KUTX Staff’s Favorite Songs of 2025

Dijon – “FIRE!”
A start/stop funk slab that echoes the best of Frank Ocean, D’Angelo, and really Prince, from the era where his every studio experiment spun gold. Dijon Duenas is probably best known for applying pop gloss to Justin Beiber’s recent work, but Baby! Is something else entirely. Densely layered, ephemeral and playful R&B that veers from smart hooks to deep experimentation without catching its breath.

Stereolab – “Melodie Is A Word” 
The album I featured the most on What’s Next this year was  Instant Holograms on Metal Film, the surprise return of Stereolab. There’s never been another band like Stereolab, who somehow meld abstract wordplay and lighter-than-air pop with a grinding Velvet Underground motorik. The best thing about their sold-out Halloween show and their first recording in 15 years? Absolutely none of that has changed.  

caroline – “Total Euphoria” 
It starts so out of sync that it veers on total collapse. Instead, it rallies and swells into one of the year’s most glorious rock anthems. caroline coalesced at the University of Manchester, and their sophomore release reaches well beyond their emo beginnings, Ambitious, bracing and endlessly surprising music. 

BLK ODYSSY – “Heartbreak”
Get connected to this frequency already. I spoke with BLK ODYSSY about the writing process with his sensational album MOOD CONTROL, and its entire creation utilizes specific frequencies to communicate and connect to specific moods. Science and the creative spirit! It must be working. “Heartbreak” pierces something in the soul that can’t be described with mere words.

Mobley – “Yesterday’s Another Day”
Such cool, timeless grooves. This entire album (We Do Not Fear Ruins) weaves a story going beyond dystopic or apocalyptic existence, utilizing a sci fi premise that pushes into themes that are extremely relevant here and now. Mobley composes on a cinematic scale. This awesome track is just a tasty slice of a bigger and darker adventure. Can you tell I’m nerding out?

Annabelle Chairlegs – “Ice Cream On the Beach”
As a longtime Annabelle Chairlegs fan, I’m confident in saying this is only the beginning for songwriter/vocalist Lindsay Mackin. This dreamy, poppy traipse into sundrenched memories is from a forthcoming album produced by Ty Segall. Ty-friggin’-Segall. Damn. Two of my favorites working together. How can I resist??

Ben Keller went through the unimaginable—the death of his son Dorian in a 2023 car crash—and made music that was raw, honest, and remarkable. Optimyistic rocks as hard as anything he’s done and provides us with a direct look at what I assume his mind and soul has been going through since he lost Dorian.

Lola Tried has been melting Austin faces for years and their new EP Feast opens up their sound a bit. “Hot Shot Barbie” efficient (under three minutes!), blistering (after a sludge-filled opening), and just as satisfying as ever.

I am not as steadfast in my love for Waxahatchee (a/k/a Katie Crutchfield) as many other radio folks—always good, but not always great for me. But this—a collaboration between Katie and her sister Allison Crutchfield and MJ Leiderman (Wednesday, etc.) and Brad Cook—was an immediate purchase the moment I heard it on the station. The album, and especially this single, adds just a touch of “This would sound perfect played in The Bronze on Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (IYKYK) to the mix, and it turns out that is exactly what I needed added to the recipe to work perfectly.

Teethe – “Magic of the Sale“

Dijon – “Baby”

Adrian Quesada w/ Cuco – “Ojos Secos”

I loved this band so much in the early to mid 90’s when their metronomic take on Can, Velvets and Sythpop  shone through the shoegaze and britpop of the era. Then they lost me down some Jazzy and loungey avenues. This, however, was a staggering return to form, as was the whole album. And to cap it off their Halloween live show for us at the Far Out lounge was truly mind frying. Welcome back!

Warm Sound – “Moons“

Austin duo I profess to knowing nothing about until I heard this…and then I felt like they had been my favorite electronic act for years. A song and a sound that just washes over you until you are completely submerged. The soundtrack to a hazy summers night on the East Side where the Moontowers are shining bright and you have the very best sort of margarita buzz on.

