4. Snapped Ankles - Pay The Rent

My introduction to Snapped Ankles, a post-punk group with elements of performance art and art rock, whom keep their identities secret, performing in ghillie suits, claiming to be 'forest folks...descended from the trees' (was I ever not going to stan them with that description x) came earlier in the year with Raoul that was played on 6Music, it was a rather brilliant standout song with a great electro-rock chorus to match the quirky vocals. The follow-up though was when I knew that I was fully on board - Pay The Rent is a fast-paced song with quickfire vocals focusing on social commentary of the cost of living crisis in the UK and how it affects people in the arts, presumably including small-scale bands themselves. They have called it 'dancing at the misery of the situation' and you can certainly believe that, it's an immediately infectious track with a synth line that echoes throughout and a wonderful industrial soundscape, it feels raw and homemade and that is certainly intentional given the subject matter and is the sort of thing you won't find on mainstream radios. The accompanying album, Hard Times Furious Dancing, expanded this moribund dancefloor to a whole album and was one of my highlights of the year. Oh yeah, and this one DNQed in BJSC as well, you're all weird xx

Really like seeing "Headphones On" on here.

3. Ethel Cain - Nettles

Two different projects means two different entries for Hayden Silas Anhedönia, and while Perverts was a wonderfully inaccessible work of dark experimentation, Willoughby Tucker... continues with her beautiful brand of storytelling serving as a prequel to the events of Preacher's Daughter. Taking place five years before the tragic story, This details Ethel's teenage years and the romance with the title character and the ultimately tragic outcome of their relationship. Hayden has said they have always wanted to make films and this album does feel suitably cinematic, especially it's epic last two tracks, but the lead single definitely shows why she is a master of emotional, gut-wrenching storytelling. It's place in the narrative comes as Ethel is fantasising darkly about Tucker dying which mirrors her fear of losing him forever and the nettles serving as a metaphor for the pain she feels she causes making her difficult to be loved. It's rolled out slowly over eight minutes with Cain's delicate voice and light guitars telling a story and uses the synths that was used by the late, great composer Angelo Badalamenti for Twin Peaks which adds a suitably unsettling air to the mournful nature of the song, it is truly beautiful how a song so stripped back can succeed so well in projecting the insecurity, fear and yet raw emotion, they just have the perfect voice for it and there is that definite authenticity that reflects that universal fear of the fragility of life. Every time I've listened to it, I've noticed a new intricacy and feel that makes it just so heartbreaking, her storytelling isn't always this perfect throughout her albums, but when it's this good, it's as immersive and beautiful as stories can be.

2. Night Tapes - Helix

One thing I did last year which I honestly could've never seen myself doing before is going to an organised foraging trip with the band, Night Tapes with a friend who is an expert in the subject. I have never been foraging before, so that was an eye opener albeit one I'm not sure I'll actually try much (I'd pick a poisonous plant way too easily x), but meeting an artist and the fans in a unique setting was really quite a lovely experience, me having a lot of social anxiety anyway, it was certainly awkward in places, but I never felt completely out of place and everyone was incredibly welcoming. I have really enjoyed Night Tapes' music since I discovered them in 2024 and have continued to enjoy them into the next year, but meeting them adds an extra dimension to the music them being such free spirited and creative types in real life. So this 2nd place really could house all their songs as portals//polarities was a fantastic album, but by my self-imposed rules, I have to pick a favourite, so I could've given this to the dark, trip hop vibes of baby girl (like no1 else), the epically huge Storm or even one of the wonderfully dreamy album tracks, but I think overall, Helix is my favourite. This track sees them combine their hazy dreampop sound to shoegaze elements with more emphasis on guitars and hard synths, it suits them amazingly and Iiris' ethereal vocals still work fantastically, it's a perfect song for a walk in the summer evening haze. It's solidified them as one of my favourite new artists of the last few years and hope they continue building in strength.

The taste!

