- Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band / New Threats from the Soul: In retrospect, Ryan Davis’ path seems to have been pointing inevitably toward this place. The heart-soaring country sound weighted down by baritone sadness was always there, but here he’s found a new narrative voice, one preaching the epic poetry of disappointment and, through the stories of his characters, the small moments that define it. Worn-out men speak of “the infinite payroll of loneliness,” and “the pissing competition between the man I am and the guy I was.” When a character asks, “What even am I…which past will we choose to chase tonight?” one feels the weight of his defeat, and a shared truth bears down. In the secular church of Ryan Davis, the gospel is right there on the page, describing opportunities missed and bitter downfalls large and small. It’s a familiar approach that somehow feels groundbreaking, and that’s a testament to his songwriting and to the struggles of his characters, who feel real, and all too familiar. (playlist: “The Simple Joy”)
- Water From Your Eyes / It’s a Beautiful Place: Sharing a musical ethos with other band-of-the-moment Being Dead, this Brooklyn duo rises to the challenge with their latest, a powerful blow to the solar plexus that knocks the wind out. This sonic collage of filthy fuzzed-out power chords, funky dance beats, whiplash tempo changes and fist-in-the-air jams all melds into something special, and spectacular. It seems like they’re peaking at exactly the right time, and with Nate Amos’ solo act also making waves, it’s starting to feel like indie-rock hegemony. (playlist: “Life Signs”)
- Florry / Sounds Like…: A sloppy, joyous mess that sat at the top of my list for a good stretch of the year, finally yielding to bigger things. This is electric and electrifying country-rock shit, long songs with impressionistic narratives unfurling like old rugs on dirty basement floors, heart-soaring solos punctuating the mood, the sound of ego and id wrestling to a draw; and the don’t-give-a-fuck party energy is the secret sauce. (playlist: “First it was a movie, then it was a book”)
- The Convenience / Like Cartoon Vampires: Unjustly flying under the critical radar, this New Orleans band quietly delivers one of the year’s best albums, moving effortlessly from post-punk to ska-lite with slashing, confident hooks that would fit right in on songs from Britt Daniel or Jeff Rosenstock. Sharp, smart stuff. (playlist: “Waiting for a Train”)
- Tobacco City / Horses: Why does pure country done well rise above everything else? There’s a distinctive magic in this rootsy sound out of Chicago, with songs that sound like outtakes from sessions with Gram and Emmylou, all twangy harmonies and generous pedal steel – but these are new classics full of old familiar feelings. (playlist: “Buffalo”)
- Hotline TNT / Raspberry Moon: This band, formed from the ashes of Weed, here delivers a solid set of soaring, romantic, gorgeously muddy guitar-rock songs. So, talent? Check. Craft? Yes. Courage? Well, they had the guts to leave Spotify on moral grounds, which must have hurt, but sent a message. These guys rule. (playlist: “Break Right”)
- Dean Johnson / I Hope We Can Still Be Friends: The warm and gentle comfort of Dean Johnson’s singing voice is a sound in which to luxuriate. With oblique short-story scenes of interpersonal confusion and loss, his songs feel out of time, and he’s doing something special here by making it all feel effortless. (playlist: “Before You Hit the Ground”)
- Geese / Getting Killed: Hyped and hyper, the young men of Geese could be accused of doing too much, going too far, trying too hard. Yet it’s exactly this too-muchness that’s so transformative, like a carnival barker exhorting a crowd. So it’s not as good as 3D Country – who’s even counting anymore? Step right up: it’s Winter fever! (playlist: “Taxes”)
- Case Oats / Last Missouri Exit: Tremendous loose-and-limber indie-country stuff out of Chicago, the combination of pungent vocals, razor-sharp songwriting and a million and one hooks a true delight. With Spencer Tweedy producing (and on drums) it also sounds great, with a warm intimacy truly serving the performance. (playlist: “Bitter Root Lake”)
