Music Picks from 2025
Playlist of tracks: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3pE486IbRSjZYruUl3EV5g?si=e650e38c40f34e49
A wild year, I welcomed my second kid… and really, that was most of it. I started running more regularly and finished my first 10k. Otherwise, still trying to create more regularly. At some point I will have time, once I get more sleep.
Fav Albums (no particular order)
Dead Channel Sky - clipping.
I do my best not to rant about clipping too much, but I love this experimental/noise hip hop group. Led by Daveed Diggs of Hamilton fame (and Sebastian in the live action Little Mermaid?!), the tracks can be strange but this album may be the most approachable so far. Still utilizing abrasive static and noise but there’s not track with 5 minutes of harsh static. Always amazing.
Highlight Tracks: Dodger, Dominator, Run It
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Alive in the Catacombs - Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age unplugged - with a twist. The whole EP is one take recorded with no power under Paris in the catacombs. With all of that they perform a wonderful, middle dark, emotional series of songs from the band’s archive that hit home. A beautiful record.
Highlight Tracks: Running Joke/Paper Machete, Villains of Circumstance
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Moments in Everglow - Koven
Drum and Bass duo with a song vocalist in Katie Boyle. Prefect timing on this release as I was training for my first 10k during this time and I lean more towards this genre when I run. Even if you are not in to electronic bass music I recommend giving Koven a try.
Highlight Tracks: Polarized, Nervous System, The High We Seek
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Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams
I don’t know if anyone else was expecting this but this album caught me by surprise this year. This is an alt pop adventure with great performances on each track by Hayley Williams.
Highlight tracks: Kill Me, Whim, Showbiz
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The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World - Motion City Soundtrack
In a year where I am seeing the return of a few favorites (Chevelle, New Found Glory) the return of MCS could have gone either way. Their last few albums were not the most exciting, but this album was a return to form. A little less pop than their height but I like the more punk/rock vibe here. Glad to see them back! (Sad to have missed them live but sleep is tough)
Track Highlights: You Know Who the Fuck We Are, Downer, Things Like This
Honorable Mentions
Didn’t make the cut, but I want to call out for special reasons!
Undertale (10-Year Anniversary Remixes)
Never played Undertale but this small selection of remixed songs will get you on your feet jumping. (curated by Monstercat, a creative EDM label).
Track Highlights - MEGALOVANIA (Pegboard Nerds Remix), Death by Glamour (VGR Remix)
Favorite New Artist
The Fluorescents
I found this band because I follow an EDM artist who often collaborates with punk bands. This band has a great and classic sound. The album that got me was called Scream It At Me!, it certainly deserves a mention in here. They released a deluxe in 2026 and the extra tracks are amazing.
Highlight Tracks: Paper Planes, Roll the Dice, Try So Hard
Blasts from the Past
Music I liked that was not released this year.
Sci-Fi Crimes - Chevelle
Continuing catching up on some bands that I didn’t listen to as much as I should have, Chevelle was wrapped up at the start of the year. This album was released in 2009, and while not the best or most popular album, it is still awesome. Standard Chevelle, heavy guitars and more-involved-than-usual drums.
Track Highlights: Roswell’s Spell, A Letter From A Thief, Mexican Sun
Hideaway - hayve, ROY KNOX, Skyelle
What? A Single? I make the rules. I missed this by a year, released in 2024. Amazing vocals by Skyelle, great beat and energetic drum and bass drops. Can’t go wrong.
Fav Singles
Songs that, by themselves, deserve a shout if not on an album I mentioned.
Breaking Me - Seven Lions
There is always going to be some song from this artist here. Melodic dubstep, like if you made Skrillex more interested in melodies, harmonies, and good vocals.
Blood in the Water - Protostar, Laminar, imallryt
The best drum and bass of the year.
100% - New Found Glory
They are back with a punchy punk track!
BUSTED - Tokyo Machine, Boom Kitty, Teminite
A really successful rock and prog house? blend.
Thunderbolts (New Avengers Remix) - Son Lux
Sometimes I am a sucker for good strings and soundtracks.
Bonebreaker - Sullivan King, Excision, Kai Wachi
Aggressive dubstep. Put your fists up.
Orbit - Koven, HALIENE
Two amazing vocalists on a passionate drum and bass track.
Relationships - HAIM
One of two non-electronic songs here! There is just something I love in the progression in this songs that hits hard in the B-Section.
Losing Focus - No Mana, Kuspe, imallryt
Weird techno bop. The minimalism is very interesting.
Hyperfocus - OBLVYN
I think the genre is future bass? Calming, funky, and wonderful.