Top Five Albums of the Year - 2025

Whew! Thankfully 2025 provided a bounty of new albums I really enjoyed (compared to '24 when there was just one). Unsurprisingly, three of my top albums were released by favorite bands that have made this blog in the past. With so much music in this year's rotation, I didn't mind that I had to leave out a few albums that would have immediately made my list in a dry year like 2024. They are North American EP by The Dear Hunter, Painter by Finally George, and The Longest Weekend by TWRP. After some consideration, my Top Five (or six, really) are:

Elton John & Brandi Carlile - Who Believes in Angels - 2025

I had seen this album was forthcoming but didn't have any expectations. I wasn't familiar with Brandi Carlile and figured material from Elton was going to be post-heyday quality. But this album turned out to be my highest played on Spotify. With Andrew Watt producing and help from Chad Smith of the Chili Peppers and Pino Palladino, this record has a lot to offer. With lyrics written by Bernie Taupin and Brandi, some songs sound like classic Elton and others are a departure from his style, allowing Brandi to shine and enlist Elton's gifts as a pianist and singer in a unique way. Cameras captured the recording process, and the resulting short documentary shows some interesting dynamics and real moments as the group created a musical gem. It's revealed too that Brandi was an obsessed Elton fan as a young girl and credits him for inspiring her to be a musician. Prior to making this album, they were already close friends that took family vacations together. It's a feel-good project in all aspects. My personal favorite tracks were Swing for the Fences and The Rose of Laura Nyro. While I thought this album was a shoo-in for an Album of the Year Grammy nomination or win, they were only nominated in the Best Traditional Pop Album category.  

Goose - Everything Must Go & Chain Yer Dragon - 2025

Goose songs were already in high rotation for me when Everything Must Go was released in April. And this album made a particular splash for me as I enjoyed my first ski pass at Timberline on Mt. Hood. Utilizing my very cool Bluetooth helmet, I was able to listen to these tracks while soaring down the slopes. I'll always remember coming down the empty, wide, and treeless west-side of the Palmer run with the song Dustin Hoffman perfectly matching my turns. It was epic. To my complete surprise, Goose dropped another entirely new full-length album in 2025: Chain Yer Dragon. And this second album may even be better than the first! Songs like Royal and Factory Fiction were favorites. It's hard to articulate, but I think that lead guitarist and singer Rick Mitarotonda's voice and style comes across like an old friend that's all about the good times. Nice to have in a year like 2025. 

The Movement - Visions - 2025

Being a big fan of Stick Figure led by Scott Woodruff, I'm always quick to listen to any collaboration Woodruff does with other reggae bands (which happens a lot). The pairing of Stick Figure with The Movement for the track Visions may be the best yet. The song was my 5th most listened to track on Spotify with 100 spins. Like most Stick Figure songs or collaborations, the sound quality of the recording is wonderfully spatial and clean, with deep bass and a classic reggae grove. I hadn't really listened to The Movement before this album was released, but I'm definitely a fan now. And they have a deep catalog that I'm excited to explore. The Movement is led by South Carolina native Josh Swain, who was a co-founder of the band in 2003. Swain left the band in 2010 and returned in 2012 when co-founder Jordan Miller quit the band unexpectedly right before a show. Swain and Miller have labeled The Movement as "alternative reggae", and cite bands such as Sublime, Outcast, UB40, and The Pixies as influences. In addition to Visions, the songs Putting Up 2 and Make It Through are favorites of mine from the album. 

Styx - Circling From Above - 2025

Circling From Above is the third album in a sequence of what I'd call a renaissance for Styx that started in 2017 with the release of the album The Mission. Led by singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw (and without Dennis DeYoung), the band is producing original material that harks back to the rockin' heyday of Styx without sounding dated. As they did in the 70's and 80's, Styx is producing albums that cleverly include themes, or at least hint at them, making their albums seem like complete packages. For me, Circling From Above is quite good from start to finish, without a single clunker in the collection of 13 songs. In addition to modeling their classic sound that incorporates acoustic & electric guitars and a heavy dose of vocal harmonies, Styx also pays tribute to other classic bands in songs like Everybody Raise a Glass (Queen) and We Lost the Wheel Again (The Who) without losing their own sound. I think it's rare for an older band like Styx to release relevant music so long after their prime. And they are still touring. While I know their shows are a greatest hits showcase, it would be great to see them perform a track or two from these recent albums. I've also become a fan of their current drummer, Todd Sucherman, who plays on all three Finally George albums. 

