James Preller's Blog

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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!