➥ AADL 2025 Staff Picks: Homepage
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AADL 2025 STAFF PICS: AUDIO
Music, podcasts, CDs, records, and more:

PHOEBE H. — DESK CLERK

Onewe
“Veronica”
from the album Planet Nine: Alter Ego
(2021)
I had never heard of the K-rock band Onewe before, until I saw they were coming to play in Detroit, and I try to support K-pop acts that come to Detroit, so that they’ll come more often. I started listening to them a week before the show and enjoyed their music, and to my delight, they ended up being INCREDIBLE live and are now one of my favorite groups! Such a fun show! "Veronica" live was so hype, and this song sustained me through spring. I highly encourage you to blast this and jump around. {Tidal}

Alamat
all of their music.
Filipino P-pop/hip-hop/R&B/dance group whose every song is a banger. {Tidal}

Grentperez
“Movie Scene”
from the album Backflips in a Restaurant
(2025)
Ummm, yeah, this song has me in a chokehold. It’s the ultimate vibe. {Tidal}

Keshi
Requiem (Deluxe)
(2024)
Laughing at myself because I just looked at my staff picks from last year, and this album is on there. But this is the Deluxe version, so it’s different.  {Tidal}

Amber Mark
Pretty Idea
(2025)
The way this album was the only thing I listened to for a week straight, front to back on loop. Her voice is like warm honey. {Tidal}

AMANDA S. — GRAPHIC ARTIST

John Cale
POPtical Illusion
(2024)
{AADL}

Caroline Shaw & Attacca Quartet
Orange
(2019)
{Bandcamp}

David Gray
Real Life
(2025)
{YouTube Music}

Sharon VanEtten and The Attachment Theory
Sharon VanEtten and The Attachment Theory
(2025)
{AADL}

Racing Mount Pleasant
Racing Mount Pleasant
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

The Beths
Straight Line Was a Lie
(2025)
{AADL}

Neko Case
Neon Grey Midnight Green
(2025)
{AADL}

Cate Le Bon
Michelangelo Dying
(2025)
{AADL}

Dekker
Neither Up Nor Down
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Japanese Breakfast
For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
(2025)
{AADL}

Cass McCombs
Interior Live Oak
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Hiroshi Yoshimura
Green
(2020)
{AADL}

ALLIE H. — DESK CLERK

The Crane Wives
Beyond Beyond Beyond
(2024)
This year, I got to see The Crane Wives at St. Andrews Hall for part of their tour for their newest album, Beyond Beyond Beyond. They are a Michigan-based band from the Grand Rapids area with a folky, indie rock vibe and fantastic stage presence. Top picks of the latest album for me are: "Black Hole Fantasy" and "Say It". While AADL doesn't have the newest album, get a taste with their first release, Safe Ship, Harbored {AADL}, or check out the new one on {Bandcamp}.

LAT B. — DESK CLERK

LE SSERAFIM
"Crazy"
(2024)
A great song with a good message. "Act like an angel and dress like crazy." Advice I take to heart. {YouTube}

Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio
podcast
Many "sleep" podcasts tell you a cozy story to gently fall asleep to, and that's all well and good. But Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio announces full but fictional baseball games. Over the course of two hours, there is no yelling, no commercials, and no weird loud volume spikes. These are great to fall asleep to, of course, but I like putting them on whenever I just need a little extra noise. But if you happen to tune in, you will be rewarded greatly—one time, there was a goat on the field. That was awesome. {Sleep Baseball}

CHEYENNE F. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

FKA twigs
EUSEXUA
(2025)
One of the most layered and dense pop albums of the year. Honest, empowering, sweaty, and clarifying. FKA twigs has done it again. {AADL}

Oklou
Choke Enough
(2025)
Baroque-ish electro-pop, there's not too much out there that sounds like this album. {Spotify}

Maruja
Pain to Power
(2025)
Jazz punk at its finest. {Spotify}

Machine Girl
PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X
(2025)
A loud experimental face-melting mess, as expected. {Spotify}

Earl Sweatshirt
Live Laugh Love
(2025)
After some rough years, it's so good to hear Earl happy and reflecting on fatherhood. {Spotify}

Danny Brown
Stardust
(2025)
Danny Brown goes hyperpop. I loved every second of this. {Spotify}

