We know these lists are completely subjective and that ranking music can feel a little weird at times but these are the records we’ve had on repeat over the past 12 months. More importantly, in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, highlighting lesser-known and often overlooked artists remains the very essence of our blog. We hope you’ll take the time to dive into the artists and projects you might not know yet.

Like last year, the list is ordered alphabetically, because the “real” ranking changes every day depending on our mood. That said, if you’re looking for a top three, keep an eye on Oklou, Nourished By Time, and Smerz.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and stay tuned next week for our Best Songs of 2025 list.

The 47 EPs, Albums, And Mixtapes that defined 2025 according to HighClouds

Acopia – Blush Response
Addison Rae – Addison
After – After EP 1/2
AMORE – Top Hits, Ballads, etc
Annahstasia – Tether
crushed – no scope
Dean Blunt & Elias Rønnenfelt – lucre EP
deer park – Terra Infirma
Disiniblud – Disiniblud
Erika de Casier – Lifetime
Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Georgie & Joe – What I Made With Joe
Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On
Ichiko Aoba – Luminiscent Creatures
JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
james K – Friend
Jane Inc. – A Rupture A Canyon A Birth
Jenny Hval – Iris Silver Mist
Jim Legxacy – black british music (2025)
Joanne Robertson – Blurrr
Jouska – How Did I Wind Up Here?
Laura Groves – Yes
Lipsticism – Wanted To Show You
Malibu – Vanities
Maria Somerville – Luster
Marina Zispin – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Men I Trust – Equus Caballus / Equus Asinus
Molly Nilsson – Amateur
Neggy Gemmy – She Comes From Nowhere
Night Tapes – portals//polarities
No Joy – Bugland
Nourished By Time – The Passionate Ones
Nuovo Testamento – Trouble EP
Oklou – Choke Enough
Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer
Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
Pearly Drops – The Voices Are Coming Back
R. Missing – Like The Sound Of Injured Love
Raisa K – Affectionately
Rat Heart – Dancin’ In The Streets
Sea Lemon – Diving For A Prize
Smerz – Big City Life
snuggle – Goodbyehouse
Sofia Kourtesis – Volver EP
Sophia Stel – How To Win At Solitaire EP
Yawning Portal – Anywhere

“Virginia Tech” follows the warm, collaborative vibe of Sinister Grift, which Panda Bear recorded in Lisbon with friends and fellow Animal Collective members. And good news: he’s extending his tour dates across the US and Europe this fall (itinerary below).

Panda Bear‘s Tour

06-02 Leeds, England – Brudenell Social Club
06-03 Birmingham, England – Castle & Falcon
06-04 Manchester, England – Gorilla
06-05 Bristol, England – Bristol Beacon
06-06 Brighton, England – Chalk
06-07 London, England – Victoria Park
08-15 Crickhowell, Wales – Green Man Festival
09-15 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
09-16 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
09-17 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
09-18 Queens, NY – Knockdown Center
09-20-21 Accord, NY – Woodsist Festival
09-19-21 Philadelphia, PA – Making Time
09-22 Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
09-23 Lexington, KY – The Burl
09-25 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
09-26 Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
09-27 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
09-29 Kansas City, MO – Warehouse on Broadway
09-30 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
10-01 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
10-04 Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
10-05 Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
10-07 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
10-08 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
10-03 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
10-10 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
10-30 Nantes, France – Le Lieu Unique
10-31 Rouen, France – Le 106
11-02 Brussels, Belgium – Les Nuits Weekender
11-03 Lille, France – L’aéronef
11-04 Paris, France – Pitchfork Music Festival Paris
11-05 Eindhoven, Netherlands – Effenaar
11-09 Copenhagen, Denmark – Studie 2
11-10 Aarhus, Denmark – Voxhall
11-12 Gothenburg, Sweden – Nefertiti
11-14 Oslo, Norway – Blå
11-15 Stockholm, Sweden – Slaktkyrkan
11-17 Berlin, Germany – Festsaal Kreuzberg

Panda Bear will launch his 2025 North American tour next month, featuring performances alongside Toro y Moi. He will also be touring across Europe and the UK. Check his itinerary below.

* w/ Toro y Moi

2/06: First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN *
2/07: The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL *
2/08: Royal Oak Music Hall – Detroit, MI *
2/10: The Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON *
2/11: MTELUS – Montreal, QC *
2/12: Roadrunner – Boston, MA *
2/14: Terminal 5 – New York City, NY *
2/15: Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA *
2/16: 9:30 Club – Washington, DC * – SOLD OUT
2/17: 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *
2/19: The Ritz – Raleigh, NC *
2/20: Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN *
2/21: Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA *
3/20: Capitólio – Lisboa, PT
3/21: Theatro Circo – Braga, PT
3/22: Almacenes – Oviedo, ES
3/23: Kafe Antzokia – Bilbao, ES
3/25: Paral·lel 62 – Barcelona, ES
3/26: 16 Toneladas – Valencia, ES
3/27: La Sala – Madrid, ES
3/28: Teatro das Figuras – Faro, PT
5/08: The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ *
5/12: Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater – Austin, TX *
5/13: White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX *
5/14: House of Blues – Dallas, TX *
5/16: The Fillmore – Denver, CO *
5/17: Kilby Block Party – Salt Lake City, UT
5/19: The Chapel – San Francisco, CA – SOLD OUT
5/20: The Chapel – San Francisco, CA – SOLD OUT
5/21: Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
5/22: The Showbox – Seattle, WA
5/23: Hollywood Theatre – Vancouver, BC
5/31: Button Factory – Dublin, IE
6/01: Slay – Glasgow, UK
6/02: Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK
6/03: Castle and Falcon – Birmingham, UK
6/04: Gorilla – Manchester, UK
6/05: Beacon – Bristol, UK
6/06: Chalk – Brighton, UK
6/07: Victoria Park – London, UK

