Last week we posted the overviews of our favorite LPs of 2025 (here is Niek’s, there is mine), but this year also saw countless short-format releases that deserve to be listed. Below you can listen to the 50 singles and EPs that I enjoyed most last year (note: individual songs are excluded), in alphabetical order. Links point to Bandcamp or another sales outlet (the titles), and to previously posted reviews (in the body text).
While I traditionally prefer albums, if only because you don’t have to get up as often to turn the record over, but also because it literally gives you more time to immerse yourself in the artist’s world, I’m increasingly enjoying the pleasures of singles and EPs. They’re often explosions of positive energy packed with hooks, which immediately make for a good time, and that was certainly the case over the past 12 months. If this were the soundtrack to a night out, I’d return home exhausted but utterly delighted.
The 5.6.7.8’s featuring Miss Ludella Black || Beat Girls
[Garage Beat, Japan/UK || Spinout Nuggets] A must-have 7″ with exciting covers of The Pretty Things’ Come See Me, Ray Charles’ What’d I Say, John Barry’s Beat Girl, and the Pretenders’ Kid—a dancefloor-ready blend of vintage cool and timeless bite.
Autogramm || Randy
[Power Pop, Canada || Dirt Cult Records / Goodwill Records] A catchy reworking of a leftover from the Music That Humans Can Play LP into an ode to the drummer’s cat Randy, with a buoyant, synth-charged cover of a 1979 punk gem by The Diodes on the B-side—cheerful and contagious.
Big Mess || Terry
[Pop Punk, Denmark || Specialist Subject Records] A blistering single where a fiery cover of Kirsty MacColl’s Terry sets the fuse for originals that detonate into compact pleasure bombs—sugary on the surface, explosive at the core, and instantly addictive.
Nico Bones || Sweet Heart Break
[Glam Punk, US || Ghost Highway Records / Savage Magic Records / Wanda Records] A six-song jolt of strutting, high-voltage rock that stomps, shimmies, and shouts with unfiltered joy—irresistibly alive, with a bluesy boogie bite that forces a grinning dance.
Boogie Rockafella || “...Makin’ Money.”
[Blues Rock, Australia || Self-released] A loose, swinging debut packed with gritty riffs, stomping rhythms, and yearning vocals—the Melbourne garage rock duo surprises with a spirited cover of Al Green’s Love and Happiness, but their originals are also more than worthy.
Bright Eyes || Kids Table
[Alternative Folk, US || Dead Oceans] An eight-song companion to last year’s Five Dice, All Threes LP, this mini-album mingles serrated wordplay, brusque honesty, and a haunting cover of Lucinda Williams’ Sharp Cutting Wings (Song to a Poet), exploring childhood, hope, and despair with Conor Oberst’s signature mix of wit and emotional rawness. Bonus point for the cover art.
Clean Lines || Nuisance
[Power Pop, US || Ghost Highway Recordings / Spaghetty Town Records / Wanda Records] A seasoned Seattle crew delivers a raucous, 70s-infused rock EP blending punk, power pop, and bratty charm—tight, energetic, and fun, showcasing the musicians’ pedigree and love for playful rock ‘n’ roll.
Current Foxes || Bandits
[Blues Rock, UK || Self-Released] A groove-driven hit that moves boldly and brilliantly towards a climax (“Steal every thought // It’s time to say goodbye”), paired with a live flip that proves the band’s electrifying power in full force.
Fontaines D.C. || It’s Amazing To Be Young / Before You I Just Forget
[Post Rock, Ireland || XL Recordings] A tender, hopeful new single celebrating youthful wonder, pushing back against modern cynicism—inspired by the feeling of hope children can give, and the sense of wanting to create a world for them to grow up in happily.
Los Frenéticos || Cinerama
[Surf Rock, Argentina || Hi-Tide Recordings] Two vivid instrumental tunes that spin wordless stories—one brisk and unpredictable, the other slower and cinematic—uniting guitars, organ, and a classical touch into a pair of timeless, transportive journeys.
Hutch Harris || Together Til Whatever
[Indie Rock, US || Self-Released] A liberating, steady-handed EP that turns past uncertainty into unwavering devotion, weaving vibrant vocals and shimmering melodies into four love-soaked songs that celebrate resilience, gratitude, and the quiet confidence of a bond that holds.
