Best of 2025: Staff Picks

Best of 2025 Staff Picks

Nearly twelve months have slipped by and the FUV staff has compiled their picks of best albums, songs, discoveries and gigs of 2025.  

Scroll down for: Corny O'Connell | Alisa Ali | Dennis Elsas | Russ Borris | Delphine Blue | Paul Cavalconte | Emma Philippas | Kara Manning | Benham Jones | Janet Bardini | Sam Sumpter | Rich McLaughlin | Meghan Suma |

Alisa Ali

Midday Host, Monday - Friday 10am-2pm

Top Songs (in no particular order):

  • Big Thief, "Words"
  • Wet Leg, "mangetout"
  • HAIM, "Relationships"
  • Nation of Language, "Inept Apollo"
  • Fontaines D.C., "It's Amazing to be Young"
  • Maribou State feat. Andreya Triana, "All I Need"
  • Bad Bunny, "NUEVAYoL"
  • Role Model, "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out"
  • Mari Froes and TRINIX, "Vaitimbora"
  • Japanese Breakfast, "Picture Window"

Top Albums (in no particular order):

  • Bad Bunny, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
  • The Beths, Straight Line Was a Lie
  • Wet Leg, moisturizer
  • Wolf Alice, The Clearing
  • Parcels, Loved
  • Saya Gray, SAYA
  • Hayley Williams, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
  • Deep Sea Diver, Billboard Heart
  • Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire
  • Royel Otis, Hickey
  • Geese, Getting Killed

Shows:
- Rhiannon Giddens and Lido Pimiento at Central Park Summerstage (June 25)
- Lovetempo, The Jack Moves, and Rebounder for WFUV’s "NY Slice" showcase at Baker Falls for NYC Music Month (June 9)

Discovery:
Frankie Sunswept & The Sliver Moons - This Brooklyn-based band released their debut album, Nostalgia, on Valentine's Day and I have fallen in love with it. It's a very cool mix of Ethio-jazz, rock, pop and psychedelic sounds.

Janet Bardini

Morning Host, Saturday 6-10am

Top 10 Songs (in no particular order):

  1. Wolf Alice, "White Horses"
  2. Wet Leg, "Catch These Fists"
  3. Little Simz, "Free"
  4. Lola Young, "One Thing"
  5. The Last Dinner Party, "This is the Killer Speaking"
  6. Gigi Perez, "At the Beach, in Every Life"
  7. Jesse Welles, "Horses"
  8. Taylor Swift "The Fate of Ophelia"
  9. The Beths, "Metal"
  10. HAIM, "Down to be Wrong"

Top 10 Albums (in no particular order):

  1. Big Thief, Double Infinity
  2. Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself
  3. Gigi Perez, At the Beach, in Every Life
  4. Little Simz, Lotus
  5. Lola Young, I'm Only F**king Myself
  6. Mumford & Sons, Rushmere
  7. Jesse Welles, Middle
  8. Wet Leg, moisturizer
  9. Wolf Alice, The Clearing
  10. Goose, Everything Must Go

Shows:
- Mumford & Sons at Forest Hills Stadium (August 9)
- Jesse Welles at the Bitter End for FUV Live Marquee (November 17)

Discovery:
Silvana Estrada: In a world where Latina artists such as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez dominate the scene, it’s refreshing to hear the softer side of this genre with this artist from Mexico.

Delphine Blue

Host of "The Whole Wide World," Friday 6-9pm plus Saturday 10am-1pm

Best Songs (in alphabetical order):

  1. Alabama Shakes, "Another Life"
  2. Automatic, "Black Box"
  3. Debby Friday, "1/17"
  4. Jesse Welles, "The List"
  5. Lord Huron, "Nothing I Need"
  6. Royel Otis, "Moody"
  7. Sleaford Mods, "The Good Life"
  8. Taylor Swift, "The Fate of Ophelia"
  9. Tripping Jupiter, "Crack That Drum"
  10. Turnstile, "Seein' Stars"

Best Albums (in alphabetical order):

  1. Everything is Recorded, [Richard Russell Is] Temporary
  2. Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream
  3. Geese, Getting Killed
  4. Jesse Welles, No Kings EP
  5. Joe Alterman & Mocean Worker, Keep the Line Open
  6. Lael Neale, Altogether Stranger
  7. Lola Young, I'm Only F**king Myself
  8. Say She She, Cut & Rewind (drink Sum Wtr)
  9. Sly & The Family Stone, The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967
  10. Shame, Cutthroat
  11. Stereolab, Instant Holograms on Metal Film
  12. The Cure, Mixes of a Lost World
  13. Tunde Adebimpe, The Black Boltz
  14. Wet Leg, moisturizer

