2025 | Music

There's so much music in the world, and a lot to choose from on streaming platforms.

As if it was 1998 and we were trading cassettes again, this post shares some favourite music from a big year.

Listen to my 2025 Mix Tape on YouTube Music and find more detail below.

Best...

Album About Grief

Cover the Mirrors, by Ben Kweller

Written in the wake of the death of his fifteen year old son, heavy and beautiful. 

Nostalgia Acts

Pulp and Superchunk, both putting out new albums in 2025. Extra nod to Mogwai.

Guitar Fuzz

Hotline TNT, Thalia Zedek and PUP

Pop Princesses

Lorde and Sabrina Carpenter

Nepo-Babies

Romy Mars and Georgia Harmer

Duets

Float, by Jay Som and Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, and Angel Wings, by Snocap and Waxahatchee

New Zealand Accents

The Beths

Women’s Health PSA

Perimenopop, by Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Witch's Coven

Florench Welch belting it out on Everybody Scream and Sympathy Magic

Antidote to Stranger Things Finale Fever

West End Girl, by Lilly Allen

A painfully public marriage vivisected and falling apart in an album that jumps between Brooklyn and London, replete with cringe.

Folk & Chill

Albums

Erotica Veronica, by Miya Folick

Jellywish, by Florist

Both consistent, quiet, warm and calm

SAYA, by Saya Gray

Get past the cover art to hear beautifully constructed and complex songs with lots of texture

Riot on an Empty Street, by the Kings of Convenience

Simon and Garfunkel meet Belle and Sebastian and Feist takes the polaroids. You wish you were in this imaginary rec room! 

Welcome to my Blue Sky, by Momma

90s nostalgia from people who were born in the 2000s, presented without comment

Songs

Bovine Excision, by Samia

If only to learn what a bovine excision is, though not explicitly covered in the lyrics

Back in Town, by Annie DiRusso

Who hasn’t felt this way about a bad boyfriend from the past?

Billionaire, by Kathleen Edwards

Epic, crushing chorus and as always, piercing genuine sentiment; she’s back, sharp as ever

Gone, by Haim

Sampling George Michael a very effective way to say 'see ya'

Kiss that Summer, by Amy Millan

Channeling every possible smooth rock vibration from the 1970s

Dance & Pop

Albums

Tension II, by Kylie Minogue

Solid, consistent, dancable bangers that continue the vibe of her last album with the same name. 

We Will Annihilate Our Enemies, by Real Lies

Strong contender for best album name also.  Recall to Times by S.G. Lewis in 2021, a favourite from listening to dance music on this epic grocery run.  The song LOVERWORLD comes off as if arguing with Renton’s opening monologue, an answer to Choosing Life.

True Electric, by Royksopp

A (very long) collection of live (mostly long) remixes of Royksopp songs over the years, featuring vocalists including Robyn, taken from their last live tour. 

Forever, by Bass Victim

Presenting a grittier version of the Go! Team

Songs

Broken, by Ela Minus

The first new song I heard in 2025. Though upbeat, the lyrics and sentiment here: “To sing away the gloom”

Y.A.A.M, by Marie Davidson

Playing as if you were at a very important and maybe dangerous Montreal disco party

Love Drug, by Lady Gaga

If love is craving, that's fitting for a great pop song that feels too short

Aerial Troubles, by Stereolab

Still sounding new and charmingly French with an edge.  On the demise of modernity, dark lyrics NBD: “We can’t eat our way out of it any more” 

House Tour, by Sabrina Carpenter

This song did what "Wood" was trying to do with far better humour and results

Broken Glass, by Lorde

She's back and thank goodness

Dopamine, by Robyn

An early gift in December, and hopeful sign of a new album in 2026

Rock

Albums

Phonetics On and On, by Horsegirl

Jangling with lo-fi catchiness and singable, danceable head bops.  The whole atmosphere and feel of this album is incredibly cool, and it's probably a blast to be friends with the band.

Moisturizer, by Wet Leg

It goes without sing-saying

Bleeds, by Wednesday

More smart songs and warm, fuzzy production

Who Will Look After the Dogs? by PUP

Weirdly thoughtful (and Canadian) post-punk, proving there should be more songs written about the Olive Garden and masters degrees in general. 

The Boat Outside Your Window, by the Thalia Zedek Band

90s indie street cred with strong writing, harmonic guitars and a powerful voice

Based on the Bestseller, by Sloan

This album is such a precise return to form it begs the question if there is an AI-driven Sloan Song generator now behind the scenes, and if yes that is not really a problem

No Hard Feelings, by the Beaches

All of the attitude I never had in relationships, and could have really used.  The highly repeatable last track in particular, an anthem for people who hate sleeping and are determined to stay at the party (of life) as long as possible

Songs

Old Tape, by Lucius

Bringing a Tom Petty backbeat to rework vibes from the War on Drugs

Got to Have Love, by Pulp

Now “classic” Britpop in conversation with itself, a belated reply to F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.

Heartthrob, by Indigo de Souza

Because we've all known this guy

Not Like That Anymore, by Lola Young

For anyone trying to move on, grow and finally get over whatever that was, these shredded vocal chords are going to help.

Highlands, by Middle Kids

A late delivery in December of delicious indie rock, right down to the subject matter of apartments

Found & Rediscovered

Albums

Time, by ELO (1981)

Exuberant, synthetic, pristine, incessant, joyful. This album feels like ELO’s response to Supertramp, Rush and Kraftwerk all in one.

Heaven or Las Vegas, the Cocteau Twins (1990)

Embarrassed to just be learning about this now, though they say that music finds you at the right time.

Elastica, S/T (1995)

Timeless, singable, danceable, edgy, just like Thom Yorke’s favourite hairdo

Buckingham Nicks (1975)

Remastered fifty years after its release, here are the partial protozoan origins of Fleetwood Mac

Songs

Not a lot, Just Forever by Adrienne Lenker

A soft, gentle lullaby from 2020

Cader Iris, by Saxon Shore

In the vein of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, muted a bit.  This song is just beautiful

H.S.K.T. by Sylvan Esso

Hard to believe that their self-titled album came out eight years ago. This song still sounds incredibly fresh, clean and is so danceable. 

Darling Corey, by Pete Seeger

Maybe due to my brief career as a bartender, this song gives me the chills

I Wish I was the Moon, by Neko Case

Every song exploded after reading her book

Walking in Space, from the musical HAIR, according to Quincy Jones

Just listen to it.

This post originally appeared in a longer monthly newsletter.

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