Love seeing Gelli Haha finally get some love on here too 🖤

Wish she'd gotten more discussion on here </3

-x-

1. Chappell Roan - The Subway

I've been a bit slow to properly appreciate Chappell Roan, Good Luck Babe! I heard a good few months after it charted well and while I did like it, the power of the lyrics and vocals combined with the throwback 80s production took a while to worm it's way into my affections and though it did make my EOY, I'd now rank it one of my favourite songs of 2024. Pink Pony Club which managed a belated climb to number 1 this year also took it's time, I completely discarded it when it was in BJSC years back but now really appreciate it's storytelling and how it was the making of her identity, it feels quite poetic that it took a while for the world to embrace it just like she herself is doing in the song. I've ever grew to like Hot To Go, even if it's a bit more throwaway, maybe The Giver will grow on me in time, but sadly that's not yet even though I do appreciate how much it shows her range. All this to say is that you could read me putting Chappell at number 1 now is partly me making up for that slow burn but also this was an incredibly instant love for me and the first time a UK number 1 has topped my poll in about thirteen years IIRC. Returning to much of the same sense of dejection that was present in Good Luck Babe, The Subway's lyrics reflect her desperately trying to heal from heartbreak and the pains of seeing an ex on the Subway and being reminded of her everywhere, the stunning outro then has her crying in pain alternating between 'She's got a way' and 'She got away', the juxtaposition between them reflects the feelings that she lost her but also frustration at being continually haunted by her charms. The musical backdrop to this heartbreaking story is that harkening back to early 1990s dreampop and shoegaze, the Cocteau Twins being the most prominent reference but you could link it to many in that genre, this not only further shows her range coming off the back of The Giver but suits her incredibly, the guitars and dreamy production merge with her sorrowful voice perfectly and makes it near impossible not to feel every word she says. It's a shame, despite it's chart topping status, it didn't quite do as well as the aforementioned songs here, but for me, this is everything I really enjoy about Chappell and makes all the hype justified, I was late to the other songs, but I'm not late here.

Chez Wombat's top 50 of 2025

1.      Chappell Roan – The Subway

2.      Night Tapes - helix

3.      Ethel Cain – Nettles

4.      Snapped Ankles – Pay The Rent

5.      Kashiwa Daisuke - Ice

6.      Daniel Avery & Allison Mosshart – Greasy off The Racing Line

7.      Maria Somerville - Projections

8.      Addison Rae – Headphones On

9.      Sudan Archives – DEAD

10.  Future Utopia feat. Lava La Rue – The Pleasure Trap

11.  James K – play

12.  Wolf Alice – Bloom Baby Bloom

13.  Oklou feat. Underscores – Harvest Sky

14.  Gorillaz feat. Trueno & Proof – The Manifesto

15.  Florence & The Machine – Everybody Scream

16.  Gelli Haha – Funny Music

17.  Princess Nokia – Blue Velvet

18.  Bambie Thug - REDRUM

19.  Another Country $$$$ - TETHER

20.  Barry Can’t Swim – The Person You’d Like to Be

21.  Model/Actriz - Cinderella

22.  HAIM – Relationships

23.  Tame Impala – End of Summer

24.  Merely & Malibu – Arpeggiated Romance

25.  Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke – A Fake in a Faker’s World