Thee Headcoatees || The Man-Trap Session EP Vol. One
[Garage Rock, UK || Damaged Goods Records] A long-awaited comeback yielded not only a fourteen-track LP, but also two companion EPs with four songs each—both fresh originals and spirited covers—including some exclusive non-album tunes. It’s all equally fantastic
Heavenly || Portland Town
[Indie Pop, UK || Skep Wax] As a taster for an upcoming album next year, this is a bright, jangling return—Heavenly’s first new music in 29 years—that couples effortless catchiness with lyrical bite, offering an anthem for outsiders seeking belonging. With a wonderful cover of The Only Ones’ Someone Who Cares as B-side.
The Heavenly Bodes || A Shelf You Can Applaud At A Distance
[Garage Psych, UK || Kernow Beat / Krautpop!] A rugged, lo-fi blast where sneering vocals, swirling guitars, and unpredictable tempo shifts collide in four fuzzed-out, danceable, and slightly hallucinogenic tracks that capture chaotic energy in all the right ways.
Hexham Heads || Hexham Heads
[Power Pop, Australia || Cheersquad Records & Tapes] A crisp, high-energy debut, fueled by Elvis Costello-tinged vocals, Thin Lizzy-style guitar fire, and a rock-solid rhythm section—ten promising minutes packed with effortless hooks and straight-from-the-heart lyrics.
Hollerado || Start A Band
[Indie Rock, Canada || Royal Mountain Records] I was so happy with this release, and still am actually. It’s a heartfelt, hook-filled return that feels both necessary and inevitable—five urgent, honest songs built on striking lyrics, solid riffs, and catchy harmonies that turn chaos into connection and reunion into pure joy.
Adam Hopper & The Wimps || Remember to Have Fun
[Anti-Folk, UK || Bingo Records] A breezy, feel-good debut steeped in friendship and nostalgia, blending jangly guitars, pleasant vocals, and retro-tinted memories into four sunlit tracks that celebrate growing up, hanging out, and keeping happiness in focus. Considering the time of year, this cut makes the most sense right now: Happy New Year!
Hugs Of The Sky || Temple Of Soda
[Psych Rock, Belgium || Wagonmaniac Music] A playful, unpredictable EP where freaky bursts, hypnotic lulls, and even goat bleats go together—five inventive tracks packed with oddball charm and a bright streak of hope amid the weirdness.
Kill The Pain with PowerSolo || Le Vertige De La Fête / Miss L’Amour
[Rhythm & Blues, Europe || Crunchy Frog] An unlikely cross-continental alliance yields two eclectic tracks, putting together boisterous swing with soulful grit on one side, and elegant pop on the other, sung in French and English respectively—a stylish collaboration that clicks with effortless chemistry.
The Knight Shades || Why (Baby Why!)
[Garage Rock, US || Rogue Records] This fiery debut 7” pairs a raucous organ stomper on the A-side with an equally danceable, guitar-led flip—fuzz and fire, skills and screams, everything.
The Lemon Twigs || I’ve Got A Broken Heart
[Power Pop, US || Captured Tracks] Two irresistibly upbeat tunes with alluring melodies and delightful harmonies (a label of perfection is appropriate here), both capturing a convincing mid-60s jangle-psychedelic vibe—so authentic, they feel like unearthed power pop gems.
Roberta Lips || And Plein Cœur
[Power Pop, France || Le Cèpe Records] An infectious rush of garage-leaning power pop sung in French and Spanish, this EP pivots between melancholy and rebellion, with clever use of classic pop-punk flourishes—from handclaps to gang vocals: “Ro-ber-ta Lips! Ro-ber-ta Lips!”
Mark Malibu & the Wasagas || Pepper Stomp!
[Surf Rock, Canada || Sharawaji Records] A tight, high-energy set of four instrumental cuts, this EP delivers spicy melodies, punchy rhythms, and dance-ready hooks. Highlight is the shout-along title track that crashes in with irresistible “Hey!”s.
