Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Paddy Hanna released his excellent record Oylegate this year which was written while watching Solaris with the sound off at home, on piano and it features Hanna’s trademark classic songwriting-tinged craft.
Here’s his top songs of the year.
1.
Gabby’s dollhouse – Gabby’s dollhouse world
I’ve sung this song more than any other this year, so it’s on the list. Is it a cool choice? No, but this list is not about being cool, it’s about the truth.
2.
The Null Club – 14 Hours (feat. Faris Badwan)
Al Duggan is one quarter of Gilla Band, who I maintain are one of if not the most influential band of the last 20 years, his new project is very good, I also like Faris Badwan so this song really did it for me.
3.
Sun Kill Moon – Next Stop Vienna and Rome
A nine-minute song about being burned out and lost in life, yes please!
4.
Junior Brother – Welcome To My Mountain
Junior Brother could write a pop song in his sleep, but would sooner make folk horror soundtracks that subvert expectations. That’s a real artist right there folks.
5.
Young Fathers – Lowly
Speaking of horror soundtracks, Young Fathers scored 28 Years Later, and that was an excellent choice. I liked the movie but didn’t love it, I watched it with my in-laws and they went to bed after half an hour.
6.
Maria Somerville – Garden
Not much to say really, I’m a big fan is all.
7.
Varo – Green Grows The Laurel featuring. John Francis Flynn
A bunch of good eggs collaborating together, we’re very lucky to have the music scene that we do.
8.
Chat Pile – Never Say Die
Chat Pile are the sound of American Gothic made flesh, few bands can tell such evocative stories through walls of noise as they do.
9.
Just Mustard – Endless Deathless
Music is a funny one, sometimes a song will hit you at a certain time on a certain day and it becomes a timestamp to that moment. Sometimes I wonder if I had heard that same song at a different time in a different humour would I have thought differently of it? We may never know folks, but this song made me think about that.
10.
Turnstile – Never Enough
![TURNSTILE - NEVER ENOUGH [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://files.nialler9.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/27d0b418ea76cd16456749adfd1ca264.jpg)
I feel that much of Turnstile’s new album owes lots to The Garden, who I love. This release surprised me, in a good way
Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
