Category: Top Ten of 2025

The Power Popaholic Top 25 EPs of 2025

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Each year I need to explain that an EP to me is more than 2 songs and less than 10 songs. Many great EPs came out last year, and a late entry that literally “slipped under my radar” was Robert Harrison’s return as Future Clouds and Radar. As part of the memorable power pop juggernaut Cotton Mather, he has always been a special talent. He ranks high this year, and also of note; the band Shake Some Action appears in both my album and EP list.

    1. The Vibeke Saugestad Band “The Sun Sessions”
    2. Future Clouds and Radar “Big Weather”
    3. Peter Baldrachi “Nothing’s Promised”
    4. The Glad Machine “All the Pretty Things”
    5. Flutter “When You Love Somebody”
    6. Shake Some Action “Running Out of Places to Run”
    7. Autos “Autos”
    8. Hexham Heads “Hexham Heads”
    9. The Rallies “Rallies ’25 (The Singles EP)”
    10. Mikayla Geier “HOT POT”
    11. Friends of Cesar Romero “All Goodbyes Aren’t Bad Cause This Goodbye Is For Good”
    12. Randy Klaxon “Sunday’s Child”
    13. The Jacks “Box”
    14. Doublevee “Periscope at Midnight”
    15. The Photocopies “Treacherous”
    16. Geoff Palmer “Kodak Flash”
    17. Clean Lines “Nuisance”
    18. Corin Ashley “EP #1”
    19. Skeleton Staff “Hepto-Altruism”
    20. Svenssen “The Making of Art”
    21. Moonspin “When You’re Around”
    22. J. Fla “Moon Eater”
    23. The Needmores “Side X Side”
    24. King Hüsky “King Hüsky”
    25. Elena Rogers “Songs About Me”

 

The Power Popaholic Top 25 albums of 2025 + More

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Power pop in 2025 sits in a strange place. While power pop encourages exploration, streaming platforms prioritize familiarity. When you go beyond algorithms and follow authors, labels, live performances, and reliable listeners, you discover the best tunes. The music is still driven by short hooks, crisp melodies, and emotional clarity, but the voices seem more expansive than before.

This list exists to point you toward new bands, overlooked records, and albums you missed while relying on algorithms. You will disagree with the order, and you should. If you find one new artist you love, the list did its job.

The audience is also constantly evolving. Songs that recreate the excitement they had decades ago are what devoted listeners crave. New listeners want energy without excess and lyrics that feel human. Power pop meets both needs by staying focused on craft. A great chorus still matters. And as always… strong melody still wins.

This year I actually had to cut more albums out off my list to keep it at 75, and I did not want to expand it to 100 this year (that may change next year.) Anything I did not directly review that is on my list (a few) I will highlight in the next 2 weeks as part of the “albums I missed.” Overall, more music has been flooding my inbox and “separating the wheat from the chaff” becomes more important each year.

  1. Sloan “Based on The Best Seller”
  2. The Gnomes “Introducing… The Gnomes”
  3. Joe Giddings “Stories With Guitars”
  4. The High Frequencies “The High Frequencies”
  5. The Grip Weeds “Soul Bender”
  6. Chris Lund “Surveillance”
  7. The Toxhards “Your Neighborhood”
  8. Sharp Pins “Balloon Balloon Balloon”
  9. The Wellingtons “Baby Moon”
  10. Ricky Byrd “NYC Made” 
  11. Nick Frater “Oh Contraire!”
  12. Iain Hornal “Return to the Magic Kingdom”
  13. The Lolas “Big Hits and Freak Disasters”
  14. Sorrows “Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow”
  15. Eureka Machines “Everything”
  16. The Bablers “Like The First Time”
  17. Greg Pope “The Roar of Silence”
  18. The Prize “In The Red”
  19. The Jellybricks “Dreaming in Stereo”
  20. Bird Streets “The Escape Artist”
  21. Cheap Trick “All Washed Up”
  22. Davey Lane “Finally, A Party Record”
  23. Cody Piper “Revealed”
  24. Silk Cut “Corridors of Light”
  25. Beauty “I’d Do Almost Anything For You”
  26. The Modbeats “Ballad of a Starving Artist”
  27. Benny J. Ward “SUPER!”
  28. Enuff Z’nuff  “Xtra Cherries”
  29. The Peppermint Kicks “Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum”
  30. The Honeydogs “Algebra for Broken Hearts”
  31. Eytan Mirsky “All Over the Map”
  32. Danny Ayala “Only Fools Love Again”
  33. The Goods “Don’t Spoil The Fun”
  34. Dom Mariani “Apple of Life”
  35. Humbug “Open Season”
  36. Ryan Allen “Livin’ On A Prayer On The Edge”
  37. 20/20 “Back to California”
  38. Small Yards “Small Yards”
  39. Willie Nile “The Great Yellow Light”
  40. Shake Some Action “Top Gear”
  41. Tom Henry “Songs to Sing and Dance To”
  42. Static Jacket “The Grape Lady Falls”
  43. Tristan Armstrong “The Lonely Avenue”
  44. Splitsville “Mobtown”
  45. The Webstirs “High Up In The Trees”
  46. The Nines “Echoes of Past Future”
  47. The Toms “Sound Bytes”
  48. The Minus Five “Oar On, Penelope!”
  49. Vanilla “Cookiewow”
  50. Icecream Hands “Giant Fox Pineapple Tree”
  51. Seth Timbs “Idle Hands”
  52. The Airport 77s “Don’t Let Go”
  53. Shortwaves “Mental Health in the Information Age”
  54. The Black Watch “For All the World”
  55. Dropkick “Primary Colours”
  56. Mary Strand “I Don’t Need Your Permission”
  57. Jim Trainor “Listening To Understand”
  58. Coke Belda “C8ke”
  59. The 1910 Chainsaw Company “Everything’s Better”
  60. Star Collector “Everything Must Go!”
  61. The Davenports “You Could’ve Just Said That”
  62. Fortitude Valley “Part Of The Problem, Baby”
  63. Chris Stamey “Anything Is Possible”
  64. Strange Neighbors “People Pleasers Pleasing People”
  65. Caper Clowns “Without A Safety Net”
  66. Tamar Berk “ocd”
  67. Ok Go “And the Adjacent Possible”
  68. The Campbell Apartment “(510)”
  69. The Dogmatics “Nowheresville”
  70. Vanity Mirror “Super Fluff Forever”
  71. Hidden Pictures “Well Hell”
  72. Rome 56 “Pony Tales”
  73. Glowbox “Bland Ambition”
  74. Them Elephants “Sugar”
  75. The Manic Standstill “Moving”

My favorite “Best of” compilations of 2025

Vegas with Randolph “Drops Of Gold: The Best of Vegas With Randolph”

Nelson Bragg “Mélodie de Nelson: A Pop Anthology”

Jeffrey Foskett “Something There – Remembering Jeffrey Foskett”

Brad Marino “On The Brink”

My favorite Tribute Albums

Various Artists “Play On: A Raspberries Tribute”

Various Artists “Second By Second By Minute By Minute: The Songs of Rick Springfield”

Michael Simmons “Fun Where You Can Find It”

The Well Wishers “Covered II”

The Best Things In Life Are Free… (Album Edition)

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“…But you can keep ’em for the birds and bees” – Money (That’s What I Want)

While not everything here might be considered power pop, I do consider it great music. These are great albums at a “name-your-price” point. No excuses!

Beauty

Beauty “I’d Do Almost Anything For You”

This Red Bank, New Jersey trio brings the goods on its full length debut. “Alive Tonight” opens with thick guitars and stacked harmonies and moves with confidence and purpose. “Acid Baby Girl” follows as a fuzzy love song built on warm feedback and a relaxed pulse, balancing noise with control. Tracks like “You Always Take Me” and “Daisy” lean into simple melodic structures, pairing heavy guitars with clean, memorable choruses. Fans of Superdrag or The Posies will recognize the balance between punch and melody, though the band keeps its own identity front and center. The sequencing stays tight and focused, with no wasted moments or weak tracks. The result feels cohesive, deliberate, and fully realized. This release deserves serious attention and lands comfortably among the year’s strongest albums. Highly Recommended.


Mommyheads

Mommyheads “No Quietus”

I think the similarity to the cover of last year’s ‘One Eyed Band’ threw me off, but the band keeps pushing its blend of power pop and progressive rock with confidence and precision. “Triumph and Crash” stands out as a sharp nod to classic Genesis, especially the keyboard driven drama associated with Tony Banks, without slipping into imitation. “Black Veins” shows Adam Elk at his strongest as a writer and vocalist, and the song carries emotional weight and ambition, setting a high bar across the record. Tracks like “I’m Your Apocalypse” and “Race Care Brain” expand the scope further, layering ideas, textures, and shifting moods. The album feels intentional from start to finish, built for close listening rather than background play. This release works as a full sonic journey and rewards attention. Highly Recommended.


Static In Verona

Static In Verona “Altered State Lines”

Chicago musician Rob Merz blends ambient textures with power pop in a focused, personal way. The opener “Alright in the Morning” sets the tone with echo soaked guitar lines, thick percussion, and a steady vocal lead. The title track, “Altered State Lines” builds momentum through layered, rhythmic guitars and a forward push. Merz’s approach feels distinct and intentional. “Camera” and “Fearful” slowly create atmosphere, pairing mood with clear narrative intent. “Demons” shifts gears with a heavy, Zeppelin inspired riff that adds weight and contrast. The closing “Back in the Aviary” drifts into a hazy, dreamlike soundscape, bringing the album to a calm and thoughtful end.


