1. Vundabar- Surgery and Pleasure
Posted by KB on 12/31/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
"Surgery and Pleasure" was hands down my most listened to album of 2025. The band from Boston came out of nowhere and landed in my lap. Serious 80's alt vibes, though I do hear Bloc Party, Pixies and Interpol. Danceable rock punctuated with killer riffs and solo-like chord work driven by percussion that has to hold on so not to drift into total discord. All this while still creating sublime hooks. I imagine an incredible live performance and I hope to experience this soon.
Favorite Songs: Can't pick- love them all
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2. Big Thief- Double Infinity
Posted by KB on 12/30/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
3. Mt Joy- Hope We Have Fun
Posted by KB on 12/29/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
I'm guilty for normally leaning to angry, angst riddled music. BUT sometimes I need an uplift and MT Joy's "Hope We Have Fun" is that release this year. The songs reflect the title. They range from 'hey lets just enjoy each other and life' to 'I hope you can find' or 'I can provide you a morsel of happiness'. The songs are concise and the arrangements are glorious and simple allowing the songs to build sonically and emotionally. Looking for something to leave you with a smile- put this on.
Favorite Songs: Pink Lady, Coyote, In the Middle, Lucy, Highway Queen
4. Ty Segall- Possession
Posted by on 12/29/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
5. Tyler Childress- Snipe Hunting
Posted by KB on 12/28/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
6. Wet Leg- Moisturizer
Posted by KB on 12/28/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Isle of Wight natives, Wet Leg, have followed up their solid self titled debut with "Moisturizer". An album that builds upon their minimalistic, nonchalant approach by combining catchy rock riffs with naughty funkiness. What keeps their sound fresh is the variation of the vocal delivery, part sing-talk, at times breathy and at others in your face, layered over hard driving beats. Good for us Wet Leg wasn't a one release wonder.
Favorite Songs: CPR, Catch These Fists, Pillow Talk, Mangeout
7. The Hives- The Hives Forever Forever the Hives
Posted by KB on 12/27/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
8. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers- Glory
Posted by KB on 12/27/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Aussie no frills power pop that is no frills, melodic, little naughty and full of hooks. Sometimes one doesn't need a concept or deep meaning or poetry- just uncomplicated rock songs and ballads. There's a little Wet Leg, Muncie Girls and Olivia Rodriguez in here making "Glory" both accessible and alternative. Don't be surprised if you feel underwhelmed at first, but finding ourself reaching for it to fill an edgy pop need.
Favorite Songs: Bait, Wonderful, Watching Me Leave, Balcony
9. Vulture Feather- It Will Be Like Now
Posted by KB on 12/26/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
"It Will Be Like Now" is dramatic. It's emphatic. It demands you to listen to it. Each song has a familiarity to the others and it could be easy to dismiss them as too similar, but each takes on their own personality while being a cousin of Peter Gabriel, Band of Horses, True Widow and ringing drone rock. It's an album that you either get it, or you don't. It grows more upon multiple listens and forces you to get it.
Favorite Songs: Blood Knot, Flesh and Electronics, Sweetest Friend
10. Sextile- Yes, Please
Posted by KB on 12/26/2025 to
My 'out of left field' selection on my list. "Yes, Please" is straight up techno dance. I'm quite particular in regards to any form of electronica and Sextile checked the boxes; heavy beats, dance-y, hard driving and fun. "Yes, Please" does not take itself seriously. It knows what it is. An over-sexed, party fueled club mix loaded with innuendo and rave times with only a couple of (and a few unneeded) down times. Great for driving, housecleaning or just losing yourself.
Favorite Songs: Women Respond To Bass, Freak Eyes, S Is For, Rearrange
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11. Freckle- S/T
Posted by KB on 12/25/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
The busiest man in alternative rock, Ty Segall, with another side project (here with Corey Madden). Somehow he manages to make each sound unique and separate from each other. "Freckle" is primarily an acoustic affair, which isn't to say it doesn't have rocking or funky moments. There is a little instrumental filler that detracts from the overall package, but not enough to deter a seasoned alt listener from getting the vision. Ty fans will dig this and newbies could find "Freckle" a good gateway into the massive discography he has amassed to date.
