Whew, 2025, uh?
Talk about multiple years in one year. What did it feel like…3 years in one, 5? More? I don’t really know, but man, January 2025 feels like it was maybe a decade ago.
I can’t say it was all fun.
However, on the music front, it was kind of fun, and I don’t think I realized how fun it was while it was unfolding. Is that what Pete Hegseth means by the fog of war? You know, never mind. Let’s keep this one fun. And we should because 2025 saw the return of some great bands, bands we weren’t sure would ever come back. Alabama Shakes, TV on the Radio, Soul Coughing, among others, hopped back on the trail and played live shows, with Alabama Shakes going a step further and releasing new music.
From the home office here at Jersey Shore, 2025 was a year of friendly faces returning (Dispatch, Spoon, Jack Johnson, Antibalas), true warriors getting back on the saddle (My Morning Jacket, Black Keys, Galactic), and relative newcomers out to prove they weren’t a flash in the pan (Turnstile, Charley Crockett, Liquid Mike.) Goose took two swings at proving they could hang in the studio, Bruce Springsteen finally released Electric Nebraska, The Allergies kept on keeping on, and The Mallet Brothers Band from the lovely state of Maine released what was probably my favorite album of the year.
Now, I’ve got something about my favorite albums of the year sitting in the old drafts folder, so let’s start with songs. Specifically, let’s start with my favorite Hey Oh! songs of the year.
Some background…
Since 2013, I have assembled my year-end list based on the idea that some songs are Hey-Oh! songs and as such, my lists are generally comprised of songs I think best fit the mold.
What exactly is a Hey-Oh! song? I’m so happy you asked.
It’s a song that when it came on incited an unsolicited, deep from the belly & soul Ron Burgandy quality “Hey-Oh!”– as in, “Hey-oh! That’s a damn good song.” You might not have said it out loud, but you definitely thought it. You turned the volume up, you danced, you pressed repeat, and yelled to no one in particular: DJ! ONE MORE TIME!
The “hey-ohs” can be enthusiastic and full of life or they can be more restrained, complete with more stoic appreciation. Ultimately, it’s a song that stops you in your tracks one way or the other when it comes on.
It’s songs I loved that grabbed my attention in some sort of way and prompted a verbal reaction eerily reminiscent of what Ron Burgundy said.
Got it? Cool. You can find the 2024 list here and a playlist consisting of all of the Hey Oh! songs from 2013 here.
Here’s the full list…
When writing about my 2024 songs, I handed out awards. But I don’t know about this year. We’re making up and handing out too many awards these days.
So instead, it’s Monday morning, I’m on my second cup of coffee and feeling frisky because it’s so effin’ cold right now. Let’s hit the list rapid fire/word association style and see where that gets us. Wait…THIRD CUP OF COFFEE, LET’S FLIPPIN GOOOOO.
The Wood Brothers “The Trick”
May I interest you in the inherent weirdness of Medeski, Martin & Wood blended perfectly with the down-home rustic qualities of The Wood Brothers?
Spoon “Chateau Blues”
There will be a day when Spoon releases music that is not great. I don’t know when that day will be, but it’s the law of averages. Has to happen, right?
Perennial “Perennial ’65”
This song randomly popped into my life and has yet to leave. It makes me want to be in car chase, which I maintain, I would be really good at being involved with.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones “Sitting In The Corner”
Ha, I had kind of moved on from these southern gentlemen but how can you move on from a song that is this much fun?
Galactic w/ Irma Thomas “Where I Belong”
Galactic remains one of the best backing bands in the land.
Sunborn, Clap! Clap! “Sunclap”
Denmark! How about that?
Dispatch “Yellow Jacket”
If you had told me even ten years ago that Dispatch would have one of my favorite albums in 2025, I would have thought you’d have lost your damn mind. But hey, here we are. How about that?
