Feature / Music
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

July 6, 2025

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Jiffy Marx’s Top 5 Of 2025 So Far

1

The Men - Buyer Beware

The Men - Buyer Beware

Fuzz Club

I don't like to pick favourites so I’m not going to say this is number one but it was the first new album that I fell for this year. I listened to the shit out of it when writing the review of it, maybe too much? It’s cool tho to rediscover a band that’s been around as long as these dudes have. If you like the Stooges (and sax! Who doesn’t?) you should check out this album as well as Bad Vibes OST by SexFaces and the latest release by Pdx’s Perfect Buzz!

2

Dauber - Falling Down

Dauber - Falling Down

Recess Records/Dromedary Records

It’s no coincidence that two writers I follow have compared Dauber to my band Night Court. We’re label mates and I’m gonna throw it out there, both obvious fans of Cincinnati’s Vacation (RIP?) Scrappy, energetic and heartfelt, this is Mike from Screaming Females (RIP) recorded by John from Vacation, what’s not to like?

3

Bug Club - Have U Ever Been 2 Wales

Bug Club - Have U Ever Been 2 Wales

Sub Pop

This song was released as a single ahead of the release of Bug Club’s new album Very Human Features BUT IT’S NOT ON THE ALBUM!?? That’s insane because it’s probably my favourite song of theirs. Great harmonies for the indie crowd and funny lyrics for the punks. The album’s also good tho maybe their best album so far. I like to proudly remind myself that I was into this band before they got signed to Sub Pop. Admittedly also gives me some vague albeit probably unrealistic hope that if Sub Pop signs bands like Bug Club maybe they’ll sign my band some day too.. (hint hint Sub Pop;)

4

Billiam - Sylvia S Goes To Hawaii

Billiam - Sylvia S Goes To Hawaii

Jarama 45

The first song, which is also the namesake for this EP, is five minutes long and it’s still great! How is that even possible? If I wanted to listen to the same song for that long I’d just put it on repeat but somehow when I listen to this one, I don't even notice how insanely long it is.. more awesome Australian bedroom synth punk (is that what we’re calling it again?) Don’t worry tho the other 5 songs on this EP are also 5 minutes long. Not each, like each one is exactly one minute. Oh I see because 5 minutes is the max length per side so there’s no wasteage, smart. 

5

Sex Mex - Sixteen Minutes Of Hits

Sex Mex - Sixteen Minutes Of Hits

Independent

Like Dark Thougths or maybe Metalleg with a drum machine. I guess that makes them Egg Punk but we don’t use that term anymore since Paperface Zine ruined it for everyone then promptly (mysteriously?) disappeared. Also not unlike Golden Pissers and Real Sickies who are less Egg-y but also put out great albums this year and are rad dudes. Oh hold up, I just looked at Sex Mex’s instagram and it looks like it’s ONLY a drummer what the hell now I’m totally confused!

Skip to page View as a single page

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Chuck Coffey's Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  3. Dennis's Top 5 of 2025 So Far
  4. Jiffy Marx’s Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  5. Loren's Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  6. Matt's Top 5 Improbable Hopes For Concerts In 2025
  7. Spyros Stasis's Top 5 of 2025 So Far

Related features

Noise Real Records

Interviews • February 9, 2026

Noise Real Records recently released Noise Pollution Volume 1, a limited run 7" that features two new versions of "The Recluse" by Cursive. The new series will continue this revision theme as we move forward. Founded in 2021 by two long-time friends from California's Central Valley, the label is focused … Read more

Verböten

Interviews • February 9, 2026

ver·bo·ten adjective forbidden, especially by an authority. Verböten was formed in 1982 by a bunch of kids aged 10 to 14 years old, soon opening for Chicago's finest punk bands. Thanks to Dave Grohl's HBO series and best-selling book, mentioning Verböten led to opportunities to play Riot Fest and the … Read more

Time Thieves

One Question Interviews • February 4, 2026

Time Thieves SPB: While you’ve all played in punk bands Time Thieves is in the power-pop realm. What is a personal favorite album you feel is overlooked in the genre? Annie: Teenage Heartbreak (1980) by Sorrows. Heard it with a friend for the first time just a few months ago … Read more

Dauber

One Question Interviews • February 3, 2026

Mike (Dauber) SPB: What was the first album you ever bought? Mike: I'm not quite certain what the first album I ever bought was, probably Dookie or Smash. What I can remember is the first time I ever went to the legendary Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ (RIP). I had … Read more

Ian Glasper

One Question Interviews • February 2, 2026

Ian Glasper (A Country Fit For Heroes : DIY Punk in Eighties Britain) SPB: What was the first punk show you saw and do you remember how it inspired you at the time? Glasper: I'm not sure which was the very, very first punk gig I went to, because it's … Read more

More from this section

Demos You Want To Check #2

Music / New Kids On The Block • January 12, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and then die out, and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, a little help never hurts! So here we are, your … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2025)

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

Every year we diligently assemble a list of our favorite albums of the year. Each SPB staff member enters the large arena we nickname THE DOJO, and yells out the name of their top album of the year. Rival staffers quickly assemble and shout out their own highly-favored record, and … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2025

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

For many years now, Scene Point Blank has taken the opportunity as the year ends to formally "pass the mic" to our friends on the other side of the mostly-imaginary divide between listeners and artists. This year is no exception as we ask a bunch of bands, artists and labels … Read more