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Jeff Tweedy, the longtime frontman of Wilco, has revealed his selection of favorite records from 2025 in a piece for Mojo Magazine’s January 2026 issue. Between finishing his own triple LP, he still carved out time to listen and name the albums that stuck with him. The list mixes contemporary breakthrough records with older gems, leaning toward folk-tinged rock and inventive guitar work.
Why these picks matter: Tweedy’s musical frame of mind in 2025
Tweedy explained that much of his year was consumed by completing his triple album, Twilight Override, which arrived in September 2025. That workload cut into his time for wide listening. Still, he stressed he came across plenty of music that moved him. He also admitted the list isn’t exhaustive and that he feels bad when he forgets names.
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New releases Jeff Tweedy highlighted from 2025
His selections include several albums that music writers and listeners kept talking about all year. Tweedy’s notes reveal what he admired about each record.
- Cate Le Bon — Michelangelo Dying (released Sept. 26, 2025). Tweedy praised Le Bon’s emotional intensity. He described the album as cathartic and transformative.
- Sam and Louise Sullivan — Sweet Enough (Aug. 21, 2025). The sibling duo’s nostalgic folk-pop struck a chord with Tweedy. He liked how their influences are worn openly yet feel fresh.
- Water From Your Eyes — It’s A Beautiful Place (Aug. 22, 2025). Tweedy applauded the adventurous guitar work and the ways the group reshapes rock textures.
- Geese — Getting Killed (Sept. 26, 2025). Tweedy called Geese a model of what a young, energetic band should sound like — intense, unsettling, and committed.
- Hayley Williams — Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (Aug. 28, 2025). He noted Williams’s evolution and the seriousness with which she’s being regarded as an artist.
- Throwing Muses — Moonlight Concessions (Mar. 14, 2025). Tweedy included this as one of the year’s notable releases.
- Orcutt Shelley Miller — Self-titled (Sept. 5, 2025). Another 2025 record Tweedy named among his favorites.
- Sharp Pins — Radio DDR (Mar. 21, 2025). Tweedy added this album to the list of standout new music.
What drew him to these modern records
- Strong songwriting that balances melody and grit.
- Artists who mix folk and rock in unexpected ways.
- Innovative guitar sounds that feel both novel and rooted.
Artists who resonate with Wilco’s sensibility
Tweedy’s selections often echo Wilco’s own musical territory. He singled out bands and songwriters who blend roots music with exploratory arrangements.
- Sam and Louise Sullivan — their Fleetwood Mac and Motown-tinged approach felt authentic, not nostalgic pastiche.
- Cate Le Bon — a long-time favorite of Tweedy’s, praised for emotional honesty and inventive production.
- Water From Your Eyes — lauded for refreshing guitar textures and bold sonic choices.
Widely discussed albums Tweedy also praised
Some picks overlap with records that dominated 2025 year-end lists. Tweedy named a few of those and explained why they stood out to him.
- Geese — Getting Killed — admired for raw intensity and a fearless approach to youth and noise.
- Hayley Williams — Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party — noted for its boundary-pushing rollout and serious artistic reception.
Older records and deep cuts he kept returning to
Alongside new music, Tweedy revisited vintage and recent throwbacks. He mixed classic vinyl-era finds with lesser-known modern releases.
- Maggie & Terre Roche — Seductive Reasoning (1975). Tweedy called it underappreciated and pointed out the Muscle Shoals connections.
- Robert Gordon & Link Wray — Live At Rockpalast 1978. A live performance that captured a particular era of rock energy.
- Cameron Winter — Heavy Metal (Dec. 2024). Tweedy listed Winter’s solo debut among records he’s been spinning.
- Dan Melchior — Hill Country Piano (Dec. 2024). Another recent but retro-minded project Tweedy returned to.
How influences and discovery show up in his picks
Tweedy’s list reveals two ongoing tendencies. One is an affection for songs rooted in American folk and rock traditions. The other is curiosity for artists who retool those roots into fresh textures. He emphasized that the list is personal and partial, and he singled out records that inspired him while he was deep into making his own album.
Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Blackbird Presents and Live Nation
