Selected by: Jaden R. (Brooklyn, NY)
I'm a big fan of interesting production, and flipturn's floaty, psychedelic, indie style shines through on Rodeo Clown. Understated and crisp instrumentation combines with intensely relatable lyrics describing the tension between outward appearance and internal struggle to make a song that is both catchy and compelling.
Bonus Pick: "Your Direction" - Goose
Flipturn - "Rodeo Clown" on Jimmy Kimmel Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsIqKzKtm28&list=RDXsIqKzKtm28&start_radio=1
Selected by: Ron H. (Ventura, CA)
Surprise, surprise. I went with a super-hooky song. Didn't know much about this band when the year started, but I'm a sucker for a bouncy song about insecurity and heartache, so this tune gets my vote this year.
Bonus Pick: "Nothing I Need" by Lord Huron and "The Night Before" by The Black Keys
ROLE MODEL - Sally, When The Wine Runs Out (from Saturday Night Live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uRjXrQ5ZWU&list=RD1uRjXrQ5ZWU&start_radio=1
Selected by: Julia R. (Portland, OR)
The whole album hits, but this one is my 2025 — running through life, hair in the wind, sun on my skin, and the feeling of finally stepping back into the light.
Bonus Pick: "Olive Tree" on this same album by Quinn XCII will gut you, break your heart, then pick you up kiss you and make you say thanks.
Selected by: Gregory T. (Philadelphia, PA)
A sweet song about love with a beautiful voice to boot.
Cameron Winter - Love Takes Miles (Later... with Jools Holland)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXnGjtGhpOk&list=RDSXnGjtGhpOk&start_radio=1
Selected by: James D. (Burbank, CA)
Wet Leg's 2025 release, "Moisturizer" is one of my a top-10 albums from this past year. For sure, there are several tracks off of it that were worthy of my nod for PMX 2025. But in the end, I went with the third single, "Davina McCall". Although they've definitely got their own unique sound, this one sounds to me very much like The Strokes (another favorite). Wet Leg has cited that band as a major influence. So there you go.
Bonus Pick: "Catch These Fists" by Wet Leg
Wet Leg - davina mccall (Glastonbury 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KBu75mvOBo&list=RD_KBu75mvOBo&start_radio=1
Selected by: Lance B. (El Segundo, CA)
I said it last year: I love that the sound of early 90's alternative can be found all over modern music these days. This year, I heard it in tracks by Beach Bunny, Wishy, Momma and The Kooks.
The Convenience is a band from New Orleans - looks to just be a couple of kids making music for fun. I love that.
Bonus Pick: "Parachute" by Hayley Williams (channeling Shirley Manson and Garbage)