- Semi Trucks / Georgia Overdrive: These loose, grungy psych-rock tunes are Velvet-worship via western highways, like a convoy of dark, hypnotic guitars rolling through the desert night. Seeming hellbent on forward progress, they go fast but still take the long way home, enjoying the ride. Our advice: get on, or get off the road. (playlist: “Lou and Edie”)
- Way Dynamic / Massive Shoe: Capturing some of what’s great about the Melbourne scene right now, this slow-loping, feel-good yacht-folk gem is utterly charming, the mood a bit like a chill hang by the campfire. (playlist: “The Others”)
- Ty Segall / Possession: Like a late-career Babe Ruth he’s lost some power but his swagger’s intact, the crowd abuzz for each at bat. From anyone else this thing moves mountains. For him? A hard double in the gap. (playlist: “Buildings”)
- Delivery / Force Majeure: With hyped-up power chords and AC / DC drum licks these distorted, tempo-shifted songs recall Repo Man-era LA punk; but this band’s from Melbourne, a city and scene on fire. (playlist: “The New Alphabet”)
- Cory Hanson / I Love People: Is there a hidden undercurrent of irony on this album of breezy folk-rock from Wand’s frontman? His move from Western Cum to Love is so convincing, it doesn’t matter either way. Sold. (playlist: “Joker”)
- Friendship / Caveman Wakes Up: Keeping their chill but moving away from a Silver Jews vibe toward a somewhat freakier folk, they’re following their own winding path, and casting ever longer shadows. (playlist: “Free Association”)
- TVOD / Party Time: Raw post-punks out of Brooklyn channel the Femmes and early Television on this messy live-to-tape debut, giving no fucks while shouting and shredding for your amusement, and theirs. (playlist: “Car Wreck”)
- Good Good Blood / Little Sparrow: Sounding like a dirt-on-the-windshield Nick Drake, Yorkshire’s James Smith’s an everyman who’s hurting, bad. Every note here is hard-won, and it all feels true. (playlist: “Never Saw it as a Rainbow”)
- The Beths / Straight Line Was a Lie: With a stylistic quantum leap after a couple down years, these zealous NZ power-poppers introduce a few sweet ballads to the mix, and the album actually gets better as it goes. (playlist: “Take”)
- Oldstar / Of the Highway: Panama City alt-country band captures a vibe that recalls old favorites Ox and Jackpot (and by extension Neil Young), and around here that’s about the highest compliment one can pay. (playlist: “Honkeytonk”)
- Orcutt Shelley Miller / Orcutt Shelley Miller: This year saw several great instrumental albums, a genre often sidelined here, and this set of slashing, live-to-tape electric avant-rock is the best of them all. (playlist: “Four-door Charger”)
- Colin Miller / Losin’: Asheville producer and friend of Lenderman goes solo with an album of country songs that are rich, deep and full of lyrical and musical surprises. What’s no surprise is, it sounds great. (playlist: “I Need a Friend”)
- Nourished by Time / The Passionate Ones: This darling of the Baltimore scene is so cool that the New Yorker wrote him up, and it didn’t change a thing, his oblique, inscrutable R&B still incorrupt. (playlist: “When the War is Over”)
- Greg Freeman / Burnover: The most salient question is: can this guy even sing? He can, and it all starts to make sense eventually; but when he lights into that guitar, these songs launch at speed into an outer space. (playlist: “Salesman”)
- SML / How You Been: This live-to-loop experimental LA jazz quintet comes in hotter than a volcano and never cools off, doing something wildly unprecedented, and maybe even charting a new way forward. Holy shit. (playlist: “Daves”)
- Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / The Purple Bird: Will Oldham goes to Nashville in a serious mood and, with the help of a top-dog session crew, produces one of the most beautiful albums of his career. (playlist: “Sometimes It’s Hard to Breathe”)
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THE REST
$500 / Twelve Eyes: Killer unknown Kingston NY band makes waves with this album of tightly-wound gothic rock songs.
Alex G / Headlights: Treading water here, it’s nothing new but still sounds great. Is he gathering steam, or over the hill?
Anxious / Bambi: Beloved underdog emo-punk band keeps sharpening the edges and this, their 2nd, is great stuff.
Bad Bunny / Debí Tirar Más Foto: Hype be damned: this earns it, an incredible homage to the 70’s with classic salsa beats.
