I Don't Hear A Single Best 100 Albums Of 2025 : 1-10

 

We reach the last of the 10 posts revealing I Don't Hear A Single's Best 100 Albums Of 2025. There are a few that I was surprised not to included, but it is such a large piece of work that rearranging part way through just wouldn't work. I'd remind all that any Album reviewed on here is of the highest merit. We only review what we like.

Ordering is so difficult, comparing apples to oranges and next year, I may just post 10 of the 100 per day alphabetically with one named Albun Of The Year, There will be a full listing of all 100 later and tomorrow EPs will be covered with one post. Then we get on to 2026.

1   The Mommyheads - No Quietus       IDHAS Review

2  Fortitude Valley - Part Of The Problem, Baby      IDHAS Review

3    The Goods - Don't Spoil The Fun    IDHAS Review

4     Silk Cut - Corridors Of Light      IDHAS Review

5     Buddie - Glass      IDHAS Review

6    Tamar Berk - ocd    IDHAS Review

7   Chris Church - Obsolete Path   IDHAS Review

8   The Happy Fits - Lovesick    IDHAS Review

9    Custard Flux - Enter Xenon     IDHAS Review

10   Strange Neighbors - People Pleasers Pleasing People      IDHAS Review

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Silk Cut - Corridors Of Light

 

Silk Cut's second album was self titled and in our Top 10 albums of last year. You can read the review here. My thoughts at the time and approaching this follow up, were how do they follow that? I'm pleased to note that there is no difficult third album for the New Zealand quartet. Corridors Of Light is jaw droppingly brilliant.

For all our wanderings across the genres, there is a base camp. Frequenting that place is primarily great Guitar Pop and this album ticks every box. Songs built on melody, riffs and singalong choruses crash out into the open without one hiccup. This is indeed Pop!

There is a Brit feel to the sound. A song like Death Of Us underlines this, but mixes 60s Beat with 70s Pop Rock and 90s Brit Pop. The whole album is a little like that, but the emphasis is on killer riffs and hooks without ever losing focus. The instrumental arrangements are amazing.

Supernovae is acoustic and sounds a little folky, but allows the band to show vocal harmony strength, it even gets a little Psych Pop in feel with a wonderful Guitar run. Heavy Lifting continues that gentle Psych feel whilst still sounding a little Brit Pop.

Corridors rocks a little more and the chorus is more restrained. .The moody atmospheric closer, Godlike I is hypnotic, different to the jaunty album surroundings. It is massive in scope and instrumental build. Truly gobsmacking. What an incredible song!

The emphasis across the album though is joyful. Never more so than on the trailing single, Good Morning, which still sounds as ace. Why is it that songs about the Radio always sound so good?  This whole album is a relegation, varied and incredibly pop tactic.

It is a grim world presently and that may be why albums like resonate so well. The chance to forget about what is going on around us and replace it with joy and light. Corridors Of Light is a mood changer, a notable reminder of the power of song. What an antidote this lot are.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : Top 10

 

So we get to our Best 10 Albums Of 2024. Any of these 10 could have been Number 1 and this reflected how diverse I Don't Hear A Single has become over the years. It is essentially a home for Indie Pop Rock, but it isn't afraid of taking different paths. For instance Prog and Psych is placed well amongst the 100 albums, which is a testament to how open the ears of followers are.

We chose The Armoires because we believe it was so different to much of everything else we heard in 2024. But, any album that is reviewed on IDHAS is recommended. We only review what we have liked. The 100 albums will be posted as a list later.

1 The Armoires - Octoberland     IDHAS Review

2 The Mommyheads - One Eyed Band      IDHAS Review

3 Teenage Frames - Everything Has Led To This     IDHAS Review

4 King Black Acid - Victory For Mad Love    IDHAS Review

5 Emperor Penguin - Gentlemen Thieves     IDHAS Review

6 Silk Cut - Silk Cut       IDHAS Review

7 Amateur Ornithologist - Hide      IDHAS Review

8 Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic      IDHAS Review

9 Ward White - Here Comes The Dowsers      IDHAS Review

  

10      James Sullivan - Vital Signs     IDHAS Review

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Silk Cut - Silk Cut

Auckland's Silk Cut offer up their second album and do much to dispel the myth that every band from New Zealand is a dreamy Guitar Pop affair with sugar sweet songs. The quartet are not such, although the superb Turning The World On gets close until the Psych Pop Guitar kicks in towards the end.

Truth be known that that song is really more Jangle Pop and a little early Crowded House. Overall though, the self titled album sounds more UK 1970s from Glam Rock to Pop Rock to New Wave and it is an absolutely corking listen. 

There is plenty of choruses for the Pop kids, but also plenty enough diversions into Intelligent Indie with hooks, riffs and an angular intent. Arrangements are surprising and engaging from the melodic to the surprising. Every song seems to pack in a surprise.

Part of this is the super vocals. Sounding more than a little Muse on Punches, but more Nolan-esque Glam on Chip Away At The Stone. Tom Toms instrumentally sounds like the theme of an Armchair Theatre episode. Control Option Command mixes Brit Pop, Glasgow Jangle and great New Wave.

Heavenly Nova fits in with the new louder version of Indie Power Pop, Old Blue mixes late 60s Film Soundtrack whilst edging to both 70s Classic Rock and even Psych. Anywhere Can Happen goes full on Psych Pop and nails it, whilst The Transfer may be the best thing that you'll hear all year.

They even go to extremes with the 7 minute long Dead Star which gets all moody and magnificent instrumentally, yet could easily be on Ness's debut album. Compare that to the 1 minute closer which is all Bodie and Doyle with a cover of The Professionals Theme Tune. This album is magnificent, right up our street with real surprises without ever losing the plot.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You really should!

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