Big Wreck - The Rest of the Story - 2025

In 2023 Big Wreck released Pages, a six song EP that sounded like a return to the Ghosts era (replete with the same producers). The band promised two more EPs but instead released all the remaining tracks on the LP The Rest of the Story in late 2025. I think this may be some of the best music Ian Thornley and the band have released. Their blend of hard rock, melodic interludes, and soaring vocals continues to be a staple for Big Wreck, but on this collection of 11 songs it just seems to all click. Last year, Big Wreck became my #1 music choice for skiing. Their fast tempo songs are a great fit for energetic runs, and their wide-panned, reverb heavy soundscapes and vocals are a great match for the epic natural terrain. I'm stoked to listen to this album on the slopes in 2026! Knowing how much I was going to enjoy it, I intentionally stopped listening to the album to ensure it'll be as fresh as the powder I hope to plunge through! 

2024 - Top Five... Songs?

What a contrast 2024 was to 2023. In '23 I enjoyed a lot of good music and many albums I was into. This year was the driest in memory in terms of new albums I really liked. While perusing my monthly mixes for albums, there was just one that stood out during the entire year - TWRP's Digital Nightmare. All others may have had a song or two I really liked, but none that consistently made me want to hit the play button again when the album finished. Luckily there were a lot of singles I liked and as a result, the playlists I made became my music lifeblood. 

So, for the first time, I'm going to forgo the album review and list my top five songs of the year.

TWRP - A Human's Touch - 2024

TWRP teased the single A Human's Touch in advance of their album Digital Nightmare and it immediately got my attention. As I mentioned last year, TWRP is an "unabashedly ridiculous and fun Canadian band. Going strictly by their costumed and disguised band personas, TWRP plays funky, 80's tinged jams and is fronted by Doctor Sung, who uses a talk box for his vocals. Bassist Commander Meouch and guitarist Lord Phobos play virtuoso riffs and drummer Havve Hogan keeps time, with each musician likely being limited in how much they can see through their masks". A Human's Touch includes McKenna Rae vocals processed similarly to Doctor Sung's, and the song is reminiscent of an Abba song from the early 80's. 

Big Wreck - Alibi - 2019 (2023 Remaster)

This song resurfaced for me due to multiple plays it got while skiing this year. My ski experience was taken to a whole new level when Craw gifted me a helmet with built-in bluetooth speakers on the ear pads. I had used wired ear buds in the past to listen to music while skiing but it was not ideal. The helmet's controls on the side make adjusting volume and song selection so easy. Perhaps the only rival to this top notch experience is snorkeling with my waterproof headphones. I soon discovered that Big Wreck was a great fit for the energetic and exhilarating ski moments I was having. Having made a 2nd Big Wreck 12-Pack with songs from their more recent albums and EPs, the song Alibi stood out each time it played. The harmony laden chorus is great on it's own but the stand-out section is when Ian Thornley sings his soaring signature vocals like a guitar solo over the top of the already exciting chorus. This section when combined with high speed racing through empty slopes made for epic moments. 

Goose - Arcadia & Jive II - 2016

I couldn't decide between these two Goose songs so I'm listing them both. Arcadia became a favorite while enjoying the backyard hot tub. When I saw Goose live at Edgefield this year I didn't expect to hear it. Apparently Goose mixes up their setlist every night so there was no way to know it was going to be their closer during the encore. After a funny solo experience at the show that included tripping and nearly crushing a fellow fan's newly purchased vinyl LP, I left the venue before the encore, knowing I'd hear it from the parking lot. When Arcadia came on I was bummed to not be in the venue but I then had a unique solo experience listening and grooving in the adjacent grass field with the moon rising in the distance. 

