The Soundboard: An Eclectic Review of the Best Music of 2025

With no particular focus on genres, artists or popularity, I’ve reviewed some of the key albums that I’ve come across during 2025. A fairly random list so if nothing else this is perhaps more illustrative of my eclectic musical palette!

Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan)

2025 saw young indie band Geese take a significant step forward in their trajectory to become a key rock and roll outfit.

The album “Getting Killed” played a major part in this and sees the four piece outfit (Cameron Winter, Emily Green, Dominic DiGesu and Max Bassin) deliver a confident set of songs laced with a New York swagger somewhat reminiscent of The Strokes, their spiritual forebears.

Producer Kenny Blume (nee Beats) pursuit of the band reaped dividends and he helps meld a smorgasbord of rock influences from the last fifty plus years into a thrilling concoction across the album’s eleven songs.

The band positively thrive in this environment, particularly singer Cameron Winter, buoyed by his critically lauded solo album “Heavy Metal” from 2024.

Some of the highlights include the gentle and lilting “Au Pays du Cocaine”, with its “You can stay with me” motif, “Taxes” building gradually from Bassin’s almost tribal drumbeat and “Cobra”, which references “making the cobras dance”.

Indeed, Geese are definitely charming not just snakes with their rhythmically savage, spiky and assured offering.

Steven Wilson - The Overview (Fiction)

Steven Wilson’s eighth solo album was released in March 2025 and marks a return to the more progressive rock leanings of his earlier solo work and that with Porcupine Tree.

The album sees him go ‘Back to the future’ both stylistically and conceptually. Consisting of two songs, the concept of the album focuses on an astronauts view of the Earth from space and both songs are broken down into various themes and suites. The “overview effect” reflects the varied impressions astronauts experience when viewing the Earth (ranging from an appreciation of its beauty and connection with its inhabitants contrasted with its overall insignificance in the vastness of space)

With an overall running time of 42 minutes there is much light and shade within each song. Andy Partridge of XTC has been enlisted to provide lyrics and Wilson uses musicians including some of his regular collaborators, Craig Blundell (drums), Adam Holzman (keyboards) and Randy McStine (guitars) to complete what was originally a solo recording.

As expected sonically the songs are top notch, relatively low key, befitting the notion of a presence in space. Definitely one to listen in one sitting using headphones.

Whilst not having the immediacy or more commercial focus of his last few albums, the music rewards an element of perseverance, particularly if you’ve only heard Wilson’s more recent work.

This Is Lorelei - Holo Boy (Double Double Whammy)

On his second full album, Vermont born Nate Amos as This Is Lorelei, delivers a follow up to the well received “Box For Buddy, Box For Star”.

The album consists of re-recordings of ten of his songs from his prolific Bandcamp output 2014 to 2021.

Despite the fragmented nature of the songs’ originations , the album holds together cohesively and is a breezy and confident set of folk rock, indie and power pop tunes. Think Evan Dando, Ben Kweller style 2-3 minute sweet-sad acoustic left-field fare and you will be along the right lines on this solo excursion for the Water From Your Eyes member.

Highlights include “Money Right Now”, “But You Just Woke Me Up” and “I Can’t Fall”.

Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)

Hayley Williams Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, *(Image: Grandstand Media EPK)*

Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams further progresses her solo output with a more musically diverse effort which expands upon 2021’s more introspective “Flowers for Vases/ Descansos ” and debut “Petals for Amor” her previous albums.

The album really feels as though Williams is embracing and revelling in life outside Paramore and we are rewarded with a strong set of songs.

Producer Daniel James, who Williams has used on previous recordings, and also contributes lyrically and musically, captures the mood well highlighting the songs effectively.

Musically less rock oriented than Paramore, there is a diversity in style and introspection whilst retaining a commercial edge.

A significant step forward for Williams and it’s hoped her blossoming solo career can co-exist with her ongoing Paramore duties.

Black Country, New Road - Forever Howlong (Ninja Tune)

Black Country, New Road, Forever Howlong *(Image: Bandcamp)*

BCNR, formed in 2018 in Cambridgeshire, UK have undergone various line up changes over the past seven years, most notably a applying a stylistic reinvention after lead vocalist, Isaac Wood’s departure in 2022.

This change was exemplified in the excellent 2023 concert film Live at Bush Hall which saw the band perform many new compositions underpinned with lead vocals shared by Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw.

“Forever Howlong” adds further momentum to this rebirth and was released in April 2025. It was produced by James Ford (ex Simian Mobile Disco, Last Shadow Puppets) who has produced Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Depeche Mode, Pulp and Kylie Minogue amongst some of his renowned projects.