Shows:
Jack White at Irving Plaza (Feburary 10)
Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park (June 9)
Wet Leg  at Central Park SummerStage (September 17)

Discovery:
Automatic -  I’m obsessed with this trio from L.A. Its easy to surrender to Izzy Glaudini’s (synth, vocals) seductive vocals. Her bandmates are Halle Sax (bass, vocals), and Lola Dompé (drums, vocals). Dompé, the daughter of Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins, provides intriguing lineage. And no lead guitar! Very interesting. Their 2025 album, Is It Now?, is on Stones Throw.

Russ Borris

Director of Music Programming, Host of "The Alternate Side," Friday 9pm-Midnight

Top 10 Songs (alphabetical by artist):

  1. Bruce Springsteen, "Blind Spot"
  2. Jesse Welles, "Horses"
  3. Joyce Manor, "All My Friends Are So Depressed"
  4. Medium Build, "Last Time"
  5. Nine Inch Nails, "As Alive as You Need Me to Be"
  6. Tame Impala, "Dracula"
  7. The Format, "Holy Roller"
  8. Turnstile "Seein' Stars"
  9. Wet Leg, "Catch These Fists"
  10. Wolf Alice, "Bloom Baby Bloom"

Top 10 Albums (alphabetical by artist):

  1. AVTT/PTTN, AVTT/PTTN
  2. Bon Iver, SABLE fABLE
  3. De La Soul, Cabin in the Sky
  4. Momma, Welcome to My Blue Sky
  5. Nation of Language, Dance Called Memory
  6. Sunflower Bean, Mortal Primetime
  7. Tame Impala, Deadbeat
  8. The Mountain Goats, Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan
  9. Turnstile, Never Enough
  10. Wet Leg, moisturizer

Shows:
WFUV’s "An Evening with The Mountain Goats and Molly Tuttle" at Sony Hall (November 11)
Sparks at World Cafe Live, NON-COMMvention 2025 in Philadelphia (May 7)

Discovery:
Tyler Ballgame - With a voice akin to Roy Orbison and an undeniable charisma, Ballgame is poised for a big 2026.

Paul Cavalconte

Host of "Cavalcade," Sunday 6-9pm

Singles remind me of kisses ...

  1. My Morning Jacket, "Time Waited"
  2. Gigi Perez, "At the Beach, in Every Life"
  3. Goose, "Your Direction"
  4. The Last Dinner Party, "This Is the Killer Speaking" 
  5. Tame Impala, "Dracula"
  6. Black Country, New Road, "Besties"
  7. Wolf Alice, "White Horses"
  8. Gorillaz feat. Sparks, "The Happy Dictator"
  9. Lord Huron, "Nothing I Need"
  10. Big Thief, "Incomprehensible"

Albums remind me of plans ...

  1. Jesse Welles, Middle
  2. Suzanne Vega, Flying with Angels
  3. The Last Dinner Party, From the Pyre
  4. The Mountain Goats, Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan
  5. Goose, Everything Must Go
  6. Mavis Staples, Sad and Beautiful World
  7. My Morning Jacket, Is
  8. Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself
  9. Tamino, Every Dawn's a Mountain
  10. Brian Dunne, Clams Casino

Shows:
- Jesse Welles, The Bitter End, a FUV Live Marquee show (November 17)
- Goose, Racket, an FUV Live Marquee show  (June 23)
- Paul Muldoon with Rouge Oliphant, The Bitter End, an FUV Live Marquee show (September 4)

Discovery:
Gigi Perez -  In a weird way, her stripped-down, strummy acoustic songs have the vibe of Jane’s Addiction, dialed down to not disturb the neighboring beach blanket.

