One verse. One song. One album. One artist. That’s how this 2025 round up is about to go. So without further ado…
One verse.
Woah, oh we’re all searching for grace
We’re all searching for
In America
It’s hysteria
Ok, one-ish verse. This song is madness, this song is hysteria, it delivers every meaning of every line. The crackling-radio-transmitted poem, prepared yet unanticipated peaks, attention-grabbing guitar, uncomfortably accurate message–all scratch every itch ever. According to flipturn’s “Churches,” we’re all just out here attempting to preach concepts we don’t even understand. I picked up this song obsession sometime over the summer when I pretty much only listened to this band. Citrona is an EP that will now and forever live in my heart. This album coupled with “Something You Needed” (aka my number one song this year) really set the tone for the kind of message and legacy they want to leave behind. This is one of those special bands that leaves you wondering what your verse may be.
One song.
Picture this: you have just landed in your new home for the next 5 months, an 8-hour flight and an ocean from home. The home-sickness doesn’t really hit you in waves of sadness and longing or anything like that, it just resonates in this feeling like you’re constantly searching for something familiar. For me, that something ended up being a song, “Feel It All Around” by Washed Out.
Watch Portlandia’s theme (featuring this song), and you’ll completely understand how this of all songs could ground me in times of disorientation. It’s melancholic and mystical and on my dad’s work-at-home playlist, so within the first second of the song starting I was always immediately taken back to Pennsylvania. It also perfectly suits a city filled with bare trees and trench coats in the wintertime, which coincidentally was exactly what Madrid looked like in the months of January and February. I wasn’t expecting this song to make it all the way to being my fourth-most listened to song this year. Yet, the second it started playing during my Spotify Wrapped, I was immediately transported to the now familiar, bustling, and freezing streets in Spain. It has become a part of the me there. Man, I miss it.
One album.
Following a listen to Little River Band’s Greatest Hits, I knew it was time to dig deeper. So why not with the album featuring their biggest hit, “Reminiscing?” That’s how I landed on LRB’s Sleeper Catcher.
What a story the album tells. I’m not entirely sure what the story is, but each track is an absolute production and makes me think this is one big tale. The average song length has to be somewhere in the upper-4s, with my favorites being some of the longest. According to Spotify, some of the hits off here are “Lady” and “Reminiscing,” of course. Personally, I think “Light of Day” is a spectacular way to spend 8 minutes.
Hey boys, come out and dig the dance
Come on and take a chance
Believe in the light of day
Unmatched harmonies. A 4-minute outro. Literal chills. I also love “Fall From Paradise” and “One For The Road.” What beautiful ways to start and end this wonderful project of an album. And to top it all off, “Recordando” might be one of the best additions to an album ever. Go give that bad boy a listen and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. LRB knows their audience, that’s all I’m saying.
One artist.
I should’ve known this was going to happen. When I started compiling my favorite latin songs onto a playlist this Spring, somehow Bad Bunny was on 5 of the first 10, with only one of them actually being his. Come December, he is my #4 artist for the entire year. I think I can now claim to have finally caught up with modern music, as I completely understand everyone’s obsession with the “King of Latin Trap.”
From making Spanish trap globally mainstream to being the most-streamed artist on Spotify from 2020 to 2022 and then again this year, it’s clear we’re all well aware of and support this man’s presence. After first hearing “PERRO NEGRO” out one night and Bad Bunny dropping DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS at the start of the year, he had officially interrupted my daily life. Since then, my reggaetón playlists and Benito listening minutes have only grown. What stands out to me is how many incredible songs he is featured on, like… his collaborations with JHAYCO, Feid, J Balvin, even Aventura, and probably everyone else ever.
His own creations are a whole other beast themselves. Each album has its own central theme, with each individual track continuing to push creativity its limits. He’s in this game to do more than just play ball. He clearly has been re-writing all the rules.
So what are my current favorites? I’ve been listening to a lot of “PIToRR DE COCO,” “EeO,” “HOY COBRÉ,” and “No Me Conoce – Remix.” But I know there is so much I haven’t heard yet. I haven’t been this excited to explore an artist’s work in quite some time.
I hope this year has brought as much delight to your listening minutes as it has for me. Looking forward, I’m way excited for what’s to listen to in 2026, especially on February 8. But let me not get ahead of myself, 21 Savage drops on Friday. Sounds like Christmas may be coming early.
Iz FM 
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