Kelela
In the Blue Light
(2025)
Kelela STUNS in new live album that features unplugged renditions of some of her best songs. {Spotify}

Alex G
Headlights
(2025)
Alex G STUNS with a new album that sounds like all his other stuff, but I like it anyway. {Spotify}

No Joy
Bugland
(2025)
Shoegaze is so back. {Spotify}

Erika De Casier
Lifetime
(2025)
Trip-hop is also so back {Spotify}

Bassvictim
Forever
(2025)
Electronic music in general is so SO back. {Spotify}

D'Angelo
Black Messiah
(2014)
Now for something, tonally, completely different. We lost the amazing D'Angelo this year, and music is worse off for it. While I was familiar with D'Angelo's earlier work, I listened to his last album for the first time this year and was blown away. {AADL}

The Go Team
Proof of Youth
(2007)
A memory of this music video playing constantly on Cartoon Network turned into a months-long obsession. {AADL}

ALYSE P. – PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN

Gear for You
podcast
(2020)
Why should you listen to a podcast from five years ago, which only had three episodes, about tech that is, at this point, very outdated, you might be asking yourself? Well, for starters, if you enjoy music production, filmmaking, and photography, Chase Ryan’s Gear for You is for you. Chase has his guest walk him through what gear they would use at different budgets and points in their career, offering insight for aspiring creators, along with lots of wry, witty banter. The highlight is the episode with Mark Eshleman of ReelBear Media, where Mark both shares about his favorite camera gear and tries to shoehorn in as many plugs for a “sponsor” throughout the conversation, but it’s a business that is not sponsoring the podcast. Though maybe if it had been a real sponsorship, they would have made more episodes. Even with its very short runtime, this podcast is fun and informative. {Spotify}

The Tone Mob
podcast
A deep dive into the work of guitars and guitarists, the Tone Mob is about all things guitars and what makes them sound great, from pedals to pickups to the people behind it all. Highlights include the episodes featuring guitarist Ariel Posen and a recent episode about how to stay creative in a world that is ever-evolving. {Spotify}

Every Animal Ever
podcast
Comedian Zach Mander and wildlife veterinarian Dr. Cesar Puechmarin talk about an animal, with the unattainable goal of making an episode of the show about every animal ever. The premise of the podcast is that Cesar has prepared and researched for the episode, and Zach has no idea what animal they’ll be talking about, which sometimes makes it very informative and other times it’s a wild ride of a listen. My favorite episodes are the “Well, Actually” ones, where they read corrections from their audience, and the "Albatross" episode, where they went on a wild tangent about Australian DJ Timmy Trumpet. {Spotify}

Jazz Emu
Ego Death
(2025)
This visual concept album about a man slowly turning into a rat-human hybrid is the most unusual thing Jazz Emu (aka Archie Henderson) has produced up to this point. Songs like “I Could Get into It” and “Cake/Obsolete” are all very fun, odd, and catchy, and I can’t wait to see what he does next. {Spotify} {Website}

Moonrisers
Harsh & Exciting
(2025)
Produced by Dan Auerbach, this album from Detroit-based duo Moonrisers (Drummer Adam Schreiber and Multi-instrumentalist Libby DeCamp) is both calm and haunting with instrumental tunes like the title track “Harsh & Exciting,” which has a sound I've seen described as "doom folk," and “Muddy Shores,” which features an old school bluesy guitar and organ. Like all of Adam and Libby's work, this album is harsh, exciting, and at times incredibly soothing. {Spotify} {Bandcamp}

Penny and Sparrow
Up Late With Lefty
(2025)
The latest acoustic folk album from melancholy duo Penny and Sparrow was a delightful listen and has been in my most played since its release. The somewhat raucous “Breakdown” and heart-wrenching harmonies on  “Dog of War,” featuring Joseph, along with all of the music videos featuring the hilarious Tony Hale as late night host Bud “Lefty” Leftin were the highlights of this album and its surrounding media content. {Spotify}

IDLES
Tangk
(2024)
{Spotify}

Jacob Collier feat. Kimbra & Tank and the Bangas
In My Bones
(2020)
{Spotify}

Sammi Rae & the Friends feat. Jacob Jeffries
“Cool Doug at Night”
(2024)
{Spotify}