Dennis Elsas

Afternoon Host, Monday - Friday 2-6pm

Top 10 Songs (alphabetical):

  • Chappell Roan, "The Subway"
  • Courtney Barnett, "Stay in Your Lane"
  • Counting Crows, "Spaceman in Tulsa"
  • Danger Mouse, Rag 'n' Bone Man and Black Thought, "Up"
  • Gigi Perez, "At the Beach, in Every Life"
  • Goose, "Madalena"
  • Gorillaz feat. Sparks, "The Happy Dictator"
  • Raye, "Where Is My Husband!"
  • Role Model, "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out"
  • Jeff Tweedy, "Enough"

Top 10 Albums (alphabetical):

  • Jon Batiste, Big Money
  • Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself
  • The Beatles, Anthology 4
  • HAIM, I Quit
  • Lord Huron, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
  • My Morning Jacket, Is
  • The Last Dinner Party, From the Pyre
  • The Lumineers, Automatic
  • The Head and the Heart, Aperture
  • Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition

Shows:
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts at Bethel Woods (August 25)
The English Beat, Jade Bird, and Fantastic Cat at City Winery, The High Line Bash for FUV (May 1)

Discovery:
Mon Rovîa - He was born in Liberia and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The first time I played his song "Rust" I thought I was listening to early James Taylor. Check out his FUV Live session to hear what else he's all about.

Benham Jones

Host, Saturdays 8-11pm, Sundays 9-11pm and weeknights

Some Favorite Songs (in alphabetical order, discounting songs from "Some Favorite Albums"):

  • Addison Rae, "Times Like These"
  • Bad Bunny, "DtMF"
  • CMAT, "The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station"
  • Deerhoof, "Immigrant Songs"
  • Destroyer feat. Fiver, "Bologna"
  • Momma, "I Want You (Fever)"
  • The Beths, "No Joy"
  • Tunde Adebimpe, "Somebody New"
  • Tune-Yards, "Limelight"
  • Wet Leg, "mangetout"

Some honorable mentions:

  • Mr. Cardamom, "Nani"
  • Nicki Minaj and 4 Non Blondes, "Beez in the Trap x What's Up?" (TikTok Mash-Up)"

Some Favorite Albums (in alphabetical order):

  • Dijon, Baby
  • Florist, Jellywish
  • HAIM, I Quit
  • Kelela, In the Blue Light
  • FKA twigs, Eusexua
  • Rosalía, LUX
  • Smerz, Big City Life
  • Viagra Boys, viagr aboys
  • Water From Your Eyes, It's A Beautiful Place

Some honorable mentions:

  • Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition  
  • Jonny Greenwood, One Battle After Another (OST)
  • Terre Thaemlitz / DJ Sprinkles, RA.1000

Shows:
Beth Gibbons at the Beacon Theatre (April 1)
Autechre at Brooklyn Steel (October 25, early show)

Discoveries:
Apparently they are having raves in Vatican City now? Also was pleased to discover Bella White, a young Canadian songwriter borrowing from the bluegrass and Appalachian traditions.

Kara Manning

Host of "UKNY," Sunday 11pm-midnight

Assorted 15 Songs (in no real order):

  1. caroline with Caroline Polachek, “Tell me I never knew that”
  2. Self Esteem. “The Deep Blue Okay”
  3. Westside Cowboy, “Drunk Surfer” + "Can't See"
  4. NewDad, “Roobosh"
  5. Jay Som and Mini Trees, “Cards on the Table”
  6. Blood Orange feat. The Durutti Column, Tariq Al-Sabir, Caroline Polachek, & Danie, “The Field”
  7. Thundercat feat. Remi Wolf, "Children of the Baked Potato"
  8. Maribou State feat. Andreya Triana, “All I Need”
  9. Witch Post, "Dreaming" + "The Wolf" 
  10. Nilüfer Yanya, "Kneel"
  11. PinkPantheress "Illegal"
  12. Miki Berenyi Trio, "Big I Am"
  13. The Divine Comedy, "Rainy Sunday Afternoon" 
  14. Nina Nastasia "No Communication" + "Happiness"
  15. Yves Tumor & Nina, "We Dont Count"

Assorted 15 Albums (in no real order):

  1. Emma-Jean Thackray, Weirdo
  2. Black Country, New Road, Forever Howlong
  3. Dove Ellis, Blizzard
  4. caroline, caroline 2
  5. Little Simz, Lotus
  6. Geese, Getting Killed
  7. Self Esteem, A Complicated Woman
  8. Wolf Alice, The Clearing
  9. John Glacier, Like a Ribbon
  10. Oklou, choke enough
  11. Water From Your Eyes, It's a Beautiful Place
  12. Annahstasia, Tether
  13. Model/Actriz, Pirouette
  14. Pulp, More
  15. Rosalía, LUX

Shows:
Underworld at Kings Theatre, NYC (May 15)
Self Esteem at Duke of York’s Theatre, London (April 19)
Geese/Racing Mount Pleasant/Dove Ellis at Brooklyn Paramount, NYC (November 20)
Radio Free Alice at The Shacklewell Arms, London (August 14)
Elbow at Brooklyn Steel, NYC (September 29)

Discoveries:
Dove Ellis -  His astonishing "To the Sandals," originally released in late 2024 (part of a homespun EP) and then officially in 2025, precisely distills the Irish musician's gift: incisive songwriting sent soaring with his brawny, angelic tenor. Ahead of the release of his sumptuous blinder of a debut album, Blizzard, on December 5, Ellis supported Geese and Racing Mount Pleasant on tour this past autumn: an inspired alliance of like-minded musicians.