The album’s songs breath within low key, instrumentally rich and complex arrangements with vocal duties shared across the aforementioned female band members.

Overall a rewarding listen of BCNR’s folk infused delicate baroque pop.

**Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke (Rounder)**

Ken Pomeroy, Cruel Joke *(Image: Artist website)*

Oklahoma born McKennan “Ken” Pomeroy blends a mix of American folk, Cherokee heritage and Oklahoma red dirt influences on her second official album released in May 2025.

Pomeroy, now in her early twenties, has played gigs around Oklahoma since she was 13 years old and gained some exposure from use of her songs “Cicadas” and “Pareidoila” on the US show “Reservation Dogs” in 2023, culminating in her signing with Rounder Records.

“Cruel Joke” includes both these songs and a further ten songs which showcase her blossoming talent. The songs are stripped back but dominated by Pomeroy’s voice which demands attention and close listening. As a Native American of Cherokee descent the content of the songs has deep links to nature and animals and the stories and themes of the album are represented by the wolf, coyote, dog and horse.

The album was produced by Gary Paczosa, Colton Jean and Dakota McDaniel who all contribute musically on a number of instruments (pedal steel, mandocello, Mellotron, cello, acoustic and electric guitars) and help propel the flow of melancholy, rugged tenderness and beauty that Pomeroy is mining.

Tulsa folk rock musician John Moreland also guests with Pomeroy on track “Coyotes”.

A strong release that hopefully gets the exposure it deserves.

Noah Cyrus - I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me (Columbia)

Noah Cyrus - I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me *(Image: Artist website)*

The latest release from Cyrus clan member, Noah, follows her well received 2022 album “The Hardest Part” and a number of collaborations Cyrus has recorded since (Orville Peck, Shaboozey).

Featuring a number of guests including Fleet Foxes, Ella Langley, Bill Callahan and Blake Shelton, the album was produced by Cyrus together with long term collaborators Mike Crossey and PJ Harding and marks a further foray into Americana, indie folk and country music punctuated by instruments including acoustic guitars, mandolin, cello, dulcimer, banjo and pedal steel.

Cyrus creates an worthwhile addition to her songbook, whilst further developing her identity as an artist in a crowded field.

Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band - New Threats from the Soul (Sophomore Lounge - Tough Love)

Americana artist Ryan Davis employs his Roadhouse Band to great effect on his second album, the excellent “New Threats from the Soul” released in July 2025.

Kentucky born Davis and his band inject the album with an instrumentally rich palette which paints the turns and twists of the record’s drawn out songs (the shortest song on the album is six minutes long).

The album’s centrepieces, twelve minute long “Mutilation Springs” and nine minute long “Mutilation Falls”, power their way through a sonic highway on a Greyhound bus driven by Bob Dylan with passengers including Bill Callahan, Lambchop, Wilco and Lou Reed.

Freakwater’s Catherine Irwin also supplies backing vocals to great effect.

One to check out for a worthwhile left field excursion.

Tommy Womack - Live a Little (Schoolkids)

Tommy Womack (*Image: Tommy Womack EPK)*

“Live a Little” sees Nashville based singer songwriter and author Tommy Womack add to his considerable output of music both solo and as member of Government Cheese, The Bis-Quits and Daddy since the late 1980’s.

Womack hits the ground running on this release with an energetic set of songs ranging from ever relevant comments on American society (“Just another shooting”) to the more fun, Jimmy Reed channelled “Ten Feet Tall” and guitar wig out “A Little Help Here!”.

Produced by Eric Ambel (Del Lords) and recorded at his Cowboy Technical Services studio in Brooklyn, the recording and production is crisp, vibrant and punchy.

Womack occupies an almost text book artistic cult niche, and whilst the album is unlikely to catapult Womack out of this, it still represents some of his best music and shines a light for the listener to live a little and check out more of his back catalogue.

Ian McNabb - If It Wasn’t For The Music (Fairfield Records)

Ian McNabb at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

The Icicle Works frontman and long standing solo artist Ian McNabb saw a year highlighted by a successful US tour (as part of an Eighties revival tour) cemented with his ongoing UK touring (both solo and with the regular triumphant The Icicle Works gigs) and the release of the excellent “If It Wasn’t For The Music” album.

McNabb has experienced an artistic renaissance in recent years with regular releases of extremely well crafted and produced rock albums. Despite his musical pedigree (The Icicle Works, projects with Neil Young’s Crazy Horse, The Waterboys amongst many others) the Liverpool song writer still remains undeservedly under the radar but rewards the more investigative listener handsomely.

