2025 was a great year for music.<\/strong> I hope you can say the same, but if not maybe I have a few here you missed. Or maybe my enthusiasm will spark you to try stuff you have heard again with fresh ears.<\/p>\n As I put wrap on these type of posts and this particular blog space (by the end of 2025, more on that later<\/em>) I truly hope you\u2019ve enjoyed the ride. I know I have. Please reach out to say hey, and let me know if you found something new to love, that\u2019s truly my favorite part of blogging about music save the music itself.<\/p>\n More to come soon, but for now\u2026here\u2019s my Top 25 Albums of 2025<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Top 50 Album Recommendations from 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Top 100 Song of 2025 Playlist <\/a><\/p>\n Honorable Mentions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Andy Squyres<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Miracle Service <\/em><\/p>\n At only four tracks I couldn\u2019t quite include this in the Top 25, but you should absolutely listen to it. I exert no hyperbole when I say straight faced that they will be four of the best songs you\u2019ll listen to. Review below. Try \u201cBaja Blast\u201d if you\u2019re only willing to try one.<\/p>\n JFH Review<\/a><\/p>\n Slow Joy\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 A Joy So Slow at Times I Don\u2019t Think it\u2019s Coming <\/em><\/p>\n Always good to hear from these guys. This is my 90s alt rock sweet spot. <\/p>\n JFH Review<\/a><\/p>\n Gileah Taylor\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 I Call This One <\/em><\/p>\n This is a sort of coda to her fantastic retro-pop 2024 album Slow Parade.<\/em> It is similarly excellent.<\/p>\n JFH Review <\/a><\/p>\n Two Heavy Albums you should hear if that\u2019s your taste:<\/p>\n Diatheke<\/strong> \u2013 \u2026And the Word Was God<\/em> <\/p>\n Plead the Widows Cause<\/strong> \u2013 Silver Glass Stare<\/em><\/p>\n Top 25 Albums<\/strong>:<\/p>\n 25. Turnstile<\/strong> \u2013 Never Enough <\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n I\u2019m slow to mainstream music and what\u2019s popular to the larger populace. In some ways, that\u2019s because it rarely interests me, and others because I just concentrate (or have anyway) pretty exclusively on faith based music as a critic\/fan. Still, there\u2019s always an album or two that stick out. Turnstile\u2019s, Never Enough <\/em>is one of those that grabbed me. There\u2019s a pop edge underneath it all but also punk, hardcore, and indie rock with electronic sprinklings. I\u2019ve returned to it alot in December after first giving it a shot a few weeks ago. <\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cNever Enough\u201d \u201cDreaming\u201d \u201cDull\u201d \u201cSlowdive\u201d \u201cTime is Happening\u201d<\/p>\n 24. The Chilling Alpine Adventure<\/strong> \u2013 The Chilling Alpine Adventure<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n As a fringe fan always curious about what creative Jessy Ribordy will dream up next, I dove into\u00a0The Chilling Alpine Adventure<\/em>\u00a0with intrigue. This album closes the 20-year chapter of Falling Up while launching a new era under the new band name, all driven by Ribordy\u2019s restless vision. Spanning roughly 46 minutes across 10 tracks, it\u2019s a sweeping, atmospheric journey that showcases a band I admire, even if their work often eludes my full understanding. Their music is beautiful, yet I struggle to articulate exactly why it captivates me.<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>: <\/p>\n \u201cTall Grass in the Lobby\u201d \u201cFive Angle\u201d \u201cCounter Moves\u201d \u201cThe Waterfall House\u201d <\/p>\n 23. Moving Mountains<\/strong> \u2013 Pruning the Lower Limbs<\/em> (emo indie rock\/post rock)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n This is a much beloved band by online friends, but my first real introduction to one of their albums for me. I dig it as a vibe record to put on in the background while driving or working. \u201cGhosts\u201d is one of my most played songs of 2025. <\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cGhosts\u201d \u201cCars\u201d \u201cVoices\u201d \u201cWedding Clothes\u201d <\/p>\n 22. Lecrae<\/strong> \u2013 Reconstruction<\/em> (Rap\/Hip-Hop)\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n He\u2019s still making great albums and after his prior work Church Clothes 4 was my surprise #2 overall in 2022, I\u2019m happy to report I\u2019m liking this one as well. Lecrae is relatable, authentic, and on the top of his game with Reconstruction. <\/em><\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cHolidaze (Feat. Jon Bellion)\u201d \u201cTell No Lie (Feat. Jackie Hill Perry)\u201d \u201cDie for the Party\u201d \u201cBetter Sober (Feat. Madison Ryann)\u201d <\/p>\n 21. Kevin Schlereth<\/strong> \u2013 Settle In <\/em>(Singer Songwriter) <\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Indie troubadour\u00a0Kevin Schlereth<\/strong>\u00a0returns with a new album titled\u00a0Settle In<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 nine tracks which explore what it truly means to sabbath. Schlereth, perhaps best known for his communal life on the road as he travels from house to house sharing his songs, brings his unique and needed perspective to the topic. He\u2019s out there hustling, but on\u00a0Settle In<\/em>, he invites listeners to join him in learning to trust. While many in Western culture may think of the Sabbath as an individual or family practice, Schlereth maintains that the Sabbath is best practiced in community.\u00a0Settled In<\/em>\u00a0showcases this belief well, and it\u2019s a highlight of 2025 album releases.<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>: <\/p>\n \u201cBees\u201d \u201cHands Down\u201d \u201cWorking Our Hardest\u201d <\/p>\n 20. Josiah Queen<\/strong> \u2013 Mt. Zion<\/em> (Folk\/Pop\/CCM)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Hailing from Florida, this fresh-faced singer-songwriter has swiftly captured hearts with a string of hits from his debut all in a remarkably short time. They all showcase his knack for crafting passionate and singable anthems.\u00a0With this, his sophomore effort,\u00a0Mt. Zion<\/em>, Queen takes that momentum up a notch. This is a rafter-raising, arena-ready folk project brimming with joy, resilience, and faith declarations. Think Mumford & Sons\u2019 driving earnestness, The Lumineers\u2019 communal choruses, and Of Monsters and Men\u2019s grand anthemic arcs \u2014 all with lyrics unapologetically centered on Christ.<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks:<\/strong> <\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t Steal My Joy\u201d \u201cDusty Bibles\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll Fly Away\u201d \u201cYesterday is Dead\u201d and \u201cThief in the Night\u201d <\/p>\n Full JFH Review<\/a><\/p>\n 19. Ruston Kelly \u2013 <\/strong>Pale, Through the Window<\/em> (Pedal Steel Country\/Emo\/Pop Punk\/Emo)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>: <\/p>\n It\u2019s likely this record would be higher on the list if I\u2019d have stumbled on it much sooner, even still it\u2019s terrific. Kelly features the type of songwriting storyteller prose and eclectic mix of genres that keep me coming back for more. His spiritual awakening and re-ignited relational love is effervescent and contagious. <\/p>\n Favorite Tracks:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGive Up the Ghost\u201d \u201cWayside\u201d \u201cPickleball\u201d \u201cHouse in the Country\u201d \u201cGreat Wide Open\u201d <\/p>\n 18. Anchor & Braille<\/strong> \u2013 New Mexico<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>: <\/p>\n Imagine a lone figure standing in a sun-scorched desert, guitar slung low on one hip, a six-shooter on the other, the horizon rippling with heat like a mirage. That\u2019s the world\u00a0Anchor & Braille<\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0New Mexico<\/em>\u00a0pulls you into from the first note \u2014 a wild, spaghetti western-fueled gallop. This 14-track odyssey, Stephen Christian\u2019s fifth under his indie-pop alias, isn\u2019t just an album; it\u2019s a high-noon duel between expectation and reinvention. And like any good showdown, it\u2019s thrilling, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from.