Witch Post: The Scottish-American duo of Dylan Fraser and Alaska Reid released the pugnacious, crunchy "Chill Out" in late 2024, but it's the overall beautiful chaos of their 2025 Beast EP, loping from the nervous grace of "Dreaming" to the puckish blast of "The Wolf," that stuck the landing. Not surprisingly, post-Beast, they've signed to Partisan.

Rich McLaughlin

Associate General Manager

Top Songs (includes albums/EPs):

  1. Tunde Adebimpe, “Magnetic”
  2. Fontaines D.C., “It's Amazing to Be Young”
  3. Kneecap feat. Mozey, “The  Recap"
  4. Little Simz feat. Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly, "Flood" 
  5. Mon Rovîa, “Rust”
  6. Saya Gray, “Thus Is Why (I Don't Spring 4 Love)"
  7. Maribou State feat. Andreya Triana, "All I Need"
  8. Role Model, "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out"
  9. Rosalía, Björk and Yves Tumor, "Berghain"
  10. Young Gun Silver Fox, "Stevie & Sly"

Top 10 Albums (alphabetical by artist):

  1. Big Thief, Double Infinity
  2. CMAT, Euro-Country
  3. Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
  4. Geese, Getting Killed
  5. Goose, Everything Must Go
  6. Hayley Williams, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
  7. Maribou State, Hallucinating Love
  8. Mon Rovîa, Act 4: Atonement EP
  9. Pulp, More
  10. Turnstile, Never Enough

Top Five Favorite Concerts (in chronological order):
Goose at The Shed (March 11)
Young Gun Silver Fox at Brooklyn Bowl (June 26)
Death Cab for Cutie at Brooklyn Paramount (August 12)
Elbow at Brooklyn Steel (September 10)
James at Brooklyn Steel on (September 29)

Honorable Mention: Two nights of Phish at Forest Hills Stadium in July

Corny O'Connell

Morning Host, Monday - Friday 6-10am

Top 10 Songs (in no particular order):

  • Wet Leg, "mangetout"
  • Laufey, "Silver Lining"
  • Turnstile, "Seein' Stars"
  • Raye, "Where Is My Husband!"
  • Jesse Welles, "The List"
  • Molly Tuttle, "That's Gonna Leave a Mark"
  • Charley Crockett, "Lonesome Drifter"
  • Durand Jones & The Indications, "Flower Moon"
  • Lola Young, "One Thing"
  • Kathleen Edwards, "Need a Ride"

Top 10 Albums (in no particular order):

  • Wet Leg, moisturizer
  • Durand Jones & The Indications, Flower Moon
  • Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire
  • Laufey, Snow White EP
  • The Black Keys, No Rain, No Flowers
  • Molly Tuttle, So Long Little Miss Sunshine
  • Tom Odell, A Wonderful Life
  • Wolf Alice, The Clearing
  • Charley Crockett, Dollar a Day
  • Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving

Shows:
Neko Case at The Sheen Center for FUV Live Marquee (September 29) 
Jesse Welles at The Bitter End for FUV Live Marquee (November 19)

Discovery:
Bebe Stockwell - I'm charmed by her voice, her catchy melodies, and a knack for a lyric. She debuts with the eight-song Driving Backwards and she's one to watch.

Emma Philippas

Weekend Host

10 Favorite Songs:

  1. Fontaines D.C., "It's Amazing To Be Young"
  2. Big Thief, "No Fear"
  3. Hudson Freeman, "If You Know Me"
  4. Wednesday, "Elderberry Wine"
  5. Lip Critic, "Second Life"
  6. Alex G, "Afterlife"
  7. Coco Smith, "sumac"
  8. Bon Iver feat. Dijon and Flock of Dimes, "Day One"
  9. Geese, "Au pays du cocaine"
  10. Water From Your Eyes, "Nights in Armor"

11 Favorite Albums:

  1. YHWH Nailgun, 45 Pounds
  2. Steve Gunn, Music for Writers
  3. Geese, Getting Killed
  4. Wednesday, Bleeds
  5. Water From Your Eyes, It's a Beautiful Place
  6. Alex G, Headlights
  7. Dijon, Baby
  8. Big Thief, Double Infinity
  9. Anna Von Hausswolff, Iconoclasts
  10. Mavis Staples, Sad and Beautiful World
  11. Flock of Dimes, The Life You Save

Shows:
Fontaines D.C. at Hammerstein Ballroom (May 18)
Iggy Pop, CBGB Fest, Under the K Bridge Park (September 27)
Big Thief, Forest Hills Stadium (October 25)

Discoveries:
Tyler Ballgame - Timeless sound. His debut, For the First Time, Again, arrives in January.

