30. December 2025
Home » Music & Media » Just Blogging on music » Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2025
Just Blogging on music

Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2025

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

The last post of the year solely dealing with music is “traditionally” my list of favorite albums and EPs. On the album side, there is my typical split into country music and other genres. Hope you like my post – happy to discuss with you.

 

My Favorite EPs in 2025

As every year, I start with my favorite EPs, irrespective of the genre.

 

5. Sommerregen by Montez

Maybe, this EP is the most surprising nomination of the whole post. Montez is a German pop musician and rapper with Spanish roots. I typically don’t feature rap too much, just because I don’t get into the music too well. The more, I loved his EP Sommerregen – and nominate the July 2025 release into my Top 5 EPs.

Montez – Sommerregen EP

 

4. Outsider by Nina Caroline

There are three German artists in my favorite EPs of the year. One of them is Nina Caroline, who released her debut EP Outsider in November 2025. Intense songs with good lyrics made her appear in my personal selection of five EPs.

Nina Caroline – Outsider EP

 

3. Polaroids by Lanie Gardner

The first time I featured Lanie Gardner this year was as an evening session artist on the 2025 Berlin C2C Sunday. In June, she shared her EP Polaroids – and she confirmed the great impression I had of her music in Berlin already. A versatile EP, which is somewhere between traditional and modern country music.

Lanie Gardner – Polaroids EP

 

2. Nachtzug by Johna

Johna is located just a few kilometers away from my residence near Cologne in Germany. Her EP Nachtflug, which is combining different Americana elements. The German lyrics feel very personal and turn this release into a really great listen.

Johna – Nachtzug

 

My Favorite EP in 2025:

Love You Right by Jenn Bostic

Jenn Bostic is an amazing artist to me. This year, I again made it to her London show and later saw her in Franklin in Tennessee. She is a great person, I love her music and her personal storytelling. In February, she released the EP Love You Right, which is surprisingly pop-ish – but illustrates her great craft as a musician. I love it!

Jenn Bostic – Love You Right EP

 

My Favorite Non-Country Albums in 2025

Here are my seven favorite albums, which do not deal with country music.

 

7. Alpenbarbie by Melissa Naschenweng

Is this pop? Traditional Folk? Rock? Or schlager? Melissa Naschenweng delivers listens to lovers of many music genres. Her 11th January 2025 released album Alpenbarbie is an absolutely energetic and entertaining album.

Melissa Naschenweng – Alpenbarbie

 

6. Curious Ruminant by Jethro Tull

A real music legend is part of my favorite album list as well. The British progressive rockers released their 24th studio album Curious Ruminant in March 2025. Just nine tracks – but these last 51 minutes and are an absolute progressive rock treat.

Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant

 

5. Winds of Time by Wings of Steel

Wings of Time is the sophomore album by the Los Angeles-based metal band Wings of Steel. Formed in 2019, they already have quite some success in their genre. Their October 2025 release is an absolute treat.

Wings of Steel – Winds of Time

 

4. Travelogue by Jim “Kimo” West & David Gregoli

If there are no travel or health issues, I will run into Jim “Kimo” West at least ten times in 2026. That’s the number of tickets I got for the Weird Al Yankovic 2026 North American tour, where Kimo is the guitar player. However, his solo releases are amazing as well. Together with US-American David Vito Gregoli, he released this amazing album. The Canadian partially living in Hawaii is an absolute guitar treat.

Jim “Kimo” West & David Vito Gregoli – Travelogue

 

3. Circles by Stefanie Heinzmann

I would love to cover the 2026 tour by the Swiss soul-pop artist (see dates in my Tour Date Overview). Her new album Circles is an absolute treat. The 37 minute release feels like a thirteen episode storybook with different chapters. A lovely one!

