Having seen rock dinosaurs Toto back in February, with the Doobie Brothers to come this week, I am not complaining at the current flood of nostalgia that dominates the British music summer of 2025. I love nothing more than listening to the music of my youth and even middle age. But while it is true that music was great back in the old days, I would argue that music is great today, too. And if anyone asks, what was the best era for music, I answer without fail, this one. Why, because we can listen to all the music that has ever been written and recorded. That includes the music that has been released this year, which is what this blog is all about.
I am not going to deny that I was once one of those irritating old people who said music wasn’t as good as it used to be. As with my old grandad, who memorably declared that those long-haired louts of the 1960s – you know, the likes of The Beatles and Rolling Stones – were essentially around for the short term and would soon be forgotten, I thought things would never be as good as the old days of music. How wrong I was.
These days, I devour new music wherever I can find it, but having learned a vital lesson from author and broadcaster Stuart Maconie, I have had a big rethink about what new music actually means. New music is, very simply, music you’ve never heard before. So new to my collection this year, in addition to the music I describe below, are the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt.
You might not like any of the music I’ve discovered this year and it doesn’t matter. You might not even want to hear any of the music I’ve discovered this year. As one of my dearest friends always says, there is no such thing as bad music, except Queen. But if this great year of nostalgia is not enough for you, and you want to try something just a bit different, here are 15 songs from 2025.
- I Used To Live In England by Supermodel*.
- The Field by Blood Orange feat. The Durutti Column, Tariq Al-Sabir, Caroline Polachek & Daniel Caesar.
- The Rope by Wunderhorse.
- Relationships by Haim.
- Not Broken by Alan Sparhawk.
- CCF (I’m gonna stay with you) by Car Seat Headrest
- Tu Amor by Mamacita
- Ferry Lady by Panda Bear.
- The Feels by Yazmin Lacey.
- SPEYSIDE by Bon Iver.
- Pop by Miso Extra.
- Walk This Road by The Doobie Brothers.
- The Great Pyramid of Stockport by Antony Szmierek.
- El Internet by Matias Aguayo.
- Seein’ Stars/Birds by Turnstile.
Give them a try. You never know what you might find.
