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The 2025 blues season was another outstanding one for
new releases, and making a Top 10 or a Top 20 or even a Top 30 list
without omitting multiple very fine albums is next to impossible. But we
will continue to do our best to provide our opinions on the key albums
and promote the artists as best we can.
If you want to hear something from most of
the artists on my list or Graham's top 30, head to my
Podbean site and listen to the 12/26/2025 show.
Thanks for your support of the blues, and
especially for keeping an open mind on what these new artists
bring to the music.
--- Bill Mitchell (Editor/Publisher of Blues Bytes)
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Bill
Mitchell (editor of Blues Bytes) |
Here's my top 10 from 2025 plus another 20 noteworthy albums in
no particular order. These aren't necessarily the best or most popular
albums of the year, but more ones that were particular favorites of
mine.
1)
Angelique Francis – Not Defeated (self-released)
How does a singer / multi-instrumentalist as good as Ms. Francis, along
with an outstanding band made up of multiple family members, fly so far
under the radar and are not already internationally renowned? As
soon as I heard the first 30 seconds of music from this group from
Ottawa, Ontario, I knew it was the best thing coming my way in 2025.
2) Buddy Guy – Ain't Done With The Blues (RCA Records)
To put out such a fantastic album with 16 cuts and not even a mediocre
one in the lot, all at the age of 89, is a very significant
accomplishment. Buddy can absolutely
say that he ain't done with the blues.
3) D.K. Harrell – Talkin' Heavy (Alligator)
I was so excited when I first heard that Harrell's second album
would be released by Alligator, and I was not at all disappointed with
the results. He's one of the best young artists on the scene today.
4) Candice Ivory – New Southern Vintage
(Nola Blue Records)
I was not familiar with Ms. Ivory when her Memphis Minnie tribute came
out in 2024. Her website still proclaims that she's the queen of avant
soul, but with this latest album she seems to be now heavily grooving in
the blues world. Another fabulous exploration of her roots.
5) Tommy Castro & The Painkillers - Closer To The Bone (Alligator)
TC dips into songs from many of his favorite blues cats, making this
album a heartfelt tribute with his rockin' soulful blues. I especially was glad
to hear his cover of Chris Cain's "Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee."
6) Sean McDonald - Have Mercy! Times (Little
Village)
Still another new young artist with a very soulful voice. This
24-year-old dude from Augusta, Georgia is a solid songwriter as well as
digging deep for covers from Ike Turner, Henry Glover, and others.
7) Southern Avenue - Family (Alligator)
I was curious how this Memphis family band would transition their more
contemporary soulful side to Alligator, but it worked quite well. If you
dig harmony vocals, then this album is for you, and it earned a Grammy
nomination. Just as interesting were the songs lead singer Tierinii Jackson did with Cedric Burnside on the soundtrack to the
Oscar-nominated movie Sinners.
8) Christone "Kingfish" Ingram – Truth (Red Zero
Records)
Arguably the biggest young talent on the blues scene today , Kingfish made the jump
from Alligator to his own label, with other young artists
supposedly set to release albums on Red Zero before long. Kingfish is on
his way to being quite the blues mogul.
9)
Kara Grainger – That's How I Got To Memphis (Red Parlor
Records)
This one got to me just before the end of the 2025 blues year, and it
shows the guitar and songwriting chops of this native Australian as she
headed to Memphis to record this very nice collection of soulful blues
tunes.
10) Willie Buck & Bob Corritore - OhYeah! (VizzTone/SWMAF)
Now well into his 80s, Mr. Buck hasn't slowed down at all. Corritore has
a talent at getting the best out of the artists he records, and this is
another prime example. Willie is also still a dynamic live performer and
we hope he has many more years ahead of him.
Other equally outstanding albums from 2025 (in no particular order):
Chris Vincent - Good Crook (Chris Vincent Music)
Raw blues singing, kind of similar to that of Tom Waits, with creative
songwriting from his young artist from New Orleans.
Roomful of Blues - Steppin' Out (Alligator)
They've been around in one form or another for 50 years, with the
addition of D.D. Bastos being the first female lead vocalist to join the
band. Jump blues at its best!
Bob Corritore and Friends - Doin' The Shout (Vizztone/SWMAF)
Corritore has made a cottage industry of releasing songs from his
personal vaults, with this one featuring cuts from Bobby Rush, Thornetta
Davis, John Primer, Bob Stroger, and more.