Coco Smith - Stumbled upon a DIY show at Cassette in Ridgewood over the summer. Completely captivated by her voice and the poetry in every song, with“sumac” landing in my top ten this year.

Meghan Suma

Director of Audio and Music

Songs:

  1. Olivia Dean, “Man I Need"
  2. Indigo De Souza, "Crying Over Nothing"
  3. Couch, “Middle Man"
  4. Jensen McRae, “Let Me Be Wrong"
  5. Lola Young, “Post Sex Clarity"
  6. The Beths, “Straight Line Was a Lie"
  7. Hayley Williams, "Parachute"
  8. Olivia Dean, “Baby Steps"
  9. Gigi Perez, “Fable"
  10. The Beths, "Til My Heart Stops"
  11. Hannah Jadagu, "My Love"

Albums:

  1. Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
  2. Couch, Big Talk
  3. Indigo De Souza, Precipice
  4. Jensen McCrae, I Don't Know How but They Found Me!
  5. The Beths, Straight Line Was a Lie
  6. Gigi Perez, At the Beach, in Every Life
  7. Billie Marten, Dog Eared
  8. Hayley Williams, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
  9. Bon Iver, SABLE, fABLE
  10. Lily Allen, West End Girl
  11. Momma, Welcome to My Blue Sky

Shows:
Trousdale at Irving Plaza (May 17)
Joe P at Racket for FUV Live Marquee (January 30)
Jensen McRae at World Cafe Live, NON-COMMvention (May 6)

Discoveries: 
Indigo De Souza - Indigo De Souza’s 2025 album, Precipice, totally blew me away, and then I saw what an incredible live performer she is in Studio A and I knew I’d be hooked for life.

Mon Rovîa - I started listening to Mon Rovîa in anticipation of his visit to WFUV and I fell in love with his earnest storytelling and folk soundscape. I can’t wait for his 2026 album to drop!

Sam Sumpter

Weeknight Host

Top Songs (alphabetical by artist):

  • Annie Dog, ""Little Italy"
  • Bibi Club, "Le Feu"
  • big long sun, "when the mood's right"
  • Boy Golden, "Suffer"
  • La Flemme, "Sans Frond"
  • Monobloc, "Where Is My Garden?"
  • Population II, "Mariano (Jamais je ne t'oublierai)"
  • shishi, "Dog OK"
  • Tyler Ballgame, "I Believe in Love"
  • Wet Leg, "mangetout"

 Honorable mention: Hilary Duff, “Mature” 

Albums (alphabetical by artist):

  • Bibi Club, Feu de garde (les braisés)
  • Dead Tooth, Dead Tooth
  • Makeshift Art Bar, Lackluster Writing Makes Fundamental Reading EP
  • Momma, Welcome to My Blue Sky
  • Prewn, System
  • shishi, FAQ EP
  • SKORTS, Incompletement
  • Two Man Giant Squid, Two Man Giant Squid
  • Wednesday, Bleeds
  • Wet Leg, moisturizer

Shows:
Population II playing poolside at FME in Rouyn-Noranda, Canada (August 28)
Mary Shelley at La Seine Café for They’re Gonna Be Big Fest in Paris (October 30)
The OBGMs at Piano’s for New Colossus Fest in NYC (March 15)

Discoveries:
Gurriers: The energy in Ireland is unmatched at the moment, and on the hot, hot heels of Fontaines D.C. are Dublin punk band Gurriers, who bring a dark and danceable intensity that I had the pleasure of being rocked and wrecked by one SXSW afternoon at a packed Irish bar on Sixth Street.

Makeshift Art Bar: Most, if not all, members of Belfast noise band Makeshift Art Bar, who packed out rooms at music fests this fall, are still just teenagers. I can’t wait to see where they go and how they grow. (Bonus points for a very sweet family dynamic – two brothers are in the band and their dad is the roadie.)

 

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