Thundercat feat. Remi Wolf
“Children of The Baked Potato”
(2025)
{Spotify}

MATT G. — PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Pissgrave
Malignant Worthlessness
(2025)
Ugly, harsh, absolutely caustic death metal that doesn’t really sound like anything else. Don’t let your mom hear it—she will be disappointed in you! {Bandcamp}

Revocation
New Gods, New Masters
(2025)
I don’t know where Dave Davidson keeps finding these riffs, but I hope he never stops. {Bandcamp}

End It
Wrong Side of Heaven
(2025)
Tough/fun hardcore from Baltimore, probably my most listened to album this year from start to finish because it’s only 23 minutes long! {Bandcamp}

Plosivs
Yell at Cloud
(2025)
Snuck in at the end of the year, and does not disappoint. I will always love anything John Reis plays guitar on. Angular, jangly, catchy. {YouTube}

Swami John Reis
Time to Let You Down
(2025)
Speaking of John Reis, here’s the OTHER album he put out this year. Fun fun fun, and big muscular guitars. {YouTube}

Sanguisugabogg
Hideous Aftermath
(2025)
Heavy stuff, made even heavier by the terrific Kurt Ballou production. I think “Rotted Entanglement” might be my favorite heavy song of the year. {Bandcamp}

Turnstile
Never Enough
(2025)
While I think I prefer their older stuff, the new Turnstile isn’t a bad thing, and their ascent into being featured in things like NFL commercial breaks is absolutely wild. Big hooks! {YouTube}

The Night Flight Orchestra
Give Us the Moon
(2025)
The kings/queens of AOR-style throwback continue to impress, even with the tragic passing of their primary songwriter. Music your dad runs on the treadmill to, and what I logged a lot of outdoor walks listening to. {Bandcamp}

Morbikon
Lost Within the Astral Crypts
(2025)
Anything Phil Hall is a part of (see Municipal Waste/Cannabis Corpse/Iron Reagan) is bound to rule, and Morbikon is no exception. It kinda seems like his take on '90s-era symphonic black metal Dimmu Borgir/Cradle of Filth stuff? Whatever you wanna call it, it’s got the riffs!  {Bandcamp}

Coroner
Dissonance Theory
(2025)
Stunning comeback from the German death dealers. Yeah, some of it is a little corny and leans heavily on groovy sections that don't quite work for me, but if nothing else, check out the truly inspired guitar solo/lead sections that are little masterpieces on their own. {Bandcamp}

One of Nine
Dawn of the Iron Shadow
(2025)
Tolkien-infused black metal! What more do you want?  {Bandcamp}

Lamp of Murmuur
The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
(2025)
Another one that snuck in near the end of the year, swirling, murky, and wholly unique black metal from Los Angeles. Spooky stuff! {Bandcamp}

Warbringer
Wrath and Ruin
(2025)
Meat and potatoes variety thrash from ol’ dependable Warbringer. Expect songs about swords, battles, etc., with a terrific lead-guitar duo. {Bandcamp}

Clairvoyance
Chasm of Immurement
(2025)
Very cool reverb-soaked old school death metal. I listened to this one quite a bit this summer, which meant I was headbanging while running a line trimmer. {Bandcamp}

Nite
Cult of the Serpent Sun
(2025)
Another great record from these Bay Area riff dealers, who still sound like Thin Lizzy and Mercyful Fate fronted by a singer from a black metal band. Hooks! Riffs! {Bandcamp}

LOREN B. — DESK CLERK

Joe Reilly feat. Born I
"Go As a River"
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

This Machine Kills
podcast
{Soundcloud}

Payroll Giovanni
"Get Money & Mind My Business"
(2025)
{YouTube}

ANNA C. — DESK CLERK

KiNG MALA
And You Who Drowned in the Grief of a Golden Thing
(2025)
I'm a diehard King Mala fan. If you haven't listened to any of her stuff yet, you should definitely give it a go! {Spotify}

Rachel Bochner
Lovergirl
(2024)
{Spotify}

MGMT
Little Dark Age
(2018)
{AADL}

HALEY Y. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Scorched Mind
Scorched Mind EP
(2024)
Pennsylvanian metal band Scorched Mind blends sludge, hardcore, and death metal. I listened to this EP on repeat at least three or four times during a long drive. Favorite track: "Luminous." {Spotify}