Manduria || Bite Me
[Garage Punk, Italy || Wild Honey Records] Milan-based ROK genius Alessandro Maderna delivers six blistering, loop-driven tunes packed with fuzzed riffs, rocky beats, and hypnotic propulsion—an electrifying, primal bang built for sweaty, late-night abandon.
The Medium || Sports!
[Power Pop, US || Earth Libraries] A psychedelic outburst of power pop energy, that turns team sports into a clever lens on American boyhood, balancing big melodies, edged storytelling, and constantly shifting arrangements that keep every track exciting.
Monster Wave || Curse of Monster Wave
[Surf Rock, US || Self-Released] These are three instrumentals that tell vivid, twist-filled fairy tales through magnificent melodies and energetic interplay, proving these musicians can conjure rich, cinematic worlds without a single word.
The Mystery Lights || Before You Realize It / Cerebral Crack
[Garage Psych, US || Wick Records] A proud new 45 marrying a punchy, shout-along A-side with a slower, darker flip. Raw energy, cutting riffs, and a sinister lyrical edge capture the band’s live-wire intensity in studio form.
Night Candies || Rock’n’Roll Fantasies
[Power Pop, Spain || Lumpen Creativo] Wild dreams come true in these seven songs. Less than nine minutes long, yet chock-full of swagger, sweetness, and instant sing-along appeal. A debut that charms fast, hits hard, and cries out for a sequel.
The No Color Twins || Fifteen / You Can Count On Me
[Power Pop, Germany || Bureau Platiruma!!!] A nostalgic, sun-glowing single pairing jangly grit with bright power pop charm. Homely harmonies and vivid memories capture the rush of teenage dreams and the comfort of lasting devotion.
The Number Ones || Sorry
[Power Pop, Ireland || Static Shock Records] A seven-year wait pays off with two hook-stuffed hits, erupting from the first second. Pure, uptempo earworms that reaffirm the band’s undeniable pop firepower.
Old Town Crier || Peterson Motel
[Roots Rock, US || STiNKBuG ReCoRDS inc.] A lived-in EP full of toe-tapping melodies and ragged charm—tuneful stories delivered with grit, heart, and irresistible lift, like stumbling into a roadside bar playing exactly what you needed to hear.
Party Boxes || Mad Rooter / Ghost Rider
[Noise Funk, Australia || City Slang / GRUPO] A wild 7” setting off with feral grooves and joyful disorder: a lurching, floor-shaking banger, backed by a raucous, synth-scorched cover of Suicide’s Ghost Rider. Chaotic, unhinged, and utterly irresistible—pure adrenaline on wax.
The Penrose Web || It’s....The Penrose Web
[Psych Pop, UK || Fool’s Paradise / Gare Du Nord Records] A new project by Allan Crockford and Ian Button equals a vibrant debut release showcasing seamless collaboration. These are four psychedelic pop/rock tracks with layered arrangements, groovy melodies, and warm harmonies.
The Paris Match || The Letter I Sent
[Power Pop, UK || TPM Records Ltd] A dazzling debut blending nostalgic comfort with modern polish: jangly power pop, shimmering hooks, and sing-along melodies create instantly captivating songs that feel timeless yet completely of the moment.
The Pennys || The Pennys
[Psych Pop, US || Mt.St.Mtn.] With familiar names in the ranks—Mike Ramos, R.E. Seraphin, Yea-Ming Chen, Owen Adair Kelley, and Luke Robbins—our expectations were high, but the debut of this new project delivers effortlessly. This is moody, textured “occult heartbreak pop” with 60s-inspired melodies, understated harmonies, and lo-fi charm that sneaks up and lingers beautifully.
Les Robots || Robo Diddley vs The Rockin’ Robot
[Freakbeat, The Netherlands || Topsy-Turvy Records] Quite a contrast to the entry above—these two quirky, infectious instrumentals reinvent the Bo Diddley beat and the Rockin’ Goose tune with guitars and electronics. Playful, danceable, and unmistakably fun, this side project (of many other projects) injects joy and eccentricity into retro-inspired sounds.
The Del Roswells || You Fly The Tic Tac Wrong
[Sci-Fi Surf, UK || Self-Released] The British space surfers take a bold step into uncharted territory with a thrilling EP that merges surf rock and rockabilly—now with vocals front and center. Catchy, cinematic, and playful, each track rockets with cosmic energy: “Klattu, Barada, Nikto, Let’s Go!”
