2025 Album Reviews
A little into 2026, but 2025 was a busy year and I’m only barely getting back into things. Here are some quick reviews of albums that I enjoyed in 2025! I’m still doing my best to purchase more music and support artists more directly, slowly building up my album collection and I fully intend on doing more of that in 2026.
Perverts - Ethel Cain
Favorite Track: Pulldrone
I hadn’t listened to Ethel Cain’s previous albums but this one pulled me in when I saw there are four songs that are over ten minutes long. I love the dark, droning and unsettling vibe the album creates. This feels like the back half of Preacher’s Daughter expanded to a full length album.
Who Let The Dogs Out - Lambrini Girls
Favorite Track: Bad Apple
This album feels like modern-day Riot Grrl and I’m here for it. Loud, in your face and angry as hell, this album reminds me a lot of Bikini Kill. So good.
A Million Knives - The Velveteers
Favorite Track: Suck the Cherry
So much great rock and roll! This three piece reminds me a lot of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I can hear hints of Failure in there along with maybe some of The Black Keys. I’m really digging how many bands are bringing straight up Rock and Roll back.
The Body & Dis Fig (Audiotree Live) - The Body & Dis Fig
Favorite Track: Coils of Kaa
Orchards of a Futile Heaven in live form is incredible! I wish this was the whole album played through, but I’ll take what I can get from these three songs. The Body is the undisputed champions of collaborations, and this is one of their best. I’m also stoked to hear more music from Dis Fig, I hope she has some music on the way soon!
The Film - Sumac and Moor Mother
Favorite Track: Scene 5: Breathing Fire
It was hard to pick a favorite track on this one. Sumac brings their usual heaviness combined with Moor Mother’s lyrical heaviness it makes something really special. This is album was easily one of my favorite albums of 2025.
Doggod - L.A. Witch
Favorite Track: 777
Witchy post-punk / goth out of L.A. I love the minimal guitar and bass over smoky, witchy vocals. I found myself coming back to this album over and over throughout the year. It’s really good. Fits well with late 80’s goth while sounding new and original.
Broken Sword, Rotten Shield - Full of Hell
Favorite Track: To Ruin and the World’s Ending
A really great EP from Full of Hell. The band continues to grow and this album tackles the grief of losing your dog in a heavy way. I love that Full of Hell continues to be a great Grind band without falling into the distateful (i.e. horrifically misogynistic) aspects so many Grind bands rely on.
Human Zoo - Stress Positions
Raw Punk Rock / Hardcore from Chicago. I love seeing more highly political, angry punk. More of this!
Favorite Track: Human Zoo
Mosturizer - Wet Leg
Favorite Track: u and me at home
My most listend to album of 2025. This album is incredibly fun and well put together. Poppy with solid songwriting and a great rock swagger. Nearly every song on the album is great. Some standout songs of the album: CPR, mangetout, pokemon, pillow talk.
For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) - Japanese Breakfast
Great album title to a great album. I really like the more indie / folk of this album. This is another album that’s gotten quite a few listens over the year.
Favorite Track: Orlando in Love
Who Is The Sky? - David Byrne
Another solid rock album from David Byrne. Reminds me of his collaboration with St. Vincent.
Favorite Track: The Avant Garde
Kids Table - Bright Eyes
I like this one more than Five Dice, All Threes before it even though these songs are from the same timeframe as Five Dice. If you like Bright Eyes, you’ll like this, too.
Favorite Track: Dyslexic Palindrome (feat. Hurray for the Riff Raff)
Devils Den / With The Devil - Jesse Welles
Like many folks, I came across Jesse Welles from his United Health song that went viral. Devils Den and With The Devil are two separate albums but they’re different takes on the same songs. Devil’s Den is acoustic folk where With The Devil is slightly more electric Americana. Both solid albums worth giving a listen to.
There were many great album releases in 2025, and I wish I had kept up with my notes on what I listened to but it was a busy year so here are my highlights for releases in 2025!