Lambrini Girls
Who Let the Dogs Out
(2025)
Punk band Lambrini Girls tackle everything from systemic violence to self-care in Who Let the Dogs Out. It was my most-needed album this year. Favorite track: "Bad Apple." {AADL}

Model/Actriz
Pirouette
(2025)
Model/Actriz blends post- and noise punk, dance, and industrial in their second album, Pirouette. Very fun and highly danceable. Favorite track: "Doves." And "Cinderella." And "Diva." {Spotify}

DITZ
Never Exhale
(2025)
Never Exhale is the second album from Brighton noise/post-punk band DITZ, and it's every bit as good as their debut release, The Great Regression. They often draw comparisons to IDLES and Gilla Band, so if you like those bands, give DITZ a listen. Favorite Track: "18 Wheeler." {Spotify}

Emma Ruth Rundle
Music From the Bella Vista
(2025)
Emma Ruth Rundle has been one of my favorite musicians since I saw her play in the band Marriages about a decade ago. She often weaves an interesting mix of folk and sludge metal into her sound. Music From the Bella Vista combines field recordings, experimental piano, and is dotted with tracks of Rundle reading poetry. Highly recommend putting this one on while making art. Favorite track: The whole album. {Spotify}

AMANDA S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Good Hang with Amy Poehler
podcast
I slowly got used to the relaxed conversation style and then instantly wanted to listen to all the episodes of this joyous and hilarious show. {Spotify} {Youtube}

Alive with Steve Burns
podcast
I saw that Wayne Coyne (lead singer of Flaming Lips) was on this podcast, so I listened to that episode and kept going. Burns’ voice and calmness are infectious. (Yeah, Steve from Blue’s Clues.)  {Lemonada}

ANTHONY D. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Water From Your Eyes
It’s a Beautiful Place
(2025)
{Bandcamp} {YouTube}

Delicate Steve
Luke’s Garage
(2025)
{Bandcamp} {YouTube}

Oneohtrix Point Never
Tranquilizer
(2025)
{Bandcamp} {YouTube}

Jonny Greenwood
One Battle After Another original soundtrack
(2025)
{Nonesuch} {YouTube}

MATT S. — DEVELOPER

David Byrne
Who Is The Sky?
(2025)
David Byrne delivers this album’s often wacky lyrics so earnestly, you might forget he’s singing about moisturizer. It’s funny, and Ghost Train Orchestra, which accompanies each track, is a wonderful complement to Byrne’s art-pop. {AADL}

REENA P. — DESK CLERK

Noah Kulwin and Brendan James
Blowback Season 1
podcast
(2020)
A podcast covering the Iraq War, its many players and characters, its utter mismanagement, and the tragedies that follow. {Website}

Vulfpeck
Clarity of Cal
(2025)
The beginning of the year felt something like being submerged underwater, so one of my favorite artists releasing such a positive album was like surfacing for the first time. Clarity of Cal is brilliant disco-flavored sunshine, full of the musicianship you've come to expect from Vulf records. And—it's a live album?! If you can believe it! A must listen if you're feeling down. {Bandcamp, Live Show on YouTube}

8-Bit Big Band
Orchestrator Emulator
(2025)
Another fantastic home run by the nerd ensemble. "Waluigi Pinball" and "Super Mario Praise Break" are my favorites on here. The latter track was nominated for a Grammy for Best Arrangement (Instrumental / A Cappella), and the album itself is in the running for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album! These artists outdo themselves with every release. {Bandcamp}

OCTAVIA S. — DESK CLERK

Kadhja Bonet
Childqueen
(2018)
Beautiful vocals paired with electronica that my partner lovingly dubs "bug music," Childqueen feels like a fantasy given voice. {AADL}

Cécile McLorin Salvant
The Window
(2018)
Track "J'ai L'Cafard" firmly earned a place as one of my most looped songs this year. {Bandcamp}

Xenia Rubinos
Black Terry Cat
(2016)
The song "Mexican Chef" featured in an episode of Gente-fied. The album spans numerous genres and is worth your time. {Bandcamp}

Quetzal
Worksongs
(2003)
A song to remind you of what we do to get here. {Website}

Varsovia
Recursos Inhumanos
(2016)
Despite being nearly a decade late to its release, the rage born of suffering that Varsovia distills into only seven songs makes it absolutely my album of the year. {Bandcamp}

