Curious how people are actually listening right now. I play music for people in a room, in a box, sometimes in my own home. When you put on new music, are you Walking? Driving? Cooking? Lying on the floor?? At work with one earbud in. There’s no wrong answer. Just interested in the habits.

So, I have songs and albums that are slow burners. I know you know. You almost get mad at yourself for not loving it from the go. I liked OK Computer at first and well, it's near the top of my all timers now. I do this on the show as well. I love it actually as I can hear from listeners who are also "getting it" along with me. Is there a song from this past year that didn’t land at first—but later found you when you were ready? Those are often the ones that last.

In a space where we talk about music and community, I want to thank those that are showing up and being active in this space! I can't do it alone, I need people to share the love, the stories and the music these five have been doing just that. I know a few of them and know for a fact they are solid people with amazing taste. I mean, everyone here has that right? 1. Howie Cohen 2. Robert Erbes 3. Benedetto Manzella 4. Marco Mazzoni 5. Andrew Martin You help make this feel like a real place, not just another scroll. thank you! This community only works because people do that.

10. Bob Mould. Headliner of Smooch, leader of Sugar, all around amazing dude 9. Pulp is back! After 100 years they return with one of the best albums of 2025 8. Nightbus. This record came out of nowhere for me and I just LOVE the moody Chromatics meet Beach House vibes. 7. Nation of Language. Of course Nation of Language, every record they've ever done end up in my top 10 for good reason 6. Obongjayar. Just one of the most moody, cool and interesting records of the year 5. The Cure. I thought their album last year was the album of the year so having an extensive remix release? It's so good I bought 150 of them and sent to my record club outside of the schedule of albums last year. 4. Wet Leg. They are 2 for 2 at KEXP for listener's album of the year. 3. Geese. Easily could have been my album of the year. I for one LOVE the hype. We need more hype for unique and independent rock 2. Deep Sea Diver. Always a favorite, as people, as music makers, as Seattle residents. 1. Suzzallo (See Deep Sea Diver). Also, Rocky sat at our dining room table a while back as we all had dinner together and he talked about this plan he had to put down the acoustic guitar and plug in to make this record in tribute to the horrific loss his family faced. He also said it was part of his healing. He has helped a lot of people heal with this album. When the band came out as a surprise at Death and Music this year, I laughed while I cried. It was just beautiful. Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

As we near the top ten, a reminder that I compile this list based on album airplay on the Morning Show. This tells the story of KEXP as well, we play what we love, we love what we play. We hope you do as well clearly or we'd shut down tomorrow. The Barry Can't Swim record is amazing, somewhere between a Moby and a DJ Shadow record, Big Thief wrote some of the prettiest songs of the year, the Anna Von Hausswolff was a stunner and the amount of positive feedback I got was over the top for that record. NoSo's song "Nara" fueled my play of that album, so good. My friends The Lumineers show up because they should always show up! Oh and don't sleep on that Seattle artist "Sea Lemon". Super good! 11.Sea Lemon - Diving For A Prize 12.Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz 13.The Lumineers - Automatic 14.NoSo - When Are You Leaving? 15.SPRINTS - All That Is Over 16.Anna von Hausswolff - Stardust / The Whole Woman 17.Perfume Genius - Glory 18.Bria Salmena - Big Dog 19.Big Thief - Double Infinity 20.Barry Can’t Swim with O’Flynn - Loner