Fresh Finds: Class Of 2025 – Aussie Acts To Add To Your Playlist

Writer's Poll - Brendan Hitchens

Brendan Hitchens reckons it was the year of The Smith Street Band.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Sunshine And Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND
2. Classics Of Love CLASSICS OF LOVE
3. Mutt CORY BRANAN
4. Awkward Breeds THE SIDEKICKS
5. On The Impossible Past THE MENZINGERS
6. Resonation LINCOLN LE FEVRE
7. Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired JOYCE MANOR
8. Failed States PROPAGANDHI
9. Exister HOT WATER MUSIC
10. Comet BOUNCING SOULS

MISCELLANEOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Provincial JOHN K SAMSON
2. A Tribute To Blueline Medic SHUFFLE AND SCRAPE
3. Thicker Than Water (reissue) H2O

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Sunshine And Technology THE SMITH STREET BAND
2. Everyone's Waiting MISSY HIGGINS
3. Keepsake THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
4. Drag My Body HOT WATER MUSIC
5. Bang JIMMY CLIFF

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. The Smith Street Band
2. Boomgates
3. Royal Headache
4. Lincoln Le Fevre
5. Propagandhi

BEST WEBSITE

1. bombshellzine.com
2. punknews.org
3. bandcamp.com
4. messandnoise.com
5. twitter.com

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. Restorations
2. Hot Snakes
3. The Menzingers
4. Frank Turner
5. Turbonegro

BEST AUSTRALIAN ARTIST PERFORMANCE

1. The Smith Street Band
2. Luca Brasi
3. Extortion
4. I Exist
5. Jen Buxton

BEST TV SHOW

1. Marngrook Footy Show
2. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
3. Rockwiz
4. Law & Order SVU
5. A Moody Christmas

BEST MOVIE

1. Ted
2. The Sapphires
3. Man On A Ledge
4. 21 Jump Street
5. Pitch Perfect

2012 HIGHLIGHT

Watching The Smith Street Band go from Melbourne's little secret to taking over China and the USA.

2013 PREDICTION

More international bands do low-key punk tours of Australia, while Australian bands explore Asia.