ELI N. — DIRECTOR

Raymond Scott
Soothing Sounds for Baby Vols 1-3
(1962)
I stumbled upon this set on vinyl; it was a 2021 Record Store Day release. Astonishingly early in the history of synth music, Soothing Sounds for Baby was way ahead of its time, not particularly for babies, and great music for focusing, chilling, or just listening. While it has the telltale timbres of early synth music, compositionally, these albums would be right at home with much more recent ambient works. You can find the full albums on YouTube: {Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3}

LAINE K. — DESK CLERK

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album
(1999)
Every song brings a charm that is unequivocally reminiscent of The Bronze, everyone's favorite fictional club. Great for fans of the show or anyone who enjoys late-'90s indie-rock. Standout track: “Virgin State of Mind” by K’s Choice. {AADL}

Sam Fender
People Watching
(2025)
Sam Fender’s newest release is lyrically moving, containing indie rock anthems that touch on economic strife, questioning faith, the rise of neo-fascism, and grief. Standout tracks: “Chin Up,” “Little Bit Closer,” and “Rein Me In.” {AADL}

Olivia Dean
The Art of Loving
(2025)
This album was inspired by Bell Hooks’ All About Love and combines show-stopping vocals with jazz / R&B instrumentation. I especially recommend Olivia Dean for fans of Amy Winehouse. Standout Tracks: “Something Inbetween” and “Loud.” {AADL}

EMMA M. — DESK CLERK

Ear Hustle 
podcast
Ear Hustle was the first podcast created and produced in prison at California’s San Quentin State Prison. The hosts collaborate with folks inside and outside San Quentin to share aspects of life within its walls and post-incarceration. Their interviews with inmates provide listeners with a first-hand perspective of prison life that feels educational rather than exploitative. The stories are always moving and make me think more critically about the criminal justice system. {Website}

Yung Lean
Poison Ivy
(2018)
Yung Lean influenced the genre of cloud rap alongside his friends in the Stockholm-based music collective Sad Boys. Lean gained traction in 2013 with the release of his track/music video “Ginseng Strip 2002." The song's silly energy carries into his debut album, Unknown Death 2002 (2013), with his slight Swedish accent seeming to mash absurd English words together to a beat that urges you to listen to his macho lyrics ironically. French music artist Legit Girl DJ beautifully articulates this tone in their tribute article, “Yung Lean and Me” (https://legitgirldj.substack.com/p/yung-lean-and-me). His discography progressed to feature poetic, dark imagery and raw emotion among the more traditional rap themes of money and substances, as showcased in the album Unknown Memory (2014) and tracks such as “Hennessy & Sailor Moon” (Frost God, 2016) and “Agony” (Stranger, 2017) and “Boylife in EU” (Starz, 2020). Poison Ivy (2018) is a sweet blend of the spirit of his earlier works and the softness displayed in Stardust (2022). My favorite track is “bender++girlfriend”, a song in two parts which encapsulates Lean’s music style perfectly. I was ecstatic to see him in Detroit following the release of his 2025 album, Jonatan, which leans into the folk/alternative sound of his side project, jonatan leandoer96. His music will always have a special place in my heart, with a song for every mood. {Soundcloud}

John Glacier
Like a Ribbon
(2025)

British rapper John Glacier’s newest album is a refreshing take on the previously dreamy, electronic, laid-back sound of her debut, SHILOH: Lost for Words (2021). I love the use of guitar and the power of her vocals - the album feels like the emergence of spring, tender and self-accepting. Some of my favorites include “Nevasure” (experimental, reflective), “Ocean Steppin’” (calm), and “Dancing in the Rain” (dancey rap). {Bandcamp}

Mietze Conte
Mietzee
(2024)
Mietze Conte is a playful mix of genres, mostly euro dance pop and hyperpop. Some of my favorite tracks include “Secret,” “aaahh give me some more time,” and “loveletter voicemail." {Bandcamp}

Between Friends
Wow!
(2025)
This album from the alternative/indie sibling duo felt like a coming-of-age-summer film, dreamy and fun. It’s the sound of an American-coded Brat summer. My favorites include “Jackie”, “Soda”, and “You & Me Time” {Website}

Bassvictim
Basspunk 2
(2024)
The London-based duo’s music has been described as a mix of witch-house, UK dubstep, and hyperpop. Their industrial, electronic sound is perfect for dreary days. Some of my favorites include “Hum It to Google,” “Wooden Girl," and “Forever Salty."{Bandcamp}

Oklou
Choke Enough
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Sophia Stel
Object Permanence [Deluxe Edition]
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

tommy moisi
Variety
(2023)
Mellow French rap. {Bandcamp}

AIDEN O. — DESK CLERK

Dijon
Baby
(2025)
Like Dijon wrote a collection of already above-average R&B songs and then decided to tear them apart just to see what would happen.

