(Top photo of Blondshell by Nicole Berlin Photography: @nicoleberlinphotography)
“What a year, huh?” … “Lemon, it’s Wednesday.”
That twist on one of “30 Rock’s” most memed moments seems apropos as we wind down 2025 — a year that was by turns exhausting, horrifying and, yes, seemingly never-ending. Societally, 2025 will mostly be remembered for the sunlight that pierced a few holes in a large sheet of darkness, instead of the other way around. The music below that I’ve selected for Ear Traffic ATX’s annual best-of lists was part of that sunlight.
2025 wasn’t the overstuffed year in notable, memorable music that its predecessor was. But there was certainly enough to earn shout-outs on our four annual lists: The rankings of the five best albums and 20 best tracks from Austin-area artists, and the 10 best albums and 35 best tracks — aka the HI-35 — from every artist on the globe. (The ones whose music managed to find me, anyway.)
Usual reminder of the rules: Albums or songs (not just singles!) are eligible if they were first released between Dec. 15, 2024 and the same date in 2025. Austin-based or historically Austin-tied artists that are eligible for the local lists are simultaneously eligible for the “all-world” lists.
And the first time, I suppose I’ll add one more ground rule: Music which is predominantly or wholly AI-generated is not eligible. Robots may be an inescapable part of our real traffic now, but we’re keeping their work in the music industry off Ear Traffic — at least, until such day as music nerds such as myself are replaced with robot bloggers who can better speak to AI bots’ cultural tapestry and lived experiences.
Anyway, before I start a rant that takes us all the way into the early hours of 2026 …
5 best local albums
5. Adrian Quesada, Boleros Psicodélicos II
4. Big Bill, Sick Myth
3. Charley Crockett, Lonesome Drifter
2. James McMurtry, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
1. Die Spitz, Something to Consume
The Local 20: Best local tracks
20. Blk Odyssy, “Heartbreak”
19. Adrian Quesada with iLe, “Bravo”
18. Tomar and the FCs, “Ain’t Worth It”
17. Spoon, “Guess I’m Fallin in Love”
16. Big Bill, “Celebrate Me”
15. Will Johnson, “All Dragged Out”
14. Magna Carda feat. Grace Sorenson, “Running With the Clouds”
13. David Ramirez, “Waiting on the Dust to Settle”
12. Die Spitz, “Punishers”
11. Gummy Fang, “Lovesick Thing”
10. Farmer’s Wife, “Dirty Shirley”
9. Charley Crockett, “Game I Can’t Win”
8. Die Spitz, “Riding With My Girls”
7. Big Bill, “The Money Store”
6. Semihelix, “Deeper Space in Time”
5. Charley Crockett, “Crucified Son”
4. James McMurtry, “Laredo (Small Dark Something)”
3. Spoon, “Chateau Blues”
2. Annabelle Chairlegs, “Concrete Trees”
1. Die Spitz, “American Porn”
10 best overall albums
10. Pool Kids, Easier Said Than Done
9. Lily Allen, West End Girl
8. Die Spitz, Something to Consume
7. Big Thief, Double Infinity
6. Beths, Straight Line Was a Lie
5. Blondshell, If You Asked for a Picture
4. Hotline TNT, Raspberry Moon
3. Wednesday, Bleeds
2. Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Trash Classic
1. Wet Leg, Moisturizer
Ear Traffic ATX’s HI-35 for 2025
35. Djo, “Charlie’s Garden”
34. Glyders, “Stone Shadow”
33. Um Jennifer?, “Stunning”
32. Chance the Rapper feat. Lil Wayne and Smino, “Tree”
31. Hit-Boy, “What’s the Deal?”
30. Die Spitz, “American Porn”
29. Babe Rainbow, “Aquarium Cowgirl”
28. Alex G, “Afterlife”
27. Danger Mouse feat. Black Thought and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, “Up”
26. Pool Kids, “Easier Said Than Done”
25. Wednesday, “Townies”
24. Butch Bastard, “Green Figurines”
23. Lucius, “Gold Rush”
22. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, “White Kites and Sky Blue”
21. Genesis Owusu, “Pirate Radio”
20. Japanese Breakfast, “Picture Window”
19. Snooper, “Worldwide”
18. Momma, “I Want You (Fever)”
17. Hives, “Enough is Enough”
16. bar italia, “Cowbella”
15. Lily Allen, “Sleepwalking”
14. Venus & the Flytraps, “Hard Part’s Over”
13. Convenience, “I Got Exactly What I Wanted”
12. Lorde, “What Was That”
11. Wet Leg, “pillow talk”
10. Beths, “Straight Line Was a Lie”
9. Big Thief, “Incomprehensible”
8. Blondshell, “T&A”
7. Ratboys, “Light Night Mountains All That”
6. Hotline TNT, “Break Right”
5. Wet Leg, “CPR”
4. Wednesday, “Elderberry Wine’
3. Witch Post, “The Wolf”
2. Frankie and the Witch Fingers, “Economy”
1. Wunderhorse, “The Rope”