Sloan’s Jay Ferguson tells us about his favorite songs of 2025

We’ve been asking some of our favorite artists about their favorite music from 2025. Here we’ve got a list from Jay Ferguson, the resident musicologist in Canadian greats Sloan, who has made us a list of his favorite 11 songs of the year which includes tracks from Stereolab, Yves Jarvis, The Bug Club, Unmarry Me (ex-Huggy Bear), The Lemon Twigs‘ Brian D’Addario, and more. Check out his list and commentary — and a playlist featuring all the songs that are available on streaming apps — below.

Sloan released their 14th album Based on the Best Seller back in September and it’s another terrific batch of power-pop from one of the most consistently great groups of the last 30+ years. Listen to that below.

Sloan’s Jay Ferguson – Favorite Songs of 2025

Christo Graham – “Lucky Boy”
My favourite song from the ambitious Clown Riot album – a double record (on cassette) concept album revolving around an actual riot of circus clowns who were involved in a brothel brawl during the 1800s in Toronto. A good template as any for a 22-song opus. It sounds like an album that would have been green lit with big bucks during the late 60’s Van Dyke Parks/Randy Newman era of Warner Brothers.

The Bug Club – “Have U Ever Been 2 Wales”
A great in-between-LP single from The Bug Club who, like Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci before them, appear to be part of a lineage of wonderful eccentric rock pop from Wales. A lovely paean to their homeland. I’m jealous of their prolificity and their ability to keep the songwriting bar so high! Also one of the best live shows I’ve seen in years.

Julianna Riolino – “Seed”
I heard this song on CBC Radio here in Canada one day and enjoyed it so much that I looked it up immediately. A week later, our band Sloan played at an outdoor festival and as we arrived, I walked up to the side stage to see who was performing. Much to my surprise it was Julianna and her band. Their show was excellent and this song really took off when played live. To me, it’s a song that feels in the realm of that melancholic early ’60s R&B/girl group sound. Yet, about half way through, it suddenly shifts gears into a more up tempo version of what came before – then flies into a completely flat out Patti Smith-esque rave up for the last 20 seconds. Great lyric, rocking band and awesome vocal.

Stereolab – “Electrified Teenybop!”
A new Stereolab LP was such a welcome surprise this year. I quite like this instrumental off the LP and normally I’d wish it had Laetitia’s voice on it, but the music stands on it’s own with it’s steady autobahn beat.

Absolute Losers – “At The Same Time”
The East Coast pop/rock-rock/pop revolution is back in swing, man – with ground zero this time being centred in Charlottetown, PEI. A great track to kick off their latest In The Crowd LP. Honk if you like The (early) Who, The Flashing Lights, Sharp Pins.

Brian D’Addario – “Useless Tears”
Elaborate track from one half of the Lemon Twigs’ debut solo LP. A fine addition to his already notable catalogue of songs. The musical template falls near fellow New Yorkers The Left Banke, but the content feels like the peak writing of my favourites, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.

Yves Jarvis – “The Knife In Me”
This track is from All Cylinders, the album that won the top honour at the Polaris Prize this year up here in Canada. Lots of great musical ideas and cool songs on this LP, but I enjoy the way this track switches around styles in it’s short running time – starting off confidently like a lost Shuggie Otis song and winding up like a CSNY reunion.

El Michels Affair & Clairo – “Anticipate”
A natural collaboration as Leon Michaels (El Michaels Affair) produced Clairo’s previously LP – a fine combo that obviously works. Great setting for her voice and songs. Really nice chords and production.

Jenny & The Tide – “Ship Builders”
Our long time friend Jenny Pierce (formerly of the Halifax band jale) is back to recording after a hiatus of many years. This is my favourite track from her EP that was technically released at the tail end of 2024, but I’m going say it counts here! A gentle swaying track that wouldn’t sound out of place in the orbit of 90’s Scottish bands such as early Belle & Sebastian, but it makes me think of Nova Scotia. Glad to hear her making music again.

Bobby Emmett – “Magic Eyes”
My friend Bobby has released a number of stand alone tracks over the past few years, but hey where’s the next full length? Well Jack White has been keeping him busy on the keys for the past year or two, so fair enough. Driving melodic pop-rocker featuring my co-worker Chris Murphy as guest star on Mustang bass duty.

Unmarry Me – “Clean Fight”
I’m jumping the bandwagon here as I discovered this new release via a friend’s Instagram post. Unexpected return and unexpected sound from some ex-members of wild early 90’s UK riot grrl-adjacent group Huggy Bear. A very sparse, unusual half-spoken-word song that seems to harken back to the world of Marc Almond’s earliest solo music.

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Sloan have a few Canadian dates lined up for the spring:

Mar 5, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
Mar 6, 2026 – Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD
Mar 7, 2026 – Picton, ON – Regent Theatre
Mar 12, 2026 – Hamilton, ON – Bridgeworks
Mar 13, 2026 – London, ON – London Music Hall
Mar 14, 2026 – Windsor, ON – Capitol Theatre
Mar 19, 2026 – Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall
Mar 20, 2026 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s
Mar 21, 2026 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall

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Check out our Best of 2025 tag for more artist lists.