Favorite Songs: Paranoid, I Don't Know What I Need, Heavy
12. Sasami- Blood On the Silver Screen
Posted by KB on 12/25/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Sasami dishes out pop (alt-pop) without
being syrupy. She has an unassuming voice that is easy to listen to and
her love songs, acquainted and unacquainted, aren't eye-rolling obvious.
While not as adventurous as "Squeeze" there are still winks towards
rock and light electronica which keeps the variety and pacing
interesting. Hopefully she doesn't venture too mainstream and keeps her
edge as an accessible, smart pop choice.
Favorite Songs: Slugger, Love Makes You Do Crazy Things, For The Weekend, Lose It All
13. James McMurtry- The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy
Posted by KB on 12/24/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Wow. Another smart, observant slice of Americana from Mr. McMurtry about the tribulations of the current state of our union. It's intelligent and not for the indifferent listener. It rocks, twangs, thumps, snarls and shows that he truly does care about what's going on now. Those in the need for grown-up alt-rock-alt-country need to hear TBDATWB (or pretty much everything else James McMurtry has released).
Favorite Songs: Laredo (Small Dark Something), The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy, Back To Coeur D'alene
14. Billy Idol- Dream Into It
Posted by KB on 12/24/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Anyone who bet that I would have Billy Idol in my top 20 is lying. I put it on for a lark ready to sneer at it, AND it wowed me by being way better than expected. It's true to his sound, just little older sounding. He is self reflecting, full of mea culpas and understands his luck on being still of this Earth. Long time guitarist Steve Stevens is ripping through a big, full sound with Avril Levine, Alison Mossert and Joan Jett as killer collaborators. Those of you a little longer in the tooth should give this a spin and I promise you'll smile (or sneer with gloved hand in devil horns) with fond retro nostalgia.
Favorite Songs: 77, Too Much Fun, John Wayne, Wildside
15. Danko Jones- Leo Rising
Posted by KB on 12/23/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
16. Buddy Guy- Ain't Done With the Blues
Posted by KB on 12/23/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Tell me another 89 year old who can rip like Buddy Guy. I'm waiting.... We don't deserve to have this release sound as good as it does. Heavy blues with wisdom and history that most of us will never truly understand. Great guest cameos by Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, Blind Boys of Alabama and Christone Ingram adding some additional flavor. Just a tad long- but that is being picayune. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of real, gritty, from the gut blues needs this because it may be the last we get from Mr. Guy. Oh, and go see Sinners (movie) to see HIS cameo at the end.
Favorite Songs: Blues Chase The Blues Away, I Got Sumpin' For You, Dry Stick, Jesus Loves The Sinner, Upside Down
17. Kathleen Edwards- Billionaire
Posted by KB on 12/22/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
18. Lily Hiatt- Forever (2025)
Posted by kb on 12/22/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
19. Larkin Poe-Bloom (2025)
Posted by KB on 12/21/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
"Bloom" straddles the line between sell out pop country and americana rock. Luckily its weighted more to the latter with a blues nod and power chord arena rock. "Bloom" mimics Christ Stapleton's song structure and big vocal delivery with pretty hefty guitar and it's the closest I can get to pop country without imploding.
Favorite Songs: Mockingbird, Easy Love Pt 1, Little Bit
20. Lord Huron- The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
Posted by KB on 12/21/2025 to
Reviews In Brief
Lord Huron has always had a dreaminess about their recorded sound versus their live show which can be energetic and occasionally raucous. "Cosmic Selector" sticks with the ethereal gameplan, albeit it slightly slower than normal, where the songs are uniform in design. Layered structure where the instruments feel as if one person is playing them all at the same time. If you are a fan of Lord Huron you will not be disappointed and I will be looking forward to hearing the live incarnations of this release.
Favorite Songs: Nothing I Need, Is there Anybody Out There, Who Laughs Last, Watch Me Go
