DBT #409 Top Albums of 2025 - Dave's Dozen
My lack of posting reviews this year was more about my listening approach to music than anything else. I love Themed Playlists, and I really do this blog to mirror my listening. I understand musicians would rather have a review and many times I find the reviews have higher views. All this doesn't mean that I don't have my favorite albums, so I sorted the digital library and said ok what was released in 2025. (Remember I'd say over 80% of my 2025 additions came from other years because Good Music has NO Expiration Date.) Now the blog is only the music I own, so I added 36 Hours of music released in 2025, while adding 187 hours (3,119 songs) total just in 2025. These albums represent 3 hours or 8% of new 2025 or 1.6% of the total; so this is the cream of the year for me.
Sure there are friends in this list, let's consider that there are also friends that didn't make the top 12 too. So who made Dave's Dozen in 2025? iTunes made the graphic, so if I start at the top left clockwise it's not a count down to number one, because they are all my top dozen.
1) Carolina Mountains - Sparrow Smith
After we had a chance to see the Resonant Rogues for a second time in a long while at the Great River Folk Fest, I picked up her vinyl that she really still hadn't released yet. The album transports you alrong the Carolina Mountains up the Jewel of the Blue Ridge to enjoy some Wine Berry picking, and that Sparrow while she has help she's a Hard Workin Woman. (Right follow those four links for my favorite song from the album.) Now some of our readers might recognize Sparrow's songs have appeared on editions, 380 Sunset to Sunrise, 381 Working for a Living, and #375 Vinyl Deep Cuts; so maybe I guess you know that this album is getting some significant spins in this short time that I've owned it.
I'll highlight one song per album, this one is just three weeks old as I write this.
While I have this on vinyl, it's close to what some might traditionally call an EP with mere five songs. Well they didn't waste a single cut, all of them have had over 20 plays which is quite a bit of focus considering my library. Emma and Bella truly are maturing into a significant band to follow; when I saw them as a trio I thought they needed help on their songwriting. Now I think they need more time to write a whole album of killers like this. Maybe I should let them finish high school?
If I needed to pick three songs from the album to highlight my top three would be "South of Tennessee", "Elaine", and the "Seeds I've Sown". Now for some reason their Bandcamp page still only has their singles, go to their website and buy the vinyl.
3) The Americana Dream - Maygen & the Birdwatcher
One might claim that they made this list because they played the Bluff View, but truly I had love for this album and group much before they played in October. This album has made other top album lists for 2025, so you don't have to take my opinion for how good it is. My top songs included "Tokin on the Holy Ghost" come on... I could just stop there with a title like that. "Rhododendron" is a must to start a flowers playlist, while "Millie Moon", "Hold Ya Down", "Feel Good", and "Hat Man Blues" round out my favorites.
For their video, how about another freshly uploaded (2 weeks ago) one of my favorites:
Ok this pick was really an oops. It was a 2025 Limited Edition release of a 1999 sophomore release; and oh my it's good and fresh to me as 2025 music; so I'm sticking with it. Besides he made my top three albums last year so it feels on a roll.
Wow this album has such creativity in the mixes and hell if Corb doesn't go everywhere for song subjects; "Spanish Armada" is both weird and innovative; which made me first skip it and then revisit it over and over. "Where is my Soldier?" should be marked with a warning of the carnage, yet it bounces along in a joyful ride on a horse. "The Case of the Wine Soaked Preacher" will eventually be in a story song playlist; while "Mora" is such fun with so many words... and yes it is my favorite from the album. I do consider myself a good man.
Well I suppose it's because it's an old record so the only videos they have out there are audio files, so I put this favorite one in the playlist at the end.
I had a chance to get Mike's cd album before it was officially released when we met up with them at SERFA. Who would know that we would meet again when he played the 2025 Great River Folk Fest Songwriter contest in August too. Mike is truly a songwriter that is admired most by other songwriters. Crafted story songs, hymns, parables, and some outright insightful observances of life are packed into these dozen songs. "Paycheck" "Pet Peeves" and "Ride of Their Lives" (another story song to with Corb's above?) are my favorite songs on the album.
This video was also in "Working for a Living Edition 381" but it's still such a great song.
Ok I have already review this whole album in Edition no. 350; plus I went back and added two more videos that have been released since I wrote the review.
Well I added this video to the post, but maybe I just missed it the first time since it's two years old.