His latest release is no exception and following the stellar “New Brighton Rock” and “Nabby Road” releases in 2024 and 2022, McNabb delivers another strong set of material. His distinctive voice has never sounded better captures a mood exhibiting the extensive breadth of McNabb’s musical vocabulary, whilst never sounding derivative.

The songs, recommended by McNabb himself, to be listened to as a whole, features a suite of songs on its second half with the Something Wonderful Suite, parts I to III, intertwining the main songs, even finding time to visit music hall shenanigans on “Hobnobbing”.

McNabb shows no sign of letting up with album ‘65’ scheduled for release in 2026 and he has recently announced his participation in another Eighties US tour.

Long may he run!

Dove Ellis - Blizzard (Black Butter Records)

Dove Ellis, Blizzard *(Image: Bandcamp)*

Dove Ellis released towards the end of 2025, created quite a stir and capped an impressive year for the Irish indie rock musician.

Ellis sits loosely in the balladeer singer songwriter camp and channels luminaries such as Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith and more latterly , Cameron Winter, whose band Geese, Ellis has opened for.

That‘s not to say he loses sight of his roots, there’s limited backstory to Ellis - seemingly of Galway origin but now residing in Manchester - an Irish flavour permeates the album, whilst also adding to the mystique.

“Heaven Has No Wings” cuts a classic seventies vibe with its piano motif and is a standout track amongst the ten tracks on the album’s taut 35 minutes duration. Other highlights include “Love Is” with its loud and quiet flourishes (“Love is not the antidote to all your problems”) and the Irish jig infused “Jaundice” which packs a mighty Gaelic punch. Closer “Away You Stride” with its sparse instrumentation coupled with the power of Ellis’ falsetto vocal creates a powerful and memorable end to things.

A debut to check out and savour.

Rosalia - LUX (Columbia)

Wow, just wow!

This is a complete humdinger of an album.

Despite the bulk of the record’s vocals encompassing a multitude of languages (Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, German, Italian, Mandarin, English amongst the fourteen languages employed) Rosalia plants a punch that will knock you into next week. Epic goes nowhere near describing the music bursting the seams of this, the fourth release by Rosalia.

Ostensibly a pop album the presence of the London Symphony Orchestra (with Daniel Bjarnason conducting) and a sparkling array of guest appearances (Bjork, Carminho, Silvia Perez Cruz, Yves Tumor), collaborators (Angelica Negroni, Caroline Shaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Noah Goldstein and Pharell Williams) elevates things to a different level.

Exploring lyrical themes of “feminine mystique, transformation and spirituality” Rosalia’s takes inspiration from a number of female saints who are then attributed to each of the fourteen languages used.

LUX, created over a period of almost three years, sheds considerable light on the subjects chosen and also reflects the considerable work Rosalia undertook to achieve her vision, including learning to sing in many of the languages chosen.

Well worth a spin.

Yungblud - Idols (Locomotion Recordings/Capitol)

Yungblud, Idols *(Image: Artist website)*

A sparkling 2025 for the Doncaster born singer and musician, Yungblud (aka Dominic Harrison) hit a pinnacle with the release of his fourth album, “Idols”, which was released on 20th June 2025.

Within a matter of weeks the album was very much catapulted into the stratosphere following Yungblud’s appearance at Black Sabbath’s final bow, Back to the Beginning on 5th July 2025. Yungblud’s performance of Sabbath’s “Changes” garnered significant exposure and coupled with his friendship with Ozzy Osborne, seemingly opened up the singer to a wider and more mature Rock audience.

Despite Osborne’s previous tutelage and the awareness the gig garnered, the album still needed to deliver.

Having focused previously on a more alt-rock/ punk-pop/ hip-hop style, “Idols” sprawls into a panoramic heavy rock and metal landscape, whilst still retaining many aspects of his previous work.

Epic album opener, “Hello, Heaven, Hello” with its climatic build up and guitar assault, reels the more mature rocker into the fold.

Whilst dividing opinion as to both his persona and his place in a harder rock territory, Yungblud has definite charisma and an off kilter presence in a music world often characterised by the vanilla.

HAIM - I Quit (Columbia)

Multi-talented Haim sisters (Alana, Danielle and Este) dropped their fourth album in 2025, five years after previous album, “Women in Msic Pt. III.

The album follows the sonic progression of it’s predecessor with a powerful organic rock feel, again produced by Danielle Haim and Rostam Batmangilj, of Vampire Weekend heritage, though now without Haim’s ex-partner, producer Ariel Rechsthaid.

