Obsessions 2025

I’m back with a year end list that fits my fancy and likely no one else’s.

As with everything I have attempted via Applied Science, my “best of 2025” list is personal. It is not a summary of what happened this year in culture. It is a snapshot of art I enjoyed in the calendar year.

I’m not ranking things. Every entry is listed in alphabetical order with no regard to chronology or relative quality.

I’m including songs and albums from different years that sustained me in this one. I’m including lists of movies/shows and books I liked, though as usual I wish I’d seen and read more.

If I listed an album from an artist, I did not also list an individual song they made.

I am sparing you my editorial. These lists are just lists. No commentary.

If you’ve followed Obsessions, you may know that I often mention my son. He stars again below, with a list of obsessions that I will likely remember from this year far beyond my own.

Anything from 2025 is in bold for easy identification.

I hope you enjoy. I hope you find cause to disagree (except with the things my son likes). I hope you discover something.

See you again in 2026.

---

Songs & Albums

• Andrew Aged – crown (2025)

• Benjamin Booker – LOWER (2025)

• Boylife – “1Time” (2025)

• Charli xcx, Billie Eilish – “Guess” (2024)

• Clothesline From Hell – Open Up (2024)

• D’Angelo – “Africa” (2000)

• DARKSIDE – “S.N.C.” (2025)

• Daniel Caesar – “Call On Me” (2025)

• Dijon – “Big Mike’s” (2021)

• Eddie Chacon – Lay Low (2025)

• Ethel – “Time Apart” (2024)

• Fly Anakin – “Teen Summit” (2025)

• G Herbo – “Went Legit” (2025)

• Gabriel Jacoby – gutta child (2025)

• Geese – “Bow Down” (2025)

• girlsweetvoiced – “spearmint” (2025)

• Heran Dawson – “IS THERE STILL TIME” (2024)

• Jamie xx, Erykah – “F.U” (2025)

• Javon “x” Johnson - “premonition” (2025)

• Jean Dawson – “Darlin” (2024)

• Jim Legxacy - “stick” (2025)

• JIREH – PERFECT CIRCLE (2025)

• Justin Bieber – “ALL I CAN TAKE” (2025)

• Ka – “Cold Facts” (2012)

• KTmelodies – “put ya hands in the air” (2025)

• Little Willie John – “Now You Know” (1960)

• Mack Keane – “All Talk” (2025)

• MIKE, Wiki, Alc – Faith Is a Rock (2023)

• Miguel – “Always Time” (2025)

• Mobb Deep – “Easy Bruh” (2025)

• Moskino – “KING BRONZE” (2025)

• Navy Blue – “Orchards” (2025)

• Ne-Yo – “Because of You” (2007)

• Nyron Higor – Nyron Higor (2025)

• Outkast – “Speedballin’” (2001)

• Paramore – “Running Out Of Time” (2023)

• Playboi Carti – “Evil Jordan” (2025)

• Portishead – “Strangers” (1994)

• Rob49 – “WTHELLY” (2025)

• Rochelle Jordan – “Sum” (2025)

• Sideshow – “HOW TO KILL A MAN” (2024)

• Sonder – Too Fast (2017)

• sosocamo – “keep steady” (2025)

• Stresshead – “Pull Me Into You” (2025)

• $uicideboy$ – “Napoleon” (2025)

• System of A Down – “Holy Mountain” (2005)

• TOBi – “Life Is A Jungle” (2025)

• Tortoise – “Oganesson” (2025)

• Yaya – “dreams of spain” (2025)

• 2Pac – “Only God Can Judge Me” (1996)

Movies & Shows

• Adolescence (2025)

• A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

• Lurker (2025)

• Oddity (2024)

• One Battle After Another (2025)

• Pingu (1986)

• Sly! Lives (2025)

• Task (2025)

• The Thing (1981)

• There Will Be Blood (2007)

• Weapons (2025)

• The John Wick series (2014, 2017, 2019, 2023)

Books

• Amiri Baraka – Blues People (1963)

• Barry Barnes, PhD – Everything I Know About Business I Learned From the Grateful Dead (2011)

• Bradley Hope & Justin Scheck – Blood & Oil (2020)

• David Halberstam – The Best and the Brightest (1969)

• Erik Larson – The Devil in the White City (2003)

• Felipe Luciano – Flesh and Spirit (2023)

• Gay Talese – Frank Sinatra Has a Cold (1965/2011)

• Jonathan Mahler – Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning (2005)

• Lucy Jones – Matrescence (2024)

• Mark Fisher – Capitalist Realism (2009)

• Mike Davis – Buda’s Wagon (2007)

• Verlyn Klinkenborg – Several Short Sentences About Writing (2012)

• Werner Herzog – Conquest of the Useless (2009)

My Son’s Obsessions

• Becoming a race car driver one day

• Billie Eilish - “Bad Guy” (2018)

• Cars. Cars, cars, cars. F1 cars. Die-cast cars. My Jeep. Cars (2006). Any and every car imaginable

• Dinosaur Train (2011)

• Dr. John - “Curious George Theme Song”

• Frank Sinatra – “Fly Me to the Moon” (1964)

• Gerald McDermott – Anansi the Spider (1972)

• Katy Perry – “Roar” (2013)

• Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1982)

• Pasta

• Public Enemy – “Fight the Power” (1989)

• Ravyn Lenae - “Bad Idea” (2024)

• Rice & beans

• Sheryl Crow – “Real Gone” (2006)

• Singing in the Rain (1952)

• Sliming me in the mouth (licking his hand and sticking it directly into my mouth while yipping “I slimed you in the mouth!”)

• Talking Heads – “Road to Nowhere” (1985)

• The Beatles – “Octopus’ Garden” (1969)

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

• The original Jungle Book soundtrack (1967)

• Thurl Ravenscroft - “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (1966)

• T.I. – “Rubber Band Man” (2006)

• Trains