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?
As a New Jersey–based host with Chicago roots, Lisa Kaczmarek approaches music as both a lifeline and a lens for processing mental health, growth and heartbreak. Lisa’s Best of 2025 is less a ranking and more a reflection, rooted in the same emotional honesty that defines her Stereo Therapy podcast… letting records, songs and shows meet her exactly where she was this year. What follows is a deeply personal celebration of the art that helped keep her grounded, connected and sane in a year that demanded all three.
Hi, I’m Lisa and I host a music podcast called Stereo Therapy! My Podcast showcases the importance of music and mental health. I am New Jersey based and I am originally from Chicago and music has always been something so important to me and it’s the way I process emotions. If music has made an impact in your life and been an aid to your mental health, check us out!
As I sit down to think about this year and everyone and their mother is writing a year end list, I think lets add one more to the batch! Instead of a ranking I am giving my celebration of what a year this year was!
RECORDS
God Save The Gun – Militarie Gun
I feel I have to start with this one because if you are ever around me I’ll talk your ear off why so many are still sleeping on this record and I get it, you either lack the music taste to love a record like this or you just haven’t had a rough year to have a record like this to resonate with. We had Turnstile Summer but it was ” Militarie Gun Fall” . I never had a record truly “See” me the way this one did this year. Either way this record has been in heavy rotation ever since it came out in October. With hard hitting tracks such as “Throw Me Away,” “Daydream,” and “Thought You Were Waving” it’s easy to listen and have a reflection of yourself shown back at you. GO LISTEN TO THIS.
I feel any AOTY list that doesn’t have this one is rage baiting because we all know it was a ” Turnstile Summer” Turnstile took over the world in music with Glow On, but Never Enough is the sister to Glow On. The minute I heard “Birds” I knew this would become one of my favorite records.This band is my Fugazi I know I get some eye rolls when I say that but in so many ways they are that band for me. Turnstile took a lot of chances on this one and this record is STILL in rotation all these months later. My favorite tracks on this one are “Light Design,” “Birds, “I Care” and “Dull.”
I have said it so many times but Thrice is that “Find Wine” band for many reasons. I know so many adore The Artist In The Ambulance and they should, but I truly believe the band’s best work was far after that record. This record proves why Thrice deserves all the praise with their evolution with each record they execute flawlessly. My favorite tracks off this record are : “Undertow,” “Gnash,” “Vesper Light” and “Holding On.”
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams
I feel this was a given, because I am one of those people that have always said Hayley William’s solo music is some of her best work. I am just glad people are FINALLY catching up . The 17 tracks take us through Hayley figuring life out, processing grief of the unknown, relationships and realizing we all don’t have a thing figured out. Top tracks : “Parachute,” “True Believer,” “I Won’t Quit On You” and “Showbiz.”
I mean I feel I don’t need to go into too much here as to why this is here. Deftones are one of my favorite bands of all time and this record was worth the wait. I feel this record is one of my top Deftones records. I think this record captures the essence of old Deftones with bringing something new to the table whether you have been a long time fan or you are new to the band via tiktok. Top Tracks : “Infinite Source,” “I think About You All The Time,” “Cut Hands,” and “ecdysis.”
No One Was Driving The Car- La Dispute
Full disclosure La Dispute is one of my favorite bands of all time so of course this would be here! I was patiently waiting for this release and this one came to me at the right time in my life when I truly need to sit with a record and appreciate the art . I truly love that La Dispute is able to take us all on a journey with their music and allow us to look deeper into ourselves with each listen. I know this band isn’t for everyone but, if you are someone that appreciates it the band truly outdid themselves to give us something really beautiful. Top Tracks : “Environmental Catastrophe Film,” “Self- Portrait Backwards,” “Sibling Fistfight at Mom’s Fiftieth/ The Un-sound “and “Steve.”
Honorable Mentions : Are We All Angels– Scowl, Dull Bliss– Sainthood Reps, Pyramid Scheme Of Grief– The Carolyn, Eternal Youth– The Starting Line, Wrench– Flycatcher and Bambi– Anxious
Songs
These are some of my favorite songs that I couldn’t get out of my head!
“B A D I D E A” – Militarie Gun [I mean this basically “HOT TO GO” for boys]
“I think about you all the time” – Deftones
“Parachute” – Hayley Williams
“Light Design” – Turnstile
“Ghosts” – Kerosene Heights
“Holy Visions” – AFI
“Like Magick” – L.S. Dunes
“Blue Nothing” – Sainthood Reps
“Dissolve” – Flycatcher
“Fantasy” – Scowl
“Might Die” – Palamino
“Curveball” – The Starting Line
Shows
Stranger Things –
Okay, I know it just came out at the tail end but can we talk about how we finally have new Stranger Things? We all waited three years and I feel Volume One really delivered, especially where it left us. I have been a huge fan of the show since 2016 so I’m really excited to see where and how they wrap this series up for us all. So many easter eggs are embedded in the episodes and I love the direction I think this is heading!
Welcome To Derry –
I am a huge IT fan so when I knew this was being released I was really happy and after watching it, this is another show that is delivering on all cylinders. Dare I say I’m enjoying this more than the two films? I am so excited with where this story is going! I have already been traumatized with anything to do with the eyes because of this show, IYKYK.
Alright 2025, You have been lovely, wonderful, heartbreaking and a year of growth. Thankful for all these things I listed above keeping me sane in the world we live in today. If you believe music is a cathartic tool for all of us come say hi and check out my podcast Stereo Therapy!
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/