Jive II became a favorite near the end of the year. The cool thing about Goose is while they are a free flowing jam band in concert, their studio albums are tightly produced. This song sounds fantastic and the harmonies near the end of this seven minute track get me every time. 

Die With a Smile - Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - 2024

Bruno Mars has a knack for creating classic songs and I've been a real fan since he and Anderson Pak teamed up as Silk Sonic. Die With A Smile came out as a standalone single duet with Lady Gaga, and it caught my ear immediately. Soaring vocals, great harmonies, and a tight production along with some interesting melody changes near the end has left me thinking this is one of most perfect pop songs of all time. After doing a lot of karaoke in the last year with our home setup, Jess and I tried to get this one nailed down but the high notes and flip flopping main melody made it difficult. Perhaps I should just leave it to the professionals to do what they do best. The song won the 2025 Grammy award for Best Pop Duo and was nominated for Song of the Year. 

Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam - 2024

Padam Padam popped up on one of Rowe's monthly playlists and I was instantly hooked. I had forgotten that Australian Kylie Minogue was a global sensation in the 80's. I've read that her career included acting and theater and that she's maintained some level of popularity ever since the 80's, creating 17 albums. Now at age 56, Kylie has had another resurgence due to songs like Padam Padam from her Tension album. This song is not one I'd typically get so into but it's super catchy, and has a subtle low, male vocal harmony that is so satisfying. The song is so short in length I often just hit play again when it was done. Good thing a longer remix was released. Padam Padam is definitely associated with our family's summer vacation in Vancouver, B.C. As part of a playlist made a couple months before the trip, it was part of the soundtrack for my planning and anticipation for the trip. I can also picture listening to it on the patio of the AirBnb we rented in Vancouver. 

Top Five Albums of the Year - 2023

In 2023 I had healthy amount of music to enjoy, which was such a great change from the last few years. Maybe it was due to Covid being so much less of a prohibitor, or maybe it was just coincidence that I found so much new material. Either way, I was thankful.  And it made it tougher to pick my Top Five! 

Level 42 - Forever Now - 1994

Oddly enough, the first album in heavy rotation this year was one I knew very well from 30 years ago. During the 80's and 90's, Level 42 was one of my top bands and I spent a lot of energy tracking down their rare cassettes, and later, CDs. While I have the hard media and Mp3s of this 1994 release, Forever Now had never been available on Spotify until recently. As a result, the only time I'd hear it was when I charged up the ol' iPod for a trek down memory lane. Interestingly, there were two versions of the album that were released, each with songs not on the other version. Unfortunately the Spotify version is my less favored of the two, but it was still fun to hear these old songs so readily. Forever Now was Level 42's final album before breaking up and reforming in 2006 to produce the very last Level 42 album Retroglide (which ended up being my all-time favorite). Bassist and lead singer Mark King can "slappa the bass big time" like no one else. Seeing him simultaneously sing and play such complicated, percussive basslines still impresses me. They were touring in Europe this year and I've been hoping it might accompany a new album and an US tour. So far, no such luck. 

Big Wreck - Pages.1 / 7.3 - 2023

Ian Thornley's Big Wreck had been releasing EPs numerically titled in 2022, and kicked off 2023 with 7.3. I thought it was the strongest material since the Ghosts album from 2014. Later in the year I was surprised and psyched to learn Big Wreck was going to play a Portland show. To my knowledge they had never played here before. Just a couple weeks before the show another EP dropped. I had no idea this was coming and starting soaking up the Pages songs in anticipation of the show. The sound snd style of this album immediately made me think of Ghosts. Two of the tracks were played at the Portland show at Hawthorne Theater and they sounded great despite bad venue acoustics. Ends up Rick Raskulinecz and Eric Ratz were back engineering and producing, as they did for the 2014 album. Pages.1 is part of the trickle-released 18-song LP. I'm excited to hear the next 12 tracks! 

