The end of the year is upon us, and it's time to reflect on your favorite music of 2025! Here is Isabel Zacharias' favorite music of the year. Once you've made your own list, vote in The Current's Top 89 poll by Sunday, Dec. 14, and we'll count down your Top 89 of 2025 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Top 10 songs

1. Jeff Tweedy – Enough

I keep thinking we’ve run out of ways to write songs about the heartaches that feel specific to contemporary life. I guess we haven’t!

2. Geese – Cobra

What can I say? The kids are onto something here. If you’ve been avoiding this band – or their songwriter, Cameron Winter – because of overhype, I have to say you’re missing out on something really special.

3. Shady Cove – True

My favorite Twin Cities band. Move over, Beach House! Turns out you can do dream pop with joie de vivre! This breezy single was of the most-stuck songs in my head this year.

4. Ichiko Aoba – COLORATURA

Aoba’s whole discography was a huge 2025 discovery for me. For music that’s so gentle and approachable, there’s such an impressive range of influences going on — bossa, neo-classical, folk, ambient. She’s a genius.

5. Mac DeMarco – Holy

People didn’t like this album. I think it’s his best yet! I had no idea what a complicated, poignant songwriter he could be until he dispensed with the screwball guitar shreddery. Very moving songs.

6. Stereolab – Aerial Troubles

Such a beloved band that they were not obligated to make a great record in 2025. But they did! That they still sound so vital and current almost 35 years into their career astounds me.

7. Kurt Vile – classic love (kv version)

I have so much respect for Kurt Vile, whose prolific output sometimes dilutes the headphones-on attention his work deserves. Criminally underrated songwriter, guitarist and producer.

8. Robert Glasper – Over feat. Yebba

Robert Glasper is one of very few living jazz instrumentalists whose playing style can be instantly recognized on its own (separate from vocals, production, etc.). I’d add that as a producer, I think he’s the most important voice in jazz’s evolution and cross-pollination over the last decade.  

9. Kendrick Lamar – Luther feat. SZA

Would this year have been this year without this song? Without these two at the Super Bowl halftime show? I really, really think not.

10. Big Thief – Words

This transcendently beautiful song sparks a 2026 prediction for me: The country-grunge craze will crest and fall, and the next genre to infiltrate indie rock will be ‘70s groove-based spiritual funk. Fine by me!