Twangville’s 2025 Favorites are…

Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow

The Twangville pick for Album of the Year is Foxes in the Snow by Jason Isbell. Recorded as a stark, all-solo acoustic statement, it hit our critics and readers the same way his best work does: sharp writing, lived-in emotion, and melodies that don’t need anything extra to land. Standout cuts like “Bury Me,” “Gravelweed,” and the title track “Foxes in the Snow” make this one feel both intimate and immediate. Congrats to all the finalists, and here’s to another incredible year of new music in 2026.

Official Twangville Top 50 of 2025:

01. Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow (135 votes)
02. James McMurtry – The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy (103)
03. Kathleen Edwards – Billionaire (101)
04. Turnpike Troubadours – Price of Admission (73)
05. I’m With Her – Wild and Clear and Blue (72)
06. Colter Wall – Memories and Empties (70)
07. Molly Tuttle – So Long Little Miss Sunshine (66)
07. Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter (66)
08. The Snocaps – The Snocaps (65)
09. Patterson Hood – Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams (53)
10. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override (52)
11. Josh Ritter – I Believe in You, My Honeydew (50)
11. Watchhouse – Rituals (50)
13. Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human (48)
14. Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman (41)
15. Brandi Carlile – Returning to Myself (39)
15. Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World (39)
15. Sierra Hull – A Tip Toe High Wire (39)
15. Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – Room On The Porch (39)
19. Caamp – Copper Changes Color (37)
19. The Shootouts – Switchback (37)
21. North Mississippi Allstars – Still Shakin’ (36)
21. The Wood Brothers – Puff of Smoke (36)
23. Jason Isbell – Live at the Beacon Theater (32)
24. Fust – Big Ugly (31)
24. Kirby Baby – Inside Man (31)
24. Silverada – Texas 42 (31)
27. Brennen Leigh – Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love (29)
27. Brian Dunne – Clams Casino (29)
29. Larkin Poe – Bloom (28)
30. Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners – Before The Fall (25)
30. Sunny Sweeney – Rhinestone Requiem (25)
32. Olivia Ellen Lloyd – Do It Myself (24)
32. Paul Thorn – Life Is Just A Vapor (24)
32. The Bones of JR Jones – Radio Waves (24)
32. Ward Hayden & The Outliers – Little by Little (24)
36. My Morning Jacket – Is (23)
37. Alex Wong – Permission (22)
37. Caitlin Cannon – Love Addict (22)
37. Joelton Mayfield – Crowd Pleaser (22)
37. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson – What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow (22)
37. Ryan Adams – Self Portrait (22)
37. Ward Hayden & The Outliers – Piece By Piece (22)
43. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Hard Road (21)
43. Damn Tall Buildings – The Universe Is Hungry (21)
43. Rodney Crowell – Airline Highway (21)
43. The Avett Brothers with Mike Patton – AVTT/PTTN (21)
43. Todd Snider – High, Lonesome and Then Some (21)
48. Jake Xerxes Fussell/James Elkington – Rebuilding (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (20)
48. Tony Kamel – We’re All Gonna Live (20)
48. Webb Wilder – Hillbilly Speedball (20)

Additional Twangville Best of 2025 lists:

Twangville Hall of Fame

Finally to celebrate our 20th year, the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks starting from 2005.

2025: JASON ISBELL, Foxes in the Snow
2024: WAXAHATCHEE, Tiger’s Blood
2023: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Weathervanes
2022: WILCO, Cruel Country
2021: JAMES MCMURTRY, The Horses and the Hounds
2020: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Reunions
2019: JOSH RITTER, Fever Breaks
2018: BRANDI CARLILE, By The Way, I Forgive You
2017: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, The Nashville Sound
2016: LYDIA LOVELESS, Real
2015: JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
2014: JOE FLETCHER, You’ve Got The Wrong Man
2013: JASON ISBELL, Southeastern
2012: I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
2011: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
2010: JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Harlem River Blues
2009: LUCERO, 1372 Overton Park
2008: DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark & THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (tie)
2007: JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
2006: JACKIE GREENE, American Myth
2005: KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me

We hope you’ll follow us for more music reviews, interviews, and playlists throughout the year. Be sure and vote for your favorites in our Readers’ poll every week.

About the author: Gainesville, FL area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.