2025 was the year of Geese (and Cameron Winter). You'll see "getting killed" on every top of '25 list worldwide. It's a transformative and brave album. I'd suggest checking out their "from the basement" appearance along with Cameron Winter's solo piano performances. You can be free and still come home.
At DFTR we tend to stray from the obvious, so let's review the year in music from a better-researched brow.
Some incredibly well written and performed emotional punk rock came to us in the voices of Casino Youth, Idkconundrum, Harrison Gordon, Ben Quad, The Paradox, Liquid Mike, Superchunk, Riley!, Bobby's Oar, Hot Mulligan, Anamanaguchi, Millington, cleopatrick, Beddy Rays, caroline, Adult Mom, PUP, Arm's Length and Horsegirl. Variety in the aforementioned salad but if you want to move, you will be so moved.
Beach Bunny returned with rip shit pop lovability followed by Deanna Petcoff and Annie DiRusso... songs that makes boys feel like girls and love girls. Snocaps, Lucy Dacus and Wednesday authored less celebratory love letters unanswered.
The singer/songwriter dive bar featured Brian Dunne, Dave Hause, Madi Diaz, Matt Berninger, Tom Smith, Friendship, Sam Moss, SYML, Twin Shadow, Jeff Tweedy, Bill Fox, Will Johnson and This Is Lorelei. Words, Instruments, Stories, Failures, Victories, Kisses hello and goodbye.
Heading South (figuratively), we were enchanted by Fust, Palmyra, Petey USA, Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, Patterson Hood, Iron & Wine & Ben Bridwell, Caamp, Lord Huron, Josh Ritter, Ben Nichols, & S.G. Goodman. Bit of country from all over the country much of which wouldn't be considered country at all.
Bon Iver and Sun Kil Moon returned with storytelling washed in sunshine and midnight moons.
Ben Kweller's tribute to his departed son Dorian blends insurmountable heartbreak with hope; I can't wait to hang with you again....
And, of course, Hot Dog Harv gave us the banger of the year!
It was a wonderful year with songs for each season! What a time to be alive!
Here are the Top 5 Albums of 2025:
6/7 - A Kick To The Face by SNOWMEN
"Wrap your arms around my waist and show me what it means to fall in love"
Little bit of Les Savy Fav, little bit of Minutemen and a song called Goslings that enters them into the Goose v Geese cage match as the guest referee (a position Zac seems uniquely qualified to fulfill).
Ripping songs, UNC energy, tight drums and BIG Guitars. Suit Up!
#5 - these things happen by saturdays at your place
"In hindsight, I realize, I've hallowed out my insides"
The young Western Michigan University prodigies are rooted in emo and pop punk but get very expansive on this one. Polished production with fine instrumentation that lifts Gabe Woods outstanding lyrics. It's pure Michigan with teen anthems about love, loss and parking lot beers.
#4 - American Recordings by Truman Sinclair
"I told you my heart when I played you my song, the look in your eyes like you've known it all along"
Pure singer/songwriter bliss! American Recordings takes the listener through tunes about old pals, tales of the mid-west, waltzes by which to dance and songs of great loss. Truman Sinclair's proper debut makes him a soulful, thoughtful songwriter to keep an eye on. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll text your old pals.
#3 - Through This Fire Across from Peter Balken by The Mountain Goats
"Like anything you ever come across, before you knew about it, it got lost"
There are certain bands with immeasurable track records from whom we have come to expect quality (read: Bright Eyes, Death Cab for Cutie, etc.) that tend to get over-looked on these lists. At DFTR, we never side-step a concept album that chronicles a shipwreck of 16 people and the travails that confront them through 12 songs. Exactly what you would expect from John Darnielle and company.
Our hero survives while others depart with only Peter Balken to keep him sane through their final days (was he ever there at all). A more subdued Mountain Goats effort with fables accompanied by the usual guitar plucking, some wonderful strings, and Darnielle's narration of hope in the midst of tragedy.
#2 - The Scholars by Car Seat Headrest
"Former dove comes back to the house with blood on its wings and a bone in its mouth"
A 90-minute prog rock concept album that tells the story of 9 undergrads at a fictious University - Yes, please! Another seemingly robbed from year end lists, this is Car Seat Headrest's seminal effort! Will Toledo and company have really hit their stride instrumentally; production is next level, and the song craft challenges the listener to lock in for 90 minutes. You'll need 15 or so listens to follow the narrative but what are you too busy? This is the stranger things of 2025 song making that hits with all the beauty of a sci-fi rock epic!
#1 - Always Been by Craig Finn
"His mother died when he was five and his dad's some sorta drug cop, but the apple sometimes rolls way down the hill"
Craig Finn brings the usual lore strung from song to song that cover a priest who doesn't believe in God, winters spent in a summer vacation town, the townies who lurk in the shadows, substance abuse among the dis-enchanted and the ultimate demise that faces those who seek short cuts. The accompanying book "Lousy With Ghosts" written by Craig Finn expands this collection of songs into an 11-episode head dropper. The tragedy of the american underbelly exposed where hope has gone to die. I guess that's the way it's always been....
Thank You for Listening!
Dave
