Thurston Moore fans take note: A) the Sonic Youth co-founder has launched a Substack, and B) his first post is a list of the “350 Best Records of 2025.”
That’s a lot of records and his lower 300 includes Chris Brokaw, Gina Birch, Sunn O))), Water From Your Eyes, Smerz, Christian Marclay, Billy Woods, the James Brandon Lewis Trio, Zoh Amba, Mälevolent, Lou Barlow, Mary Halvorson, Prolapse, Ryan Sawyer’s Shaker Ensemble, Merzbow and John Wiese, Pink Siifu, Blood Abscission, Lifeguard, Blood Monolith, and more.
As for his Top 50, that includes old friends, bandmates, heroes and more. Check out that list below and visit (and subscribe to) his Substack for the full list of 350.
Thurston More’s 50 Best Albums of 2025
50. The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters – CD (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
49. Swans – Birthing 3xLP (Young God)
48. Escape-Ism – Charge of the Love Brigade LP (Radical Elite)
47. The Cabanists LP (Watusi)
46. Sun Ra – U.F.O. & The Place of Five Points 10” lathe (Bar/None / People In A Position To Know)
45. Lana Del Rey – Bluebird CDr single (Minos-EMI / Universal Music Greece)
44. Julia, Julia – Sugaring A Strawberry LP (Suicide Squeeze / Happy Sunday)
43. Judith Wegmann – Le Souffle du Temps II – Réflexion CD (ezz-thetics / Hat Hut)
42. Shifa – Ecliptic CD (Discus)
41. Misaki Motofuji – Evoke CD (Hittori)
40. Deison and Mingle – Everything Collapse(d) piano version CD (13 (3) / sps25107 / Loud! / FinalMuzik)
39. Brahja – Infinity Zero LP (RR GEMS)
38. The Ex – If Your Mirror Breaks LP (Ex)
37. Michael R. Bernstein – The Perfect Radio Station of the Mind cassette (self-released)
36. Monster CD (Klanggalerie)
35. Karen Constance and Dylan Nyoukis – The Final Fumes from the Soup Bowls cassette (New Forces)
34. Bonner Kramer – “…and the crimson moon whispers goodbye” LP (Shimmy-Disc)
33. The Royal Arctic Institute LP (Centripetal Force)
32. Meilt – Gwall cassette (Molt Fluid)
31. Liar, Flower – ornamental gardens LP (Sleep Like Wolves)
30. Drumloop and The Rita – Eyelines cassette (Deathbed Tapes)
29. Red Brut - On Bare Ground LP (Coherent States / Dead Mind Records / Econore)
28. Scotch Broom Collective – Insects & Water cassette (Feeding Tube)
27. F.G.S. – Tinker Bell’s Cough LP (Scenic Route)
26. Jim Shepard – Panties & Perfume LP (Siltbreeze)
25. Nels Cline – Consentrik Quartet 2xLP (Blue Note / The Alstro Imprint)
24. Francesca Gemmo and Magda Mayas – Tides in the Mirror CD (ezz-thetics / Hat Hut)
23. Cosey Fanni Tutti – 2t2 LP (Conspiracy International)
22. John Glacier – Like A Ribbon LP (Young)
21. @xcrswx – Moodboard LP (Feedback Moves)
20. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out LP (Roc Nation)
19. Parasite Nurse – Lack CD (self-released)
18. Lila Meretzky – Simultaneous Contrast CD (Sawyer Editions)
17. Orcutt, Shelley, Miller LP (Silver Current)
16. Brunhild Ferrari – Errant Ear CD (Persistence of Sound)
15. Luke Stewart and Silt Remembrance Ensemble – The Order CD (Cuneiform)
14. Karen Willems – A Fool’s Guide to Reality LP (Permanent Draft)
13. Lee Ranaldo and Michael Vallera – Early New York Silver LP (Amish)
12. Fred Frith and Mariá Portugal – Matter (Intakt)
11. Gwenifer Raymond – Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark LP (We Are Busy Bodies)
10. Armand Hammer and The Alchemist – Mercy album LP (Backwoodz Studioz)
9. Maria Ja Marsialaiset – Hevikuiskaaja LP (Full Contact / Ektro / Fonal)
8. Fred Moten and Brandon Lopez – Revision LP (Tao Forms)
7. Camila Nebbia, Gonçalo Almeida and Sylvain Darrifourcq – Hypomaniac LP (Defkaz)
6. S_B_B – shinjirutowa? Cassette (Fanalstatt)
5. Láz – Lassan Átjáró Zavar cassette (Urban Lurk / Szégyen Kazetták / Pizza Days Rekordz)
4. Zeena Parkins – Modesty of the Magic Thing CD (Tzadik)
3. Manja Ristić – Sargassum Aeterna LP (Rekem)
2. Faith Coloccia and Daniel Menche – Smelter CD (Room40)
1. Laura De Jongh – Fundus 10” EP (Klankhaven)
Check out more Best of 2025 list here.