<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>: <\/p>\n \u201cSweet Jesus Knows\u201d \u201cCorrales\u201d \u201cSozo Dos\u201d \u201cRattlesnake\u201d <\/p>\n JFH Review<\/a><\/p>\n 17. Drew & Elllie Holcomb<\/strong> \u2013 Memory Bank<\/em> (Alt Rock\/Americana\/Pop\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n From musical harmony to marital harmony,\u00a0Drew & Ellie Holcomb<\/strong>\u00a0have been making music together since 2005. From their time together in Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors (2005-2012) to their solo material, the Holcomb\u2019s have released well over fifteen albums between them. So count me surprised to learn that\u00a0Memory Bank<\/em>\u00a0would be the first full album of material they have recorded together as a duo. It\u2019s been worth the wait. Memory Bank<\/em>\u00a0is a thirteen-track release with sonics covering rootsy Americana, bluesy rock, folk, and even traces of Motown. Due to the wide array of sounds mixing in, the record has the feel of an old-time classic<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks:<\/strong> <\/p>\n \u201cWe Could Go Dancing\u201d \u201cBones\u201d \u201cMemory Bank\u201d \u201cBrick by Brick\u201d <\/p>\n Full JFH Review<\/a><\/p>\n 16. Braille \u2013 <\/strong>Handcrafted Raps <\/em>(Rap\/Hip-Hop)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n This is a total vibe record. I did the vibes, the flow, and the brevity of 12 tracks at 30 minutes runtime.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favorite Songs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIn Tents\u201d \u201cWorkmanship\u201d \u201cUnder the Knife\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 15. Fielder<\/strong> \u2013 Self Titled<\/em> \u2013 (Indie Folk)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>: <\/p>\n Skye Peterson teams with music pal Addison Agen and the resulting duo Fielder turns out hushed indie folk featuring terrific song writing chops. <\/p>\n Favorite Songs<\/strong>: <\/p>\n \u201cSatellite\u201d \u201cOverthink it Baby\u201d \u201cHandle Me with Care\u201d <\/p>\n 14. Bongo Chico<\/strong> \u2013 Self Titled<\/em> (Indie alt rock)\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n If\u00a0Bongo Chico<\/strong>\u00a0sounds eerily familiar, it\u2019s for good reason. Firstly, you\u2019re hearing Tim Foreman (Switchfoot) step out to the frontman microphone, so the vocals sounding like a less weathered Jon Foreman makes total sense. Secondly, the eclectic blend of the younger Foreman\u2019s musical influences has a \u201cheard-that-but-not-quite\u201d sound that is both comforting and intriguing. Sonically, it\u2019s as if Tim is channeling The Beatles through a Vampire Weekend\/Fleet Foxes filter, which is to say, really, The Beach Boys in effect. There is also a nod to their most recent Switchfoot record, the vocally centric\u00a0Interrobang<\/em>. At first blush, I wasn\u2019t sure if it worked, but like most music I eventually love,\u00a0Bongo Chico<\/em>\u00a0grew on me.<\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cWhen You Walked Away\u201d \u201c1995\u201d \u201cFeels Like Losing Me\u201d \u201cRain Brain\u201d <\/p>\n Full JFH Indie Review<\/a><\/p>\n 13. Tenielle Neda<\/strong> \u2013 The Way of Love<\/em> (Devotional Folk\/Pop)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n This was a big part of my bedtime and wind down time this year. Her voice is hecka soothing. Very pleasant devotional pop focused on Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favorite Songs<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf I Have No One Else\u201d \u201cThe Invitation\u201d \u201cSteadfast Love\u201d and \u201cThe Way of Love\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Full Indie Review<\/a><\/p>\n 12. Graham Jones<\/strong> \u2013 Eyes Renewed <\/em>(Indie Singer Songwriter)<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>: <\/p>\n Warm vocals, fantastic guitar work, relatable songwriting. This is a singer songwriter not to miss. <\/p>\n Favorite Tracks<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u201cOpen Spaces\u201d \u201cEyes Renewed\u201d \u201cSet a Table\u201d \u201cGrsteful\u201d <\/p>\n JFH Indie Review<\/a><\/p>\n 11. The Big Reveal<\/strong> \u2013 Shoot Out the Satellites\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Shoot Out the Satellites<\/em>, is a radiant homage to \u201990s pop-rock. On it, they channel the genre\u2019s infectious melodies and earnest energy. This record is a testament to the band\u2019s knack for crafting songs. These tunes feel like rediscovered gems from a \u201990s alt-rock playlist, elevated by consistently stellar songwriting.