My Morning Jacket “Everyday Magic”
I’m mad at myself for occasionally forgetting how incredible My Morning Jacket is, which I’ve unfortunately done from time to time over the past few years. I have no one to blame but myself, and myself is disappointed in me, which I think makes sense, but hard to say at this point.
ALO “Blank Canvas”
We love a top-notch porch-lounging tune.
Jack Johnson w/ Hermanos Gutierrez “Hold On To The Light”
It’s as if Jack Johnson knew that 2025 has been a goddamn grizzly bear for us and realized that his releasing new music for the first time in a while would help make things at least a little easier. What a guy.
Young Gun Silver Fox “Stevie & Sly”
I don’t know anything about Young Gun Silver Fox but I do know this song is like, the best disco, booty-shaking roller-skating anthem that’s been released in years.
Soulive “Baby Jupiter”
I love it when great bands get back together and quickly show that brother, they haven’t lost a step.
The Allergies “Coming on Strong”
Listen, these two Brits are going to have a song on a list like this for the foreseeable future, so just be cool with it.
Seun Kuti, Egypt 80, De La Soul “Stand Well Well – Grand Stand Version”
In the words of George Costanza, “worlds are colliding!” But at least in this case, it’s not as tragic as the lives of Independent George and Engaged George becoming intertwined.
Antibalas “La Ceiba”
Pro tip: if you need something to get you through an especially sluggish weekday afternoon at work, look to Antibalas for help. It’ll get you through. Promise.
Tunde Adebimpe “God Knows”
Hey, if we can’t get new music from TV on the Radio, new music from the band’s singer is a great consolation prize.
Turnstile “BIRDS”
This band fucking rocks, and their NPR Tiny Desk appearance was one of the best things I saw all year.
Charley Crockett “Night Rider”
This entire list could have at least 10 songs from Crockett. Easy. Maybe even 12.
Craig Finn “People Of Substance”
Just like with Tunde, if we’re not getting new music from The Hold Steady, music from Finn is cool. Although it should be noted that it’d be dope to get new music from both TV on the Radio and The Hold Steady.
The Mallett Brothers Band “Edgartown”
Fitting in to different places is hard. It’s cool to realize home makes the most sense.
Chris Stapleton “Bad As I Used To Be”
Ugh, I wish I had a big old, dirty truck to drive in while listening to this song. Well, Christmas is coming. Have to remember that the next time my wife asks me what I want.
Waxahatchee w/ Kevin Morby “You Found Me”
Waxahatchee and Morby’s voices sound better together than Habanero in an IPA tastes, and that’s high praise because I don’t know if you’ve ever had a Habanero-infused IPA, but it’s delicious.
Jason Isbell “Crimson and Clay”
Mr. Jason Isbell can do no wrong. None.
Patterson Hood w/ Waxahatchee “The Forks of Cypress”
Hood and Waxahatchee’s voices sound better together than…ah, I just did this. Whatever, there is a beautiful tenderness to this song that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Rose City Band “Radio Song”
I feel like everyone should follow at least one new music blog. Just one. You find one and stick with it. That’s how I heard about this song.
Goose “Royal”
The 2025 winner for Song I Keep Singing the Most After Hearing It. Congrats to everyone involved.
Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A. – Electric Nebraska”
Fucking dirty shit right here. Springsteen sitting on this for so long might be one of the few things he’s done wrong in his career.
Dominic Lavoie “1.21 Charliewatts”
Lavoie is a singer/songwriter from sunny Portland, Maine, and he continues to create refreshingly unique music from the great north woods.
Turnstile “SEEIN’ STARS”
I don’t normally have multiple songs from one artist on lists like this, but every year there is an exception, and this year that exception goes to Turnstile. And I wasn’t into this song at first and was worried it signaled that on their new album, the band had gotten soft. But then you hear the rest of NEVER ENOUGH and realize that there is a method to the madness and diversifying your sound is a sign of growth. So in closing, I really like Turnstile a lot.
Panda Bear “Ferry Lady”
This song makes me wish I had drank a cup of tea that had me staring at the walls and the pictures on the walls were playfully sprinning like pinwheels.
