I’m looking forward to seeing how she develops in the coming years. She’s been signed to Blue Note for 3 years, I hope they will give her space and support
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My favourite albums from 2025 are as follows:
- Midlake - A Bridge To Far
- Big Thief - Double Infinity
- The Barr Brothers - Let It Hiss
- Chris Eckman - The Land We Knew The Best
- Cass McCombs - Interior Live Oak
- Joan Shelley - Real Warmth
- Geese - Getting Killed
- Alan Sparhawk with Trampled By Turtles
- Lord Huron - The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
- The Delines - Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom
- Mogwai - The Bad Fire
- Dope Lemon - Golden Wolf
The top 3 would be the releases from Geese, Midlake and Cass McCombs, with my favourite, by far, being the Geese album which I think is an exhilarating listen.
I have tried the Cameron Winter solo album (Heavy Metal), but in contrast to @mikehughescq I much preferred his work with Geese. Having said that, I’ve only listened to it a couple of times so I will go back and give it another try.
@BruceW mentioned Jenn Wasner (Flock Of Dimes) and I’ll give this a listen as I have her 2021 album which is very good.
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The Big Thief album was my disappointment of the year. I have loved their stuff but just couldn’t get into this one. It think it was me. Agree re Midlake and others on your list though so I will investigate those new to me.
Bruce
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Like @BruceW I’ve given up on BigThief. Same old same old for me. Joan Shelley nearly made my 10 but it’s not had enough plays yet. Looking forward to seeing her in March 26. The Chris Eckmann sets a mood but I can’t get on with Cass at all. Never have. Genuinely feel I ought to but as much as anything I find his lyrics impenetrable and his music too florid (for me).
Have noted a couple of mentions for Lord Huron. My cousin and daughter saw them recently so I feel obligated to explore.
Just seen him live and very solo in Manchester. As the Guardian noted, it was quite extraordinary. I’m going back to Geese just as you’re going back to him.
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@Rigsby21 , it’s Maya Delilah - The Long Way Round for me too.
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@BruceW and @mikehughescq , it’s fascinating how opinions can diverge over artists and albums even between people who share similar tastes in music.
I’m listening now for the first time in a while to the only other Big Thief album (U.F.O.F) I have and I’m enjoying it.
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I forgot to mention that I’ve enjoyed hearing a couple of tracks from the Annie and the Caldwells album. This is a soul album which has made some of the best of the year lists.
Some interesting choices here and I’ll be giving the ones I’m not familiar with a try.
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I too was startled to hear a female voice on the Alan Sparhawk / Trampled By Turtles album sounding just like Mimi Parker. It made sense when I checked the credits to see that it was Alan and Mimi’s daughter singing.
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I think that’s a decent album. I don’t think the latest one is at all.
I was struggling with this as I completely forgot the Cure.
So in order.
- The Cure - Mixes of a lost world
- Faithless - Champion Sound
- Bicep - Chroma 000
Always a great thread… 3 from me.
Wanda Felicia - Now Is The Time
Ambre Ciel - Still, There Is The Sea
Natalie Bergman - My Home Is Not In This World
I like it.
She sounds very much like Sarah McLachlan.
Who coincidentally released the best album of 2025. (according to the fatcat jury) 
Great thread. My top three:
- Nation of Language- Dance Called Memory
- The Horrors - Night Life
- Bicep - Chroma 000
Just one for me
Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers
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A few mentions for Lord Huron, Dope Lemon and Yazz Ahmed so I felt obligated to explore, which is one of the joys of a thread like this. None of them will be taking the place of my top ten. Although the clarity on the latter is excellent I’ve negligible interest in double albums nowadays. They are a lost art.
Zoh Amba - Sun
Rosalia - Lux
and just last week
Zeca Veloso - Boas Novas
Zoh Amba was a new name to me when ‘Sun’ appeared. I like the mix of free improvisation and calmer, more melodic spells.
Rosalia I knew (or thought I knew) and wasn’t prompted to immediately give it a listen until I read reviews. I really like its big, swirling soundscape.
When going through new releases, if it’s an artist new to me I try and guess what sort of music it might be from the available clues - artwork, title, spelling - colloquial, phonetic .., artist’s attire and then track listings and often, I’m not far off or to put it another way, my preconceptions are confirmed. That didn’t take me anywhere with Zeca Veloso and I immediately played it again after the first time. Lovely songs and orchestration without too much production.
I’d go and see all of them if at some point they turn-up in the UK at a convenient and preferably small to medium sized venue.