Thankfully, I work with students who haven't quite dipped their full mental toe into letting AI do their assignments....yet. We've seen it, caught it (and surely missed some), but on the whole, they aren't using it in the same way older students are. However, with it running inevitably rampant, we attempt to steer the conversation towards HOW to use it effectively, safely, and within the rules in the classroom.
This bleeds into art, with AI-created music and my very own use of image generation software last year to do my list. As someone who admittedly likes and uses AI but is still a massive "humans do it better" advocate (who knows he'll most likely lose out in the long run), I wanted to put the dear reader to the test. Within these 20 album reviews, you will find:
16 official reviews written by me in their entirety. These are all real and all me.
2 reviews written by AI in the style of "me." The album is really on my list, but the review has been created by AI to try to sound like my style.
2 where the bands, albums, and reviews were concocted out of whole cloth by me. None of it is real, except that I wrote it myself.
This list is part year-end ritual, part experiment, and part quiet anxiety about where all of this is headed. Can you decipher which is which? Settle in and drop a comment if you've figured it out. And perhaps more importantly, what does it say if you can't figure it out...
20. Superchunk - Songs in the Key of Yikes
A hometown favorite, this crew resides in a weird musical place for me. By the time I jumped in as a fan, they had a full career under their belts, and the albums I love would probably not be considered their best by most. Heading into their late 50s, though, they still manage to crank out those same melodious, guitar-driven rock tunes. Now with a markedly political angle front and center, this Stevie Wonder-referencing album is right in that wheelhouse. I'm probably not recommending this one to anyone I'm trying to convince to be a fan, but I'm humming along a lot more often than I thought I would.
One to check out: "Everybody Dies" (the most hopeful thought imaginable, interestingly...)
19. Brian Dunne - Clams Casino
Steven Hyden threw me a bone with this one, and it is the epitome of a B/B- album. That probably comes across as more of an insult than it's meant to be. Truthfully, this is just a collection of good but never great songs. Comfortable, midtempo, heartland rock can be great, but not taking ANY risks can make an album feel a little anodyne. Consistently good enough to be on this list, it never reaches the heights of me having a favorite song or even one specific, memorable moment that keeps me coming back. Clams Casino gently guides the listener along, making it easy to pop on as background music; it would just need 34% more awesome for me to throw it on with other people here.
One to check out: "Play the Hits"
18. Wednesday - Bleeds
Another album that I don't really know what to do with, yet. Critically glazed from every corner, a release like this one has to work harder for me to enjoy it, and sometimes an unintentional mental backlash manifests (see: Geese or Cameron Winter). Often, I end up wishing I hadn't read anything at all. Bleeds is a really solid indie rock record that alternates between crushingly heavy riffs and tender moments, often within the same song. Karly Hartzman's vocals are grizzled and gnarly enough to make Courtney Love smirk, and any band with MJ Lenderman involved always has a leg up (even if the relationship dynamic between them is borderline Fleetwood Mac...). But there just aren't quite enough of the songs that truly stick with me for it to be ranked any higher....yet.
One to check out: "Townies"
17. Miles Miller - Mr. Runaway
By far the latest addition to the bunch, I discovered this album AS I was in the middle of writing the year-end reviews by stumbling on a post from Rolling Stone. That leaves me in a devilish situation where I've hardly had any time at all to digest this soulful/funky/poignant collection of tunes coming from the guy best known as Sturgill Simpson's drummer. Only his second release, this one finds him behind the kit while belting out the tunes (the review I read referred to it as someone going the "full Levon", clearly pandering to me directly). 5 years from now, this has just as much of a chance to be my actual #1 for 2025 as it does to be one where I'm shocked it even made the list at all.
One to check out: "Mr. Runaway"
16. Florry - Sounds like…
A classic, "this group will very likely be higher on my list with their next release," band, Florry put out one of my songs of the year. "First it was a movie, then it was a book," has an absurdly long name, an extended run time, a delightful groove, and unfortunately, it is the first track on their album. The problem is, while the rest is still perfectly fine, nothing really comes close to how beautifully rollicking and ramshackle that opening track is, and I just find myself wanting to go back and listen from the start again. That's honestly not fair, as the rest of the songs fit very nicely in the Crazy Horse doing a solo album without Neil realm - a place I happen to still really like. Even now, as I relisten while doing my review, it's easy to see how my initial excitement about how things kicked off may have blinded me as to how good the rest of it was. In due time, this one is going to rise up the ranks.
One to check out: "First it was a movie, then it was a book"
15. Rainbow Kitten Surprise - bones
Current belt holder for Worst Band Name in America, the Kitten Surprise smashed into my musical galaxy with 2018's How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Apparently, some really heavy events (that I had no idea about until writing this review) led to tour cancellations, a musical direction change, a band member leaving, and a split fanbase. Having missed all of that, I was just pleased to throw on bones and find myself bopping along. While never being able to truly define what in the world the genre might be considered for a band as all over the place as this one, it just works. The songs are super catchy, the vocals have an indescribable appeal to me, and every time I put it on, I find a new favorite song. There may not be any songs that reach the heights of the bangers on Freefall, but I'm still pretty damn into it every time I pop it on.
One to check out: "Hell Naw" (and it's wtf is going on stealing of the "Californication" riff a few times randomly?)
14. Python - Battery Acid
Right in my wheelhouse, Python dropped their debut with the absolutely killer single, "Extraction," in late summer. Pummeling the listener immediately with the kind of killer riffs I scour musical review sites hoping to find, I was intrigued. Shared with me by a long-lost music pal and hailing from Keno, MI, once I was hooked, the full release did nothing to dissuade my interest. Whether it's the multi-layered guitar solos drenched in effects or the instantly hummable melodies, these guys have a formula on their hands that at times feels like it was made in a lab just for me. The main issue - and I know it's nitpicky - is the oddly unnecessary horns (something I usually love) that feel shoehorned into "Pasture" jolt me out of the song every time. More importantly, it's only 8 tracks! When none of the songs stretch out longer than 4 minutes, we are dangerously close to EP territory here. Every time I get into it, it ends. While that certainly left me wanting more, it has mainly had me licking my chops for their next release.
One to check out: "Central Casting"
13. Silver Synthetic - Rosalie
The odds of these fellas replicating the heights of their debut was always going to be minuscule, but to try to do so with the exact same formula was a Herculean task. If they had released Rosalie as their first album, most likely it would be even higher on the list, but expectations contain within them the weight of delivering. A delightfully pleasant collection of twangy, sugary sweet alt-country croonings modeled after the Dead, there are still moments when they crank up the boogie, and others where they harmonize as beautifully as could be. The problem is that in between those peaks, everything else just falls a little flat. The tempos stay a little too stale, and the songs don't move around as much as I'd hope. Thankfully, they are really young and have plenty of time to get this ship back on the Top 5 album level.
One to check out: "Yr Gonna Be Happy"
12. Cory Hanson - I Love People
This album completely snuck up on me. I didn’t expect much on the first listen, but I Love People kept pulling me back. It’s warm and melodic in a way that feels almost disarming, like Hanson just sat down with a guitar and let the songs come out without worrying too much about sanding off the edges. There’s a heavy ’70s singer/songwriter streak running through the whole thing, the kind that makes you feel like you’ve accidentally put on a record you stumbled upon in your dad's collection. But what I like most is how much ground he covers without the album ever feeling scattered. Some songs lean folksy, others drift closer to indie rock, and a few moments feel downright strange in a way that keeps things interesting. The lyrics are darker than the music lets on, which gives the whole thing a bit more weight than its breezy surface suggests. Is it an album that demands your full attention every time? Probably not. But it’s one I find myself returning to time and again.
One to check out "Bird on a Swing"
11. Colin Miller - Losin’
Another drummer from a band I love (this time MJ Lenderman's) who steps out into the role of the frontman and delivers a killer release with the last name Miller? That feels fake, doesn't it? Truth is, though, this is in a much different vein from the aforementioned surname sharer. These morose, downbeat songs are dripping with melancholia in a way that's immediately identifiable in the first 20 seconds of the first song. Colin seems quite sad, is sorting things out, and is trying to figure out who to blame (if anyone at all). In the end though, as is often the case, this heartbreak stew tends to make great music. His haunting vocals wash over you as the beat gently shuffles along, and it feels like you're right there with him at the bar, nursing a beer and trying to get him through the tough times. It's enough to make you want him to come out on the other side - but you do (selfishly) worry that if he does, the music might suffer.