Neal Frances (feat. Say She She) – “Broken Glass“

A perfect pop song.  A groove that just drives you out of your chair and demands your attention. A melody that just sinks its teeth in before taking up a months long residency in your brain. So much style and yet a substance all of its own. A magnetic live show too with Neal shaking his head like a Muppets  drummer behind a keyboard.

Young Gun Silver Fox – “Stevie and Sly“

Just takes you back to old 1975, even though I was born in 1989. Just a great sounding and feeling song.

Grace Sorensen – “Cologne“

Grace Sorensen – Cologne: While Video Girl is my favorite song off the Blueprint album from Grace, Cologne just had that undeniable bounce you love to hear in R&B. 

Blk Odyssy – “Waves“

 They wanted to tap into certain frequencies with this new album, and I think Waves does just that from start to finish. 

Starjunk 95 & Yung Bae – “Rally Girl 2000”

Intersections of Bossa Nova with Drum ‘n’ Bass are few and far between, which makes sense based on fundamental rhythmic differences. But holy smokes this collab works so well! The chops, the sample drops, the scratches – it all comes together in a perfect three-minute package.

Mae Powell – “Contact High”

Just this May’s “It Is So Nice To Get Stoned”, the title pokes fun at Powell’s favorite herbal inspiration, so you know from the get-go that it’s gonna be a great tune to chill out to. And with production that leans on that classic Laurel Canyon sound, “Contact High” is definitely the standout from Mae’s sophomore album Making Room for the Light.

Grandmaster – “Open The Sun“

Smack dab in the middle of July’s “Feel It Coming” upbeat energy and November’s certified slow jam “Love Shall Remain”,  “Open The Sun” is juuuuust right. I love these retro-coded stage-fillers and I can’t wait to hear what the War-reminiscent cult cooks up next.

Viagra Boys – “Man Made of Meat”

Funny and rocking. Are guitars back? Somehow this song feels so appropriate for 2025, as it kinda doesn’t make sense. 

The Point – “Itis”

It’s so cool to see a local band do good. The secret’s out & this song feels like Austin right now. And I think guitars might be back.

Ben Kweller – “Optimystic”

Sounds like a 1990’s instant classic. This was one of my Summer 2025 album faves- really good songs and cool production. Guitars are back!!

Pachyman – “SJU“

Was that really an off-kilter dub-wise tune I heard coming out of my radio?  Indeed!  And there’s even a smidgeon of Latin influence in this Puerto Rican-born, L.A.-based producer’s sound.  His recent show at Antone’s proved that he’s the real deal.

Animeros – “Gozalo“

Austin band Animeros covers Esteban Jordan’s 1970s Latin soul classic, Gozalo Mulata, giving it a more modern, cumbia twist.  Produced by Dan Auerbach of Black Keys renown.

Jalen Ngonda – “All About Me”

Leave it to the good folks at Daptone Records to revitalize an old sound.  In this instance it’s rock steady, the Jamaican style that linked ska to reggae, and Ngonda’s sweet voice is the ideal vehicle to deliver the goods.

Twen – “Godlike“

Like a voice from on high, Twen has yodeled their way into my little heart. After one listen, I genuinely considered quitting my job, buying a van, and following them into the mountains. Big things are definitely coming for this van-life duo. 

Turnstile – “NEVER ENOUGH“

Pretty sure I reached enlightenment this year screaming “NEVER ENOUGH” with my fellow Turnstile fans– moments before getting dog-piled by a bunch of sweaty dudes. Closest I’ve ever come to seeing God. 10/10 would recommend.

Boomershack – “Julia”

I LOVE BOOMERSHACK!!! Point blank. End of story. If these lads don’t make it big in the world, I’m not sure what’s real anymore. 

Geese – “Cobra“

The whole album is so good.  It hits me in the exact right spot in my belly.   Cameron Winter’s voice and lyrics feel like that of an old soul.   I always choose a song that I play over and over and over again.  This is that song.  

Paige Plaisance – “Back Home Feeling”

When this song first came out, I listened to it on repeat.  Paige speaks to that feeling of being safe and held in the familiarity and warmth of the place where you grew up. What’s not to love about that? 

