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 Marites Velasquez.
Deciding is hard—there's always a lot of really great stuff to choose from, and there's too much to keep up with—but here's what caught my ear in 2025 along with a short haiku about each!
10. The New Eve Is Rising by The New Eves (Transgressive)
raincoats-ishpunk violin-ingfire folk
Listen: Bandcamp
9. Bad Reading by Heet Death (The Ghost Is Clear)
favoriteLowest Wacker ghoulsstrong record
Listen: Bandcamp
8. Belong by Jay Som (Polyvinyl)
she has grownsophisticatedindie rock
Listen: Bandcamp
7. Hex Key by Mamalarky (Epitaph)
cut up beatssolid bass playertwo singers
Listen: Bandcamp
6. Moisturizer by Wet Leg (Domino)
girl in loveeverything is hardcatchy lines
Listen: Bandcamp
5. Wish Defense by FACS (Trouble In Mind)
mathy drumsbig guitar riffageAlbini
Listen: Bandcamp
4. For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) by Japanese Breakfast (Dead Oceans)
beautiful
slow dancing at sea
sad pretty
Listen: Bandcamp
3. Animaru by Mei Semones (Bayonet)
special gem
fancy guitar work
chamber jazz
Listen: Bandcamp
2. Lotus by Little Simz (AWAL)
first three songs
blew my mind away
rest is gold
Listen: Bandcamp
1. Switcheroo by Gelli Haha (Innovative Leisure)
“Bounce House” ismy top jam this yearglee pop “BONK!”
Listen: Bandcamp