Connor Garvey, The Finestkind “Food On The Table”
More Maine music! Also, in 2024, Sturgill’s “Scooter Blues” was my Aspirational Anthem of the Year, an award that goes to “Food On The Table” this year.”
Surfing For Daisy “Acrobat”
This group is from Asbury Park, and they play some just good quality, honest, from-the-heart acoustic folk rock, and their debut album became one of my favorite records of the year.
The Red Clay Strays “People Hatin'”
I’m excited about what the future holds for this band. I just hope they keep the pedal to the floor and don’t go soft on us.
The Black Keys “The Night Before”
Two things. One, The Black Keys’ 2025 album, No Rain, No Flowers, was a pleasant surprise and showed that Dan and Pat still had some tricks up their sleeves. Two, they need better sound at their shows. I saw them this summer and couldn’t believe how flat it sounded. Please work on that. Thanks.
Liquid Mike “Selling Swords”
I’m a sucker for pop/punkish rock like this and will probably be until the day I die.
Wet Leg “catch these fists”
There’s something about the drive, vibe, and robotic nature of this tune that reminds me of vintage Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, and even if that wasn’t the case, it’d still make me want to have it playing in a montage that includes someone getting thrown over a bar.
The Budos Band “Overlander”
The Budos Band always sounds like it has 85 people in it. Their music is just so dense and full.
Lettuce “Gold Teeth”
Lettuce is not like a Habenero IPA. They are a regular IPA in that there is a solid reliability to them, and you generally know what you’re going to get.
Mihali w/ Moon Taxi “KIng of the Low”
I miss summer. Winter stinks.
Fishbone w/ George Clinton “Last Call in America”
Dropkick Murphys might be out there, making waves with anti-Trump music, but at the same time, Fishbone has been quietly producing their own resistance soundtrack, and it’s a great look for them.
Sublime “Ensenada”
I’m up and down on this whole Jakob Nowell thing, but I’m always up on Sublime, and this song sounds like vintage Sublime, so I’m cool with it.
Drew Daniels, Kai Boy, Tomorrows Bad Seeds “Space Traveling”
No, really, I miss summer, and if I close my eyes while listening to this song, I can see waves gently crashing on the beach and can feel sand under my feet. It’s nice.
BADBADNOTGOOD, V.C.R. “Found A Light (Beale Street)”
Okay, last year, BADBADNOTGOOD took home the Well, I Didn’t Expect That From Them award for their song, “Take What’s Given,” and I think they’d be up for that award this year if we were doing that again. The Toronto group keeps finding ways to expand their sound, and frankly, it’s exciting.
Salin “Being Here”
Salin popped onto my radar because she’d drop these videos of her playing these crazy grooves on a little drum kit on the beach or in the rain forest, and it was delightful. This track is from her 2025 album Rammana, which has a smooth ease to it, like an island breeze. Again, delightful.
Manu Chao w/ Santa Fe Klan “Solamente”
Manu Chao reminds me of working in San Diego as “Bongo Bong” was playing a lot during load-out and while I haven’t listened to Manu Chao much since then, this tune popped onto the radar and you can’t deny a song like this.
Gorillaz ft. IDLES “The God of Lying”
I don’t think that we, as a society, truly appreciate how diverse of a career Damon Albarn continues to have. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Dave Gutter “The elephant in the room”
Gutter made his bones as the front man for Rustic Overtones, but in recent years, he’s won a Grammy for his work with Aaron Neville, and in 2025, he released a wild solo album that seemingly brings together everything Gutter has done in his long career. It’s a trip I’d recommend taking.
Mo Lowda & the Humble “Sara’s Got Big Plans”
We’re here for easy-going grooves.
Snocaps “Heathcliff”
WAXAHATCHEE AGAIN!!!
Durand Jones & The Indications “Flower Moon”
And finally…
So see…not everything in 2025 was bad.
Categories: 2025
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