The Best Music of 2025… So Far
It’s hard to believe 2025 is already halfway over. It feels like we’ve gotten a full year’s worth of music in just six months. For the non-industry folks: around 120,000 new songs are uploaded to streaming services every day. That’s a wild amount of new music. None of us can keep up with all of it, but I’ve somehow managed to hear more new music than ever this year.
Here’s a short list of what’s excited me so far in 2025. I’d love to hear what’s been on your radar—drop yours in the comments.
Lambrini Girls
My friend—and trusted source—Jonah texted me when this British band’s debut album dropped earlier this year. I’ve always been a sucker for dissonant guitars, and Phoebe Lunny’s talky, stream-of-consciousness vocals frame them in a totally different way.
Tunde Adebimpe
I’ve been a longtime fan of TV On The Radio, the band Tunde has fronted since 2001 (you also may recognize him from Twisters and Star Wars). His voice is unmistakable on his new solo album, but the music takes things in a fresh direction. Tunde also happens to be my guest on this week’s episode of Identified.
Crack Cloud
They caught me off guard during a recent NYC boat cruise show. Then this incredible recording popped up in my feed: the Canadian band performing live in the California desert. A shirtless, singing drummer. A sleeveless saxophonist. And a lot of musicians with way too much hair for how hot it looks.
Duval Timothy “Sleep”
This track has the same warbling, instrumental piano vibe I loved on his 2022 album. A minimalist, swirling loop that—for reasons I can’t explain—I always want to play again as soon as it ends.
Ecca Vandal – “Cruising To Self Soothe”
I’m into the new Turnstile album Never Enough, but maybe even more into this song by Sri Lankan/South African/Australian artist Ecca Vandal. I don’t know much about her, but the wall of guitars and delayed vocal treatment feel Turnstile-adjacent in a great way. Also, in case it’s not obvious by now: I love it when people of color make rock music.
Cate Le Bon
I was lucky to release Cate’s first two albums back in 2010 and 2012. She just announced her seventh, Michaelangelo Dying, coming in September. The lead track is already promising.
Stereolab
I was skeptical about a new Stereolab release—it had been 15 years since their last studio album—but this one is hitting me in just the right way.
Masma Dream World
I released just one new album on my own small label, Valley of Search, this year—and it’s this one. So yes, I love it. She recently performed a beautifully intense live session at WFMU in New Jersey. I’ll leave you with these 24 hypnotic minutes.
It’s been a busier than usual first half of the year for the Beggars Group of labels (4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, XL, and Young), where I work. In addition to some fantastic albums that have already come out, here are some preview singles from upcoming releases that I’m excited about:
We’ve launched Season 2 of Identified! Episode 1 is with Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, 2 is is with Neko Case, and we just released this week’s episode with TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe. After that it will be a rapidly growing list of musicians, comedians, authors, chefs and friends talking about family. Identified is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, 100% free and ad free.
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Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn