That’s right, it’s a rare mid-year Burn Your Hits post!
With so many other publications running half-year retrospectives, I thought it would be fun to run down a few of my favorites. This is nowhere near as obsessively researched as my 100 Songs posts, so I’m probably leaving some stuff out, and the rankings are … let’s say provisional.
Still, there has been a lot of great music already in 2025, so let’s talk about it!
1. jasmine.4.t - “Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation”
There are a lot of candidates for Song of the Year (the top six here could basically be shuffled at random) but I just love how this one layers on top of itself. When she screams the first two words of the last chorus right before that counter-melody line comes in for the first time … that’s what I want music to be.
2. Alien Boy - “Pictures of You”
The fact that they just played at a bar around the corner from my first San Francisco apartment and I wasn’t there is the only regret I have this year.
3. Momma - “Bottle Blonde”
Feels like the last day of school forever.
4. Cheekface - “Living Lo-Fi”
Touring with Martha! Sleeping on a mattress without a bed frame!
5. The Callous Daoboys - “Distracted by The Mona Lisa”
It’s either the best band name of all time or the worst, there is no middle ground.
6. Turnstile - “BIRDS”
Best experienced in the mosh pit at 4 AM but I can confirm that it is also pretty great on headphones at the office.
7. Little Simz - “Flood” (feat. Obongjayar)
Sinister (complimentary).
8. Fust - “Spangled”
Not really the point here but the word “Shenandoah” is just so much fun to sing.
9. Star 99 - “Kill”
I have an eternal soft spot for all things San Jose.
10. Courting - “Pause at You”
The new generation of street-walking cheetahs has arrived.
11. Oklou - “harvest sky” (feat. underscores)
She plays it twice at her live shows and honestly I kinda get it.
12. Camp Trash - “Go Bills”
The wait for LP2 has now become unbearable.
13. Liquid Mike - “Groucho Marx”
New album coming in September!
14. First Rodeo - “Nothing”
A chorus that sounds like the clouds parting.
15. Wet Leg - “catch these fists”
You do not want any part of Rhian Teasdale’s fists.
16. Perfume Genius - “It’s a Mirror”
Every individual guitar tone here is perfect in its own way.
17. Lady Gaga - “Shadow Of A Man”
There’s a lot to recommend this song, and this album, but really I just love it when Ilana becomes obsessed with something.
18. Craig Finn - “People Of Substance”
The new album was produced by Adam Granduciel from The War on Drugs, a band who covered the Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey” on a recent compilation, and I think maybe that’s been in Granduciel’s head ever since.
19. Julien Baker & TORRES - “Sugar in the Tank”
My working theory is that every artist has at least one great country song in them.
20. PUP - “Hallways”
Having now seen them six times in three countries, I can confirm that the PUP live experience is still just as fun as it was the first time.
21. illuminati hotties - “Skateboard Tattoo”
My favorite bit of stage banter this year is definitely LA’s own Sarah Tudzin telling a crowd she felt a kinship with Paris because it was “the other Disney.”
22. Wednesday - “Elderberry Wine”
The first single from their last album was more than eight minutes long and largely consisted of Karly Hartzman screaming “finish him!” so you have to admit, the band’s got range.
23. Rachel Chinouriri - “Can we talk about Isaac?”
Just wrapped up a run opening for Sabrina Carpenter, and if anyone is going to get the “Chappell Roan opening for Olivia Rodrigo” bump in 2025, it should be her.
24. JADE - “IT girl”
I just want to reward her for being maximalist and weird, keep doing that.
25. Ex-Vöid - “Swansea”
A standout from an interconnected tangle of Welsh bands, though the new one from The Tubs is also great.
Next Five: Alex G - “Afterlife”; The Beths - “Metal”; Djo - “Potion”; HAIM - “Down to be wrong”; Wunderhorse - “The Rope”
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