35. Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams (pop)

Taylor is not making my list this year.  I liked her Showgirl album but I didn’t love it.  On the other hand, Hayley Williams’ album never stops bringing it, even on multiple listens.

34. Bright Nights by ‘Allo Darlin’ (twee pop). 

It’s been 10 years since this band released “We Come From the Same Place.” That album was a masterpiece of folk pop. This one is even better.

33. Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams by Patterson Hood (alt-country). 

More Southern Gothic romance from the greatest living master of the genre.  Plus, how great is it to be able to make a mid-year list where Hood is immediately followed by his former bandmate?

32. Phonetics On and On by Horsegirl (Americana)

Whenever I make a “best of the year” list and then compare it to the lists made by other sites, mine is always different.  I have a lot more accessible music on my list, because that’s what I like, and I don’t do service to the stuff that I know everyone else will promote just so that my list will be seen as credible.  But I’m confident Horsegirl’s album will be on a lot of peoples’ lists.  Why?  Because it’s that good.

31. Jestures by Atmosphere (hip hop) 

Doing a “concept” rap album is a risk–it can feel gimmicky or the weight of the idea can limit the content.  Not so here.  “Jestures” is a 26-song album: One for each letter of the alphabet.  A simple idea that allows Slug to spread out and grow up.  Not all rappers have the talent, depth, and self-awareness to age on wax.  Slug does.  Ant’s beats continue to reflect his skill as a producer, which is to say he knows that the star here is Slug and is content to be an extremely supportive co-star.

30. Cuntry by Cleo Reed (protest folk)

29. Who’s the Clown? by Audrey Hobert (indie singer-songwriter pop) 

In a year where Taylor Swift put out a happy album, Audrey picks up the mantle for best cynical pop.  Smart, genuinely funny, and seriously catchy–this album rises to the top of a very crowded genre.  Plus the album cover is creepy AF.

28. Satisfied Soul by Brother Ali and Ant (conscious rap)

Atmosphere’s producer teams up with one of raps most unapologetically personal political activists.  Great record.  If you’re a fan of lyric-driven rap and you don’t know Brother Ali, welcome to the party.  Stay a while with his other, late-’25 release, Brother Minutester Vol 2.  It’s 16 tracks, each one minute long.

27. Essex Honey by Blood Orange (soul)

26. Bleeds by Wednesday (Americana punk)

I really admired MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks when I first heard it, but for some reason I forgot about it at the end of 2024.  Months later, when I was looking through everybody else’s “best of the year” lists, Lenderman was all over it.  So I made sure to pick up this album.  Very glad I did.

25. Who Let the Dogs Out by Lambrini Girls (punk). 

It’s fun to be angry.  It’s cool to be outraged and not be a dick about it.