Favorite Music of 2025

Sometimes I think the only good I do in the world is texting my high school buddies new bands to check out, trying to save them from the strong gravitational pull of going to straw cowboy hat pop country concerts or lifeless Dead cover band shows. Replies like “Cool, I might check it out,” and “This sounds weird,” keep me going.

Behold my favorite music from the past year! I chose one song from each album to give you a taste of the good stuff.

I’m trying to free myself from Spotify and looking for a good alternative for my playlists. Until then, here is the 2025 Punk, Alt, & Indie playlist on Spotify.

And here are a bunch of handy Bandcamp embeds (it takes a while for them all to load). Support these bands on Bandcamp. Buy their songs, buy their vinyl. See them live.

2025 wasn’t a banner year for your boy, but thankfully, music always helps. I hope it does the same for you. Let me know your favorites in the comments below.

<a href="https://thetubs.bandcamp.com/album/cotton-crown">Cotton Crown by The Tubs</a>

<a href="https://militariegun.bandcamp.com/album/god-save-the-gun">God Save The Gun by Militarie Gun</a>

<a href="https://thebethsnz.bandcamp.com/album/straight-line-was-a-lie">Straight Line Was A Lie by The Beths</a>

<a href="https://fortitudevalley.bandcamp.com/album/part-of-the-problem-baby">Part Of The Problem, Baby by Fortitude Valley</a>

<a href="https://thedeepseadiver.bandcamp.com/album/billboard-heart">Billboard Heart by Deep Sea Diver</a>

<a href="https://anxious18.bandcamp.com/album/bambi">Bambi by ANXIOUS</a>

<a href="https://tigersincairo.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-3-singles">The First 3 Singles by Tigers In Cairo</a>

<a href="https://clppng.bandcamp.com/album/dead-channel-sky">Dead Channel Sky by clipping.</a>

<a href="https://aetc.bandcamp.com/album/professional-void">Professional Void by Astronauts, etc.</a>

<a href="https://softblueshimmer.bandcamp.com/album/they-will-leave-us-with-nothing">They Will Leave Us With Nothing by Soft Blue Shimmer</a>

<a href="https://ophelias.bandcamp.com/album/spring-grove">Spring Grove by The Ophelias</a>

<a href="https://propagandhi.bandcamp.com/album/at-peace">At Peace by Propagandhi</a>

<a href="https://roachsquad.bandcamp.com/album/roach-squad">ROACH SQUAD by ROACH SQUAD</a>

<a href="https://deadguy666.bandcamp.com/album/near-death-travel-services">Near-Death Travel Services by Deadguy</a>

<a href="https://spitehousemtl.bandcamp.com/album/desertion">Desertion by Spite House</a>

<a href="https://mogwai.bandcamp.com/album/the-bad-fire">The Bad Fire by Mogwai</a>

<a href="https://kinskiseattle.bandcamp.com/album/stumbledown-terrace">Stumbledown Terrace by Kinski</a>

<a href="https://capecrush.bandcamp.com/album/good-dogs-wear-capes">Good Dogs Wear Capes by Cape Crush ft. Impossible Dog</a>

<a href="https://julienbakerandtorres.bandcamp.com/track/sugar-in-the-tank">Sugar in the Tank by Julien Baker & TORRES</a>

<a href="https://greetdeath.bandcamp.com/album/die-in-love">Die In Love by Greet Death</a>

<a href="https://kneecap.bandcamp.com/album/kneecap-sayn-nara-the-recap">KNEECAP – Saynōnara / THE RECAP. by KNEECAP</a>

<a href="https://tundeadebimpe.bandcamp.com/album/thee-black-boltz">Thee Black Boltz by Tunde Adebimpe</a>

<a href="https://heavennyc.bandcamp.com/track/the-fire-you-know">The Fire You Know by Heaven</a>

<a href="https://savak.bandcamp.com/album/squawk">SQUAWK! by SAVAK</a>

<a href="https://mommaband.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-my-blue-sky-deluxe">Welcome to My Blue Sky (Deluxe) by Momma</a>

<a href="https://jawdropped.bandcamp.com/album/just-fantasy">Just Fantasy by Jawdropped</a>

<a href="https://publicopinion.bandcamp.com/album/perpetual-motion-machine">Perpetual Motion Machine by Public Opinion</a>

<a href="https://zastava.bandcamp.com/album/buildings">Buildings by Zastava</a>

<a href="https://puptheband.bandcamp.com/album/who-will-look-after-the-dogs">Who Will Look After The Dogs? by PUP</a>

<a href="https://bobmould.bandcamp.com/album/here-we-go-crazy-3">Here We Go Crazy by Bob Mould</a>

<a href="https://music.thedukeofnorfolk.com/album/camera">Camera by The Duke of Norfolk</a>

<a href="https://skwm.bandcamp.com/album/libertine">Libertine by Silkworm</a>

<a href="https://agrapedope.bandcamp.com/track/a-love-letter-to-a-nightmare">A Love Letter to a Nightmare by A Grape Dope</a>

<a href="https://remembersports.bandcamp.com/album/across-the-line">Across The Line by Remember Sports</a>

<a href="https://glitterer.bandcamp.com/album/erer">erer by Glitterer</a>

<a href="https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/touch">Touch by Tortoise</a>

<a href="https://unwedsailor.bandcamp.com/album/cruel-entertainment">Cruel Entertainment by Unwed Sailor</a>

<a href="https://aburialatsea.bandcamp.com/track/more-less">More; Less. by A Burial at Sea</a>

<a href="https://thetwilightsad.bandcamp.com/track/waiting-for-the-phone-call">WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL by The Twilight Sad</a>

<a href="https://meisemones.bandcamp.com/album/kurayami-get-used-to-it">Kurayami/Get used to it by Mei Semones</a>

<a href="https://middlemanldn.bandcamp.com/track/the-furthest-place">The Furthest Place by Middleman</a>

<a href="https://angeldustmoney.bandcamp.com/album/cold-2-the-touch">COLD 2 THE TOUCH by Angel Du$t</a>

<a href="https://shinerkc.bandcamp.com/album/believeyoume">BELIEVEYOUME by SHINER</a>

<a href="https://minitrees.bandcamp.com/album/slow-it-down">Slow it Down by Mini Trees</a>

<a href="https://gellihaha.bandcamp.com/album/switcheroo">Switcheroo by Gelli Haha</a>

<a href="https://bunchofcrybabies.bandcamp.com/album/crybabies">Crybabies by Crybabies</a>

<a href="https://end-scene.bandcamp.com/album/i-will-not-live-safe-i-will-live-true">I Will Not Live Safe, I Will Live True by End Scene</a>

<a href="https://nadeemdingabisi.bandcamp.com/album/offshore">OFFSHORE by Nadeem Din-Gabisi</a>

<a href="https://hannahjadagu.bandcamp.com/album/describe">Describe by Hannah Jadagu</a>

<a href="https://setterwindrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-cost-of-progress">The Cost of Progress by Big Life</a>

<a href="https://arewenothomefront.bandcamp.com/album/watch-it-die">Watch It Die by HOME FRONT</a>

<a href="https://snowmen.bandcamp.com/album/a-kick-to-the-face">A Kick to the Face by SNOWMEN</a>

<a href="https://robberrobber.bandcamp.com/album/talkback">Talkback by Robber Robber</a>

<a href="https://real-lies.bandcamp.com/album/we-will-annihilate-our-enemies">We Will Annihilate Our Enemies by Real Lies</a>

<a href="https://lettingup.bandcamp.com/album/the-forgotten-eps">The Forgotten EPs by Letting Up Despite Great Faults</a>

<a href="https://caesarofcymatics.bandcamp.com/track/unlovingly-lie-2">Unlovingly Lie by Caesar Of Cymatics</a>

2025 Video Playlist: Best of Indie, Punk, Shoegaze of 2025!

Remember how stoked you were to kick back and watch 120 Minutes, discovering new and exciting bands that weren’t played on the radio? Well, friends, you can relive that magic right now. Put away your phone, turn off the lights, crack open a beverage, and watch this video playlist above on the biggest screen you have. There is an abundance of excellent music available to you with one simple click.

Get good things in your mailbox every two weeks!