The Best of What I Heard in 2025
Thanks for coming along for the ride this year.
It turns out that my Christmas Mixtape was my 100th newsletter. I thought about ending my 2025 Substack experience there (until the death of Chris Rea on December 22nd). But then, what about the obligatory “best of” wrap-up?
Most of 2025 was spent working on my next book (more on that soon), and as a result, I didn’t hear much new stuff. However, I did go through a moment of trying to understand the critical hype around the apparent new “it” group, Geese (and the fact that there’s now a Goose and a Geese I must contend with). So far, let’s just say I haven’t quite acquired the taste.
Otherwise, what follows is what I loved from what I did hear this year. It includes the 15 albums I liked best, followed by a list of musicians and music industry folks we lost in the last 12 months, and, finally, a Mixtape of the 25 songs that moved me the most in 2025.
The Best Albums I Heard This Year:
James McMurtry - The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
I admit that in my world, James McMurtry can do no wrong, but with his new album, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy, he’s delivered one of his all-time best. (And it’s my pick for best of the year.) “Pinocchio in Vegas” is a standout, but, to be fair, they all are, including the nods to John Dee Graham and Kris Kristofferson, whose songs he chooses to open and close the set, respectively. Then there’s “Slipping Away.” A musician-on-the-road song that easily takes its place alongside “Turn the Page” and “The Load Out” as a classic of its kind. It may even, dare I say, best them, as it trades romanticized melodrama for wisdom, reality, experience, and doubt. The real showstopper, however, is the on-point “Sons of the Second Sons,” timely and, sadly, timeless.
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Turns out this is just what Sharon Van Etten needed - a damn band. My runner-up for album of the year (the rest aren’t ranked, but I thought I’d point out my top two), the self-titled Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory offers the best of retro ‘80s goth/new wave/no wave/whatever through a modern lens. The album’s cold, sonic darkness is juxtaposed by Van Etten’s warm, passionate delivery throughout.
Amanda Shires - Nobody’s Girl
The dissolution of Americana’s power couple made headlines and got tongues wagging all over. Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow told his side of the story, then came Amanda Shire’s side. “A Way It Goes,” the first single from Nobody’s Girl, didn’t dance around the elephant in the room: “I can show you how he left me,” she begins over atmospheric synths, “But I’d rather you see me thriving.” Living well is the best revenge, it seems.
Jason Isbell - Foxes in the Snow
Isbell’s 2025 all-acoustic affair was loaded with heart-wrenching and heart-tugging ballads that detail both the painfully inevitable end of a relationship and the exciting possibilities of a next chapter. While Isbell’s Prine-esque delivery on the deceptively simple “Don’t Be Tough” is universal in scope, it also conjures the best laid-back moments of ‘70s era Guy Clark and even ol’ Waylon. It also offers a respite from the soap operatic navel-gazing occurring on most of the other tracks.
Wet Leg - Moisturizer
Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale brought their touring band into the studio for a full five-piece band experience while telling the sophomore slump to “catch these fists.” Wet Leg’s moisturizer was one of the summer’s—and then year’s—best. “mangetout,” “pokemon,” “don’t speak” and the rest shimmer, shake, and excite—including the irresistible lead-off track…
Various Artists - A Tribute to the King of Zydeco
The Rolling Stones’ fantastic cover of “Zydeco Sont Pas Sales” that kicks off this tribute got most of the press, but the rest of the album is a fun-filled trip down to the Louisiana bayou with an all-star assembly of Americana, blues, soul, and country artists paying tribute to the music of Clifton Chenier. The entire project is flawlessly sequenced and flows like a humid night deep down in bayou country at a small, sweaty nightspot.
Neko Case - Neon Grey-Midnight Green
Hearing Neko Case’s Neon Grey Midnight Green is like feeling the clouds part while a gigantic bolt of sunshine hits you square in the feels. Its first single, “Wreck,” set the stage. Sweeping production—including horns, strings, and an angelic chorus of backing vocals—glides us through sonic sweetness as the lyrics talk of the power of love burning bright and strong, enjoying and embracing it before it fades.
Charlie Crockett - Dollar a Day
Looking at this output over the last few years, one might think Charlie Crockett was sacrificing quality for quantity, but listening to the Shooter Jennings-produced Dollar a Day, it’s apparent that that’s not the case. Crockett just keeps getting better, and it makes me excited to hear what’s coming next.
Lilly Allen - West End Girl
The year of bad relationships hitting the newsstands didn’t just belong to Isbell/Shires. Lilly Allen kindly asked those two to hold her separation papers while she made headlines of her own with an album-length takedown not heard since the likes of Marvin Gaye’s Here, My Dear. It’s comeuppance you can dance to. Stranger things have happened.
Little Feat - Strike Up the Band
Fresh on the heels of their Grammy-nominated Sam’s Place, Little Feat returned in 2025 with Strike Up the Band, their first album of all original material in many a moon. The first single was a Fred Tackett/Scott Sherrard co-write that could have fit right in on The Last Record Album; jazzy, bluesy, and swampy in all the right ways. Their recent announcement that 2026 marks their final tour makes listening to their latest rather bittersweet, but at least they’re going out on their own terms this time.
Lilly Hiatt - Forever
From my review for PopMatters:
Forever exhibits a perfect marriage of 1960s and 1990s musical aesthetics while keeping a keen ear on the now. Lyrically, Lilly Hiatt celebrates the joy of love, even if at times she’s frightened by her vulnerability. Forever celebrates the experiences couples have, the memories they create, and the struggles they overcome together. “Get lost with me,” Hiatt sings in “Somewhere”. It’s a pair in love, just trying to hide away, trying to live their life on their terms as the world falls apart around them.