Larkin Poe - Bloom + An Acoustic Companion (Tricki-Woo)
The release of Bloom early in 2025 was a significant contribution
from this sister duo, but it got even better later in the year when they
updated the album with unplugged versions of five of the original
cuts.
Andrew Duncanson - California Trap (Run It Back Records)
This was a new name to me when I received this album, not realizing that
Duncanson was the voice and harmonica player on recordings by The
Kilborn Alley Blues Band and The Dig 3. I especially like his soulful
version of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land."
Yates McKendree - Need To Know (Qualified Records)
Already one of my favorite young guitarists from his previous album,
Buchanan Lane, McKendree has taken his music to another level with a
more mature sound to his voice.
Robbin Kapsalis - The Blues Is In The House (Blues
House Productions)
This was a new name to me when this album showed up but, man, she's now
one of my favorites, with sounds of Chicago and the deep South reflected
in her powerful vocals.
Devon Allman - The Blues Summit (Ruf Music)
With special guests like Larry McCray and others, this album shows
Allman's blues side, but I'll forever be grateful that it introduced me
to New Orleans singer Sierra Green.
Allison August - August Moon (MoMojo
Records)
Still another very fine blues singer / songwriter from Southern
California, her life is often reflected in the original compositions.
Tad Robinson - Soul In Blue (Delmark)
This album cements his Robinson's reputation as one of the best
soul/blues singers around.
Will Wilde - Blues Is Still Alive (VizzTone)
This is truly the sound of a "wilde" man on harmonica, especially with
his adaptation of a gospel standard into a smokin' blues, "Trouble Of
That Girl."
Piper and The Hard Times - Good Company (Hard Times
Records)
This Nashville band experienced no sophomore slump with Good Company,
featuring more of lead singer Al "Piper" Green's rough and ready vocals.
Mud Morganfield - Deep Mud (Nola Blue Records)
Morganfield both pays tribute to his father, Muddy Waters, but also
takes his Chicago blues into some different directions.
GA-20 – Orphans (Colemine Records)
I was late in jumping onto the bandwagon of this very fine blues band from
Massachusetts, but now I'm a loyal fan of their interpretations of Chicago
blues.
Kent Burnside - Daddy Told Me (Strolling Bones Records)
Garry Burnside - It's My Time Now (Strolling Bones Records)
Duwayne Burnside - Red Rooster (Lucky 13 Records)
The blues world was treated to three (!) new albums from the offspring
of Mississippi Hill Country icon R.L. Burnside. They all stay true to
the roots of the music but aren't afraid to go in different directions
at times.
The Jesse Williams Band - Keep Steady
(Family Tree Productions)
Jesse Williams has a beautiful melodic voice and she's a solid guitar
player, too. Her music defies description, with elements of blues, soul,
jazz, Americana and more, wrapped into each of her original
compositions.
Robert Finley - Holy Ghost Party (Easy Eye Sound)
Louisiana singer was put in front of a band and told to just sing what
came from his heart. It's raw, spiritual blues, with a lot of diverse
sounds provided by the backing musicians.
Galactic & Irma Thomas - Audience With The Queen (Tchoup-Zilla
Records)
A very pleasant surprise when I found this album many months
after it was released, but the combo of New Orleans funk band Galactic
with soul legend Irma Thomas is an absolute winner.
Cedric Burnside, Tierinii Jackson et al - Sinners
(Masterworks)
It took a while until I finally got to see this Oscar-nominated film,
but despite my usual disinterest in vampire and zombie movies, this one
grabbed me with the blues storyline and some incredible music.
Kyle Rowland - Not Holding Back (Little Village)
This young artist from Sacramento with roots in rural Georgia is a
strong harmonica player and good singer.
Ryan Hartt - Be About It! (Far-Tone Records)
Connecticut-based Hartt plays the blues harmonica like he's studied the
various West Coast cats, resulting in a solid album of traditional blues
songs.
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Graham
Clarke (reviewer from Mississippi) |
My Top 10 releases for 2025 – (in no particular order):
Mark
“Muleman” Massey – Been A Long, Long Time (Muletone
Record):
I really enjoyed this release and I hope it got the attention it
deserved. The Muleman delivers an excellent set of blues and soul
that has Muscle Shoals written all over it.