BADSOMA / badsoma EP: This lil’ business card of spooky slacker couch-rock promises something excellent to come.
BC Camplight / A Sober Conversation: Uncomfortably personal in all the best ways, like a slow-distilled Father John Misty.
The Belair Lip Bombs / Again: More great shit from Melbourne! Jaunty, jangly Aussies nail it with their pleasing power-pop.
The Berries / The Berries: Imagine a late-career Tom Petty covering War on Drugs and you’re in the ballpark. Slick but great.
Bleary Eyed / Easy: These Philly shoegazers share a vibe with The Districts, a big ambitious sound aimed at the back row.
Bon Iver / SABLE, FABLE: Justin Vernon says he’s done; if true, this is a quiet exit studded with a few heart-rending songs.
Cactus Lee / Cactus Lee: Like a Texan Jack Johnson, this chill dude is riding waves of grain, all the way to the promised land.
Garrett T. Capps / Life is Strange: When things go sideways down along the Rio Grande, you’ve just gotta keep on floatin’.
Car Seat Headrest / The Scholars: He’s still in the wilderness, chasing dragons that may or may not exist. Come back soon!
Paco Cathcart / Down on Them: Imagine it’s a butterfly, and you just have to wait for it to land. “Bottleneck Blues” rules.
Chico States / I Saw a Galloping Horse Cover No Ground: Uncommonly soulful hipster country stuff out of Portland, Maine.
Clipse / Let God Sort Em Out: Looking back, the incredible Daytona feels like a mere warm up for this all-star feat-fest.
Cloth / Pink Silence: The smoky songs from these Glasgow twins blend modern soul, post-rock and romantic pop.
Clove / Clove: Laurel Canyon meets 90’s twee on this excellent album from a relatively obscure Aussie country-folk band.
Nick County / Los Mosquitos, Volume 2: From a compelling character on his own tip, these are explorations in indie-folk.
DARKSIDE / Nothing: Recalling some of the magic of Psychic, these songs smolder and then burn, revealing layers below.
Destroyer / Dan’s Boogie: I’ve been confused by everything of his since Kaputt, but this made me so happy, I laughed.
Double Virgo / Shakedown: With members of bar italia (a band headed in the wrong direction), this is low-key hot shit.
Dijon / Baby: It’s universal acclaim for this spare hybrid-R&B album, earned on production but needing more hooks.
Dragnet / Dragnet Reigns!: Aussie post-punkers wind up like Wire, flashing their glinting blades in the Melbourne night.
Dutch Interior / Moneyball: This SoCal slowcore-meets-country thing is gaining traction, and the attention feels deserved.
Dylan Earl / Level-Headed Even Smile: The mellifluous pipes on this Arkansas transplant make his brand of country classic.
Ethel Cain / Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You: The myth deepens and the legend grows with this dense, epic work.
FITS / Hits EP: Little-known Brooklyn band is back after years of silence with an EP of sharp, buzzy pop-punk tunes.
Florist / Jellywish: If Big Thief had gone left and not right, they might now sound like this folk outfit, stripped and lovely.
Forth Wanderers / The Longer This Goes On: Time off has mellowed this NJ band, with a less-epic but still solid emo sound.
Hannah Frances / Nested in Tangles: This grad-school avant-chamber-folk is intricate and even convoluted, but never fussy.
Freckle / Freckle: The Ty Segall rainbow meets the Color Green, and the result is psych-folk stuff that sparkles and shines.
Fust / Big Ugly: This heart-swole and honey-warm alt-country shit out of NC keeps coming; they’re good, and getting better.
Glyders / Forever: Cosmic country trio out of Chicago delivers a warm, expansive sound well-suited to a sunny afternoon.
SG Goodman / Planting by the Signs: This soul-baring folk singer brings honesty and emotion to deeply personal subjects.
Guided by Voices / Thick Rich and Delicious: The OG crank-master keeps pace with two 2025 albums, and this one’s best.
Guitar / We’re Headed to the Lake: Like Guided by Voices with fewer constraints, this exploratory Portland OR band kills it.
