Albums of the year 2025

2025 was a year where reunions, anniversaries and nostalgia threatened to cast a shadow over new music and breaking artists ... it didn't though. 

The year also saw artists (recording, releasing and touring at all levels) speak out to highlight how difficult it was to make it all financially viable and sustainable and for the importance of small and independent venues throughout the country.

• Credit to Myles Smith for making an impassioned speech while accepting his Rising Star award at The Brit Awards in March.

"To the biggest venues in the country and around the world - if artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive? Stick with artists. Moments, they fade, but careers last forever."

• Credit to Coldplay for donating 10% of earnings from their UK tour to the Music Venture Trust to support small venues. 
• And to Sam Fender who donated his £25,000 prize for winning the Mercury to the MVT. Well played to both. They have set a bar for others to follow.
• And (of course) to Glasgow - a city blessed with so many small venues, the places I predominantly go to experience music - The Old Hairdressers, Mono, Stereo, McChuills, upstairs in The Doublet ... Saint Luke's and The Barrowland tend to be as big as I usually go.

The cost of everything has gone up. Musicians, roadies, sound engineers, lighting operators, merch managers, bus drivers ... all need to be paid. Then there are food and hotel costs. Touring isn't cheap. 

A few musicians I know said that their hometown shows tend to help them break even on touring smaller venues in the UK and Europe. Merchandise is a saviour. Never feel guilty about buying a t-shirt! Although the cost of gig going has risen!

So, as always, there are challenges. And as always, there is creativity - new bands and artists breaking through, artists who can't stop writing and recording and veteran artists finding a new generation of fans falling for them. 

Back to my albums of the 2025 though. Albums that need to be toured, artists that need venues of all sizes to take them (ideally) to places that want them to play. Whether that is to 200 people or 13,000. 

Here are my 6 favourite albums of the year, plus a further 11 that I have enjoyed. As always, I'm sure other end of year lists will send me off to check albums I might have missed over the course of the year. 

I've also created a playlist with one song from each album - check it HERE

2025 - 6 favourite albums

Snocaps by Snocaps

Twin sisters Allison and Katie Crutchfield are twin sisters who decided to form a new band to get back to working together like they did in their teens (they were 15 when their first band The Ackleys played their first show) and early twenties (P.S. Eliot). 

Katie now records as Grammy nominated Waxahatachee and her Tigers Blood album was one of my albums of 2024. Allison records with her band Swearin' who I need to check out.

Backed by a cracking band including MJ Lenderman on guitar, this is gorgeous alt country indie guitar pop, 13 songs in 33 minutes - sunshine inducing and spine tingling harmonies, warm guitar sounds, sublime heart string pulling slide ... this is fresh and pure, this is the twins, Lenderman and producer Brad Cooks, with all 4 playing a variety of instruments. This is currently my favourite album of 2025.

Playlist - Heathcliff is one of my favourite songs of 2025.

Getting Killed by Geese

Geese exploded in 2025. They were everywhere. Getting Killed is actually their third album in four years. Singer Cameron Winter also released his acclaimed (and highly recommended) Heavy Metal album late in 2024. He seems to be a prolific songwriter. We'll see if he can keep that up while he is on a constant tour for the next year. Expressive, eclectic, emotive and exciting - a brilliant album.

Playlist - Cobra (see blog)

In Limerence by Jacob Alon

What a gorgeous album. Alon's voice is beautiful and the textures on In Limerence are sublime. This is an album full of warmth, sounding familiar, yet distinctive. Alon has you hanging on every word, every finger picked riff. You're almost waiting to hear a pin drop. Enthralling, I found myself getting sucked in. 

Playlist - I Couldn't Feed Her

Waves by Frank Popp Ensemble

I fell for this album back in April. I described its eclectic nature as being like a mixtape - a vibrant blend of northern soul, psychedelia and garage rock, embellished with strings and drenched in reverb. Cool!

Playlist - Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way)

The Cords by The Cords

Strong debut album by teenage sisters Eva and Grace, first blogged on HERE in January 2024. The Cords have gained huge support among the Glasgow indie community and have bagged a great record label in Slumberland. I look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next. Raw guitars, a beautiful voice with a natural knack for melodies and cool playful and primitive beats - joyful. 

Playlist - When You Said Goodbye

Unclouded by Melody's Echo Chamber

This early December release really won me over, resulting in my having a top 6 favourite albums rather than a top 5! 

I had heard a couple of songs on 6Music in advance of the album, so I was waiting for it. And Unclouded didn't disappoint. Cinematic strings, dreamy and seductive vocals, super cool beats (drummer Malcolm Catto who plays with DJ Shadow and The Heliocentrics) and a gorgeous feel throughout. Melody describes her rhythm section as 'masters of the velvet groove'. Absolutely! Sadly there is only a London date in her scheduled European April tour.

Playlist - The House That Doesn't Exist

11 more albums I have enjoyed through 2025

Anxious by Nell Smith

Posthumous release by a young singer songwriter who was bursting with creative ideas. A lovely album, tinged with sadness and thoughts of wondering what she could have gone on to do.

Playlist - Billions of People

We Are Love by The Charlatans

Keepin' on keepin' on. The band that keeps giving. A very organic and Autumnal (season and in band lifespan) album. Producer Blood Orange captures the band beautifully. Their Oran Mor launch show was a delight. Roll on the Barrowland end of year show!

Playlist - Deeper and Deeper

Love Chant by The Lemonheads

A new album, an autobiography and seemingly a new Townes Van Zandt covers album on the way. Now managed by Alan McGee, Evan Dando seems to have a structure and guidance to support his creative nature. I love Evan Dando! It sounds like he had fun recording this album with Juliana Hatfield and J Mascis guesting. Garage guitar pop forever!

Playlist - Cell Phone Blues

Double Infinity by Big Thief

A gorgeous album. Whether hushed and sparse, or lovingly layered. A special band.

Playlist - All Night All Day 

Pinball Wanderer by Andy Bell

Andy Bell has it all going on. Before he embarked on rehearsals and then a mammoth tour with Oasis, he released Pinball Wandered (great title!) at the end of February. Bell has been releasing a steady stream of albums under his own name and his alter ego GLOK for more electronic ventures. In addition to recording a touring with a reformed Ride, Bell pretty much has the creative musicians life nailed! This is dreamy, trancey, psychedelic pop. Lovely!

Playlist - I'm In Love w/ Dot Allison

Idlewild by Idlewild

A supremely confident and consistent album by a band who have always played by their own rules. 

Playlist - End With Sunrise

Loner by Barry Can't Swim

Scottish producer who is consistently producing euphoric electronic music with delightful pop melodies and hooks.

Playlist - All My Friends

Bleeds by Wednesday

Another album I got into through 6Music. I wish I had gone to see them at Tuts earlier in the year. I love their sound - raw, soulful and cool.

Playlist - Phish Pepsi

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift

Probably my most listened to album courtesy of our youngest daughter Rosie. Funny, loving, biting and enjoyable pop music. 

Playlist - Opalite

It's A Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes

An album I discovered via Spotify algorithms kicking in. I love it. The album has experimental jams and then gems like Playing Classics.

Playlist - Playing Classics

41 Longfield Street Late 80's by Kieran Hebden and William Tyler

This album is really dreamy and chilled and it soundtracked a drive home from an overnight in Anstruther. My youngest daughter Rosie slept in the passenger seat as I drove West towards the sunset. The perfect soundtrack.

Playlist - If I Had A Boat