Daddy Mack Blues Band – Doctor's Orders (Inside Sounds
Records):
As great as it was to have a new release from Daddy Mack Orr, it's
sadder that it's his final release since he passed away this summer.
He left with a fine set of greasy Memphis blues.
John Primer – Grown In Mississippi (Blues House
Production):
Primer brings it all back home with this downhome set that basically
tells the Mississippi native's life story.
D.K. Harrell – Talkin' Heavy (Alligator Records):
One of the exciting young stars in the genre, Harrell's sophomore
release is even better than his debut. He's a powerful guitarist and
singer that's influenced by B.B. King, but is very much his own man.
Various Artists – The Last Real Texas Blues Album (Antone's
Records):
In celebration of the famous Austin, TX blues club, a all-star cast
of the blues' current legends perform songs associated with some of
the blues' past legends. This is a marvelous set any blues fan would
be proud to own.
Candice Ivory – New Southern Vintage (Nola Blue
Records):
Wow! This set takes multiple early blues styles into modern times
with spellbinding results. Ms. Ivory has delivered another fantastic
album that deserves to be heard.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Hard Road (Red Zero
Records):
This release was a bit of a change for the young Mississippi
guitarist, shifting more toward R&B and hip-hop on a few tracks, but
the songwriting is superb and there's still plenty of powerhouse
fretwork to be heard. It's a winner for his old fanbase and should
draw in some new listeners as well.
Jimmy Burns and Soul Message Band – Full Circle (Delmark
Records):
Chicago legend Burns teams up with the soul/jazz band Soul Message
to redo some of his early recordings from the '60s and '70s, along
with a few of his personal favorites. Burns sounds as good on the
re-creations as he did on the originals, and Soul Message gets a few
moments to shine, too.
Duwayne Burnside – Red Rooster (Lucky 13):
Of the three Burnside family releases I heard this year, this one
was my favorite, but it was close. This is a sweaty, funky, swampy
set of Mississippi Hill Country blues that mixes a bit of rock and
soul into the gumbo.
North Mississippi Allstars – Still Shakin' (New West
Records) and Dead Blues Vol. 1 (Strolling Bones Records):
The Dickinsons celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut release
and prove that they are still masters of their craft. This is a
wonderful set that combines blues, country, hip-hop, funk, soul and
rock that probably got more spins that any other new release in my
house. Dickinson also released an intriguing set of classic blues
tunes associated with the Grateful Dead during their tours that
updates traditional blues with a vengeance.
Next 10 (in no particular order):
Ra”Shad The Blues Kid – Live in Clarksdale.0
Dynamite live set.
Buddy Guy – Done With The Blues (Silvertone/RCA):
Another great one from the master.
Larry McCray – Heartbreak City (Keeping The Blues
Alive):
So good to have a new release from this outstanding performer.
Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch – Blues Cut Like Glass
(Blue Lotus Records).
Another great young blues singer/guitarist who deserves attention.
Sean McDonald – Have Mercy! (Little Village
Foundation):
Well-crafted album that mixes splendid remakes of old classics with
sparkling new originals.
Jimi “Prime Time” Smith – It's My Time (New Folk
Records):
Fifteen years between solo albums is way too long for this great
guitarist.
Kirk Fletcher – Keep On Pushing (VizzTone)
Fletcher returns from a recent stroke to deliver one of his best
efforts.
Yates McKendree – Need To Know (Qualified Records)
McKendree actually improves on his excellent debut release.
Andrew Duncanson – California Trap (Run It Back
Records)
The Kilborn Alley/Dig 3 vocalist works up a set of terrific blues
and soul originals.
Jeffery Broussard & Nighttime Syndicate – Bayou Moonlight
(Fairground Records)
Broussard teams up with New Orleans' TBC Brass Band, taking zydeco
music in a different and exciting direction.
Okay, 5 more you have to hear (also in no particular order):
Galactic and Irma Thomas – Audience With The Queen (Tchoup-zilla
Records)
As terrific as it sounds!
Garry Burnside – It's My Time Now (Strolling Bones)
and Kent Burnside – Hill Country Blood (Strolling
Bones)
The Burnsides are keeping the Hill Country sound alive and vital.
Alan Arena – Deceived
Arena returns to the recording scene with an impressive set of
well-crafted tunes.
The Christopher Dean Band – Steppin' Out Tonight (Lost
Music Group)
You always know you're going to get an outstanding release from Dean
that walks the line between blues and soul.
