THE WDNF-PHILLY.COM TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2025

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Hailing from Kansas City, MoonShroom is a vibrant, fun, immensely talented Americana band that has it all: virtuosic performances, sparkling melodies, imaginative instrumentation and cracking songwriting. "Take A Trip" is the debut record for the band that's been working the road since 2022, and it's a fantastic one and our Album Of The Year.

TAKE A TRIP with MOONSHROOM HERE

MESSINESS is a Milan-based pop/rock/prog septet that seamlessly moves from witty, dense hook-laden prog-pop reminiscent of Genesis to Radiohead-like pad-driven sonic works of art all the while waking the worms in your ears. Mellotrons, celestas, ouds, saxes, flutes, theremins, MESSINESS comes loaded for bear and delivers one of the best pop rock albums of recent memory. 

Get this stellar collection of prog pop music gems HERE

The North Shore of Massachusetts is home to THE FAR OUT, a high-energy horn-driven pop funk outfit that absolutely will not let you sit down. Their electric debut album "GREETINGS FROM THE FAR OUT" grabs you from first track "Need A Win" and doesn't let go until you "See Red (You're Dead)"

Get 8 tracks of straight-up wack HERE

Emi Pop is a Puerto Rico-born, Seattle based pop songwriter with her own inimitable and unmistakable style, blending wickedly catchy Spanish melodies with her own Seattle-influenced, Puerto Rican-style rocanrol and pop.  Her debut full-length album, “No Te Voy a Extrañar” (translates as “I’m Not Going to Miss You”) is 10 tracks of hook-laden, Latin-flavored pop in its best and purist form.

Dance and sing with Emi Pop HERE

The plains of Lawrence, Kansas have given birth to CAPTAIN HOWDY AND THE SUNSET SERENADERS and their unique and blistering style of "psychedelic cowpunk": high-octane, high-speed, high energy bluegrass with a whole lot of attitude and edge. 

"SMOKIN' GRASS" is an 11-track Great Plains of Fire-Breathing bluegrass with takes on iconic road songs and pickin' classics. Get it HERE

From the low desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes an American band infused with Middle Eastern color, mysticism and groove. RUBI ATE THE FIG is comprised of master musicians from the world rock as well as masters of the music from Africa and the ME, creating a unique aural experience both powerful and moving. Combine that with brilliant songwriting and stellar production and you get DESERT ELECTRIC, one of the sonically stellar records of 2025.

RUBI ATE THE FIG HERE

Mike Masch, aka MOMENT, is a Detroit-born DJ, producer, rapper and pianist. From his first piano lesson at the age of 5, MOMENT knew music was his passion and future. IS YOURS is nearly perfect.

IS YOURS is an unapologetic paen to resilience and ambition. Describing his music as "conscious hip-hop", Moment delivers both brutal self-analysis and an unwavering optimism in the face of continual setbacks. 

IS YOURS is clearly the best hip-hop album of 2025. Get it HERE

 'Wildflowers in Concrete' is both a powerful yet gentle 12-track debut album from Australian musician HAZEL & The Thief. Years in the making, with the first song from the album released back in 2024, "Wildflowers In Concrete" captures Hazel's chronological growth as she navigates life as a solo parent to two daughters.  

Masterfully written, Hazel and The Thief have engaged top Nashville session players to craft a beautiful, complete record, from the very first track. Get Wildflowers HERE

Tooth Gore is the performing persona of Kobi Joe, a surf punk provocateur hailing from the seaside town of Newquay, Cornwall UK. He describes his music as "surfy, punky, dancey, rock n roll pop for losers, by losers". His latest album FOR LOSERS BY LOSERS is ANYTHING but a loser. In fact, it is one of the most engaging straight-up rock records since Matthew Sweet's debut album.It is a wonderfully cohesive, catchy and completely satisfying work of guitar pop. 

Get TOOTH GORE HERE

The eerie high desert of Joshua Tree California is known for spikey trees, long shadows and mystery, It is also home to the psychedelia Americana futuristic pop rock of JESIKA VON RABBIT. Formerly the lead singer of renowned GRAM RABBIT, Jesika has released a solo work of pop wonder wrapped in a futuristic package that feels positively retro. 

BUNNYWOOD BABYLON is cutting edge yet retro-soul and you can get it HERE

Denmark dark nu-metal destroyers HEATHE have returned with a massive, dark, dense, sprawling 2-record metal masterpiece of dark thoughts called CONTROL YOUR SOUL'S DESIRE FOR FREEDOM. This is not an easy listen - but it is a musical life-changing one. The opening track "BLACK MILK SOUR SOIL" is a foreboding account of a child's fear of a universal apocalypse. The next 60 minutes evolve from fear to physical reality: collapsing ecosystems, civil war, and lots of bombs. Get it HERE

A 60s-70s pop music legend has returned with an homage to the 1930s blues legend who took her under her wing and mentored her. "Midnight At The Oasis" made Maria Muldaur a star, but her musical chops go much deeper. On ONE HOUR MAMA, Maria Muldaur shows the depth of her vocal and interpretive skills, taking on 12 Victoria Spivey blues classics with the help of the Chicago Jazz Band and top blues session artists. Deep dive the blues of Victoria Spivey HERE

San Paolo Brazil's GINGER AND THE PEPPERS make unabashedly classic rock and roll. "IT SMELLS LIKE GINGER" is 12 songs and 50 minutes of guitar-driven rock and roll that harkens back to the days of classic riffs, tight harmonies, and driving bass and drums. Led by the powerful vocals of Julia Dillon with guitars by Ale Masili and Paulo Gonzaga, GINGER AND THE PEPPERS make rock and roll with staying power.

IT SMELLS LIKE GINGER HERE