Basement Mag's Top Albums of 2025
A record a year keeps the doctor near.
We turned our calendars over to 2026 a month back but it seems like our ears are still stuck in 2025. The team downstairs tends to indulge in many different hobbies and forms of entertainment, but one of the pillars of this project is music. Last year introduced us to a number of different artists, albums, singles, concerts and tunes we’re still tapping our toes to. We thought why not document some of our favorites from the past year. Had a feeling you’d be dying to know what your pals in the cellar are digging on from last year’s 365.
It happened to work out that when we began to write up this piece, we found our friend Sam from Perth’s artwork. Sam, or @worldeater__ on Instagram, makes some of the raddest music art we’ve come across recently. Given Sam’s album cover sketches, we thought, “Hey, rather than dropping in photos of the covers we found on google, why don’t we just ask Sam to draw them for us?” And that’s what we did.
So, sorry for the delay here but cut us some slack. A lot of music came our way and we’ve only got a few sets of ears. Don’t get all sour if your favorite isn’t mentioned, just do yourself a favor and give some of these a go. You won’t be sorry. Unless you don’t like them. In that case we’re sorry. We’ll start this thing off with a few honorable mentions. That’s how these lists usually go, right?
Honorable Mentions
Getting Killed - Geese
Grain of Dirt - Brooks Nielsen
Florence + The Machine - Everybody Scream
Dollar a Day - Charley Crockett
Moisturizer - Wet Leg
Great albums, every last one of ‘em. But without further ado, here are Basement Mag’s top albums of 2025, accompanied with artwork by Sam from Perth. Kick back, grab a beer, turn up the speakers, and enjoy friends.
Lonesome Drifter - Charley Crockett
Two things we learned about Charley - he’s always on the move and brakes for no one. Coming in at studio album number 14, Crockett delivers the first album off of his Sagebrush Trilogy while also making his major label debut on Island Records. Recorded in just 10 days with legendary producer Shooter Jennings, the storytelling of Lonesome Drifter comes over the Basement’s speakers like a warm gust of wind filled with western cowboy motifs of love, loss, gambling, rambling and playing games you can’t win.
Lonesome Drifter continues Charley’s authentic South Texas sound, paired with his magical western storytelling. With the accompaniment of strings, brass and the click of castanets, you’re suddenly transported into a bona fide western movie that you haven’t seen before but seems familiar. Charley truly is pushing the needle forward when it comes to the future of country music grounding it back to its roots. If you see us out with our jeans starched, walking around like we’re cosplaying Jon Voight in Midnight cowboy chances are Lonesome Drifter is playing through the headphones. That’s a bet you can win guaranteed, partner.
Basement Favorites: Game I Can’t Win, Easy Money, This Crazy Life
Guitar - Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco ditches the reverb-drenched amps and vintage synthesizers for a more laid-back approach that sounds like your friend is strumming on the couch right next to you. Maybe in a basement, I don’t know. But don’t be fooled. When we saw him at Radio City back in September, it was still the same Mac with that classic stage presence. A guy that can cut loose and rip it loud when he wants to, but with a growing sense of calmness to some of his tunes.
In typical fashion, the production of this record feels accessible and makes you think you could probably record something just like it in your bedroom. Just toss up a few blankets for soundproofing and get yourself a 3 piece drum kit from Craigslist. We won’t be shocked to see people follow Mac’s lead as he’s tended to steer the boat that is the indie music sound for the past decade and a half.
Basement Favorites: Phantom, Home, Punishment
The Crux - Djo
We can only imagine the pressure the average person would feel having to write a follow-up to 2022’s Decide which introduced the world to the mega hit “End of Beginning.” A song that at the time of writing checks notes has eclipsed 2 billion streams on Spotify alone. But then again, we wouldn’t really call Joe Keery the average Joe. It was a big 2025 for Keery. He wrapped it up with the final season of Stranger Things, kicked it off with his third studio album, The Crux, and let’s not forget those clips from Lollapalooza this past summer.
The Crux adds onto the sound Djo continues to solidify, a sound that’s uniquely his own within the alternative space. Pressure or not, Joe doesn’t really come across as a guy to pay much attention to what others anticipate from him musically. Not that we know the guy or anything. Creating the music he wants to create seems to take center stage for Djo and we can get behind that.
