Top 10 Albums of 2025
My top 10 albums of the year ordered alphabetically by artist.
Butcher Brown – Letters From The Atlantic
Concord Jazz / Bandcamp
A staple of the Richmond jazz scene, locals Butcher Brown returned with a collection of what they’re known for. A blend of jazz, hip-hop, soul and plenty of other influences. I was lucky to see members of the group play twice this year.
Jameszoo with Asko|Schönberg – Music for 17 Musicians
Brainfeeder / Bandcamp
Seemingly a sequal to his 2019 album “Melkwig, an orchestral interpretation of his album “Flake” with the Metropole Orkest. This album reinvents compositions from his 2022 album “Blind” with help from Asko|Schönberg. The result is experimental, abstract, cinematic jazz.
Jamie Lidell – Places of Unknowing
TODO
An ambitious return from producer and vocalist Jamie Lidell after a 9 year hiatus. Somewhat of a departure from the pop-leaning soul of his 2006-2013 work, and a slight step outside of his early IDM work. This time his vocals and production are accompanied by contributions from classical musicians Rob Berger and Pascal Le Boeuf, resulting in a very cinematic and experimental collection of songs that acted as a soundtrack for my solo trip to NYC.
Joe Armon-Jones – All The Quiet I & II
Aquarii Records / Bandcamp
Keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones’ music is often ends up being my day-to-day soundtrack and this double album is no different. I wouldn’t say there are a lot of surprises here. The usual collaborators appear, such as Nubya Garcia and Ashebar. But it’s still two albums of the inventive, well-crafted dub/jazz fusion that Joe is known for.
Kassa Overall – Cream
Warp Records / Bandcamp
Eight recognizable hip-hop tracks tastefully transformed in the way musicians would reinterpret jazz standards. Usually an album like this is just a novel idea, but these tracks stand on their own whether you know the source material or not. Good luck to Kassa on becoming the greatest drummer alive.
Oreglo – THE WHIRR
Brownswood Recordings / Bandcamp
I enjoyed Oreglo’s first EP last year, “Not Real People”, reminiscent of a lot of other recent UK jazz. I expected more of the same here and was surprised with what I’ve seen described as “punk jazz”. Quiet moments punctuated by screaming electric guitars held up by the bass of a tuba. I’m very much looking forward to what this quartet releases next.
Petter Eldh – Projekt Drums Vol. 2
Edition Records / Bandcamp
Swedish bassist and composer Petter Eldh caught my attention with his interesting take on jazz with the first volume of Projekt Drums in 2021. Here he continues that idea, enlisting three drummers: James Maddren, Savannah Harris and Richard Spaven. It appropriately ends up feeling like a beat album, akin to the beat tapes of Madlib and J Dilla.
Soyuz – Krok
Mr Bongo / Bandcamp
Last year I heard Soyuz’s single “Tenorio”, two tracks that felt like a modern-day take on 70’s-era MPB by the likes of Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges. I was surprised to the learn they were a group from Belaruz. For this, their fourth full-length, they travel to Sao Paulo, the source. This was a smart move as “Krok” drips with authenticity even when sung in their native tongue.
Tres Leches – The Smooth Sounds of Tres Leches, LHCC Mart Vol. 1
Brainfeeder / Bandcamp
I’m often discussing my slight distaste for smooth jazz with my mom. But these smooth covers of Hiatus Kaiyote songs recoded by members Paul Bender, Simon Mavin and Silent Jay tapped into a nostalgic part of my brain that makes me feel like i’m shopping at the mall with my parents in the early 90’s. The cheese is addictive.
quickly, quickly – I Heard That Noise
Ghostly International / Bandcamp
quickly, quickly’s music has been growing on me since his early beat work on releases like “Over Skies” and “Paths” to his psychedelic soul on “Easy Listening”. On this release he shifts into a sort of folk rock that nails it, featuring crescendoing walls of guitar and creative production techniques he said in a Reddit AMA are holdovers from his hip-hop-focused music. Possibly my favorite album of the year, taking me back to my college days of blasting Broken Social Scene and Archer Prewitt. Solid work.
Honorable Mentions
Emma-Jean Thackray – Weirdo
DjRUM – Under Tangled Silence
Dorian Concept – Miniatures
Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
Mauricio Pazz – Afa e Fe
MIKE – Showbiz!
Moses Yoofee Trio – MYT
Resavoir & Matt Gold – Horizon
Sessa – Pequena Vertigem de Amor
SHERELLE – WITH A VENGEANCE