Happy New Year, friends!
I hope your year is off to a great start. There’s nothing I love more than a fresh start, especially in a new planner/notebook and setting goals and intentions. 🙂
I do a lot of reflecting during this time, and one of my favorite activities is seeing what music I discovered and enjoyed during the previous year. Here are my favorite albums of 2025, in no particular order.
1. Points of Origin – Will Stratton
I actually went to high school with Will, and he was always a fantastic and inspiring musician. I still follow him on instagram and when I saw he had a new release, I gave it a spin. I really, really like it. The songwriting is smart, his alternate tunings are extremely satisfying, and his lyrics are perfect poetry.
Favorite Song: I Found You
2. The Crux – Djo
Listen, The Stranger Things finale is a conversation for a later time, because it was so fantastic, but if your favorite character is not Steve, then who is?
Joe Keery, the actor who played Steve, is also quite a talented musician. I love this album because it screams nostalgia to me. Retro synth sounds, nods to Beach Boys harmony, and just pure FUN.
Favorite Songs: Basic Being Basic, Golden Line
3. Simplify – Sarah Siskind
When I first met Sarah at a songwriter workshop, I was immediately hooked on her singing voice. It is just the coolest in tone quality and overall vibrancy. And she is even cooler! If you are unfamiliar with her catalog, I suggest exploring it – Modern Appalachia is probably my favorite album of hers. Simplify is just what it says, simple tunes and arrangements. Just Sarah and a guitar. It reminds me that sometimes a song just needs to speak for itself without the production bells and whistles.
Favorite Song: I Know It’s Right
4. Lucius – Lucius
If you love girl harmonies and haven’t met Lucius, look no further. I love their style of writing and found this album to be their most authentic regarding their sound choices. And again, no one could ever complain about nonstop girl harmonies.
Favorite Song: Impressions, Gold Rush
5. Wild and Clear and Blue – I’m With Her
The trio of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donavan, and Sara Watkins (from Nickel Creek) is just one of the greatest ideas. Three truly unique artists coming together and bringing all of their own nuances and talents to writing new music. I was worried that we had already heard the final I’m With Her release, so I was super pumped when I saw they had more music to share.
Favorite Songs: Ancient Light, Mother Eagle
6. Tomboy – Maia Sharp
In addition to being a great album, I had the pleasure of seeing her perform live in Greenville in October. In fact, the only live music (non local) I saw in 2025. Maia is one of favorite songwriters and song-teachers, and I loved hearing the stories behind some of these songs.
Favorite Songs: Is That What Love Does, Asking For A Friend
7. Billionaire – Kathleen Edwards
Kathleen Edwards is actually an artist I discovered through Maia, and she did not lead me astray. Kathleen has such a cool, tough girl, sound and I love her honest lyrics. I also like that this album has ties to St. Pete, FL, a city I love!
Favorite Songs: Say Goodbye, Tell No One
8. Better Broken – Sarah McLachlan
Did you watch the Lilith Fair documentary? It’s AMAZING. It made me a better fan (I’ve always liked her, I just think I forgot how much I liked her) after watching it, and I was so excited that she had new music coming out around that time too. Better Broken, the title is track, is the perfect song, in my opinion. It has all of her trademark head voice in the melody, and it’s just a total earworm.
Favorite Songs: Better Broken, Rise, Only Human
9. Returning To Myself – Brandi Carlile
Oh my gosh I love love this album. I could immediately tell the production on this album was different from previous projects, and it was surprisingly refreshing. Sometimes when artists try new things we get all grumpy, but I actually really liked the production and direction she went with these songs. A War With Time is my favorite song and it make me tear up every single time, of course, while I’m also singing the harmony line on the chorus.
Favorite Songs: A War With Time, No One Knows Us
10. Rushmere – Mumford & Sons
I liked old Mumford releases, and I LOVED Marcus Mumford’s solo album. I think Rushmere is a great combination of both vibes. There is definitely a lot of hidden/not-so-hidden Christian undertones which was cool. Sometimes I think Christian themes can be written about in an honest way without being a “worship song,” and I often enjoy the reflective nature of it.
Favorite Songs: Caroline, Monochrome, Carry On
So that’s my list! What were some of your favorite albums of 2025? Let me know in the comments below, or via social media!