Stefanie Heinzmann – Circles

 

2. Monumentata by Nad Sylvan

Albums like Monumentata by the Swedish progressive rock artist Nad Sylvan are those which make me love my work with Flyctory.com. Without the access I have to promos and albums, I would have very likely never had a listen to this record. It received a full 5.0 rating in June 2025 – and is now second-placed in my year-end ranking.

Nad Sylvan – Monumentata

 

My Favorite Non-Country Album in 2025:

Left In Your Love by Loi

In my recent post about my favorite Song of the Week ever, Loi lead with her amazing Am I Enough. The song is part of her February 2025 album, Left In You Love – and it is not the only strong listen of the album. The debut album by the Mannheim artist is simply amazing. In 2026, she will finally be on tour again (see my Tour Date Overview) – her Cologne show in October 2023 was already superb.

Loi – Left In Your Love

 

My Favorite Country Albums in 2025:

Last, but not least, here are the last albums I feature (again) this year. My favorites on the country music sides are below:

 

7. Lonesome Drifter by Charley Crockett

Charley Crockett is doing so many high quality releases, he simply deserves to be mentioned in here. In March 2025, he released Lonesome Drifter and thereby especially pleases traditional country fans. Apart from that, the album comes with great instrumentation.

Charley Crockett – Lonesome Drifter

 

6. Sorry For Nothing Vol. 2 by Cory Marks

2025 was a Cory Marks year on Flyctory.com. I featured him in two Spotlight interviews, one in March and one in October. Furthermore, I featured his appearances at the C2C in Berlin (Day 1 / Day 2). And then, there is his October 2025 album, Sorry For Nothing Vol. 2. He is simply one of my favorite country rock artists – not only this year.

Cory Marks – Sorry For Nothing Vol. 2

 

5. Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Three country albums received the optimal 5.0 rating by me this year. Not too surprisingly, all three make it into my year-end post. The first one I feature is Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter. The June 2025 release comes with great storytelling and an intense atmosphere.

Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History

 

4. Not What I Do by Laura Sawosko

Laura Sawosko’s Not What I Do received a 4.9 rating in my April 2025 review. However, the album did go back into my playlists and listens again and again and thus deserves to be promoted in that way. A great one by the Illinois country music lady.

Laura Sawosko – Not What I Do

 

3. In my Blood by Cody Jinks

The first album of my Top 3 is by Cody Jinks this year. His July 2025 In My Blood is a great blending of country and country rock vibes. More than that, he impressed me with very straight and truthful storytelling. A great one.

Cody Jinks – In My Blood

 

2. Solitary Tracks by Kip Moore

I already mentioned that three country albums went for the full rating. Two are still missing. One of them is the February 2025 release by Kip Moore. Solitary Tracks does not only deserve a big thanks due to the massive number of 23 song. The album also strikes with very personal, great storytelling. Just as country music should be alike.

Kip Moore – Solitary Tracks

 

My Favorite Country Album in 2025:

Foxes in the Snow by Jason Isbell

The best storytelling of all country albums I reviewed this year, with a wide range of topics – Foxes in the Snow was the most outstanding album in a series of really outstanding albums. Isbell will be back in Europe in summer 2026 (see my Tour Date Overview) – enjoy his amazing music in case you are here.

Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow

 

Most Special Music Release in 2025:

Without The Pain by Mark Morton

Max Morton is better known as a metalhead and member of the band Land of God. However, in April 2025, he proofed that he is an excellent country music artist as well. This leads to a great sophomore solo album. Without The Pain has been released in April 2025.

Mark Morton – Without The Pain

 

Year-end Reviews

Looking back to the twelve months you just survived. Here are all my year-end review posts:

 

The Flyctory.com Club of Excellence

There are not too many reviews (of any kind) which make it to a 5.0 on Flyctory. Praise the best ones:

You might also like

A Preview to Country Music Concerts (European Tours)

Rock of Ages UK Tour – A Personal Farewell and Thanks

Christmas Songs – Why not Hawaiian Style?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *