Our Top 10 Lists have been named in honor of late Blog Director and DJ Clarence Ewing, who pioneered and published this annual feature for nearly a decade.
Our next list is from Joshua Thompson.
10. Don't Trust Mirrors by Kelly Moran (Warp)
Don't Trust Mirrors finds NYC-based electronic/ambient musician Kelly Moran continuing her work in the post-minimalism sphere. This album in particular is a unique blend of her electronic/prepared piano work (2018's Ultraviolet) and her modern classical work (2024's Moves in the Field), reworking compositions from her previous records to merge them with, in Moran's own words, "more hypnotic, groove-oriented patterns." The result is a great record that hits a sweet spot of dense bliss. Moran has been one of my favorite artists for a while now, and this album continues her excellent streak.
Recommended Tracks: Don't Trust Mirrors (feat. Bibio), Chrysalis, and Cathedral
Listen: Bandcamp
9. goodbye, world! by miffle (self-released)
goodbye, world! is the debut release from Polish ambient/tape loop artist miffle. Dedicated to a deceased friend, goodbye, world! finds miffle crafting a world that is sonically cold yet feels like a warm hug. The results of this record feel inherently nostalgic, as miffle blends a mixture of ambient, acoustic, and even noise at times to conjure up feelings of lost love and now empty streets. I was only recently made aware of this album, but it's comfortably been on loop since that day.
Recommended Tracks: the city is calm at this hour, static snow, and long walk home (you exist in my frozen memories forever)
Listen: Bandcamp
8. Forever Howlong by Black Country, New Road (Ninja Tune)
Prolific English art rock/chamber pop band Black Country, New Road returned this year with Forever Howlong. The first studio release from the band since the departure of their original lead vocalist, Isaac Wood, Forever Howlong finds the band pivoting towards pop and folk while still maintaining their signature chamber instrumentation. Splitting up lead vocalist duties between May Kershaw, Tyler Hyde, and Georgia Ellery, Forever Howlong displays plenty of lyrical and sonic variety. The throughline through it all is a consistent sense of serenity that is present in both the albums brightest tunes and in its darkest moments. I've been fond of the band's entire discography up to this point, and Forever Howlong continues to show the musical growth and creativity that will always keep a release from Black Country, New Road worth noting.
Recommended Tracks: Nancy Tries to Take the Night, For the Cold Country, and Two Horses
Listen: Bandcamp
7. Live Laugh Love by Earl Sweatshirt (Tan Cressida)
Live Laugh Love is the fifth studio album from prolific rapper Earl Sweatshirt, who continues his streak of short and striking hip-hop material. Despite only clocking in at 24 minutes, Live Laugh Love is chock full of memorable verses from which put his signature flow and writing style to great use. Coupling these strengths with some excellent choppy and soulful production from Thereveda, Child Actor, Navy Blue, Black Noise, and Earl Sweatshirt himself, the album fires on all cylinders and continues to demonstrate why Earl Sweatshirt is arguably one of the best in hip-hop right now.
Recommended Tracks: Heavy Metal AKA Ejecto Seato!, exhaust, and FORGE
Listen: Earl Sweatshirt webstore
6. Sortilège by Preservation & Gabe 'Nandez (Backwoodz Studioz)
The first collaboration between Montreal rapper Gabe 'Nandez and NYC-based producer Preservation, Sortilège, is both one of the year's darkest and most mysterious releases, while simultaneously serving as one of its strongest hip-hop records. The sound on here is a match made in Heaven, as Preservation's signature Asian-inspired production pairs extremely well with the rumbly and despondent delivery of Gabe 'Nandez. Contrasted against Preservation's 2020 album Eastern Medicine, Western Illness, which bounces between features from a number of notable underground rappers, the consistent presence of one collaborator ('Nandez) serves as an excellent throughline and foundation for the album's sonic goals. Sortilège is the type of collaboration that leaves you wanting more, and I will be keeping my ear to the ground to see what these two do next after such a strong start.
Recommended Tracks: Bascinet, Shadowstep, and Mondo Cane (feat. Armand Hammer & Benjamin Booker)
Listen: Bandcamp
5. DELTARUNE: Chapters 3+4 by Toby Fox (Materia Collective)
DELTARUNE: Chapters 3+4 is the album/soundtrack to the video game of the same name, both of which were created by Toby Fox (of Undertale fame). This soundtrack finds Toby Fox continuing to reach new heights as a composer, crafting evocative tunes that both fit the game perfectly while also being earworms in their own right. The motif work on this record is especially excellent, with several short, yet striking, melodies being reincorporated in clever and creative ways to establish a variety of tones. Across the album's runtime are tracks that are lively, silly, sinister, somber, and triumphant, yet not a single moment is tonally out of place. This placement comes with the obvious baggage that the soundtrack is best experienced by playing the game than listening to it outright, but the collection of music is too strong to not recommend in the context of 2025's musical moments.
Recommended Tracks: From Now On (Battle 2), The Second Sanctuary, TV WORLD, Black Knife, and Old wooden rafters
Listen: Bandcamp
4. amor de encava by weed420 (self-released)
"An album about a pickup truck, a nostalgic dream, and Venezuelan loneliness." Amor de encava is the debut album from Venezuelan electronic collective weed420. Attempting to describe what amor de encava sounds like is a Herculean task, as the album pulls from so many Latin American sounds and influences to create a Plunderphonics collage of immense proportion. The result makes for one of 2025's most striking releases, as amor de encava never lets up in its overstimulating yet undeniably reverent attempt at translating the experience of its creators into musical form. It succeeds at being both difficult to pin down and masterfully crafted nonetheless, as the group maneuvers their wall of sound across the emotional spectrum. Some songs are groovy, some are hypnotic, and some are somber, yet all of them are handled with ease. Amor de encava is undeniably one of the year's biggest surprises and one of the most unique albums I've come across in a long time.
Recommended Tracks: nada va a pasar, terminal, and LARA BRANGER (o 'como duermes')
Listen: Bandcamp
3. Magic, Alive! by McKinley Dixon (City Slang)
Magic, Alive! is the fifth studio album from Chicago rapper McKinley Dixon. Magic, Alive! continues Dixon's exploration of hip-hop through a jazz rap lens, bolstering his strong lyricism and flow with live jazz instrumentation. Throughout the album's runtime, listeners are greeted by lively horns, vibrant saxophones, soulful keys, and countless memorable features from other rappers. The album's tone is thorough yet diverse, as Dixon weaves an emotional web with ease. Whether the impetus is rage, bravado, or joy, Dixon meets the moment perfectly. Anecdotally, I'll note that few moments of 2025 were as satisfying as being part of a crowd singing along to the entirety of We're Outside, Rejoice! when Dixon performed at Schubas Tavern earlier this year. As someone who has been following Dixon for years now, it's extremely satisfying to see him continue to hone his craft and continue his excellent and consistent discography. Magic, Alive! is easily my favorite hip-hop release of the year, and I hope its success continues to propel Dixon's undeniable talent to new heights.
Recommended Tracks: We're Outside, Rejoice!, Recitatif (feat. Teller Bank$), Magic, Alive!, and Sugar Water (feat. Quelle Chris and Anjimile)
Listen: Bandcamp
2. Luminescent Creatures by Ichiko Aoba (Hermine)
Luminescent Creatures is the eighth studio album from Japanese folk singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba. Aoba, known for her acoustic, dream-like folk music, returns here with arguably her least acoustic project yet. Luminescent Creatures finds Aoba largely influenced by chamber folk and ambient, exploring diverse soundscapes that range from lush chamber arrangements to minimalist pianos. The results are nothing short of breathtaking, as Aoba's ear for serenity radiates through every moment on the album. It takes only seconds for Aoba to capture you, and once Luminescent Creatures grabs on, it does not let go. Watching the album's most intimate moments performed live by Aoba at Thalia Hall only bolstered the album as one of 2025's strongest works. Luminescent Creatures was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I'm happy to say it lived up to that anticipation and is easily my favorite folk release of the year.
Recommended Tracks: tower, FLAG, Luciférine, and COLORATURA
Listen: Bandcamp
1. Evangelic Girl Is a Gun by yeule (Ninja Tune)
Evangelic Girl is a Gun is the fifth studio album from Singaporean pop/electronic singer-songwriter/producer yeule. The album finds yeule embracing an alternative rock sound by way of trip-hop and glitch pop. This effort makes easily my favorite release of the year, as yeule provides a short and sweet assortment of alternative rock that has been stuck in my head since the album first released. As the album weaves between earnest alternative rock, saccharine alternative pop, or outright glitch pop, yeule provides excellent vocals that make each moment more of an earworm than the last. As with the last two releases, seeing yeule live at Outset following the album's release cemented it as one of 2025's most important releases. Evangelic Girl is a Gun made an impression on me both at the time it released and stayed in my rotation consistently since then. Where the entry on this list was an expected triumph from an artist I already loved, this album, while not the first yeule album I had heard, really made their music click for me in the best possible way. Evangelic Girl is a Gun is undeniably my favorite release of 2025, and I hope its strength is a sign of even more exciting things to come.
Recommended Tracks: Eko, Dudu, Saiko, and Evangelic Girl is a Gun
Listen: Bandcamp