Here’s a slew of great releases that didn’t make it into my Top 25 Favorite Albums of 2025, but that I like quite a bit or am just falling for now. Here they are, listed alphabetically by release title. There are some fabulous EPs in there for good measure. If you’d rather just listen, check out my Best of ‘25 playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. And please, if you find something you like, support the artists by buying their music, merch, and seeing them when they tour!
- Winter – Adult Romantix Power dream pop!
- SPRINTS – All That Is Over Pulse pounding rock from Ireland.
- Smerz – Big City Life Superb electronica from the Norwegian duo.
- Wednesday – Bleeds Fuzzed out indie rock with a bit of twang.
- SASAMI – Blood On the Silver Screen The former Cherry Glazerr member proves again to be versatile on this, her third album. Listeners will find a more pop/dance sound reminiscent of Robyn. It’s energetic and infectious.
- Samia – Bloodless Samia’s voice is dazzling on this indie folk-rock album.
- Sudan Archives – The BPM Eclectic beats, violin, and lush vocals make this album divine.
- Jessica Lea Mayfield – Choose Myself EP Every track on this five-song EP is stellar. I was lucky to finally see Mayfield when she opened for Lucero in September.
- Chalk – Conditions III EP Chalk is one of my favorite new artists. Excellent industrial tunes.
- HEALTH – CONFLICT DLC I’m just getting acquainted with the December release from the industrial rockers. Librarians note: it’s not about the Library of Congress.
- Say She She – Cut & Rewind Catchy, modern R&B/pop from three classically trained singers.
- Greet Death – Die In Love It’s melodic, at times heavy-ish, alt-rock with hints of shoegaze. The vocals on “Same But Different Now” remind me of Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke.
- Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer I’m at a loss for words on how to describe this full-length debut from the British band. Just go listen to it. You’re welcome, Massachusetts*.
- VLURE – Escalate Dance-y, industrial-ish, electro pop from Scotland. A poppier Front 242 mixed with Pop Will Eat Itself.
- FKA twigs – EUSEXUA This album is so good that I forgive FKA twigs for co-starring in The Crow (2024). Recommended for fans of Kelli Ali-era Sneaker Pimps.
- yeule – Evangelic Girl Is a Gun Dreamy glitch-pop.
- SPC ECO – Hello I’m in absolute love with the title track. It woulda been on my Best of 2025 playlist but it’s not available on Apple or Spotify. It is available on Bandcamp, which is where I bought this dreamy electronica album.
- The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever the Hives A rock ‘n’ roll good time.
- Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) I’m a melancholy brunette! And this album is for me!
- The Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre No sophomore slump for The Last Dinner Party! Super excited to see them when they hit Roadrunner in Boston next year.
- Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Glory Fun Australian pop rock.
- Idlewild – Idlewild When I got laid off by Warner/Elektra/Atlantic, my friends at EMI Music Distribution took me to see Idlewild that night. Idlewild helped to soothe me. And a couple of decades later, they still soothe with an album of melodic, soaring gems.
- Rhett Miller – A Lifetime of Riding by Night The Old 97’s frontman has crafted another fine, bittersweet album.
- Hatchie – Liquorice Ethereal dream pop tunes. Recommended if you like Cocteau Twins or The Sundays.
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Live God Yeah, yeah, yeah-Another live Bad Seeds release! I’ll take it! I got to see them tour Wild God and it was an ebullient experience.
- Sparks – MAD! Sparks have been together for over 50 years and their music is still relevant, infectious, and witty. Do yourself a favor and, if you haven’t already, watch Edgar Wright’s documentary, The Sparks Brothers, about the Mael brothers.
- Laufey – A Matter of Time On this, her third album, the Icelandic chanteuse channels singers from the 1940s with aplomb.
- Depeche Mode – Memento Mori: Mexico City The first time I listened to this, I got goosebumps. It is a bit tender listening to their first live album since the death of Andrew Fletcher.
- bdrmm – Microtonic Sumptuous shoegaze.
- The Cure – Mixes of a Lost World I had very high hopes for this remix album, as I’m a big fan of both Mixed Up and Songs of a Lost World. But I’m not a huge fan of remixes in general. I’d take a live performance or b-side over a remix most days. But I still like Mixes, most notably the tracks remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Chino Moreno.
- Wet Leg – Moisturizer Super catchy alternative rock.
