the hayes list

Best Of 2025

It’s hard to believe another year has flown by. I hope it’s been a good one for you. Musically, it’s been a bit of a transitional one for me but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been some really good songs. As I look over this playlist I can’t help but think of the evolution of my musical tastes. Back in the day I was a big rock and roll fan, with an appreciation for soul and folk and a mild disdain for country. Today I’m much more appreciative of all genres. I would say I’ve matured but really, what are the chances?
We begin   Back At The Start with Patty Griffin. I am unabashedly a huge Patty Griffin fan and the title just fits putting it first. My biggest find of the year follows. The Autumn Defense is two members of Wilco not named Jeff Tweedy and they’ve been recording music together since 2007. Being a completist, I went back to their catalogue and found a new favourite band ( I have many). The start of bar italia’s Some Like It Hot is a long drone but keep listening; it gets better. Wet Leg is another new find but I can’t say that about Mavis Staples. She’s 86 years old and brings a dignity to everything she sings. Probably my favourite song of the year is The Swell Season’s People We Used To Be. I’ve had it on repeat for days. You may remember them from the movie Once. I’m guessing the sequel will be called Twice but maybe not.
There’s lots more here but to me the highlights are Alison Krauss & Union Station, Sam Fender, Kate Bush and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, all worthy of those two words that music lovers love, “turn it up!”.
I just want to clarify that this playlist is of my favourites of the year and they aren’t in any particular order. Some of the songs are what I call growers, the ones that take a few listens before they sink in. Others hit you immediately, the kind of songs that make you stop what you’re doing when you first hear them and go, “ what was that?”. I’m fully aware that the way you hear them may be different but isn’t that what makes music so special?
Anyway, as always, enjoy! And best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
1. Back at the Start - Patty Griffin 

2. Bad Dreams - Teddy Swims 

3. Beautiful Strangers - Mavis Staples 

4. Clive’s Song - Paul Weller 

5. CPR - Wet Leg 

6. Deadstick - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 

7. Decline & Fall - Manic Street Preachers 

8. Gentle Chaperone - Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter 

9. Heathcliff - Snocaps 

10. Let You Go - Eddie Chacon 

11. Looks Like The End Of The Road - Alison Krauss & Union Station 

12. The Man I Love - Kate Bush 

13. The Ones - The Autumn Defense 

14. People We Used To Be - The Swell Season 

15. Rein Me In - Sam Fender 

16. Some Like It Hot - bar italia 

17. Spike Island - Pulp 

18. Stranger - Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles 

19. Summer Sweat - Hannah Cohen 

20. Trouble - Sharon Van Etten 

21. A War With Time - Brandi Carlile 

22. We Are Love - The Charlatans 

23. Why On Fire? - Matt Berry 

24. Wolf of Saint Elmo - Slow Motion Cowboys 

LISTEN on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7I8ciVVLnuuFWOWYDHcpkk?si=fEEvXQCyROiejYv17bz-Cw

LISTEN on Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/best-of-2025/pl.u-55D6lD7hEWqdp