Year-end lists. They're as ubiquitous as new year's resolutions.
I've often wondered why we make them. I've never taken a psychology class, so any hypothoses I might put forth here are just off the top of the dome (or pulled out of my ass, whichever metaphor resonates with you).
I saw some video (Instagram or Tik Tok thing - whatever) of some guy being super Gervais-level smug, taking the piss on people's Spotify wrapped posts.
First off: I fucking hate Spotify, so this is not a defence of that. But, as I have aged, I have become less and less gatekeeper-y. I also care less and less about what people post online. Do your own thing, share what you wish. So, fuck that smug prick. Second: my take on the Spotify wrapped thing dovetails with my question about why we make year-end lists.
We make lists in order to share them, don't we? We share them as a way of publicly giving flowers to artists; to promote bands we love, and hopefully add to their fanbase. We also post lists as a way of showing a bit of ourselves. If I see someone in meatspace wearing merch from a band I like, I know instantly I can vibe with that meatbag. Sharing a year-end list is kind of the online equivalent of wearing 10 band shirts at once. It's a way to sharing a bit of ourselves, and hopefully a way of finding our tribe. (Or maybe not. What the hell do I know?)
Anwho...here are 10 albums that made 2025 more tolerable for me.