- Throwing Muses – Moonlight Concessions Raw, indie rock. Kristin Hersh has been a staple in my music collection since high school.
- terraplana – natural Brazilian shoegaze that reminds me of Boston’s Drop Nineteens.
- Neko Case – Neon Grey Midnight Green Another gorgeous album from Case. It makes a great companion to her heartfelt and gritty memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You.
- Travels With Brindle – No. 1 in Heaven EP On this spunky EP, Travels With Brindle delights with a ukulele-based take on Sparks’ Giorgio Moroder-produced classic.
- Hammock – Nevertheless Tranquil ambient/functional music that’s a trip.
- Marissa Nadler – New Radiations Haunting, ethereal, goth-folk.
- White Lies – Night Light A swell album from White Lies. If you haven’t heard them, they sound kinda like Interpol, if they were British. On this, their seventh album, they’ve matured and branched out a bit.
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop My queen of English dance pop reigns and celebrates perimenopause!
- Wishy – Planet Popstar EP Charming dream pop with a dash of shoegaze hooked me. The Indiana band is fantastic live.
- Labrinth – Prelude EP I’m pretty sure that Labrinth, AKA Briton Timothy Lee McKenzie, came from the future to share his innovative music with us. Expect a new full-length album, Cosmic Opera: Act I, on January 30.
- Deftones – private music Despite being around since last century, Deftones have created an album with a modern, thrumming intensity.
- Hotline TNT – Raspberry Moon Sweet hooks, distortion, and songs that remind me of both Catherine Wheel and Teenage Fan Club.
- Die Spitz – Something To Consume Aggro, alternative rock.
- BLACK CROSS HOTEL – Songs for Switches Darkwave industrial from Chicago.
- The Beths – Straight Line Was a Lie I’m so late to The Beths party! The Kiwi indie-power pop rockers delight on their fourth album. Recommended for fans of Velocity Girl and Alvvays.
- Swim School – Swim School This album was so close to making my Top 25, but I’ve only just stumbled onto the Scottish band. I have listened to this album a couple of times and I really love it.
- Gelli Haha – Switcheroo Futuristic, fun, dance pop.
- Guided by Voices – Thick Rich and Delicious The hooks, they are aplenty!
- Beluga Lagoon – The Tombs O’ The Faeries Traditional Scottish folk music that sticks with ya.
- Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams (Soundtrack) Yup. Bryce Dessner of The National doubles as a scorer of films. I recommend watching the movie, starring Joel Edgerton, and checking out this beautiful and haunting score. Plus, there’s the touching title track collaboration with Nick Cave that has been short-listed for an Academy Award nomination.
- Melody’s Echo Chamber – Unclouded 1960s-inspired Gallic pop with a flowing, warm sound.
- Winter Gardens – Uncomfortable/Unlovable EP A perfect goth/shoegaze/dream pop EP.
- Gwenno – Utopia The former Pipette dazzles with an alternative pop album.
- Viagra Boys – viagr aboys Fun rock ‘n’ roll.
- Luvcat – Vicious Delicious If you ever wondered what Kylie Minogue would’ve sounded like if she continued to work with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds beyond “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” Luvcat is for you.
- Just Mustard – WE WERE JUST HERE Shoegaze/alt. rock plus a vocalist who sounds a bit like Alison Shaw from Cranes. Yes, please.
- Lily Allen – West End Girl Such a poppy, fun … breakup album!
- Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You This forlorn album was my number one bedtime pick over the last few months.
- Conan Gray – Wishbone I adore Conan Gray. His Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performance was stellar. Wishbone is a sort of glorious pop bildungsroman. I’m wicked excited to finally see him next year.
- Lovina Falls – Would That It Were EP Lovina Falls is the brainchild of Boston’s Valerie Forgione (ex-Mistle Thrush). This EP collects three alternative rock/baroque pop singles and adds two new lovely tracks.
- Jehnny Beth – You Heartbreaker, You Just in case you thought I was going too pop with my “Conehead” selection, the indomitable Jehnny Beth should ameliorate any worries. This is another record that was almost in my Top 25. It’s like a mix of Tool and PJ Harvey.
*Divorce’s song, “Fever Pitch,” ends with the line: “Thank you, Massachusetts.” I can only presume that it’s about the Red Sox.
Pop Culture Omnivore 