Tyler Childers - Snipe Hunter
Most of us rural Southerners have either been invited snipe hunting, have taken others, or both—so the title of the new Tyler Childers album elicited a knowing smile. Rick Rubin slipped into the producer’s chair and helped create the Kentuckian’s most ambitious platter to date. Challenging, confrontational, brash, audacious, and just plain badass, Snipe Hunter has set the bar high for the rest of Tyler’s career, but I believe he’s up to the challenge.
Van Morrison - Remembering Now
Remembering Now is Van the Man’s best album in almost twenty years (in fact, since 2008’s Keep It Simple). While it’s not perfect (“Back to Writing Love Songs” would’ve sufficed as a liner note or a press release heading instead of an entire song), its best moments recapture the magic of his Down the Road and Back On Top era, while others reach back to 1991’s Hymns to the Silence and even further to his ‘80s extended spiritual excursions. Most encouraging: the perpetually grumpy-ass Van the Man finally stops bitching about the music industry and the state of the world long enough to celebrate the joys of love again.
Mike Farris - The Sound of Muscle Shoals
Former Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies frontman Mike Farris’s fantastic The Sound of Muscle Shoals is filled with the spirit of the town that bears its name and where it was recorded (a newly refurbished FAME). There are so many great songs here (like his take on one of my favorite oft-overlooked Tom Petty tunes) that it’s difficult to pick one to represent it, but I’m going with the sexy groove of “Bird in the Rain.”
Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World
Of course, a new Mavis Staples album is always cause for a celebration. The November release of Sad and Beautiful World was no exception. With Brad Cook at the helm, Sad and Beautiful World features appearances from North Carolina resident (and Brad’s brother) Phil Cook, and the hip roots-rockers of the moment, MJ Lenderman and Katie Crutchfield. Also on board are Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks, and longtime associates Jeff and Spencer Tweedy. Songs range from the new Allison Russell/Hozier-penned “Human Mind” to the classic “Satisfied Mind.” It’s a worthy addition to a peerless catalog.
The Best Reissues I Heard
I was exposed to many fantastic reissues/catalog items this year; I just didn’t make the time to write about them. Oops. Anyway, here is the best of what I heard:
Bob Dylan – Through The Open Window (The Bootleg Series Vol. 18 1956-1963)
Bill Evans Trio - Haunted Heart: The Legendary Riverside Studio Recordings
Joni Mitchell - Joni’s Jazz
Pink Floyd - Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII
Bruce Springsteen - Tracks II: The Lost Albums / Nebraska ‘82: Expanded Edition
Various Artists - Soul 66: From the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco, Calla, Loma, Reprise, Roulette, Stax, Volt and Warner Bros
Various Artists - Young and Wild: A Decade of American Glam Metal 1982-1992
Frank Zappa - Cheaper Than Cheep
Of course, there’s plenty of fantastic music out there that I didn’t get to hear or absorb this year, and I’ll probably spend much of 2026 playing catch-up. If anything grabbed you and didn’t let go, let me know in the comments. Either way, here’s to a prosperous, peaceful, and happy new year for all of us.
Those We Lost in 2025
Before we get to the Best of 2025 Mixtape, here’s a list of those we lost in the music world. It’s not comprehensive by any means, but it should go without saying that it was a tough year, and these artists and industry pros will be sorely missed, but their legacies are secure. If there’s anyone I missed you feel should be included, don’t hesitate to let me know (politely, please) in the comments.
Annye C. Anderson
James Baker
Roy Thomas Baker
David Briggs
Don Bryant
Clem Burke
Jerry Butler:
Carl Carlton
Jimmy Cliff
Steve Cropper:
Sonny Curtis
D’Angelo
Rick Davies
Jack DeJohnette
Chris Dreja
Joe Ely:
Marianne Faithfull
Roberta Flack
Al Foster
Connie Francis
Ace Frehley
Mac Gayden:
Donna Jean Godchaux
Jeff Hannusch
Garth Hudson
Bill Ivey
Anthony Jackson
Flaco Jimenez
David Johansen
Tom Lehrer
John Lodge
Michael Lydon
Raul Malo:
Chuck Mangione
Terry Manning
Tommy McLain
Melba Montgomery
Sam Moore:
Don Nix
Michael Ochs
Ozzy Osbourne
Mike Peters
Mick Ralphs
Chris Rea:
Terry Reid
David Roach
Johnny Rodriguez
Troy Seals
Jeannie Seely
Tom Shipley
Todd Snider:
Jill Sobule
Angie Stone
Sly Stone:
Phil Upchurch
Mark Volman
Joe Louis Walker
Bobby Whitlock
Brian Wilson:
Brenton Wood
Jesse Colin Young
The Best of 2025 Mixtape
‘Til next time, here’s the final Mixtape of the year, which includes 25 of the best songs I heard in 2025…
Great wrap-up. I’m completely with you on Van. When I first heard “Down to Joy” I looked up from what I was doing and stared at the wall. He doesn’t sound like he’s 80.
thanks for tossing me into the backseat of your time machine and taking me back to '76, one of the favorite years of my 72 years of existence. As anticipated, you succinctly captured the essence of all forms of pop culture rolling full steam during that time. Music, film, even the politics and promise of the Carter (rock n roll president) presidency were recaptured. Thanks again Michael...