Slick Rick and Nas – “Documents“

I believe the songs we love are less of a head/analytical thing and more of a heart/felt thing. A song speaks to a vibe or a feeling we have in the body.   This song, Documents, is that for me – a song I listened to over and over again.  Plus I Like when he says “White Collar Crimmy” 

Adrian Quesada (with iLe) – “Bravo”
The prolific hometown hero recruits iLe for a song where the past holds conversational-court with the future, creating something stratospherically cool: a psychedelic, Mod, Cuban bolero? Yes, yes, and yes! One of the hardest-working cats in the music biz is also proving to be one of the 21st century’s most inventive and visionary artists.

PLOSIVS – “Lady For A Day”
While standing in Down In The Valley record store in Minneapolis this winter, this song harpooned knockout verse/chorus hooks into my ears within the first 25 seconds of it rocking the store’s record player. I immediately had to know who it was. Turns out it’s the criminally under-appreciated supergroup PLOSIVS, featuring John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes), Rob Crow (Pinback), Atom Willard (Against Me!, Social Distortion, Rocket From The Crypt), and Jordan Clark (Mrs. Magician). Melodic, post-hardcore, American indie rock never sounded so good!

Wednesday – “Elderberry Wine” & “Wound Up Here by Holding On”
Two of my fave songs from Wednesday’s rock-solid LP “Bleeds” that had my heart palpitating, reeling, melting, and surrendering completely … also on my first listen.

Bubbling under, yet making my Top Worldwide Releases From 2025:
OKAME – “GAME OVER”
Moses Sumney & Hayley Williams – “I Like It I Like It”
BLK ODYSSY – “On Site”
Little Simz – “Young”
Superchunk – “Care Less”
Wet Leg – “CPR”
Mavis Staples – “Sad and Beautiful World”

The Animeros – “Gózalo”

Consisting of members from groups across Austin’s decidedly funky Latin music scene, The Animeros have been picking up fans over the past year with lively performances and a string of fantastic singles recorded by super-producer and Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach. The band’s first single, “Gózalo”— a cover of legendary Texas Latin soul artist Esteban “Steve” Jordan’s “Gózalo Mulato”— begins like a faraway radio transmission crackling across your speakers, with horns and organs punching through to your subconscious before the chorus picks you up and transports you, body and soul, to the middle of a sweaty, late-night block party with all your best friends.

Nation of Language – “Inept Apollo”

If music is the universal language, Brooklyn’s Nation of Language is its 80s synthwave ambassador. In October, the trio brought songs from their fantastic new album, Dance Called Memory, to a few lucky KUTX members in Studio 1A — including the moody “Inept Apollo,” which quickly found its way into heavy rotation here.

Tony Kamel – “Makin’ It Work”

With a few years since his latest full-length release, longtime Austin picker and grinner Tony Kamel slides right back into his boots with his album We’re All Gonna Live. The lead song, “Makin’ It Work,” is an equally heartwarming and tongue-in-cheek ode to gettin’ by on gettin’ by. So glad to see Tony back in the saddle doing what he does best!

Viagra Boys – Man Made of Meat

Viagra Boys – Man Made of Meat – I’m kind of sick of it now but this tune turned me on to the band, the record, and eventually the live show which was insane. Fan for life, no looking back.

Adrian Quesada – “Bravo” ft. iLe

a lovely cover of Celia Cruz’s rendition of a Luis Demetrio tune. Quesada’s arrangement and iLe’s vocal execution of this song in their Studio 1A performance is exquisite. 

Stereolab – Aerial Troubles

15 years on from their last record and hiatus announcement, this killer song, record, and subsequent tour (my first time seeing them) was the Bingo on my 2025 bingo card. 

Water From Your Eyes – “Life Signs”

I’m burying this song in a time capsule for a hundred years and I’m confident it will sound as magnificent and bonkers in 2125 as it does now, except by then Water From Your Eyes will be considered a specific genre of music. If AI were actually cool, it would sound like this.

Wolf Alice – “White Horses”

This is about as perfect as you can get for a rock song. It swings, it soars, it has strategically placed crushing guitar chords, and the chorus makes you step on the gas 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. I guess you could say this song has real horsepower.