Geese
Getting Killed
(2025)
The frontman for Geese, Cameron Winter, released an incredible album last year called "Heavy Metal.” This is good too. A collection of rhythm-first rock songs with Cameron's desperate, stream-of-consciousness lyrics holding the whole thing together.

Joni Mitchell
Hejira
(1976)
Joni unspools long stories and ruminations over tracks fleshed out by her jazz-musician collaborators. I found this totally engrossing.

Earl Sweatshirt
Live Laugh Love
(2025)
This is the first Earl album I've really gotten into (which means I’ll need to revisit some of his old stuff). A series of short, lo-fi, but highly detailed self-portraits in which Earl can be anything from affectionate to contemplative to menacing to exhausted.

Panda Bear
Sinister Grift
(2025)
I've been a big fan of Panda Bear for a while now. This is a collection of straightforward (albeit psychedelic) songs featuring gorgeous harmonies. The Dub-inspired "50mg" is a particular standout.

Barker
Stochastic Drift
(2025)
A collection of experiments in rhythm and structure. The titles of the tracks often read like prompts that the music then seeks to cohere to: "Reframing," "Difference and Repetition," "Positive Disintegration."

ML Buch
Suntub
(2023)
The album I listened to most this year. ML Buch evokes the strangeness of the natural world through a mix of instrumental sound-portraits and alt-rock tracks with highly impressionistic lyrics.

Djrum
Under Tangled Silence
(2025)
A mix of beautiful (often improvised) piano passages, cello, fluttering synths, and some of the most unhinged programmed drums I've ever encountered. 

MARA A. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Rosé
Rosie
(2025)
Rosé's beautiful voice and heartfelt lyrics have been carrying me through this year. "Apt." was to me the most fun song this summer. "Toxic Till the End" and "3am" are beautiful ballads. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole album. {AADL}

DANI K. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

21 Pilots
Breach
(2025)
Just go listen to "Drum Show" in your car on the way home (and then listen to the rest, too—it's all so good). {AADL}

Hayley Williams
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
(2025)
On repeat in my car since it was released. {AADL}

A Good Hang with Amy Poehler
podcast
(2025)
I'm going to link the Rachel Dratch episode because their laughter is contagious, but this podcast has been such a breath of fresh air this year. {YouTube}

DALTON B. — SAFETY ASSISTANT

Destiny Potato
Lun
(2014)
Call it prog, call it djent, call it melodic metal; whatever you call it, I call it a great listen. {Bandcamp}

You're Wrong About
podcast
(2018)
You probably thought you already knew all there is to know about the McDonald's Coffee case of 1994. Sarah Marshall's You're Wrong About podcast will help you revisit all those history-making events that were so poorly reported on in the first place. {Spotify}

CRYSTA C. — DESK CLERK 

Arthur Brown
Monster's Ball
(2022)
What a terrifically fun album. Checked it out for Halloween; would listen year-round. {AADL}

Duran Duran
Danse Macabre
(2023)
While I believe the deluxe version of this album is the superior of the two (it has more tracks), do not sleep on this fantastic, spooky dream of an album. {AADL} {Deluxe edition}

Beauty and the Beasts
podcast
Spooky urban legends, listener stories, and haunted history with a get-ready-with-me bedtime vibe hosted by Megan Lee. {YouTube} {Spotify}

JULIAN T. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Idle Ray
Even in the Spring
(2025)
Yet another piece of gazey, jangle-pop greatness from Ypsilanti music scene veteran Fred Thomas. {Bandcamp}

KIM G. — DESK CLERK

Haunted Mitten
with Crysta K. Coburn and Kay Gray
podcast
(2019-present)
Haunted Mitten has come a long way since 2019. This is season number 7, and it is going strong! This is a podcast that delves into the history, hauntings, and high strangeness of the people and places that have crafted the mitten state. {Haunted Mitten}

ALLISON J. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Blackpink in 2025:
The girls of Blackpink started the year with the release of each of their solo albums. (Many of their singles were released before the albums were released, which were chronicled in my 2024 Staff Picks.}

Rosé released her full-length album, Rosie {AADL}, in December 2024.  A few of my favorite non-single tracks are "3 AM," "Drinks and Coffee," and "Dance All Night." 

