This week Matt brings his 12 best songs of 2025 to the mix and Sam helps him count them down.

We start by turning chaos into rhythm—yes, we joke about measuring chores in “Bruno Mars minutes”—and then dig into the textures that made this list sing. Inhaler brings that recognizable lineage without slipping into pastiche, while Jon Batiste crossfades jazz, soul, R&B, and hip‑hop into one irresistible lift. Raekwon reminds us the music video still matters when artists build worlds worth rewatching, and Julian Baker sharpens the edges of love with metaphors that cut and comfort at once. The Minus 5 becomes this year’s deep‑dive rabbit hole, a catalog made for holiday listening sprees.

David Byrne, Ghost Train Orchestra, and Hayley Williams pose a deceptively simple question—what is the reason for it?—and answer it with arrangement, rhythm, and surprise. Bad Bunny’s “Nueva Yol” doubles as a love letter to New York and a case study in performance as gateway; go watch the SNL set and tell us it doesn’t hook you. ROLE MODEL’s viral “Sally” bit shows how smart stagecraft fuels repeat plays, while Eric Church centers the theme that ties the hour together: music as a time machine, stitching memories with melodies. Counting Crows deliver a classic storyteller’s arc about becoming, and Kacey Musgraves closes the book with a vow that cuts through the noise: if everything falls apart, you were it.

Come back next week to hear Sam's Top 12 of 2025!!

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/matts-best-of-2025/pl.u-q6DaTNGyBP

1. Bonde de Brunao - Bruno Mars

2. Your House - Inhaler

3. Big Money - Jon Batiste

4. Bear Hill - Raekwon

5. Sugar in the Tank - Julien Baker & Torres

6. Words & Birds - The Minus 5

7. What is the Reason For It? - David Byrne & Ghost Train Orchestra featuring Hayley Williams

8. NuevaYOL - Bad Bunny

9. Sally, When The Wine Runs Out - ROLE MODEL

10. Hands of Time - Eric Church

11. Spaceman in Tulsa - Counting Crows

12. If The World Burns Down - Kacey Musgraves

Support the show

Visit us at https://www.superawesomemix.com to learn more about our app, our merchandise, our cards, and more!