Vanilla and The Prize

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Vanilla

Vanilla “Cookiewow”

Northwestern band Vanilla returns with ‘Cookiewow,’ a 17-track album released gradually over the past year, following 2024’s ‘Pish Posh.’ The slow rollout fits the record’s reflective tone, which centers on aging, loss, frustration, and resignation. The album opens with “Abney Park,” a jazzy meditation on a lingering ghost. It sounds refined rather than eerie, though the mood stays dark. “Weathered Faces” leans into rock territory, focusing on time slipping by and memories fading. Cultural decline surfaces in “Hand of Glory,” where a strong chorus shines through layered horns and guitars. “Hollow Man” strips things back with shuffling percussion and lyrics steeped in self doubt and surrender.

The second half brings more energy. The bouncy “Pardon Me” takes a blunt swipe at political corruption, while “Boxing Clever” answers with guarded optimism, undercut by the line “nothing’s worth the price we pay.” It stands out as one of the album’s strongest moments. “In the Margins” pushes forward with driving guitars and a sense of resolve. “Beat the Clock” and the seasonal “Gingerbead Shitshow” add more hooks without losing bite. Jayson Jarmon’s songwriting remains sharp throughout, as this album is Highly Recommended.

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The Prize

The Prize “In The Red”

Another classic Aussie debut! ‘In The Red’ by The Prize hits hard from the opening seconds. This record grabs you on first listen and never lets go. The Prize come out of Melbourne, consisting of Nadine Muller on lead vocals & drums, Carey Paterson on lead vocals & guitar, Joseph Imfeld on guitar, Austin Haire on guitar, and Ethan Stahl on bass. Their sound is akin to Redd Kross or Buzzcocks, but I hear the influence of Thin Lizzy and Cheap Trick with plenty of layered melodic riffs. You get tight punk energy, power pop hooks, and straight-ahead rock grit.

The strong opener “Connie” sets the table, and we are off to the races. The three guitarists trade riffs and solos without excess on “Don’t Need ‘Em.” Not a note of filler and the energy stays high across the full run time. The vocalists work equally well too, both Nadine and Carey carry each song and the songwriting keeps things compelling. The tempo finally moderates on “Silver Bullet,” so a ballad would have made it perfect. However, it still makes my Aussie dominated year-end list. Super Highly Recommended.

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The Salt Collective, Danny Ayala, and Sloan

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“The

The Salt Collective “A Brief History of Blindness”

Once again French songwriter-guitarist Stéphane Schück’s international collaborative project, The Salt Collective delivers a gallery of brilliant artists to interpret Schück’s musical compositions. The star power here is impressive; Aimee Mann, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Andy Partridge (XTC), Jason Falkner and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) to name a few. The title track leans into near-operatic pop, driven by Lynn Blakely’s dramatic touch. Falkner’s “Waiting for the End of Time” follows with an eclectic horn-filled verse, reflecting Stéphane’s push for a wide, open sound built around orchestral accents.

I really enjoyed Chris Stamey’s “You Swallowed The Sun,” with its memorable layered harmonies in the chorus. These are not simple catchy pop songs, but compositions loaded with depth and details. Mitch Easter’s “Ex Post Facto Kids” is another standout. These are tunes that need to marinate in your brain, so repeat listens are needed. That noted, the talent here is undeniable. Highly Recommended.

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Danny Ayala

Danny Ayala “Only Fools Love Again”

Danny Ayala grew up on Long Island, and the Lemon Twigs comparison lands fast. He plays keyboards in the band, and the D’Addario brothers’ influence runs deep. You hear it right away on “I Was Wrong,” where bubblegum pop meets classic power pop. The soft lead vocal and sticky chorus hit hard, with an even sweeter tone than the Lemon Twigs often use.

Ayala avoids sticking to one lane. “Something With You” and “The Village” lean into classical piano lines and baroque pop touches. “Pluto” shifts gears with heavier guitar-driven rock. The influences show clearly at times, especially echoes of The Left Banke and Tony Burrows, yet the songs hold together as his own statement. “The Ballad” stands out as the boldest cut. Strings weave through shifting melodic ideas, pushing the record past comfort and into risk-taking territory. Highly Recommended.

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“Sloan"

Sloan “Based on the Best Seller”

After 30 years, these Halifax power pop veterans have nothing left to prove. They still sound sharp and self-aware. “Capitol Cooler” opens with thick riffs and a smart jab at classic rock lifers who keep mining old ideas and asking if they will “die with their boots on.” It sets the tone fast. “Dream Destroyer” and “So Far Down” lean hard into glam, delivering tight hooks and clear nods to T-Rex. The songs hit as pure ear candy without feeling lazy.

“Live Forever” turns the mirror inward, poking fun at the band’s own longevity while calling out the uneasy rise of anti-aging drugs. The band is so comfortable, and clear with its sound and message. “Collect Yourself” is another gem, along the lines of Stealers Wheel. Easily this is the most cohesive album since “12”, and no filler anywhere. Top shelf grade A+ rock and roll. On the best of the year list for sure. Highly Recommended.

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