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Counsil Skies - 2023

My brother Jeff turned me on to Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds several years back and I had been awaiting a new album for some time. Not being an Oasis fan, at the time I didn't realize Noel was one of the brothers who made up the Britpop band that took the UK by storm in the 90's. When their initial popularity skyrocketed, Noel and brother Liam became known for a having a wild and unpredictable rock n' roll demeanor and lifestyle. The brothers themselves fought openly and Noel left the band on their biggest concert tour only to come back, all the while demanding he get his way. Reading through his bio, Liam comes across as a pompous asshole with no filter. Even knowing that, his music supersedes his personality, especially on the 2023 album Counsil Skies. Melodic rock songs are plentiful on this long and polished album, and demonstrate why Liam was (and is) so well regarded as a musician. Orchestral strings and female backing vocals add to the epic sound on songs like Easy Now and others. Ultimately my favorite track was the 'Reflex Revision' remix of Counsil Skies. 

The Dear Hunter - Migrant Returned - 2023

In 2013 The Dear Hunter released their first "non-themed" album called Migrant. In addition to hardcore fans being less receptive, their record label had insisted that some songs be left off the album. Over time album's popularity grew and now, 10 years later, Casey Crescenzo and band have released a remixed and restructured version that includes the missing songs. The original Migrant contained a few of my favorite TDH songs, and they sound even better on Migrant Returned. Whether it's due to audio technology improving, or Casey being a seasoned producer, or both, this album has a quality that sets it apart from the original. The missing songs are very good and show why they should have been included in the first place on this long album of 18 tracks. The Dear Hunter toured in 2023 to support the album, with the bulk of the concert consisting of these songs. I was stoked to hear so many of my favorites at what was the best show I'd seen them perform yet. 

Finally George - Life Is A Killer - 2018

It was a tough decision but ultimately I chose Life Is A Killer by Finally George as my final Top Five album of 2023. Spotify recommended the song Way Home and I was immediately hooked. Finally George is the work of George Hahn. Online I found very little about him, other than that he's a studio 'artist' in Hamburg, Germany. Sounds like Hahn is a composer/producer who gathered other studio artists to perform on the album, as well as Styx drummer Todd Sucherman. I'm not even sure what Hahn performs on the album, although I gather that he's the vocalist. The album is a polished and cohesive collection of prog-rock songs that have requisite soaring guitar solos, layered harmonies, and dramatic string sections. Lucky for me there was also a second Finally George album to sink into, Icy Skies, released in 2021. Will there be a followup in 2024? I hope so. 

 

Honorable mention this year goes to the unabashedly ridiculous and fun Canadian band TWRP. Going strictly by their costumed and disguised band personas, TWRP plays funky, 80's tinged jams and is fronted by Doctor Sung, who uses a talk box for his vocals. Bassist Commander Meouch and guitarist Lord Phobos play virtuoso riffs and drummer Havve Hogan keeps time, with each musician likely being limited in how much they can see through their masks. The band's silliness and positivity shines through on many of their songs, and their live shows look like a blast. I'm excited to take my family and friends to see them when they come to Portland in April. I didn't include them in my Top Five because while I like many of their songs, there's no one album that I really like all the way through. And that's what Spotify playlists are for. My TWRP '12 Pack' was in heavy rotation in 2023. 

Top Five Albums of the Year - 2022

Music was a critical part of my life in 2022, providing real relief and joy during another tough year. Patio listening was enhanced with an inflatable hot tub and fire pit. Spotify said I logged 53,000 minutes of listening and a healthy part of that time was spent in the backyard. The sequential release of albums Antimai and Wisdom were well-timed to many summer nights of headphone chill-laxing.  

