Artists' rankings

As a music maker myself with Laish, most of my time is spent in my own little musical bubble but I do keep my ear to what new albums are released. I still love the power of the album. Playlists have their place, but an album is what I want from an artist. Most of my music listening happens while I navigate the various tubes of London, my head in a book. This list is based on which albums I think were released this year and got the most airplay in my headphones. In which case number 1 would have to be:

As a music maker myself, under the name Laish, most of my time is spent in my own little musical bubble, but I still try to keep an ear out for new albums coming out. I'm still in love with the power of the album. Playlists have their place, but an album is what I want from an artist. Most of my music listening happens while I navigate London's various tube lines, my head buried in a book. This list is based on this year's records that got the most airplay in my headphones. In this case, number 1 should be:

1. Father John Misty – I Love You Honeybear. It almost makes me want to give up. Each song is a like an exquisitely directed short film. He has the ability to grasp melody, humour, darkness, the lushest arrangements ever and to weave these delicious misanthropic tales of love and pessimism into the short form of a song.

It almost makes me want to quit. Every song is like a short film, beautifully directed. He has the ability to capture melody, humour, darkness and the most sumptuous arrangements, all while weaving these delightful misanthropic tales of love and pessimism into the short form of a song.

2. Rozi Plain – Friend. This is Rozi’s most succinct and addictive record yet. I love her way with lyrics, they are minimal, suggestive and left wide open for your interpretation. Despite the apparent sweetness of the sound, I sense such a sadness in the heart of these songs. When she sings ‘Don’t get over it, this is actually it,’ I find myself weeping, every time.

This is Rozi's most concise and addictive record so far. I love the way she writes lyrics: minimalist, evocative, leaving plenty of room for your own interpretation. Despite the evident sweetness of the sound, I sense real sadness at the heart of these songs. When she sings Don't get over it, this is actually it, I find myself crying every single time.

3. Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness. I have kept my eye on Domino Records all my life and this album stopped me in my tracks. I don’t know much about the woman, I just know this album is solid gold. I played it back to back 3 times in a row when I first found it, and I go back to it regularly. There is a lot to digest. Pure beauty. Check out Lucette Stranded on the Island.

I've paid particular attention to Domino throughout my life, and this record caught my attention. I don't know much about this woman, I just know this record is pure gold. I listened to it from start to finish three times when I discovered it, and I keep coming back to it regularly. There's a lot to take in. Pure beauty. Try “Lucette Stranded On The Island”.

4. Andy Shauf – The Bearer of Bad News. [Ed.'s note: the record was reissued this year, but the original edition dates back to 2012] Talk about a grower. Those clarinets burrow deep into your subconscious and you find yourself humming them as you overtake a lorry on your bike. Saw him live a couple of times and he has the quietest drummer I have ever seen who was wearing a turtle neck sweater. Props where due.

If this isn't an album that grows on you. Those clarinets burrow deep into your subconscious and you find yourself humming them while overtaking a lorry on your bike. I've seen him live a couple of times, and he has the quietest drummer I've ever seen, wearing a turtleneck sweater. My due respects.

5. This is The Kit – Bashed Out. Rozi’s other band with Kate Stables made an album that defines the words understated, subtle, tasteful, beautiful. They played the best set I saw at End of the Road this year.

Rozi's other band, with Kate Stables, made an album that defines the words understated, subtle, tasteful, wonderful. They played the best live set at this year's End Of The Road.

6. Kurt Vile – B'lieve I'm Going Down. Pretty Pimpin is basically my song of the year. And the rest is a slow-burning masterpiece.

“Pretty Pimpin'” is basically my song of the year. And the rest is a slow-burning masterpiece.

7. Pat Dam Smyth – The Great Divide. [Ed. note: the album is actually from 2011] I don’t know when this album was released but it has sure made some serious airtime on my ears. An underrated classic. I hear him being compared to many people, but this could straight up be the album The Beatles made in 1971. It’s just sounds exactly like that and I love it. I covered the title track for the We Come Alive Covers Project. It needed to be done.

I don't know when this album came out but it's definitely had a fair few spins in my ears. An underrated classic. I hear it compared to many things, but this could be the album the Beatles might have made in 1971. It sounds exactly like that and I love it. I covered the title track for my We Come Alive Music Project. It had to be done.

8. Ezra Furman – Perpetual Motion People. Somehow Ezra has been someone I have caught live about ten times in the last couple of years and his songs are really gnawing their way into the general fabric of my being. Doesn’t get much better than Lousy Connection. “Showed up in court wearing an Indian headdress, somehow I think maybe the message was lost…”.

Somehow Ezra is someone I've caught live something like ten times over the past couple of years, and his songs keep worming their way into the fabric of my being. It doesn't get much better than "Lousy Connection". "Showed up in court wearing an Indian headdress, somehow I think maybe the message was lost…".

9. Tame Impala – Currents. Yeah sure, I’m a hip kid like the rest of them. This is just a rock solid pop album from a band you know you’re still allowed to like.

Yeah, fair enough, I'm a hipster kid just like everyone else. This is nothing more than a solid pop album from a band that, you know, it's still okay to like.

10. Du Blonde – Welcome Back to Milk. I used to live in Newcastle and while I was there I watched Beth Jeans Houghton at some of her first gigs as a teenager singing cutesy folk songs. Now she has transformed into a bone fide punk rock pin up. Extraordinarily catchy riffs and lyrics like a WWE Smackdown.

I used to live in Newcastle, and while I was there I went to see Beth Jeans Houghton at one of her first gigs as a teenager, when she used to sing these lovely little folk songs. Now she's turned into a punk-rock pin-up. Massively catchy riffs and WWE Smackdown-worthy lyrics.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

27/10/2025