Keep Me/See You Free

James Elkington, Nathan Salsburg: All Gist

Gillian Welch: Woodland

Yasmin Williams: Acadia

 

HIP HOP, R & B, WORLD

Beyonce: Cowboy Carter

Charli xvx: BRAT 

Chief Keef: Almighty So 2 

Schoolboy Q: Blue Lips

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CLICK BELOW FOR YEARS PAST.

I started formalizing these lists, and putting them here, in 2019 when I began my “full album project,” which has been ongoing for six years now. 

 

5th Annual Year in Review . . . 2023

4th Annual Year in Review . . . 2022

3rd Annual Year in Review . . . 2021

2nd Annual Year in Review . . . 2020

1st Annual Year in Review . . . 2019

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My 5th Annual Music “Year In Music” Review: Top 20 & 35 Honorable Mentions

December 26, 2023 / / No comments

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I feel like every end-of-year list should begin with a series of apologies. I’m sorry for not listening to everything. And for not listening closely enough, for not fully attending, for not hearing what’s there, for not being enough to do any of this justice.

In other words, I am not worthy. 

And then there’s the second thought which is: Lighten up, Jimmy. Stop dithering. Nobody cares. So, yeah, these are just albums from the year that hit me, that stood out, that seemed distinct and fresh and different and valuable.

Mostly, it’s my hope that this annual exercise helps you find something that you like, just as it helps me clarify my own listening umwelt. What I hear within the confines of my particular bubble. 

I am struck, often, by how negative (and infuriating) some people are about music. So narrowly dismissive, closed off and elitist. It breaks my heart. So if, on the other hand, you arrive to this list as a springboard for checking out something you haven’t heard before, or if it prods you to listen again, maybe with fresh ears and an open heart, then . . . thank you. You are my kind of listener.

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And third: Every list I read includes a too-long preamble that I almost invariably skip. So: more apologies for lacking the strength to resist that temptation.

Quickly about my process: I keep track of every full album I listen to, a practice I started five years ago. I listened to 131 (& counting) full-length albums that were released in 2023. Not nearly everything. 

This year, I listened to 505 (& counting) full-length albums overall. That number used to be in the 700s. Two factors: I’m more committed than ever to repeated listens, and I’m quicker to abandon an album that isn’t working for me. 

If I wait another week, or six more minutes, the contents here would likely change. There will be mistakes. Things I’ve missed or over- or under-rated. That’s why I embrace the “nobody cares” aesthetic. It’s liberating. I’m free. I’m not going for perfection. It’s all for fun, folks.

Here goes . . . 

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TOP 20 (in alphabetical order)

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Ahnoni, Antony & the Johnsons: My Back Was a Bridge

Ambrose Akinmusire: Beauty Is Enough

Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension

Jaimie Branch: Fly or Die ((world war)) 

Julie Byrne: The Greater Wings 

Margo Cilker: Valley of Heart’s Delight

Feeble Little Horse: Girl with Fish

PJ Harvey: I Inside the Old Year Dying

Irreversible Entanglements: Protect Your Light

Jason Isbell: Weathervanes

Lankum: False Lanky

Lydia Loveless: Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way

Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden

Jeff Rosenstock: Hellmode

Ryuichi Sakamoto: 12

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Sufjan Stevens: Javelin

Veeze: Ganger

Wilco: Cousin

Yo La Tengo: This Stupid World

Youth Lagoon: Heaven Is a Junkyard

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS (36)

 

EXPERIMENTAL, AMBIENT, NEW MUSIC

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Altin Gun: Ask

Daniel Bachman: When the Roses Come Again

Blue Lake: Sun Arcs

Lonnie Holley: Oh Me Oh My

Blake Mills: Jelly Road

Tirzah: Trip9love . . . ?

 

JAZZ

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Natural Information Society: Since Time Is Gravity 

The Necks: Travel

Gogo Penguin: Everything Is Going to Be Okay

Mette Henriette: Drifting

London Brew: s/t

 

ROCK, INDIE

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Bar Italia: Tracy Denim 

Beirut: Hadsel

Bully: Lucky for You

Margaret Glaspy: Echo the Diamond

Hotline TNT: Cartwheel

The Lemon Twigs: Everything Harmony 

Mitski: The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

Palehound: Eye on the Bat 

Ratboys: The Window 

Joanna Sternberg: I’ve Got Me

The Tubs: Dead Meat 

Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed 

Wednesday: Rat Saw God

 

AMERICANA, FOLK, COUNTRY & ALT-COUNTRY

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Meg Baird: Furling

Shana Cleveland: Manzanita 

Cut Worms: s/t

Iris DeMent: Workin’ On a World

Margo Price: Strays

Paul Simon: Seven Psalms

Kassi Valazzi: Kassi Valazzi Knows Nothing

Jamila Woods: Water Made Us

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HIP HOP, R & B

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Janelle Monae: The Age of Pleasure

Noname: Sundial

Cleo Sol: Heaven

RAYE: My 21st Century Blues

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY . . . NOW GET LISTENING!