Hataalii / I’LL BE AROUND: Young Navajo artist out of Arizona channels old stories and old souls on this quiet acoustic gem.
Joe Harvey-Whyte and Bobby Lee / Last Ride: More exploration in a Western vein with trippy, towering tumbleweed tunes.
Lou Hazel / Riot of the Red: From upstate NY via Raleigh-Durham, this polished country folk sound is something special.
Heaven For Real / Who Died and Made You The Dream?: Super-appealing and unique orchestral pop, from Nova Scotia.
Helado Negro / The Last Sound on Earth EP: A tasty treat between LP’s from this perennial favorite, all cool synth beats.
Scott Hirsch / Lost Padres: Former Golden Messenger delivers another yachty, doomy set of relationship-centric neo-folk.
Home is Where / Hunting Season: Intriguing Florida hardcore band with epic aspirations takes a step sideways this time.
Horsegirl / Phonetics On and On: With steady progress toward a specific kind of indie rock brilliance, they’re getting closer.
Japanese Breakfast / For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women): Quietly excellent, with a must-hear Jeff Bridges cameo.
Joyer / On the Other End of the Line…: These dreamy Brooklyn shoegazers take their time getting there, but it all coheres.
Joyeria / Graceful Degradation EP: Intentionally off-key and off-kilter, this Pavement-y UK art-school rock fucking rules.
Lawn / God Made the Highway: New Orleans band delivers another tightly-wrapped, Petty-esque set of radio-ready rock.
Cate Le Bon / Michelangelo Dying: It’s become a tradition here to say: “I don’t get it, but it’s so good!” Cate does it again.
Lifeguard / Ripped and Torn: Like a lo-fi Ty Segall, Kai Slater (of Sharp Pins) cranks out 60’s-worship lo-fi rock at a busy clip.
Low Healer / hold music EP: Sounding like The Breeders on a bender, this fuzz-rock act adopts a defiant posture, and slays.
Ma’aM / Out the Window: Utterly irresistible punk-country sass, with one of the year’s best songs in “Shut Up & Eat.”
Militarie Gun / God Save the Gun: Hardcore-lite band from LA nails it here, filling the void left by Turnstile’s brass ring play.
Elijah Minnelli / Clams as a Main Meal: Self-mythologized UK act does authentic-feeling dub reggae as performance art.
Tony Molina / On This Day: Beatles worship is a V8 engine, and this tune machine just keeps on rolling down the road.
The Mountain Goats / Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan: Rest on his laurels? Hell no. Here, ambition levels up.
Neu Blume / Let It Win: A welcome alt-folk surprise from this Detroit duo, all twang and harmonies, with soul to spare.
Nihilistic Easyrider / DELUXE EDITION: Eclectic grab-bag of soaring choruses and power-chords is 90’s worship writ large.
Sarah Noell / Good Dog EP: Sweet soulful country-folk out of Ithaca; this EP is a calling card for excellent things to come.
Options / Beast Mode: This bright-beat home-brew angst-heavy indie rock sounds amazing, like Porches on a different day.
Doug Paisley / Rough Master: Toronto’s favorite country son is off the radar despite two great rough-cut albums this year.
Perfume Genius / Glory: Full of songs both quiet and lush, both acoustic and orchestral, all of them gorgeous. His best yet.
Ken Pomeroy / Cruel Joke: Sad, soulful country songs from this rising-star Native American from Oklahoma are resonant.
pond 1000 / daffodil: Complex, assured debut from this Maine band is a choogly indie dream, with some great guitar work.
Prewn / System: Dark and wintry confessional songs out of northern Vermont are intense and thorny, but beautiful.
PUP / Who Will Look After the Dogs?: Joy laced with panic sounds like these thrashy punk-pop tunes, from Toronto.
Racing Mount Pleasant / Racing Mount Pleasant: The closest thing yet to the original BCNR sound, according to Griffin.
Julianna Riolino / Echo in the Dust: Daniel Romano sidekick steps into the spotlight with a bright, aggressive country set.
Rosalía / Lux: With lyrics in Spanish and operatic arrangements, it ain’t an easy sell; but holy shit, this is something special.