Goose -Dripfield - 2022

Self-described as an "Indie Groove" band, Goose is generally known for being a jam band influenced by Phish and Umphrey's McGee. On older songs the jam band label definitely fits, but on the 2022 album Dripfield, Goose blends a variety of styles that come across to me as long form, focused dream pop/rock...or something. And from what I've read, that's a departure from their typical sound. Since live shows have been their bread and butter, limitations due to Covid may have directed them to further consider how the recording studio can produce more sophisticated songs. The front half of the album is what really shines for me, with songs Borne, Hungerstrike, and Dripfield being a 1-2-3 punch. I look forward to seeing what's next for this relatively new band. 

The Dear Hunter - Antimai - 2022

Led by singer, songwriter, and producer Casey Crescenzo, The Dear Hunter has been fairly prolific in releasing new music year after year.  With LPs consistently based on  complicated storylines spanning several albums, Antimai is part two of a new series that is centered around the "Indigo Child". This time around, Casey and crew pushed into a new zone musically with Antimai. And from my perspective, it's their best work to date. Featuring a horn section and xylophone on nearly every track, Antimai sounds different than previous albums both in style and instrumentation. With a lyrical theme based on a post-apocalypse city with high circular walls, each song describes one of the Rings of the circular city. The result is cohesive album that shines most when played start to finish. No one song stands out to me, but all together the songs compliment each other. I listened to Antimai more than any other album this year and it was a staple of my nighttime patio hang-outs. With a pristine recording and a heavily layered mix of vocals and instrumentation, I heard some new element nearly every time I listened. During one of the last hot tub soaks of the year, I decided to listen one more time and then abstain from further plays. Maybe this coming summer I'll revisit it with similar delight. 

Lera Lynn - Something More Than Love - 2022

Prior to 2022 I was unaware of Lera Lynn, but thanks to a Spotify suggestion I quickly became a fan. Hailing from Athens, Georgia,  Lera Lynn's earlier music has roots in country, but Something More Than Love sounds more mainstream with elements that remind me of  chilled out Zero 7 tracks and later era kd lang. Lera wrote and recorded all songs on her own while holed up during covid with her partner and coproducer Todd Lombardo. Impressively, she played every instrument on the album. Plus she gave birth to her first child during the same period.  The title track is likely my favorite. With such a dreamy sound, I often listened to this album when falling asleep. Thanks for your help with my insomnia Lera!

Stick Figure -Wisdom - 2022

While they play live as a 5-piece reggae band, Stick Figure is truly the work of musician and producer Scott Woofruff. Like Lera Lynn, Woodruff writes, performs, and records every song on his own. After discovering Stick Figure last year, I was stoked to have a new album to soak up this summer. Like his previous efforts, Woodruff shows his knack for creating songs with lush instrumentation, layered harmonies, and catchy pop choruses that are disguised within the reggae style. In a recent interview, Woodruff said "Wisdom is all about the journey. I wanted to give people an album that makes then feel good and resonates with whatever they're going through in their lives and hopefully reminds them that there is beauty and joy in the midst of all the craziness." 

Porcupine Tree - Closure Continuation - 2022

Ultimately I didn't have a strong contender for my 5th album of 2022. Four songs from the 2014 Fuego album by Phish were on constant rotation, but I didn't care for the whole album. I also considered Dear Adeline by Texan band Under the Rug. But I have to go with Porcupine Tree's album Closure Continuation so I can pay tribute to my brother Jeff who died in March of 2022. Jeff and I shared a deep appreciation for Porcupine Tree ever since their 1995 album Signify. Together we saw the band play numerous times. Steven Wilson eventually disbanded PT to move on with his solo career, but decided to partner with Gavin Harrison and Richard Barbieri once more to create the first PT album in 13 years. Both Jeff and I were so excited. Having not yet visited Jeff in his new home state of New Hampshire, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to get together and see PT play in Boston's newest venue at Fenway Park. Three weeks after buying the tickets Jeff died of a pulmonary embolism. When Closure Continuation was released in June, it was hard to listen to knowing Jeff never got to hear these new songs by his favorite band. Tragically, my lifelong friend Mark died of a heart attack just a week before Jeff passed. The final message I received from Jeff was his condolences and comfort via text. He signed off with a link to the Rush song Afterimage. "Suddenly you were gone, from all the lives you made your mark upon." 