26.  Ethel Cain – Amber Waves

27.  PinkPantheress - Tonight

28.  Lady Gaga - Abracadabra

29.  Kieran Hebden & William Tyler – Secret City

30.  Mount Palomar & Makeshift Art Bar – Pass The Parcel

31.  CMAT – Euro-Country

32.  Sofia Kourtesis & Daphni - Unidos

33.  Robyn - Dopamine

34.  Jane Remover & Danny Brown – Psychoboost

35.  Tropical f*** Storm – Dunning Kruger’s Loser Cruiser

36.  Kelly Lee Owens – ASCEND

37.  Nuovo Testamento – Picture Perfect

38.  bdrmm – Lake Disappointment

39.  Smerz – You Got Time & I Got Money

40.  Ionna Lee – STILL BLUE

41.  Saltillo – Hair on the Head of John the Baptist

42.  Kneecap & Paul Hartnoll - Sayonara

43.  Perfume Genius feat. Aldous Harding – No Front Teeth

44.  Huntr/X - Golden

45.  Cindytalk – Memories of Skin & Snow

46.  Jinkasei - angels

47.  Fcukers – I Like It Like That

48.  Four Tet – Into Dust (Still Falling)

49.  Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild

50.  Blood Orange – Look at You

Whew, I finally worked up the energy to finish that x Thank you for everyone who read, commented and reacted throughout, I really appreciate them and will try and check out a few others before I disappear from this part of the forum. I aim to check out a few more critically acclaimed albums I missed at some point, but this is a pretty accurate picture of my favourite this year. Thank you for following and will see you (later) in 2026 x

Blue Velvet by Princess Nokia is so good. It reminded me of another song titled Blue Velvet by 070 Shake, sound wise.

Loving this new era of Pinkpantheress. Hope she continues in this lane, the production is brilliant.

Great to see Sinners and Weapons in the top 10 films. I still need to check out Flow & Bring Her Back.

Glad to see "The Subway" at the top for your songs of the year list.

I still need to finish my Year-End chart myself, hope to get there.

Hello again Chez

Firstly, I can tick off another one of your top 20 movies as I finally watched Bugonia over the weekend *.* I enjoyed it too, Poor Things was a high bar - but this was still a gripping, dark satirical tale of corporate greed and conspiracy. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons were electric together so I was sad to read the latter was snubbed for the Oscars!

I've been quietly following and was consistently taken aback by how many big faves kept showing up for you too <3 'The Subway' is an excellent #1 pick of the year and my favourite number 1 single of 2025 for sure, even if it didn't quite have the longevity of some of her other singles. 'Nettles' was a breathtaking moment from Ethel... I remember really having to compose myself when I first heard it, as I was so moved! Delighted it's also on your podium and the #1 song on RYM for last year too. 'Helix' is a fab runner-up, I do think 'storm' was a smart move for BJSC but I connected with the trip-hop sounds of this one and 'babygirl (like n01 else)' even more this era. Snapped Ankles were absolutely robbed in BJSC ugh </3 I think I lost both my 12 and 8 in that semi final, a mess. I of course approve of Addison making your top 10 as well never did I expect to be such a big fan of her but she really worked some magic alongside her producers, an immaculate soundscape and lyrics I instantly connected with.

There's lots of other great stuff peppered throughout your countdown too, these are especially favourites:

12. Wolf Alice – Bloom Baby Bloom ~ agreed that this really stood out on the album as being a more left-field moment, that was welcomed

13. Oklou feat. Underscores – Harvest Sky ~ oops at me blocking a couple of people from sending this to BJSC *_* but at least it still got a moment in Club Bizarre

21. Model/Actriz - Cinderella ~ kept them on my radar after Bré sent 'Pirouette' to BJSC and what a group they are, love their generally demented post-punk sound mixed with heartfelt lyrics, often drawing on queer culture. Delighted this caught on so much in BJSC!

23. Tame Impala – End of Summer ~ this was my favourite from this era as well <3 an understandably divisive swerve but I thought he nailed it.

26. Ethel Cain – Amber Waves ~ not one but two excellent projects this year... she well and truly fed us x

27. PinkPantheress - Tonight ~ I also prefer this to 'Illegal' and am glad it got a top 40 moment too <3 an infectious, quintessentially British banger.

28. Lady Gaga - Abracadabra ~ I feel like Gaga really got her creative spark back with this one, what a triumph!

30. Mount Palomar & Makeshift Art Bar – Pass The Parcel ~ Mount Palomar was killing it last year and this has got to be my favourite to date <3 bring on the EP!

31. CMAT – Euro-Country ~ I felt similar in not properly getting the hype until this one, which is a stunner, great pick for the PFSC best of the year contest.

32. Sofia Kourtesis & Daphni - Unidos ~ this collab did not disappoint, I agree that it has a really soulful quality to it.

38. bdrmm – Lake Disappointment ~ they're really underrated for sure! I was bound to love the accompanying album when it opens with a Working Men's Club collab

Great taste and commentary as ever! ❤️