<\/p>\n Favorite Songs<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNew Scars\u201d \u201cThe World and All\u201d \u201cMe and You\u201d and \u201cShootout the Satellites\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Full JFH Indie Review<\/a><\/p>\n 10. Strings and Heart<\/strong> \u2013 Plastic Wine<\/em> (indie Alt\/Pop\/Rock\/Surf)\u00a0<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Fun surf pop rock. Great for driving.\u00a0For fans of Colony House, Gable Price & Friends, and Switchfoot <\/p>\n Favorite Songs<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cKerosene\u201d \u201cOasis for my Soul\u201d \u201cFlowers Dressed in Blue\u201d \u201cEvergreen Love\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Full JFH Indie Review<\/a><\/p>\n 9. Former Ruins<\/strong> \u2013 In Your Field<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n My big surprise album of that year. I listened to it when it came out and still liked his lyrics but couldn\u2019t get into the musical style. Until\u2026roughly 10 days ago, I tried again and it unlocked. Re-reading a review from Casey at indievision.com helped inspire me to give it another shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favorite Songs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBack Into a Body\u201d \u201cTo Wonder\u201d \u201cOne Hundredfold\u201d \u201cAll Ages Run\u201d \u201cWatering Flowers\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Indievision Review<\/a><\/p>\n 8. Jess Ray<\/strong> \u2013 Matin (Complete)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Another quiet time and mood record this has been in constant rotation since I first gave it a go. I would have it on in the background with the mix of originals, hymns, and praise choruses subconsciously ministering when all of a sudden a lyric or song would grab me. This has been very ministering to my spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favorite Songs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLillies and Spareows\u201d \u201cWhat If\u201d \u201cD Y B T H L Y\u201d \u201cI Need You \u201cHumble Heart\u201d and \u201cGrace & Mercy\u201d<\/p>\n 7. The Gray Havens<\/strong> \u2013 This is Not the End\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n despite the annoying slow single drip release style the songs were too strong to deny. This Is Not the End might just be The Gray Havens\u2019 finest hour. It dances through the weight of the journey with whimsical grace, offering a balm for the broken and a spark for the soul.<\/p>\n Favorite Songs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAnywhere\u201d \u201cWhere the Living is Deep\u201d \u201cThe Magic\u201d \u201cShine\u201d and Give Me Rest\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Full JFH Indie Review <\/a><\/p>\n 6. Johnnyswim<\/strong> \u2013 When the War is Over<\/em><\/p>\n Overall<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n This album was my #1 at the halfway point of the year, but a large margin. Then it kept dropping and almost missed my Top 10, but one more listen reaffirmed that this is top notch and probably their most cohesive record yet. Another listen sent them rightly inside my Top 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Favorite Songs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPsilocybin\u201d \u201cAlchemy\u201d \u201cShe Checks the Weather\u201d \u201cFrank Gehry\u201d and \u201cWhen the War is Over\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Full JFH Review <\/a><\/p>\n 5. Twenty One Pilots<\/strong> \u2013 ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joshbalogh.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_2233.jpg?w=1024\")
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