BELAIR LIP BOMBS
Again
Melbourne, Australia's Belair Lip Bombs, the first Australian band to sign with Jack White's Third Man Records, combine a peppy mixture of punk, psych, new wave, and just plain catchy riff-rock. And singer has a pleasant but strong voice that can cut through the noisy guitars.If it weren't for the Beths latest release, this might be my favorite album of the year. Loving it. Looking forward to seeing them live at Polaris Hall in Portland next March.
THE BETHS
Straight Line Was A Lie
Just across the Tasman Sea from the Belair Lip Bombs, New Zealand's The Beths have released yet another total winner. Every track is great, with ever-insightful and personal lyrics, and consistently memorable tunes. Maintaining their position at the top of my list of Favorite Bands of the Last Ten Years, with ease. Great fun live, too, with magical moments like this one, where two of them launch recorders in the air and play a short solo. This music brings me joy, in spite of the subject matter here:
SLOAN
Based On The Best Seller
No, wait, THIS is my favorite album of 2025! Uh, it's a tie? Toronto's (formerly from Halifax) Sloan (no relation) has done it again; every track's a winner, and all four original members (34 years as a band!) contribute in their own style. And their sense of humor is still fully intact, as seen by these fun promo videos:
THE HIVES
The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
These rockin' Swedes have lasted way longer than I would've predicted, but I'm very glad they have. This is loud fun.
GRUFF RHYS
Dim Probs
Former Super Furry Animals singer releases yet another low-key solo album (title is Welsh for "No probs"). The tunes get quite mesmerizing but remain generally lighthearted. And Gruff's voice is still soothing to listen to.
ENVY OF NONE (featuring Alex Lifeson of Rush)
Stygian Waves
Second release from the band featuring Alex on guitars and sound textures, singer/songwriter Maiah Wynne, bassist Andy Curran, and keyboardist Alfio Annibalini. More melodic and stronger musically than their first effort. This "We used to be a project but now we are a band!" group is doing good stuff, and I'm digging it, in this post-Rush universe.
ALICE COOPER
The Revenge of Alice Cooper
Under normal circumstances, I would judge this a fairly average release, but these are NOT normal circumstances: After breaking up the band in 1975 to go solo, Alice Cooper (the man, nee Vincent Furnier) regrouped with his original surviving bandmates (Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith) after 51 years, to make a full album together. The fact that it even comes close to their classic sound and attitude from the 70's is near miraculous. And it's a lot of fun. Great to see them have at least one last hurrah together.
STEREOLAB
Instant Holograms On Metal Film
Formed in 1990 in London, then reunited in 2019, this new Stereolab album stands tall alongside their previous catalog of consistent melodic pop/synth/rock. A breezy, satisfying listen.
ANDY BELL
Pinball Wanderer
This shoegaze pioneer creates another spell-weaving solo album during downtime between Ride tours and albums, this one embracing a motorik Krautrock pace on several tracks, like this one. No sign of slippage in quality.
SPARKS
Mad!
This 26th studio album since 1972, by the now-legendary Mael brothers duo from Los Angeles, is getting somewhat mixed reviews by critics, but I listened to the album again while writing this blog, and frankly, it's all bangers. Their ever-present wry humor and clever social commentary are still there, and the songs grab you from the start. It's a keeper.
STEVEN WILSON
The Overview
More prog-adjacent music from the prolific Steven Wilson (solo, Porcupine Tree). The album title is about the phenomenon that astronauts experience when they look on the earth from outer space, and see that there are no borders and no countries, putting in perspective the folly of human tribalism. The album contains quiet/acoustic and louder rock sections, and on this song, electronica with proggish rhythmic complexity (but trust me, it goes down easy). Keeping concept albums alive!
ALISON GOLDFRAPP
Flux
In another corner of the electronica universe is Alison Goldfrapp's (now solo, without Will Gregory's masterful synthesizer touches), chill dancefloor 2025 effort. Her voice is still pure honey, and the album creates an easygoing vibe that is much needed in this anxiety-inducing world.
NOVELTY ISLAND
Jigsaw Causeway
In quirkier territory, Novelty Island, mostly consisting of Liverpudlian songwriter, singer, player, producer Tom McConnell, creates his best effort yet. Tom created not only the cover artwork, but an actual large jigsaw, and a bunch of colorful sheep to float suspended (perhaps a tip of the hat to Pink Floyd's inflatable pig?) during concerts. I was tempted to spend $$ on the box set version (now sold out on Bandcamp) because it includes an actual jigsaw of the beautiful artwork with the vinyl edition, but ultimately the shipping from the UK was just too costly for me. If I see one in the States though, I'm going for it. Tom deserves to be more well-known, and it just feels like a matter of time until the world catches on.
ANTON BARBEAU
Glitch Wizard
Anton not only released this great record in 2025, but he released two others: Dig The Light, and Klaust, both of which are equally great. Like a triple-vinyl set back in the day...an indie psych-rock version of The Clash's Sandanista. I love this guy; he brims with positivity and humor, and creates one great tune after another.
Now go play some great music, and dance around the room like a fool. It'll help keep you sane!