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My 4th Annual “Year In Music” Review: Top 20 & 35 Honorable Mentions

December 26, 2022 / / No comments

 

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I listened to 114 (& counting) full-length albums that were released in 2022. So: Not everything. It’s a dopey endeavor to try to select the ones that were freshest, most distinctive & original, best.

And so for the fourth year, I continued the project where I try to listen to (& keep track of) every complete album I hear, regardless of release dates.

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I love the album format and recognize that most listeners no longer access music this way. We are a singles, playlist-oriented society. And even then, who has the time & inclination to listen anyway?

This year, my total diminished markedly. In 2019, flush with enthusiasm, I reached 778 full albums. Then down to 711 and 702 over the next two years. In 2022, it’s way down to 515 & counting)).

What’s happening here?

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Could be that I was listening to less music overall. But there were two other contributing factors: 1) an effort to repeat listens more often, less content to listen once and move on; 2) on the flip side of that same coin, I more easily gave up on the “full album” task, more willing to ditch an album halfway through if it wasn’t working for me; I didn’t push to completion the way I had in the past, eager to check off some box. Maybe that’s a positive thing. The whole concept is Schrodinger’s cat anyway, altered simply by being observed. I think I’ve gotten better at that, not thinking about the result as much as the moment, though a pure record of what I listen to will never be possible so long as I keep track of it. 

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Here goes . . . 

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TOP 20 (in alphabetical order)

 

         

 

Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

Binker and Moses: Feeding the Machine 

Bill Callahan: Reality 

 

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Danger Mouse, Black Thought: Cheat Codes 

Dehd: Blue Skies 

Delines: The Sea Drift  

 

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Alabaster DePlume: Gold 

Dry Cleaning: Stumpwork

Alex G: God Save the Animals 

 

         

Hurry for the Riff Raff: Life on Earth 

MJ Lenderman: Boat Songs 

Kevin Morby: This Is a Photograph 

Beth Orton: Weather Alive

 

         

Sadies: Colder Streams 

The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention

Spiritualized: Everything Was Beautiful 

 

         

SZA: S.O.S. 

Kurt Vile: (watch my moves) 

Wet Leg: s/t 

Immanuel Wilkins: 7th Hand

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS (35)

 

 

EXPERIMENTAL, AMBIENT, NEW MUSIC

Caterina Barbieri: Spirit Exit

Laura Cannell: Antiphony of the Trees

Caroline: s/t 

Floating World Pictures: Twenty-Three Views 

Johann Johansson: Drone Mass

Carolyn Shaw/Attaca: Evergreen

Sean Shibe: Lost & Found

 

JAZZ

Sam Gendel: Superstore 

Makaya McCraven: In These Times 

Simora Pinderhughes: Grief 

Daniel Villareal: Panama ’77

 

ROCK, INDIE 

Black Country, New Road: Ants from Up 

Elk City: Above the Water

Ethel Cain: Preacher’s Daughter 

Enumclaw: Save the Baby

Father John Misty: Chloe & the Next 20th Century

Florist: s/t 

Aldous Harding: Warm 

Momma: Household Name 

Tomberlin: I Don’t Know Who

Weyes Blood: And In the Darkness . . . 

 

AMERICANA, FOLK, COUNTRY & ALT-COUNTRY

Nora Brown: Long Time to Be Gone 

Jake Xerxes Fussell: Good and Green Again

Nina Nastasia: Riderless Horse

Orville Peck: Bronco 

Plains (Waxahatchee, J. Williamson): I Walked With You a Ways

Joan Shelley: The Spur

Twain: Noon 

Wilco: Cruel Country

 

HIP HOP, R & B

Yaya Bey: Remember Your North

Little Simz: NO THANK YOU

Saba: Few Good Things 

Earl Sweatshirt: SICK! 

Pusha T: It’s Almost Dry

Nilufer Yanya: Painless

  

After too much consideration, Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You is my album of the year.

 

Hopefully you find something enjoyable here that you might have missed otherwise.

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