Jisoo released Amortage on February 14, a 4-song EP with lead single "Earthquake" (my top song of the year according to Spotify).  I also liked the song "Your Love."

Lisa released her full-length album Alter Ego on February 28 (my top album, according to Spotify, as well as my top artist). My favorite non-single tracks off the album are "Fxck Up the World," "Lifestyle," and "Dream."

And Jennie released her full-length album Ruby on March 7.  I love the song "Like Jennie" as well as "With the IE," "ExtraL" (featuring Doechii), "Starlight," "Twin," and "Zen."

Blackpink also reunited for another world tour and for the release of their new single, "Jump."  It’s … fine.  Hopefully, their comeback album (set to be released in 2026) is better.

MEOVV
MEOVV is the newest K-pop girl group from The Black Label.  I love exactly three of their songs: "Meow," "Hands Up," and "Body"—all upbeat dance tracks. So far, I’m impressed by these new artists, and I’m excited to see what they do next!

CHRISTOPHER B. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Adrian Quesada
Boleros Psicodélicos
(2022)
My favorite new music all year. All of these songs sound like they are lifted directly from a 1970s lowbrow movie soundtrack. Organs and marimbas alternate with retro guitars for an easy, low-fi sound. {Website}

LORI STRATTON — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN | PULP

Absentees
All the Hertz: Volume 1
(2025)
{Spotify}

Tom Alter
Under the Firmament
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Arct1c
Blip in Time
(2025)
{Spotify}

David Barrett
Guitar Stories From the Midwest
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

London Beck
Vengeance Be Mine
(2025)
{Spotify}

Blockhouse Valley
It’s Alright
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Crossword Smiles
Consequences & Detours
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Custard Flux
Enter Xenon
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Dani Darling
Cazimi
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

DASHpf
Things We Used to Make
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Dave & Kristi
The Chickadees
(2025)
{Spotify}

Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys
Feel Alive
(2024)
{Spotify}

Taylor DeRousse
Running Back to Me
(2025)
{Spotify}

Desmond Jones
Squids
(2024)
{Bandcamp}

Detroit Energy Asylum
Landslide of Life: 82/22
(2023)
{Bandcamp}

Discipline
Breadcrumbs
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Anne Domini
Summer Snows
(2025)
{Spotify}

Chris DuPont
Outlier
(2015)
{Bandcamp}

Bill Edwards
A Home in My Heart
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Marty Gray
Disassemble
(2024)
{Spotify}

Kate Hinote Trio
Stowaways
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

J. Michael & The Heavy Burden
Where We Belong
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Kyle Joe
Take It Easy
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Kelsey.
Kelsey.
(2025)
{Spotify}

Amrit Kohli
Mama! I Can’t Breathe
(2024)
{Bandcamp}

Jan Krist
Since You Asked Me
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Low Phase
So Pretty It’s Perfect
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

George Mashour
Eulogy for My Ego Death
(2024)
{Spotify}

Jess Merritt
Wild in Me
(2025)
{Spotify}

Night Sky Alumni
Down the Rabbit Hole
(2025)
{Spotify}

Painted Friends
The Devil in the Deep State
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Brian Perrone
Bend Until It Breaks
(2025)
{Spotify}

Premium Rat
Stranded on Land
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Sonic Distance
Everything Outward
(2025)
{Spotify}

The City Lines
Prescribed Fires
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

The Idiot Kids
Instants
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Tree City
Pure Levels
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Mike Ward
The Time That Remains
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Widetrack
Galatea
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Olivia Van Goor
Waiting for Santa
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

Danny VanZandt
Proust in the Kitchen With the Wooden Spoon!
(2025)
{Bandcamp}

VaporDaze
All Gonna End
(2025)
{Spotify}

More AADL Staff Picks:
➥ 2024
➥ 2023
➥ 2022
➥ 2021
➥ 2020
➥ 2019
➥ 2018
➥ 2017
➥ 2016