 

Top Five Albums of the Year - 2021

As much as we hoped it wouldn't be, 2021 was another year dominated by Covid. Music filled a lot space and time for me, and fueled another round of backyard listening during summer nights in the 'solar garden'. Similar to 2020, I often wondered if bands held off from releasing new albums since they couldn't tour to support them. And two of my top albums were directly affected by the pandemic. Below are my top 5 albums of 2021, based on my pure enjoyment. 

RPWL - God Has Failed - Live and Personal - 2021

German prog rock band RPWL planned to mark the 20th anniversary of their God Has Failed album with a multi-week tour starting in November 2020, but Covid squelched that plan. From the band's website: "So what do you do when you have a perfectly rehearsed band, but the opportunity to perform is pulled out from under your feet? Right, you film a live studio session of the entire album". With 20 years of practice playing the songs in concert, and the addition of two female backing vocalists, this live album is polished, and the band brings more to the table than is heard on the original LP. Lead singer Yogi Lang's vocals are uncannily similar to David Gilmour, which is perhaps part of their appeal, but the songs stand on their own, and his voice sounds better than ever. 

Lord Huron - Long Lost  - 2021

For their 4th album, Los Angeles-based band Lord Huron shifted some from their Indie folk-rock sound to create a concept album that evokes classic Marty Robbin-style country refracted through a slightly askew prism. Lyrics about longing, lost love and redemptive or dissolving relationships are secondary to the often audacious production and sound, which includes heavy reverb. Interspersed are audio snippets that mimic an old-school variety show, including a snappy host and audience reactions. The final track is a long, trippy instrumental that doesn't seem to fit the album, but overall this is a solid effort throughout. The duet with Allison Ponthier called I Lied is a highlight along with Mine Forever.

Silvertwin - Silvertwin - 2021

Lead singer and songwriter Isaac Shalam's affinity for 70's smooth music is evident throughout Silvertwin's debut album, with many nods to Steely Dan among others. Their first single, Ploy, was on Spotify in early 2020, and I waited patiently as each new single arrived over the course of the year. The full album release seemed to be delayed over and over, and finally came in 2021. I presume Covid caused the delay, and ultimately dashed their hopes of touring to support it. Must be tough for up and coming bands to really get started during this time, especially ones like Silvertwin who are in more of a niche genre. 

Stick Figure - World On Fire - 2019

While enjoying modern reggae bands this year like The Green and Passafire, I started hunting for more upbeat & offbeat jams. I found Stick Figure, which is the creation of producer and multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff. As simple as they were, after a while I couldn't get his songs out of my head. At first I thought I had come across an obscure artist, but later read Stick Figure is consistently at the top of the reggae charts. Woodruff plays every instrument on the album, and must really know his way around a recording studio. The tracks are impressive sonically, and the more I listen the more I hear multiple layers within them. Once I soaked up World on Fire, I was equally impressed with his previous release, Set in Stone. I'm looking forward to hearing what Woodruff releases next. 

Silk Sonic - An Evening With Silk Sonic - 2021

An Evening With Silk Sonic is the collaboration of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, and is well-described by Sputnikmusic as "rich and authentic, existing at the irresistible intersection between 70s funk nostalgia and the luxuries of a modern day studio. As a result, An Evening With Silk Sonic lives up to its billing as a true experience: it’s sexy, ever-so-smooth, and radiates confidence and charisma". With the help of former P-Funk member Bootsy Collins and several key players like Thundercat and D'Mile as producer, Silk Sonic created an album that is simultaneously loose and precise. I've read that Mars is a perfectionist, and during the making of the album, performances in the studio were played countless times until they felt they had it right. I didn't know Anderson .Paak prior to this album, and now I'm particularly fond of his drumming style. This is likely a one-of-a-kind release, but it would be great if Silk Sonic came back with a follow-up album!