It’s worth prefacing this by acknowledging that I don’t make much use of music streaming services, which means the new music I listen to is pretty selective. Spotify is an ugly company I want nothing to do with, and in any case I’m stuck paying for YouTube Music. Not because I think it’s a good service – it’s crap – but because it’s what Google Play Music morphed into years ago, and I kept paying because I watch a lot of YouTube.
Fortunately, Bandcamp still exists, so I mostly use that, generally buying music on their excellent Bandcamp Fridays where they waive their fees and send more money directly to the artists. I hope the platform sticks around; it’s bounced around a few different owners recently, but so far there have been few obvious or negative changes to what they do. Thanks, Bandcamp!
Grousing and gratitude aside, let’s get on with the fun bit! Here are my favourite records of 2025. These either released in 2025 or were new to me and released late the previous year. One last caveat: these are my favourites, I don’t pretend this is in any way a best of the year roundup, unless you are specifically me, which you are not. Sorry.