Curious what notable personalities in the scene think was great this year? So is TGEFM! So we reached out to some of our favorite luminaries ranging from musicians, label personnel, and more for their “Best of 2025” lists. Now, listen: TGEFM is not a taskmistress. Contributors can write these out however they want. So if it doesn’t actually look or read like a list… and sometimes it really is just a list with no other observations! Who cares?
Kris Megyery from Chicago punk lifers The Brokedowns keeps his Best Of picks equal parts basement show energy and public television basement woodshop. From a stack of 2025 records to an all time power ranking of This Old House cast members, this list is short, specific and very on brand. It’s the kind of rundown that says a lot without trying too hard, which honestly feels like the most Brokedowns thing possible.
Top 5 Albums Of 2025:
Twisted Teens – Twisted Teens
Heritage – Blood and Tears
Time Thieves – If You Survive
Plosivs – Yell at Cloud
Science Man – Monarch Joy
Top 5 Cast Members Of “This Old House” 1979-2025:
Tom Silva
Norm Abram
Richard Trethewey
Steve Thomas
Roger Cook
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/