Severe Girls || Another Night
[Slacker Rock, UK || Beyond Below Records] This debut has six songs that combine jangly charm, lo-fi stubbornness, and scrappy charm with British indie sensibility and heart-on-sleeve confusion. It’s emotional turbulence wrapped in unpretentious, uplifting punk pop that’s as messy as it is enticing.
Skeleton Goode || Ghost Cowboys (In The) / Triangular Prison
[Surf-Prog-Psych-Pop, Vietnam || Zhulong Records] It’s almost too good to be true: a British songwriter/guitarist based in Vietnam who creates Western-tinged surf rock with psych-punk energy. Infectious melodies, inventive rhythms, and catchy harmonies make this a bold, unmissable debut.
Christopher Sleightholm || Jangled On
[Psychedelic Pop, Canada || Self-Released] This release will be one of the highlights of my 2025 year-end list, I wrote a few months ago, and here we are. Thanks to infectious riffs, sing-along choruses, and handclap grooves, this is an EP I can’t get enough of.
Soda Pops || Sweet Nothing
[Garage Pop, Finland || Self-Released] A striking debut combining electronic pop and gritty rock textures, with earworm melodies, killer harmonies, and emotionally charged lyrics. Thrilling, and impossible to ignore, this band commands attention.
The Sophs || Sweat
[Garage Pop, US || Rough Trade Records] A lightning-strike debut with genre-blurring energy, vivid synth-and-guitar tension, and emotionally unguarded lyrics. Hooks, grit, and urgency clash in a first single that feels less discovered than detonated.
The Sound Minds || Hide and Seek / She Won’t Stay For Long
[Garage Beat, US || Go-Time] A thrilling 45 revives 60s beat with modern energy: infectious gang vocals, killer riffs, and a high-octane performance deliver alluring garage rock and Beatlesque melodies that still feel fresh and electrifying today.
The Sound Reasons || Today’s Another Day
[Garage Beat, US || Rogue Records] Three punchy psych-driven originals, plus a catchy cover of a 1967 song by Japanese band The Beavers that is a discovery in itself, mark an action-packed return for these Los Angeles 60s garage mainstays.
The Stones || Rock ‘n’ Roll Band / T-H-U
[Glam Rock, US || Self-Released] A fiery debut from a cool NYC quartet, capturing live-to-tape energy with maximum swagger and minimal lyrics: “I said ooo yea // Give me a sign yea // That you understand // I’m playin in a rock ‘n’ roll band.”
Stories From Shamehill || Einfach Umph!
[Surf Rock, The Netherlands || Surf Cookie records] A vibrant, fuzz-laden EP of near-instrumentals, blending sunny surf riffs with swinging rhythms and wild, seductive melodies. Playful, energetic, and infectious, this is a joyous celebration of groove and creative freedom.
Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice || Blue
[Power Pop, Australia || Marthouse Records] Ten minutes of lo-fi, candy-coated chaos: noisy riffs, and playful spontaneity collide with blue-clad themes. Unpolished and addictive—a ravishing snapshot of creative lightning caught on tape.
Vegas Water Taxi || Long Time Caller
[Alt-Country, UK || PNKSLM Recordings] A witty, compassionate EP where heartbreak meets humor. Country-tinged affection and breezy melodies frame self-deprecating lyrics, turning post-breakup jealousy into something oddly charming, relatable, and amazingly listenable.
The Violet Mindfield || From The Gutter With Love
[Garage Beat, US || Rogue Records] Their Distorted Portrait LP made it onto my album list, but this fresh EP might be even more fun. Fuzzed-out freakbeat and sunburnt psych, golden riffs and hip-shaking rhythms—pop-perfect fun.
ZONBI || ZONBI
[Post-Punk / Free Jazz, France / Haiti || Swish Swash Records] For me, ZONBI was the revelation of last October’s Left of the Dial festival. Stunning and genre-defying—honest poetry, ritual energy, and explosive sax-and-rhythm interplay create a transcendent and intense listening experience.
Niek’s list will follow this Thursday!
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