30 best albums of 2025, 30 - 11

At the start of 2026 it is time to look back on 2025. Experts all seem to agree that 2025 is a year on which future historians will look back as an inflection point in time. Unless you have been living under a stone, it is quite clear why people mention this as a fact. Things are changing faster than many can keep up with. Musically, the year certainly was interesting. The first A.I. created hitsingle (I haven't listened though), may announce the end of musicians being able to live off their work. Many bands/artists that have become personal favourites in the past few years all came with a new album, making my life a little bit harder at the end of the year. That said, of course there is a new top 30. Today, we count down to number 11.

 

30. How Love Bends. Reb Fountain, 19 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/how-love-bends-reb-fountain.html

Reb Fountain cut back just a little on the magic. How Love Bends is still special enough to be in this list. 

 

29. Long March Through The Jazz Age. The Saints, 10 December

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/12/long-march-through-jazz-age-saints.html

A posthumous album, yet my introduction to the band and I was impressed by the relaxed songs and the more uptempo ones.

 

28. Nightjar. Liz Overs, 25 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/nightjar-liz-overs.html

A beautifully crafted, modest folk album that pleases every time I put it on.

 

27. One Is Always Heading Somewhere. Womb, 21 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/one-is-always-heading-somewhere-womb.html

New Zealand and its water. I have no clue what it is that's in there, but musicians from our antipodal country never stop to impress me. Womb is no exception.

26. Devil's Got It. The Devils, 17 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/devils-got-it-devils.html

The Devils are a garage/alternative rock band from Italy, that manages to set the extra step with this album resulting in a year end listing.

 

25. Oh, To Be Home. Loupe, 28 November

With new singer Nina Ouattara, Loupe does it again. This is a very nice album that will no doubt start to grow in the coming months.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/11/oh-to-be-home-loupe.html 

24. Dancing Headlights. Sivert Høyem, 20 February

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/02/dancing-headlights-sivert-hyem.html 

The man from Norway with one of the greatest voice in rock totally convinces with his last album. Monday 9 February, Paradiso, count me in.

 

23. Lucius. Lucius, 26 May

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/lucius-lucius.html 

The cover may contend for the most hideous one of 2025, the music on the album stands out. It's the band's most inspired in a long time.

 

22. Motorpsycho. Motorpsycho, 3 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/motorpsycho-motorpyscho.html

A double album that is out to impress the fans and succeeds with ease. Yet, Motorpsycho is starting to sound formulaic (again). A dangerous point for a band to get caught in.

 

21. The Land We Knew Best. Chris Eckman, 24 January

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-land-we-knew-best-chris-eckman.html

Once again Chris Eckman delivered a beautiful solo album. Of course, I will always pine for The Walkabouts, but this certainly is the next best thing.

 

20. A Bridge To Far. Midlake, 10 November

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-bridge-to-far-midlake.html

Midlake was always a touch and go band for me. With its latest album, the Texas band topped itself and look at the result.

 

19. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time For Walkies). Ringlets, 5 July

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-lord-is-my-german-shepherd-time-for.html

The winner of the album with the weirdest name contest was won by New Zealand's Ringlets. No doubt about that. Musically, the band gets a long way as well. Surprisingly good and consistent.

 

18. Kleine Auto, Grote Hot Wheels. De Toegift, 7 February

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/02/kleine-auto-grote-hot-wheel-de-toegift.html

Highest Dutch album (and Dutch language) album of this year. De Toegift set a giant step and went from very nice to very good, with so many surprising small and big changes on the album to enjoy.

 

17. Bots. Pickle Darling, 8 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/bots-pickle-darling-and-saturn-returns.html

Music I imagine having been made in the bedroom or attic of Lukas Mayo's home. Electronic beats, blips and sounds and yet, so human and alive. Pickle Darling is found on a new peak in its career.

 

16. Something Good Is Happening. Voom, 22 May

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/something-good-is-happening-voom.html

More from New Zealand. Voom spent like forever honing the songs on Something Good Is Happening and it paid off. This is such a pleasant album to listen to.

 

15. Tomorrow Comes Crashing. Smut, 20 August

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/08/tomorrow-comes-crashing-smut.html

Smut does not back down on Tomorrow Comes Crashing. If you did not get the title, the music will make it clear to you. One of the great alternative rock albums of 2025.

 

14. Beanpole. Georgia Knight, 1 December

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/12/beanpole-georgia-knight.html

Georgia Knight is from Australia but had it not been for the crew around the Flying Nun stores, I would never heard of the artist and album. Beautiful and often surprising Beanpole is.

 

13. Get Sunk. Matt Berninger, 30 May

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/get-sunk-matt-berninger.html 

With his second solo album, Matt Berninger does what he is so good at. Creating a mood and keep the listener caught in it to the very end.

 

12. No Rain, No Flowers. The Black Keys, 21 August

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/08/no-rains-no-flowers-black-keys.html

There may never be a new 'El Camino' but who really cares if The Black Keys release a record like No Rain, No Flowers? This is the band at its near best and that is more than good enough for me.

 

11.  Cutthroat. Shame, 5 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/cutthroat-shame.html

With Cutthroat Shame made a true return to form. The energy, the quality in the songs are all of the kind that it becomes easy to excuse 'Lampion'.

 

Tomorrow we count down from 10 to 1.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght