Finally, we've been done with 2025 for a whole month and I'm ready to roll out the 2025 Gremmy Awards. These are my favorite surf releases of 2025, divided up into several categories so that I'm not comparing apples with oranges. Except I definitely am and you shouldn't take these categories too seriously. You shouldn't take any of this seriously, it's just one guy's opinions.
Regardless, it was an interesting year for surf music! A lot of the "big" releases from this year were relatively new names while many of the more established acts stayed quiet. Then again, there was a new Los Straitjackets album. Then off on the side, the surf-adjacent world of Khruangbin-inspired grooves continues to grow and thrive, seemingly with little spillover into surf. Oh well, there was still plenty to enjoy.
I want to throw out there that every year I feel guilty about "snubs". Sometimes surf releases other people love don't land with me as well. I want to stress that the reason I do The Gremmy Awards is to recognize albums that I think are notably excellent. Often I do enjoy the "snubbed" albums, but I can't include every great surf record (because there's too many), and I can't force myself to like something more than I do. So I hope you enjoy the albums I mention here, and I hope you don't think too hard about the ones that I don't mention.
Here are the categories in the order that I expect to roll them out. I'll update this with links as they're posted.
- The big list: Every 2025 release I can find. Not really a Gremmy category, but an essential part of the process.
- Best Album Art. Self-explanatory. Arguably unnecessary but I enjoy it.
- Best Trad Surf Record. Surf music that tries to stay true to 60's-era sensibilities.
- Best Modern Surf Record. Bands that expand on the 60's sound in new ways.
- Best "Rad" Surf Record. Success is measured in adrenaline.
- Best "Mad" Instro Record. Weird records that still manage to be close enough to surf to recommend to a surf fan.
- Guest Gremmys. I invite other people to choose some favorites.
Poll
Every year I have a poll where you can say which albums stood out the most. People tend to post their own albums, tell others to vote for their own albums, don't take it too seriously.
What was your favorite surf record of 2025