Chaparelle – “Devil’s Music”

Easily my favorite music out of Austin this year. Chaparelle has the spirit of classic country honky-tonk without sounding like a pastiche. The harmonies and arrangements are stellar while the lyrics are frequently hilarious. Zella Day and Jesse Woods are a dashing dynamic duo while Beau Beford sprinkles the magic fairy dust throughout.

Magic Rockers of Texas – “Tarmac Honey”

There are plenty of things I don’t miss about the barfly part of my life, like waking up fully clothed and hungover with nothing in my pockets but “an overdraft and a 40 bag.” I do miss seeing my friends every night, though, and I don’t think I’ll ever lose my taste for writers and lyricists like Jim Campo, who can describe its ordinary heartbreaking moments unadorned by disingenuous romantic flourishes. 

Boomershack – “Julia”

I was hooked within seconds of hearing this downtempo hard swingin’ honky-tonk tune. It’s a future classic, and I can’t wait to hear more from Austin’s Boomershack.

This is Lorelei – “Dancing in the Club – MJ Lenderman Version“

That’s right, I’ve been drinking the MJ Lenderman Kool-Aid, and you’ll want a sip too after you hear this cover of “Dancing in the Club,” originally by This Is Lorelei (the solo project from Nate Amos of Water From Your Eyes).

It’s got it all – the dejected twang of Neil Young’s saddest guitar, Mark Kozelek’s emotionally destitute mumble, and lyrics that sound like they were written at 3 am, drunk, on a crumpled piece of receipt paper beneath a dying incandescent streetlight at a Greyhound bus stop in the rain. I don’t understand what’s not to love here?

Little Simz w/ Obongjayar and Moonchild Sannely – “FLOOD”

Another musical delight from the British singer/songwriter/actor’s mashup of jazz, rap, punk and funk sound, from her 6th studio album “Lotus”, a title that reflects the reoccurring theme of transformation as she continues to beautifully evolve as a musical artist yet always anchored in high artistry.

Wet Leg – “ mangetout”

The indie rock duo sprang up from the Isle of Wight in 2019 starring Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers and followed up their 2022 debut this past July with Moisturizer, written and recorded now as a five-piece band featuring former touring members and it’s a blast! The song title is the French name for snow peas, meaning “eat all” since the entire pod is edible. And much like snow peas, just can’t seem get my fill of their amusing music.

Clover County – “Virginia Slim”

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Amandagrace Schiano is Clover County. She’s based in Athens, GA where she writes ear worms that are part indie pop, part Americana. She calls it “boot gaze”. Fans call it irresistible.

“…I used to be a junky for love
But I’m planning on giving it up
I can’t afford the late nights
I can’t afford the goodbyes
I used to be a junky for love
But I’m planning on giving it up
I can’t afford the plane rides
I’ll never win the good fight”

Blah Spa – “Anything to Get It”

For years I’ve wondered what it would sound like if you took Big Boys bass lines and mixed them with the energy of the Hives. And it’s even better than I had dreamed.

Viagra Boys – “Man Made of Meat”

This whole album has been the anthem of my year. I’ve been obsessed with this song since it came out in January. My husband and I bought the CD at Central Square Records that summer, an nest-like oasis for those of us who get dragged to Seaside, FL on family trips; it soundtracked the rest of our vacation. I correctly deduced that Stereolab and Viagra Boys would be playing in Austin together on Halloween months before it was announced. I went to that show. Choosing a favorite is formidable, but I’ll give it to the one that was with me all of 2025.

The Bug Club – “Have U Ever Been 2 Wales”

Sweet and sunny with attitude and lo-fi edge. It belongs on a cool children’s show about Geography.

Grace Sorensen – “COLOGNE“

Another perfectly crafted R&B banger from Grace!

Die Spitz – Throw Yourself to the Sword: ¡Porque Pantera!

Throw Yourself to the Sword: ¡Porque Pantera!

Skateland – Sunset Cinema

Fly on Falcor’s safe, furry back into the heartbreak sunset, you know maiwhat I’m sayin’?