Basement Favorites: Gap Tooth Smile, Charlie’s Garden, Delete Ya, Back On You
WHATMORE - WHATMORE
These five friends from New York City are making music more authentically than most. Before the release of their self-titled debut album, we got to know each member pretty well through their intimate video storytelling shot by Patrick Linehan. By the time the album came out, it felt as if we were riding along in the backseat as they pulled up to their first performance.
WHATMORE is made up of Elijah Judah, Jackson August, Sebastiano, Yoshi T., and Cisco Swank. Each member brings their own signature style create a genre-bending sound full of hip-hop/rap, indie rock, and jazz influences. Wouldn’t be surprised if you see these guys everywhere in the future as they are just getting their feet wet. To the moon, fellas.
Basement Favorites: bombay (keep it alive), jackie chan, eastside w my dogs
The Pit - Arcy Drive
A debut album from the crew out of Northport, New York. You’d hear that and normally think these kids must be some new act, but Arcy Drive has cut their teeth touring across the country showcasing their brand of “Attic Rock” for the past four years. The Pit feels like a culmination of the groups hard work over that time, and it must be a rewarding feeling to finally release a debut record that kicks as much ass as this.
Energetic indie rock tunes like Louie and Under The Rug, paired with the folkiness of Oak Tree (Daydream), are complemented by darker tunes like Creatures of the Night. It shows just how versatile these guys are. There’s something for everyone here and we’re as excited as anyone to see what 2026 has in store for Arcy Drive.
Basement Favorites: Under The Rug, Inchin’ Up, Lights Fall, Oak Tree (Daydream)
SHISH - Portugal. The Man
This one almost blew our speakers. SHISH took us by surprise with its heavy, raw, and vast sound. John Gourley looks inward and brings you back to his rural Alaskan roots with themes of isolation, angst, and the overall vastness of what it’s like to grow up way out there.
After his departure from Atlantic Records, Gourey is fully behind the reins here with an untamed sound. Hardcore, heart-pounding compositions are paired with dreamy anthems, evoking something as raw as the Alaskan tundra. Goes to show sometimes you gotta go back to go forward.
Basement Favorites: Knik, Shish, Tanana
NEVER ENOUGH - Turnstile
We must have good taste. As we’re writing this, the crew from Baltimore just won Best Rock Album at the Grammys. Good taste aside, this album piggybacked off 2021’s Glow On, challenging their rock/hardcore genre with a small dash of 80’s nostalgia.
NEVER ENOUGH gave us a range of tracks that made us want to run through a wall and others that made us want to dust off our jacket, apologize for breaking a wall, while attempting to carefully fix said wall. Lots of emotions here.
Basement Favorites: LOOK OUT FOR ME, BIRDS, I CARE
Twilight Override - Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy can do no wrong in the eyes of the basement. Whether it’s with Wilco or his solo work, we’re going to listen. And if we listen there’s probably a good chance we’ll dig it. The triple LP is said to explore Tweedy’s thoughts feelings on life in the world since the turn of the last decade. As you can imagine the highs and lows of life are reflected in the tonal landscape of the record, but not in the quality.
The folk rock album includes some moodier sounding acoustic tunes straight from the Jeff Tweedy playbook, but similar to his work with Wilco, he never pulls too far away from the amps and electric instrumentation. Arguably his best solo work, Tweedy hit us with 30 songs that’ll make you want to shake until your shoes untied.
Basement Favorites: Mirror, No One’s Moving On, Lou Reed Was My Babysitter
Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right - Mallrat
Mallrat was the purest music discovery we had in 2025. We first heard an unknown (to us) Mallrat open up a show and loved every minute of it. Soon her album Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right was constantly shining through our speakers and headphones.
The sophomore album from the Aussie artist searches through light and darkness, paired with dreamy synths and stripped-down acoustics. Her impressive vocals and songwriting hit you in the face, as you guessed, like a straight right. Thank you, may we have another?
Basement Favorites: Hideaway, Hocus Pocus, Pavement
Small Talk - Whitney
Whitney went back to what worked best with last year’s Small Talk. The Chicago-based indie folk group took a stripped-back approach to their fifth studio album in comparison to 2022’s Spark. While the record dives deeper into the rootsy-er side of the band’s DNA, plenty of the track list is still packed with folky energy.
Of the bands mentioned on this list, Whitney may provide transparency into their influences the most. With songwriting reminiscent of Labi Siffre and The Band, Small Talk is the perfect record for an easy Sunday afternoon.