7) So Long Little Miss Sunshine - Molly Tuttle
Ok so this album is making a lot of top lists for 2025, and I'm linking the Wikipedia page in case it wins her a back to back Grammy maybe in the Pop category this time? You know me well enough that I love when huge stars have Bandcamp pages; not only can I buy the vinyl but I automatically receive the digital download. Remember I don't Spotify so I either have to import it or get a free download to listen in the car. My favorite songs in this album are "Story of My So-Called Life" (oh story song playlist coming), "Summer of Love", "That's Gonna Leave a Mark" and "Rosalee"
I love that this song almost feels like it could be a Taylor Swift song with the best background acoustic guitar!
Wow... I've been following Amanda since the pandemic moved the Great River Folk Fest Songwriting contest on line. Her song "Hey Amorino" just was a jolt of fresh air, and to this day it takes me back and why it was one of the songs that showed up in MEAM Edition no. 407. I believe this is her first vinyl and wouldn't mind a second capturing some of the songs from her previous cds. This one even got the attention of NPR (click here to read the story).
Her self proclaimed Immigrant American Folk music gently moves into almost a Disney soundtrack quality of storytelling and rich orchestration mix. "Sweet 16" is a chapter of her sister's life where you can smell the unique perfume. I put "Santa Lucia" in my Monday Morning Songs because any time I want to visit the Mediterranean area I just play this song. "Wake up Baby!" starts off slowly and then grabs your hand for a dance around the room; and like so many of Amanda's songs there are interspersed Italian words for a delightful difference. NPR wasn't the only one to talk to Amanda, I interviewed her the year she was a finalist in the GRFF contest, and she said she'll reach into Italian words when she finds it the best way to express herself. Sometimes English just doesn't have the right words for her. (Right I was still working and hadn't perfected my retired look yet.. ha)
Here's the album to listen or purchase:
Finally, I am going to finally meet Amanda in person at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire Wednesday March 11th and she'll likely sound just like this. (though I'm expecting she'll have her husband joining her too; sorry guys this beautiful lady is taken.)
Well very very early in 2025 this Ringo record came out with such a wonderful mix of Americana musicians joining him it was a MUST that I bought the album. It's kind of been a Beatle year for me and did post a Beatles Cover Vol 1 post, and created many other playlists for my listening that I haven't shared. They were just an incredible group and deserve any accolade you can throw at them. Songs that will stay with me from this album include "You Want Some", "Time On My Hands", "Never Let Me Go" and "Come Back". No Bandcamp here so here's a playlist of his album:
And one of my favorite songs:
I'm probably on record in this blog saying I love this group, so how the hell did I miss them playing at my favorite hangout The Trempealeau Hotel? I believe it was Mile of Music but either way I hope they return again. This another vinyl purchase on Bandcamp, and it didn't disappoint. Great listen from side to side, but of course I should pick my favorites "I'm Selling Drugs Now, Mom", "I Can't Believe We're Still in Love" "I Love Old Guitars", and "Hard Times in Wyandotte County" (another great story song).
Now if you don't think these creative minds don't need a follow after this video; go get yourself checked somewhere.
11) Driftwood - Weary Ramblers
Ok maybe I like the Weary Ramblers, they have graced the blog now 17 TIMES, played our house concert, allowed me to sell their house concert on Bandcamp, and their rookie release was in my top three albums in 2024. Well they didn't disappoint with this year's release; it has become a favorite to put on the new turntable upstairs while I'm cooking. While they are a favorite of ours to see them live, and we did multiple times in 2025; going into the studio allowed for some really precious mixes. Like Memphis, You & Me has a classy mix of organ, piano and Sam Bush on mandolin. Kathryn and Chad's songwriter skills are starting to be recognized winning a Josie Award for "Pretty Lights of Denver" which was on their 2024 Self Titled Album. It's tough for me to pick any favorite in this new album, I like them all.
While I wanted to share any of my many recordings of them in my Around Town playlist like Driftwood or Kentucky Never Seemed so Blue, it's truly hard to beat having a quiet studio to record them in.
12) Hymns For My Atheist Sister & Her Friends To Sing Along To - The Rough & Tumble
Yes that's a mouthful for a title, and to hear them say it live in concert is a hoot. Yes while I have been following this duo since the pandemic, we finally saw them at the Big River Theatre in Alma. They were there with the Honey Badgers, and oh my they wow'd Lori and that night. I picked up this vinyl that night, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again. If they get near, we'll do our best to travel there.
The album was conceived really as songs for Katie's sister to sing for a hymn sing a long. Even if you are a ELCA Christian like me; they all work too. "Scatter My Bones" has appeared in my Haunting series; and we all need "Love Them Too" in these days. You know what Paul Thorn wrote, "I love more people than I like"
Of course you're going to get the video I recorded; it's such a great memory and the Big River Theatre is a must for you to attend one of their shows. This song is truly special.
Here's a one song from each ONE click YouTube playlist just to make it simple for you to listen to these great musicians.
Next steps:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
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