My Favorite Albums at Mid-Year
We've reached the half way point of 2025, though given the way this year has gone so far, I feel like I've aged approximately 15 years in these first 6 months. Between having one high school senior graduating and heading off to college, twins who will be seniors in just a couple months, and the chaos brought on this country by the idiot and his goons in the White House... let's just say my hair is a little grayer than it was this time last year.
Music, though, is a savior... whether it's new music every Friday or reading people's stories and connections to song on the Crucial Tracks app... it certainly keeps me going!
Here's a rundown of my current crop of favorite albums from the year so far. Generally sorted by release date and limited to about 15 for now... you'll just have to hang around to the end of the year to find the exact order. 😄
🐶 Who Let the Dogs Out by Lambrini Girls (Listen)
This album dropped at the perfect time, released on January 10th. Their IDLES x Amyl and the Sniffers sound and biting sarcasm are a winning combo any time, but especially so this year. This album only got an honorable mention from me at first, but quickly won over my ears on repeat listens.
"Big Dick Energy" by Lambrini Girls
"Company Culture" by Lambrini Girls
🫣 Cowards by Squid (Listen)
Squid's mix of art rock with orchestral and post-punk elements makes for an interesting and exciting listening experience. Still a big fan of this album four+ months later.
"Building 650" by Squid
Jason
🦌 Bambi by Anxious (Listen)
Anxious started off the year strong with a soon-to-be classic emo album. They are a super hard working band and GREAT live, so they deserve all the success they are having this year...
Anxious live
🩶 SAYA by Saya Gray (Listen)
Saya Gray won me over with her Tiny Desk Concert, where her folk/country/pop/R&B thing is able to shine so brightly. What a talented songwriter.
Saya Gray - Tiny Desk Concert
Jason
🌝 Patience, Moonbeam by Great Grandpa (Listen)
I've seen them referred to as the West coast version of Big Thief and I don't necessarily hate that for them... they are darn good songwriters and this album will be a mainstay in my collection for sure.
"Ladybug" by Great Grandpa
"Task" by Great Grandpa
Jason
🔥 SABLE, fABLE by Bon Iver (Listen)
This album does a great job of honoring Bon Iver's progression as an artist, with the SABLE EP portion paying homage to the earlier "cabin" years and the fABLE part building off of his newer work. It's a well crafted collection of 13 songs.
"SPEYSIDE" by Bon Iver
💨 I Heard That Noise by quickly, quickly (Listen)
Absolutely beautifully arranged lo-fi folk, complete with orchestral elements (horns, strings, keys) and quirky electronic elements. It's an endearing album I keep returning to...
"Enything" by quickly, quickly
Jason
🧒🏻 viagr aboys by Viagra Boys (Listen)
Musically, Viagra Boys do the art punk, NY Dolls, Richard Hell & the Voidoids thing... discordant guitars, horns, spoken/sung lyrics... absolutely hilarious lyrics. I don't think there are many, if any, current bands doing what they do. And they do it very well. This is one of their best albums yet.
"The Bog Body" by Viagra Boys
🩸 Bloodless by Samia (Listen)
Bloodless is Samia's third full-length album and each one improves on the last. She is really becoming an elite singer/songwriter – great voice, melodies, and lyrics – and I'm here for it.
"Bovine Excision" by Samia
Jason
🕺 Equus Caballus by Men I Trust (Listen)
Men I Trust are in a unique position, as they've put out two albums this year that have both been featured in Crucial Releases. Equus Caballus is my favorite of the two... the best collection of songs I've heard from them, which is saying something – their March release was very good. Vibe-y indie bedroom pop, with jazz and R&B influences.
"Husk" by Men I Trust
"Billie Toppy" (live) by Men I Trust
🐰 Animaru by Mei Semones (Listen)
An insanely talented songwriter. Jazz, bossa nova, and math rock influenced indie rock, with lyrics in English and Japanese. Super catchy and lots of great hooks. I can't wait to see how big she gets...
"I can do what I want" by Mei Semones
Jason
🐳 Hunting Season by Home Is Where (Listen)
Their last album, the whaler, made it to #8 on my 2023 list, so I had high expectations and hopes for the 2025 album. It has mostly delivered. I don't think it will be top 10 for me this year, but they've put together some really great highlights on this album. Definitely one of the better emo/post-hardcore bands going today.
"milk & diesel" by Home Is Where
🦊 2 by Foxwarren (Listen)
I discovered Andy Shauf through my Lizzie McAlpine obsession in the spring... I watched her making of Older video and she mentioned Shauf's "Martha Sways" song as an inspiration, so I dug into his material. Immediately hooked... and was happy to see his band Foxwarren releasing new material as well. They do a great version of psych folk with clever intricacies that make it a super interesting listen.
"Deadhead" by Foxwarren
💞 caroline 2 by caroline (Listen)
I wasn't as sold on this album after my first listen, but I saw someone compare them to Broken Social Scene, so I gave it a more focused listen... and I am glad I did... I missed lots of little details that make this album superb. Lots of orchestral/baroque pop elements just like BSS. I mean listen to "Total euphoria" below and I honestly don't know how I missed that comparison before... anyway, glad I'm on board now.
"Total euphoria" by caroline
Jason
🩵 NEVER ENOUGH by Turnstile (Listen)
Fresh from my most recent Crucial Releases post, Turnstile is the hot band for the summer of 2025. At this point, they have pretty much created their own sub-genre of hardcore, incorporating electronic music, flutes, synths, 80s radio rock, club beats, you name it. They preach "be yourself"... and they follow it up by making music that lives that ethos, regardless of critics. I am a fan.
"NEVER ENOUGH" by Turnstile
"SEEIN' STARS / BIRDS" by Turnstile
Jason
I'd be happy with this group of 15 making my year end list, but I know there are tons of new releases on the horizon that are sure to make me reconsider. Stay tuned and thanks for reading, as always.
MERCH PARTY!
The Crucial Tracks merch store just launched. We have shirts, hoodies, hats, sealed new vinyl, and much more for sale. EVERY purchase goes to paying the bills to keep Crucial Tracks going.
And, since it's Pride... 25% of June proceeds will go to The Trevor Project. I will also match the first $50!
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