It’s time for our Listmas celebrations to leave the world of visuals behind, and finally dive headfirst into the very best music of the past twelve months. The tracks that had me joyously dancing around the kitchen (if you can call my awkward flailing “dancing”). The hooks and melodies that have been playing on repeat in my head for months on end. The pieces of music that have wowed me just as much on my hundredth listen as they did the very first time I heard them. Without further ado, here’s a round-up of our favourite songs of 2025.

10. Mason Via – Melt in the Sun

It’s not often I delve into the world of country and bluegrass, but I’ll happily make an exception for ‘Melt in the Sun‘. The interplay between the soaring violin and virtuoso mandolin solo is some of the most impressive musicianship I’ve heard all year. Mason brings the voice and spirit of a master storyteller to this track, and is able to effortlessly whisk you away into his world.

9. Divorce – Lord

Sometimes a great song is like falling in love – it doesn’t have to make sense, it’s something you feel deep down in your soul. Damned if I know what “Lord I’m letting go, I’m a seahorse, And I need a little sugar” is meant to mean, but you can bet I’ll be belting it out at the top of my lungs every time the chorus comes back around. That said, their voices blend perfectly already without throwing mine into the mix.

8. Moron Police – King Among Kittens

One of the most vibrant, euphoric and life-affirming arrangements you could hope to bless your ears with. The way the video gamey synth breakdown gives way to that glorious, soaring sax solo gets me hyped up every single time. It’s the perfect distillation of the Moron Police formula; the way they’re able to take something wildly intricate and utterly bonkers, and package it in such a fun and accessible way.

7. Exploring Birdsong – Romanticise

‘Romanticise‘ might well have the most wickedly addictive hook I’ve heard all year. Wicked being the operative word, with the song’s dark sinister lyricism written as though seeing the world through the red lenses of someone truly toxic and villainous. Between the earworm chorus, gorgeous synth tones, the heavy gut-punch breakdown, and Lynsey Ward’s ever exquisite vocals, it’s one of the band’s best tracks yet.

6. Similar Kind – Idle Brain

Similar Kind’s stellar debut album Good Grief! has been far and away my most listened to record of this past year, and for my money ‘Idle Brain’ is its beating heart. Combining a driving bass line, stirring sax, and a fun blend of playful synthpop and funky grooves, it’s an absolute delight. ‘Idle Brain’s effervescent, upbeat energy has been just the pick-me-up this year needed.

5. Holly Humberstone – Die Happy

A heady and bittersweet number all about throwing yourself wholeheartedly into love, even knowing it might all come crumbling down. The wistful synth work on this track is an absolute dream, the chorus is one of the most enchanting earworms of the year, and the song’s gorgeous air of gothic romanticism just suits Holly down to the ground. ‘Die Happy‘ might just be her best work yet, and it has left me deeply curious and excited about what her next record has in store.

4. Coheed and Cambria – Someone Who Can

At their best, Coheed have a real knack for spirited, melodic, anthemic rockers. Their latest record was full of them in fact. To my mind though, the cream of the crop has to be ‘Someone Who Can’. It’s nostalgic in a way that feels uplifting, rather than falling away into the bittersweet. This absolute banger manages to pack in heaps of 80s AOR charm – sharing a lot of DNA with Journey, and Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ in particular – while still feeling like the textbook Coheed we know and love. 

3. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Deadstick

King Gizzard have always been a bit hit and miss for me, but ‘Deadstick’ is the first song of theirs that I’ve truly loved. I never knew they had a song of this calibre in their arsenal. In fact, I didn’t think anyone made songs like this anymore. This 70s inspired rocker perfectly captures the vibe and energy of the era. You could sneak this into a classic rock playlist, alongside some of the greatest songs ever written, and it would feel right at home. 

2. Biffy Clyro – Two People In Love

The gorgeous piano tone, the intricate drum work, the hype-inducing riff that leads us into that anthemic chorus, the way the epic outro spirals and soars up towards the heavens. It’s just the full package. Talk about ending the new album on a high; ‘Two People In Love’ is right up there with some of the band’s best work. I can’t wait to hear this absolute monster live in the new year. Mon the Biff!

1. Olivia Dean – Man I Need

I’ve had no end of different live performances of ‘Man I Need’ appear on all my social media feeds over the past few months, and each of them is somehow even better than the one that came before. I know, because I’ve sat and watched every single one, and each time my day is made that bit brighter. Every live video has Olivia beaming the most infectiously radiant smile to boot, loving every moment of performing this track – and frankly, who can blame her. ‘Man I Need’ is the sweetest bop I’ve heard in an age, and I’m utterly addicted.