As we get closer to the end of the year, everyone's best of lists start to come out. Unlike Consequence of Sound and Rolling Stone, we tend to feature more bluegrass and blues artists as that's who we've reviewed live mostly throughout the year. However, we will include other genres of music as well in this list!
1) Shelby Means-Shelby Means
Unfortunately, 2025 was the year that Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway went their separate ways, but this maybe have been for the best as each artist truly began to shine on their own. Shelby Means was one of them, and her debut solo album was one that we listened to over and over again this year with each track being sensational.
2) Sierra Hull-A Tip Toe Highwire
Sierra Hull's first independent record as released earlier this year, and it came to be the best material she's ever produced. A Tip Toe Highwire is a masterpiece, with the extremely talented Hull out doing herself on every track of the album. Her song writing is on top form as well as her full band, which is also a first for Sierra. Songs like "Boom" and "Spitfire" show exactly who Hull is trying to be these days.
3) Larkin Poe-Bloom
Fueled by their live performances, southern blues sisters have returned this year with their new album Bloom. The result is an electrifying experience and one of the best albums the sisters have produced over the years with powerful tracks. However, the highlight of the record-and the blues artist of the year is Megan Lowell's incredible slide guitar work which truly shines on many of the tracks of the album.
4) Charley Crocket-Dollar A Day
It seems that every year Charlie Crocket releases a record-sometimes more than one, even. This year, the Texan has released another incredible country album. Longer than his usual releases, the record is beautifully woven together by incredible song writing, lyrics and guitar work from one of Texas's most promising country record stars, highlighted by such songs as 'Aint That Right' and 'All Around Cowboy'.
5) Bad Bunny-Debi Tirar Mas Fotos
Usually Bad Bunny is on top of everyone's lists when he releases an album, and for good record. The artist truly represents what's best of Costa Rican music, and although all of it isn't it english, the beats and melodies make up for an astounding record in the musician's career. The record is homegrown and fresh, representing who Bad Bunny has become after six records.
6) Kelsey Waldon--Every Ghost
Another album we've enjoyed listening to countless times is Kentucky's Kelsey Waldon's new record, Every Ghost. The album is a superb country western record from front to back with great song writing and backed up by a powerful new band and especially a talented new fiddle player. Kelsey herself beautifully shines on the record, especially on 'Tiger Lilies'.
7) Rosalia-'Lux'
Another non-english record has peaked our list-and is high on the best of 2025 for several reasons. The Spanish religious singer Rosalia has produced a truly incredible and heartfelt pop record that's entertaining from beginning to end despite most of the lyrics being in Spanish. The record is powerful and beautiful, showing how more foreign artists can overcome mainstream American music.
8) Geese "Getting Killed"
There's something extremely unusual with Geese's third album, 'Getting Killed'. The record takes the band's music to an entirely new-and let's fake it, rock in general, direction. Loud, compelling, and above all else strange, "Getting Killed" is a wonderful new rock n roll record that takes the genre in a truly mind crushing new direction, and that's always a great thing.
9) Allison Kruass & Union Station-"Arcadia"
Although we have yet to see Allison Kruass perform live with Union Station, the group released one of this year's beat bluegrass records with Arcadia. Allison always has incredible vocals and song writing in everything she does, but Arcadia is truly exceptional because it highlights great singing from Russell Moore, who shines on tracks like the haunting "Granite Mills".
10) Buddy Guy-"Ain't done with the Blues"
Buddy Guy simply does not stop singing the blues, and his 2025 record "Ain't done with the blues" is proof of that. The 89 year old musician surprisingly gives us more of a rock n roll record than anything he's done in list few releases, and that's a great thing. Buddy's voice is still powerful and almost every track of the new rockin record.
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