Rose City Band / Sol y Sombra: What can you say about this Wooden Shjips offshoot except: yes, please, more of the same.
SALT / The Books are Blue: Conspiracists might muse that Elliot Smith is still alive and four-tracking in a Queens basement.
Santah / Last Whirlpool: Back after a long absence, this moody Chicago band takes another shot and delivers a beauty.
Sharp Pins / Radio DDR: Technically a 2024 reissue, this one’s got more life than Balloons, though the lo-fi thing grates.
Nick Shoulders / Refugia Blues: This ironic Arkansan does a tongue-in-cheek Hank Williams thing with increasing dexterity.
Shrunken Elvis / Shrunken Elvis: Another five-star instrumental album, this one’s quiet, spacey and deconstructed. Wow.
Silver Synthetic / Rosalie: Sweet New Orleans country-rock album is instantly appealing, even if imitative of classic bands.
Snocaps / Snocaps: Surprise! This late one from the Crutchfields and MJL is better than expected, and feels fully realized.
Stay Inside / Lunger: Every year-end list needs room for an unapologetically awesome emo album, and this year it’s Lunger.
Laura Stevenson / Late Great: Hudson Valley singer-songwriter makes a bid for greatness with another tremendous set.
Sudan Archives / The BPM: Voluminous, voluptuous and variegated experimental dance-pop out of Cincinnati, via LA.
This is Lorelei / Holo Boy: Smoking-hot re-do’s of his early songs ratchet up the Nate Amos cool quotient even further.
TOLEDO / Inertia EP: Always-bright-and-shiny Brooklyn band stretches out a little on this short-form album of indie pop.
Townie / Hunting Mice: Canada’s got a lock on good country bands with no alternative agenda, and these guys fit right in.
The Tubs / Cotton Crown: Ambitious Cardiff band captures a romantic 80’s UK vibe, dyspeptic but also sneeringly sweet.
Tulpa / Monster of the Week: Tight-loose debut out of Leeds is great stuff, just wonky enough to keep you interested.
Turnstile / Never Enough: They go over the top in search of radio play and stardom, and all that that implies. Good enough.
Jeff Tweedy / Twilight Override: The surprise of ’25, after years of blandness, was this 3LP gem. Genuinely great stuff.
Tyler the Creator / Don’t Tap the Glass: He’s having some fun after the ambitious Chromakopia, but this still carries weight.
Ultra Lights / Ultra Lights: Songs from this EP have been buzzing our airspace for years, and here they fly over in formation.
Water Machine / God Park: This Glaswegian art-rock band is delightfully antic and super-kooky, but they also shred hard.
Juan Wauters / MVD LUV: Ditching NYC and LA for the warm confines of Montevideo, this is a sweet love letter to home.
Wednesday / Bleeds: Overrated due to Lendermania, this is a really good country rock album but needs sharper relief.
Westerman / A Jackal’s Wedding: Great late entry from this laconic Brit, whose hooky murmurs and mumbles mesmerize.
Westside Cowboy / This Better Be Something Great EP: UK youngsters nail the alt-country thing; they’re worth watching.
Wet Leg / Moisturizer: UK trio veers from pop-rock to ad hoc post-rock, but the blade is still sharp. Thank you Malcolm!
Don White / Gold: Unreleased country album stashed for 50 years is a wonderful time machine to a rich 70’s Tulsa sound.
Wishy / Planet Popstar EP: More sugary emo-pop from this heartland band is like an aural light box, dopamine on demand.
Wombo / Danger in Fives: Louisville’s eclectic scene keeps building, and this ambitious post-country-rock album grooves.
Youth Lagoon / Rarely Do I Dream: Further studies in the art of past-to-pastiche, wherein memory is both mirror and lens.
MISSED in ‘24
Blair / Blair II
Vague Plot / Crying in 9
Worker’s Comp / Worker’s Comp
DIG ‘EM OUT!
John Cale / Fear
Nina Nastasia and Jim White / You Follow Me
The New Year / Newness Ends
STILL DON’T GET IT
Donald Trump / This Fucking Asshole
Andrew Stewart
Rhinebeck, NY