My 30 Favorite Songs of 2025

I make a conscious effort to listen to new music. It’s beneficial to my job, of course, but it also feels like an ingrained mission. A personal purpose. This list of 30 songs is not QUITE in order, but my favorite of favorites naturally rose to the top. All these tracks were released in 2025 — even the Cartel re-record of “Say Anything” counts because this is my house and these are my rules. Anyway, enjoy!

1. “Bloom Baby Bloom” — Wolf Alice

This wasn’t a love-at-first-listen for me, it was a grower, so aptly named. I love the message, the sass, the “wow”s. It ALMOST feels too theater-kid coded for me, but Ellie takes it all over the map with her vocals, and I love that. It being the first single released made me really excited for their album, The Clearing, which did turn out to be my personal Album Of The Year.

2. “catch these fists” — Wet Leg

It’s an anthem, it’s tough, it’s sarcastic, it’s catchy. “I don’t want your love I just want to fight.” — relatable.

3. “Better Days” — Yellowcard

An earworm of a title track from Yellowcard’s first album in NINE years. It’s hopeful, the kind of song you can feel in your chest and belt out with abandon.

4. “Gone” — HAIM

I’ll do whatever I want

I’ll see who I wanna see

I’ll fuck off whenever I want

I’ll be whatever I need

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5. “I Want You (Fever)” — Momma

This felt like discovering a song from the ’90s I’d never heard before.

6. “Man of the Year” — Lorde

I’m sorry to say that most of Lorde’s new album, Virgin, did not hit for me. But this one did.

Take my knife and I cut the cord

My babe can’t believe I’ve become someone else

Someone more like myself

7. “Love Me Different” — Hayley Williams

My God, this masterpiece. I didn’t know I needed it until it arrived, but now I don’t want to live without it.

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8. “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill”

This feels like a smart little lullaby for a crazy fucking year.

9. “Can’t Say No” — The Wombats

The whole album Oh! The Ocean is fantastic, but I like that what-if storytelling in this one the best

Throw a bender in a cemetery

Bribe the dead to leave us be

Summon the demons that we repress

Swallow a shot glass then get undressed

Every bad idea just feels exactly like a great idea

10. “Everybody Scream” — Florence + The Machine

I can’t wait to experience this one live.

11. “Butterflies” — All Time Low

So what’s the point of holding on

When letting go’s the only way you’re changing?

Stop waiting for the grass to grow

You’re catching butterflies that ain’t worth chasin’

12. “DAMAGE” — Lights

A6 might have slipped past my radar if I hadn’t booked Lights for a Setlist Insider. This simple song was my favorite of the bunch, and I got to thank her for writing it (also the first song she owns) post-interview.

13. “Sorry For Your Loss” — The Beaches

A fresh and catchy perspective on being dumped, my favorite track from their new album No Hard Feelings.

14. “Skin Scraped” — Yellowcard

I’m just so glad they’re back, you know?

Everything is different now

So we gotta fight to stay out

Of prison cells we kept each other in

I can tell it’s me, it’s not you

After all the shit we’ve been through

I’m never letting go of you again

15. “Bread Butter Tea Sugar” — Wolf Alice

A very good song to soundtrack those moments when you’re about to make some questionable decisions.

Don’t want a dish without salt

Bread without butter

If it’s bad for me, good

I feel bad suits me better

16. “mangetout” — Wet Leg

I definitely thought this song was Man Get Out before I heard it, and I love the double meaning. A perfect GTFO song if I’ve ever heard one.

17. “Say Anything (Else)” — 2025 — Cartel

A re-record of my favorite Cartel song from 20 years ago? Yes, please and thank you. Baby, don’t follow their lead, indeed.

18. “Pretty Good To Feel Something” — Mayday Parade

A pop-punk punch in the face that’s the embodiment of the quote “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Put this song on when you’re riding out a wave of feelings, it does the trick.

19. “Swear To God That I’m (FINE)” — Winona Fighter

I like MANY songs on Winona Fighter’s debut album, My Apologies To The Chef, but they’d been previously released (check out HAMMS IN A GLASS). This one is a great, yell-y track for spiraling times.

And I’m thankful, I swear

I’m lucky to be here

But hope I slip into the sofa

Make my body disappear

20. “One Of The Greats” — Florence + The Machine

“It must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can” Shots. Fucking. Fired. I love it.

21. “Dang” — Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Yes, I am surprised that song with the lyrics Woof, woof, woof, made it here, but it did.

22. “Bubblegum” — All Time Low

This is a dark world, these are dark times

Let’s find a dark room, lose our damn minds

Burn the place down for the dopamine

Ready, set, go, do you feel the chemistry?

23. “Barely Alive” — Yellowcard

A moody one.

I’m too young to be this old

24. “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone” — Reneé Rapp

Is this one for the girlies who thrive in long distance relationships? I think so.

25. “Play It Out” — Wolf Alice

A very pretty, vulnerable piano ballad that pushes against societal expectations.

I wanna age with excitеment, feel my world expand

Go grey and feel delighted, don’t just look sexy on a man

Just let me play it out

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26. “Off The Rails” — Benee

It’s just fun.

27. “Mature” — Hilary Duff

Welcome back, H-Duff

28. “Meddle in the Mold” — Banks, Colors

29. “Kill The Guru” — Cam

30. “Holy Roller” — The Format

Thanks for your time! I can’t wait to start a 2026 New Songs playlist!