The Best of 2025!!

The Rhythms Readers Poll returns!

Have your say in choosing the best albums, gigs, music books and films of the year. Democracy in action. We would love your contribution.

Below you will find lists of albums and box sets to choose from but you do not have to restrict yourself to these choices.

VOTING CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2025

Results of the Readers Poll will be published in the January/February edition of Rhythms and online on January 1, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: If your choices are not on the list below then you can add them in the text box at the end of the section.
Only votes that include a valid email address will be valid. One vote per person.

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* 1. Australian Album Of 2025 (Choose ONLY 5! Column 1 is your first choice, Column 2 is your second choice etc) The lists below are guides only feel free to add YOUR OWN choices!

  1 2 3 4 5
The Audreys - Ruin & Repair
John Butler - Prism
Fiona Boyes - Live At Bluesfest 2004
Charm of Finches - Marlinchen In The Snow
Cruel Sea - Straight Into The Sun
Charles Jenkins - Radio Sketches Vol.4
Emma Donovan - Til My Song Is Done
Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be A Good Time
The Gnomes - Introducing The Gnomes
Halfway - The Styx
Charles Jenkins - Radio Sketches Vol.4
Paul Kelly - 70
Davey Lane - At Last A Party Record
The Maes - Abreast
Ben Mastwyk - Łęt Me At The Night
Anne McCue & The Cubists - Wholly Roller Coaster
Loretta Miller - Loretta
Tracey Miller - Queen of The Creek
Minor Gold - Way To The Sun
The Pleasures - Enemy of My Enemy
Quality Used Cars - One Hundred Million
Mick Thomas' Roving Commission - Go Come Back
Thelma Plum - I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back
Queenie & Hank - Queenie & Hank
Emma Russack - About The Girl
Liz Stringer - The Second High
Sweet Talk - Switch On
Teskey Brothers - Live
Emily Ullman - Severe Clear
Matt Walker - Dobro Nada
Marlon Williams - Te Whare Tīwekaweka

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* 2. International Album Of 2025 (Choose no more than 5)

  1 2 3 4 5
Big Thief - Double Infinity
Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers
Rory Block - Heavy On The Blues
Brandi Carlisle - Returning To Myself
Rodney Crowell - Airline Highway
Luther Dickinson - Dead Blues Vol.1
Dion - Rock 'n' Roll Philosopher
Dug - Have At It
Sam Fender - People Watching
Robert Finley - Hallelujah! Don't Let The Devil Fool Ya
Florry - Sounds Like
Rhiannon Giddens - What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow
Goose - Chain Yer Dragon
Patty Griffin - Crown of Roses
Buddy Guy - Ain't Done With The Blues
Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram - Hard Road
Michael Hurley - Broken Homes and Gardens
Jason Isbell - Foxes In The Snow
Lucius - Lucius
Taj Mahal & Keb Mo' - Room On The Porch
Cass McCombs - Interior Live Oak
James McMurtry - The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy
Blake Mills & Pino Palladino - That Wasn't A Dream
Valerie June - Owls, Omens & Oracles
Van Morrison - Remembering Now
Maria Muldaur - One Hour Mama
Willie Nelson - Oh What A Beautiful World
Pink Stones - The Pink Stones
Robert Plant - Saving Grace
Margo Price - Hard Headed Woman
Mike Reid & Joe Henry - Life & Time
Ketch Secor - Story The Crow Told Me
Ron Sexsmith - Hangover Terrace
Joan Shelley - Real Warmth
Amanda Shires - Nobody's Girl
John Smith - Gatherings
Todd Snider - High Lonesome & Then Some
Mavis Staples - Sad & Beautiful World
The Third Mind - Right Now!
Irma Thomas & Galactic - Audience With The Queen
The Tubs - Cotton Crown
Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override
Laura Viers & The Choir Who - Couldn't Say (Live In Angeloume)
Kelsey Waldon - Every Ghost
War & Treaty - Plus One
Don Was & The Pan Detroit Ensemble - Groove In The Face of Adversity
Andy White - Night Is Approaching Though Some Would Say It Was Morning
Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts - Talkin' To The Trees

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* 3. Compilations/Box Sets/Re-Issues/Tribute Albums (Choose up to 5)

 
Antone's Allstars - 50 Years of The Blues
Black Sorrows - The Quintessential Black Sorrows
Guy Clark - Old No.1
Cowboy Junkies - More Acoustic Junk
Dr John - Live At The Village Gate
Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show
Drive By Truckers - The Definitive Decoration Day
Bob Dylan - Through The Open Window: The Bootleg Series Vol.18 1956-1963
Suzannah Espie - Sea of Lights
John Fogerty - Legacy
Emmylou Harris - Spyboy Live
The Halloween - So Long
Waylon Jennings - Songbird
Joni Mitchell - Joni's Jazz
Randy Newman - Trouble In Paradise
Shane Nicholson - Hell Breaks Loose
Doc Pomus: You Can't Hip A Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos
Rolling Stones - Black & Blue
Patti Smith - Horses 50th Anniversary
Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska '82 Expanded Edition
Chris Wilson - King For A Day
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Archives Vol.3
Various - A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco
Various -
Wings - Wings (Deluxe - Best of Compilation)
The Who - Live At The Oval 1971

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* 4. Best Gig/Concert/Festival Show of 2025 - Australian/International

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* 5. Best Music Festival - Australia

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* 6. Best Music Book of The Year (Australian or International)

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* 7. Best Music Documentary Film of The Year (Australian or International)

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* 8. Please enter your details here. For your vote to be eligible you must provide your name and a valid email address (which will remain confidential). 

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