One to check out: "Porchlight"
10. Jeremiah Crowe - Quick Turnaround
After being disappointed by his sophomore release, Crowe triumphantly returns with an album that rivals his excellent debut. Borrowing members from Woods (those guys sure do know how to back up an enigmatic lead singer, eh?), the songs are as cozy as a snow-covered cabin in the forest with a warm fire greeting you. He's got one of those voices where you just can't believe he's in his early 20s. It lends extra weight to the heavy topics a guy as young as him chooses to tackle after a tumultuous personal year. The middle stretch sags just a bit, leaning so hard into the hushed, fireside mood that a couple of songs blur together before things pick back up near the end. With a long career (hopefully) ahead of him, he's left me wondering if he'll constantly be searching for new backing bands or if he'll realize the success he had with this one is worth trying to replicate. Either way, I envision him on my list many times in the future.
One to check out: "Raking Leaves"
9. Whitney - Small Talk
Speaking of reading reviews first, this album got absolutely demolished by Pitchfork in a way that I've rarely seen them do as of late. Like absurdly eviscerated - to the point where people were coming to their defense who weren't even Whitney fans. The most interesting part for me was that I was probably on the way out with these guys after being a massive fan of their earlier releases (their most recent foray into dance really didn't do it for me). When I saw such an over-the-top panning, it actually made me MORE curious to check it out. And I ended up loving it! A total return to form, it's filled with melodious gems, funky grooves, gorgeous keys, and a falsetto that you either love to death or abhor (count me in the love column). I can't possibly listen to "Won't You Speak Your Mind" enough. It's fully entered the dangerous "sing the melody while describing my everyday life" zone that leads my wife to contemplate whether she needs a lawyer. Suck it, Pitchfork.
One to check out: "Won't You Speak Your Mind"
8. Lemonheads - Love Chant
Right up there with the most surprising albums to come into existence in my life - the Heads haven't put out a proper release since 2006 - Love Chant not only shockingly is here, but it's really good! Evan Dando managed to wait 19 years to do the same thing he did the year I graduated college (!!), put out a stellar album filled with weird but excellent songs that sneaks J Mascis in as a guest. I'm honestly a bit shocked. He's 58 and somehow was able to put out a record that fits right within his catalog to the point where I feel like I could mix up the songs from '06 with the ones from '25 and people wouldn't be able to tell which were from which. Plus, this gives me hope that I might finally get to see them on tour. Dang. What a fantastic, unexpected yet delightful turn of events.
One to check out: "Deep End"
7. Alien Boy – You Wanna Fade?
This one hit me at just the right moment. Alien Boy sounds like a band that figured out exactly who they are while already in motion, which gives the whole album a nervous, crackling energy that I really connect with. Nothing here feels overthought or sanded down - the guitars buzz and scrape and the melodies sneak up on you. It’s power pop at its core, but it's scrappy. The vocals walk that perfect line between worn-down and defiant, like someone tired of pretending things are fine but still showing up anyway. There’s a real basement-band honesty to this record - the kind that makes it feel instantly familiar. Is it reinventing anything? Not even a little. But it is the kind of album where I kept thinking, “Yeah, this is exactly why I still love this kind of music,” and that goes a long way.
One to check out: “Changes”
6. Bahamas - My Second Last Album
Boot Cut didn't really do it for me. I appreciated the idea of the constantly searching troubador exploring a new genre, but as much as I enjoy hearing country tinges, Bahamas to me is in his wheelhouse when he's at arm's length away from the twang. While I'm not going to pretend to understand the title, the music is as warm as ever. Whether it's his conversational yet emotion-filled vocals or the always spot-on instrumentation, Bahamas is one of the best at what he does. He always makes it seem like the songs just slipped out of his pocket. I'm certain that's not the case, and that countless hours went into crafting them, but it speaks to how great he is when you hear how effortless they seem. It genre hops without feeling disjointed and easily vacillates between silly and sincere. Looking forward to his first last album.