Another strong set of songs from the sisters.

Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override (dBpm)

Jeff Tweedy, Twilight Override (*Image: High Road Touring EPK)*

Jeff Tweedy steps outside main band Wilco for another solo offering, this time the sprawling thirty track/ triple album “Twilight Override” released in September 2025, recorded at the Loft, his Chicago studio.

As with previous solo efforts, the album is mainly acoustic and organic, but with the breadth of songs Tweedy finds room to branch out, particular on the Middle Eastern folk vibes of opener “One Tiny Flower” or the Velvet’s inspired “Lou Reed was my babysitter”.

Tweedy utilises his sons Spencer (drums) and Sammy (synths) on the record together with Chicago musicians James Elkington, Liam Kazar, Sima Cunningham and Marie Stewart (the latter two members of the band Finom).

With a world tour to promote the album in 2026 taking shape, it is evident that Tweedy views this less of a stop gap between Wilco commitments and more of a definitive and essential solo statement on his part.

Jon Batiste - Big Money (Verve/Interscope)

Jon Batiste, Big Money *(Image: Artist website)*

Jon Batiste creates his version of “New Americana” on his ninth studio album.

Recorded over two weeks, it’s a lean 32 minute, 9 song journey exhibiting a spontaneously raw musicality and authentic spirit that feels both old fashioned and just created, at the same time.

A blend of New Orleans, gospel, soul and blues, Batiste organically paints his human soul onto his “Circle of Love” canvas, with a guest list of renowned collaborators.

Highlights include the duet with Randy Newman on an emotional re-invention of Ray Charles standard “Lonely Avenue”, title track “Big Money” with its epic groove and “Pinnacle” with its relentless Duane Eddy meets Bo Diddley furrow.

An organic reset for Batiste, who sounds re-invigorated throughout.

Annie DiRusso - “Super Pedestrian (Summer Soup Songs)

Annie DiRusso, Super Pedestrian *(Image: Artist website)*

March 2025 saw the release of Annie DiRusso’s highly anticipated debut full-length album, "Super Pedestrian".

Weighing in at 11 songs (15 on the deluxe version) New Yorker DiRusso comes of age with her mix of indie-pop and 90’s style grunge infused distortion. The songs are gritty both in sonic and theme terms and cover DiRusso’s fears of growing up (she’s in her mid-twenties).

Critically well received the album should transition DiRusso as a major force in the alternative scene.

Marcus King & The Marcus King Band - Darling Blue (American Recordings)

Marcus King, Darling Blue *(Image: Artist website)*

Blues guitarist Marcus King and his band branch out into Country territory on this latest album.

Having cut his teeth on the blues and Southern rock circuit since coming onto the music scene in 2013, King has widened his musical panorama and finds him adopting a more Country/ Americana flavour further emphasised by the presence of musicians such as Kaitlin Butts, Jamey Johnson, Billy Strings and Jesse Welles.

That’s not to say King completely dispenses with the blues or Southern rock but weaves the genres seamlessly into fiddle, pedal steel and banjo across the songs produced here by Eddie Spear (Sierra Farrell).

“Darling Blue” succeeds on most fronts with a first half more geared towards Country and a second which cranks the guitars up and is more rock focused.

A great step forward for King and his talented band.

Afton Wolfe - Ophiuchus (Grandiflora Records)

Afton Wolfe *(Image: Jeff Fasano, Afton Wolfe EPK)*

Gravel-voiced Afton Wolfe released the 13 songs of the album initially individually, over the course of the last year. Each song’s release was timed to the sun’s entry into a spefic constellation, culminating in the sun entering Ophiuchus on November 30th, 2025.

Engaging elements of Americana, Country and Blues, fused with aspects of gypsy jazz, tango and funk, Wolfe’s songs take you into a captivating melodic and mysterious astral world.

A left field production, the style and delivery may not be to everyone’s taste, but harbours a deep and meaningful set of songs for sure.

Celeste - Woman Of Faces (Atlas/Polydor)

Celeste, Woman of Faces (Image: Artist website)

With the ubiquitous “Stop This Flame” and album “Not Your Muse” Celeste was catapulted into the limelight in 2020/21, with the album being the first number one debut album by a British female artist in five years.

Her latest release follows a period of turbulence in her life, most notably the breakdown of a long term relationship and struggles to maintain an indentity in the volatile music industry.

Accordingly, Celeste’s “Woman of Faces”, released in November 2025, sees a more introspective and personal focus with a musical shift towards songs with a more cinematic and orchestral nature.

This certainly works artistically, with a mature and rich set of songs over the course of the album, which deepen upon further listening.