“Defense” represents a shift in Panda Bear‘s sound, moving away from his typically electronic-focused style towards a more organic approach. The track features Lennox‘s signature multi-layered vocals, complemented by acoustic percussion, lush harmonies, and stunning guitar work from Cindy Lee.

The album was crafted at Lennox’s Estudio Campo in Lisbon, Portugal. Josh Dibb (Deakin), a fellow Animal Collective member, co-produced the album and contributed to its creation. The project also includes contributions from Rivka Ravede of Spirit of the Beehive.

About the collaboration on Sinister Grift, Josh Dibb shared in a press statement: “Creating this album felt like a cherished and welcoming return. Noah and I began recording music on multitrack cassette back in 1991. Now, 32 years later, we’re still working in a similar way—just two friends in a room, exploring sounds and emotions that resonate with us. I take great pride in what we’ve crafted together. Sinister Grift embodies the songwriter I’ve known for over three decades, yet it also represents a fresh chapter for Noah. I couldn’t be prouder of the outcome.”

In support of the new album, Panda Bear has announced a big tour for 2025, with Toro y Moi joining as a special guest.

Tracklist for Panda Bear’s Sinister Grift:

Praise
Anywhere But Here
50mg
Ends Meet
Just As Well
Ferry Lady
Venom’s In
Left in the Cold
Elegy for Noah Lou
Defense

Panda Bear 2025 Tour itinerary:

12-04 Coimbra, Portugal – Salão Brazil
12-05 Vigo, Spain – Radar
12-06 Valladolid, Spain – El Desierto
12-07 Porto, Portugal – Plano B
12-08 Lisbon, Portugal – ZDB
12-10 London, England – Lexington
12-11 Berlin, Germany – Lark
12-13 Paris, France – Le Hasard Ludique
02-06 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
02-07 Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed *
02-08 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Hall *
02-10 Toronto, Ontario – Danforth Musical Hall *
02-11 Montreal, Quebec – M Telus *
02-12 Boston, MA – Roadrunner *
02-14 Manhattan, NY – Terminal 5 *
02-15 Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall *
02-16 Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club *
02-19 Raleigh, NC – The Ritz *
02-20 Nashville, TN – Marathon *
02-21 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle *
03-20 Lisbon, Portugal – Capitólio
03-21 Braga, Portugal – Teatro Circo
03-22 Oviedo, Spain – Kuivi / Almacenes
03-23 Bilbao, Spain – Kafe Antzokia
03-25 Barcelona, Spain – Paral-lel 62
03-26 Valencia, Spain – 16 Toneladas
03-27 Madrid, Spain – La Sala
03-28 Faro, Portugal – Teatro das Figuras
05-08 Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren *
05-12 Austin, TX – Stubb’s *
05-13 Houston, TX – White Oak Amphitheater *
05-14 Dallas, TX – House of Blues *
05-16 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium *
05-19 San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
05-21 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05-22 Seattle, WA – Showbox
05-23 Vancouver, British Columbia – Hollywood Theater

* with Toro y Moi

Animal Collective‘s Noah Lennox aka Panda Bear will drop the follow up to his 2015’s album Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper in a few weeks only. After the strange single “Dolphin”, the artist is sharing today a psychedelic new track, “Token”, which comes with a video directed and starring British experimental artist Dean Blunt. Read the introduction and watch the video below.

[su_quote]He had plans to make something about Toy Story… then something about cowboys and cowgrrrls… Then he lost his f***ing mind,” reads the introduction. “So we decided to scrap all the stuff he had planned and try to make him have some fun and smile.[/su_quote]

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3pvD2eeews”]

Yesterday, the artist, who currently lives in Portugal, released a psychedelic and kaleidoscopic video for “Crosswords”, a track that features a sample of The Soul Searchers‘ “Ashley’s Roachclip”. This is already the fifth track from the LP to get a video treatment and for sure, we have here one of the best video clips of the year!

Directed by Mount Emult, the video is full of superpositions of images of the same person, who is dancing and trying to enter a building, and the final rendition is simply hypnotic!

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EXslhx989M”]

Swallow at the Hollow is a mix of things I made around the same time as all the Grim Reaper tracks. They kind of feel like scribbles or doodles and for some reason or another I couldn’t find my way of singing with them. Some of them just stuck out like sore thumbs. I hope you enjoy them and wanted to say thanks very much for listening and thanks to those of you who came out to see the shows the past couple of years. Happy Halloween…
PEACE noah

Happy Halloween to you too !