One to check out: "Dearborn"
5. Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers
Every bit of me had no interest in checking this out - let alone enjoying it. I truly thought I had reached my quota, and then some, for what the Black Keys could do and what they sounded like. That's what makes my level of enjoyment for this record so astonishing. Every time I put it on, I assume the sheen is going to wear off, the mask is going to slip down, and like a Scooby Doo villain, I'll blame those dastardly kids for sneaking one by me. But alas, it just continues to deliver. I challenge you to throw this on, especially if you were a fan of Brothers or Let's Rock. It consistently delivers track after track with excellent grooves and killer guitar. Auerbach sounds comfortable and relaxed, and by golly, I still can't believe I'm typing this. Touche, Akron.
One to check out: "Down to Nothing"
4. The Berries - The Berries
Dude just seems to have the Midas touch for me. Each release (or new iteration) seems to be bursting at the seams with hooks, riffs, and great songs that just hit me right in the solar plexus. Building on his more produced sound of High Flying Man, he really took the chance to stretch out what was possible in the studio on this self-titled gem. He seems to be trying some new tone or guitar effect on every song, and it helps to keep them sounding fresh while also remaining timeless. Berry continues to polish his rough edges and craft songs that feel fleshed out and whole, while managing to sound varied even while staying in the same general genre. These are the kind of fantastic releases that get minimal media attention and make me wonder just how much other amazing music is out there that I haven't found yet. The Berries are why I search, and in doing so, they make all the albums I've checked out that don't quite do it for me totally worth it.
One to check out: "Lie in the Fire Again"
3. Liquid Mike - Hell is an Airport
I wonder what age I'm going to be when I just can't connect with bands making midwestern garage rock? I hope it never happens, but to be honest, I thought I'd already be there. So many other things seem to be approaching closer than the mirror is letting on when it comes to making me feel older. But I'll be damned if I still don't love songs about getting absurdly drunk and trying to figure out the start of your adult life - even if that's a world I haven't been in for 20 years. Liquid Mike creates the kind of music pop-punk bands would have made if they jammed in 28% more hooks and removed their tongues from their cheek but kept a sly grin. It's not whining about why things aren't working out as much as just stating the facts. It continually kicks ass along the way with a boulder-rolling-downhill rhythm section buoying sharp-edged, badass guitars. This is the second year in a row they put out a release that made my top 3, something I'm almost positive has never happened before. Cheers, boys, for a job well done yet again - from your grandpa.
One to check out: "Crop Circles"
Do you know how some artists just sound authentic as hell? It may actually be contrived, but the way it's crafted comes across as absolutely real. Think 70s Neil Young or 90s Elliott Smith. Well, Fust is the Appalachian version of that. These songs reach into your soul, man. When I hear this, it makes me feel like I grew up in a holler, fixing old fences at my grandmother's and drinking moonshine. I swear, the minute the needle drops, my clothes actually transform into a pair of overalls and a threadbare cap. I freaking love this album. Every track is filled with the warmest blanket of mountain folk imaginable, almost like an audio version of a genealogy test. The ballads are gorgeous, the harmonies are hauntingly beautiful, and most any other year this would have been my well-deserved #1 choice. This band (though similar in age) makes me feel just as old (in a good way) as Liquid Mike does young. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hand-churn some butter.
1. Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon
Take everything good about how the youth of Liquid Mike works to Benjamin Button me musically. Now, add in a few milligrams of shoegaze, drench it in melody, and baby, we've got ourselves a stew going. Hotline's actually been around for a while, and while critics attempted to lure me on board with Cartwheel, nothing truly stuck until Raspberry Moon - but they used super glue. Sledgehammer riffs smothered in feedback anchor a record that delights with its heaviness just as much as it surprises with its quirky offshoots. And again, as is so often the case, it comes back to connection. A musical brother-in-arms and I bonded over this album to the point that he hopped on a plane and flew down here to go see them with me (with another, even older, musical buddy) in the backroom of a dive bar. We felt old as shit, the bathroom flooded, my buddy got knocked over in the mosh pit (and skinned his elbow lol), they played for 47 minutes, and it was perfect. Now, every time I put it on, outside of continually being a fantastic listen, I'll always have those memories slingshot back. Music does so many cool things. But the way it's able to keep me connecting in a deep and meaningful way with the people in my life that matter the most might just be the coolest.
One to check out: "Break Right"