Highlights are many but the samples of Phillip Glass’ “Opening” deliciously embedded into “People Always Change” creates a emotional centrepiece to the album and one can sense the influence of Glass permeating through the rest of this wonderful album.

Kingfishr - Halcyon (B-Unique)

Kingfishr, Halcyon *(Image: Artist website)*

Formed in 2022 in Limerick, Kingfishr saw them gain international recognition during 2025 when song “Killeagh” hit number one on the Irish singles chart and they have capitalised upon this releasing album “Halcyon” as well as extensively touring worldwide.

So what’s it all about? Well it’s a mix of traditional Irish folk merged with indie-pop and more traditional rock, keeping an organic feel to things whilst also incongruently being stadium and anthem friendly in a Celtic Coldplay way. This fusion coupled with an emotional rawness to the subject matter of the bands songs, differentiates Kingfishr in what is a fairly crowded market.

It’s a well crafted album with many standouts across it’s sixteen tracks, the soaring “Gloria” encapsulates many aspects of the band’s DNA, with its Irish soaked vocals, powerful choruses and rich instrumentation, “I Cried, I Wept” sweeps along on a jagged rock guitar riff, and banjo focused lament “Caroline” builds to a powerful and vocally rich crescendo. “Diamonds and Roses” has a majestic splendour with its orchestral undercurrents matched to an intense vocal performance.

Expect to hear much more of Kingfishr in 2026!

Laufey - A Matter Of Time (Vingolf/ AWAL)

Laufey, A Matter of Time *(Image: Artist website)*

For her third studio album, Icelandic singer and musician, Laufey, has collaborated with The National band member and highly regarded producer, Aaron Dessner.

Released in August 2025, “A Matter of Time” has a greater rawness to it than the whimsical and Disney like nature of her previous output, and adds some real life grit to the saccharine of her songs.

Dessner’s sophisticated production adds edge to what is still an orchestral and jazz aesthetic and helps underpin Laufey’s more personal focused narratives.

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra provides backing across the album which tracks the passage of time and stand out songs include the opening and ticking “Clockwork”, “Lover Girl” and “Silver Lining” where we see a more caustic Laufey.

An ambitious album, well executed.

Matt Berninger - Get Sunk (Concord)

Matt Berninger, Get Sunk (*Image: Grandstand Media EPK)*

The National singer and co-songwriter, Matt Berninger, dropped his second album in May 2025, following up his solo effort, “Serpentine Prison” from 2025.

Produced by long term collaborator, Sean O’Brien, who also co-writes with Berninger, the album follows a period of depression and writer’s block for the singer, with his recovery documented in The National’s 2023 twin albums “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” and “Laugh Track” and it is encouraging to see him return to showcase his undoubted talents.

The ten tracks on show, follow a similar musical path to his previous album whilst following a similar vibe to his work with The National, and also highlight his distinctive baritone vocals.

Whilst not re-inventing anything musically, stand out songs include opener “Inland Ocean”, “No Love”, “Frozen Oranges” and epic closing song “Times Of Difficulty” which builds gradually to crescendo and mantra “In Times of Difficulty, Get drunk, Get Sunk, Forget, Get Wet” before signing out with a return to an “In times of difficulty” refrain.

Berninger literally, and spiritually, stamps his mark on these songs outside of the confines of The National and has produced a understated but powerful record.

Ty Myers - The Select (Deluxe) (RECORDS/Columbia)

Ty Myers, The Select *(Image: Artist website)*

Austin, Texas wonderkind, Ty Myers released his debut at the start of 2025, aged 17 and delivers an engaging mix of southern soul and blues with an Americana/Country bedrock denying his tender years.

With influences ranging from Texan legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer right through to country star George Strait and producers Tommy Detamore and Brandon Hood help broaden out the album’s musicality to embrace a veritable feast of influences.

Myers reinterprets John Mayer’s “Man on the Side” employing pedal steel, and also re-deploys “Somewhere Over You”, a song his father recorded, with flourishes of a horn section. Further highlights on this impressive debut include the rocky “Too Far Gone”, “Firefly” and “Can’t Hold Me Down”. The album closes with “Ties that Bind” the song that helped Myers’ viral break through on TikTok.

The deluxe edition, released later in 2025 adds a further 5 tracks being two new songs (one with fellow Texan and Country singer Harper O’Neill) and three acoustic re-recordings of earlier songs.

An incredibly strong and mature album which whets the appetite for where Myers can develop and take his special talents.

THE SOUNDBOARD: A 2025 Music Review