The Music Blogs That Still Matter
The 10 best music blogs of 2025: Aquarium Drunkard, Bandcamp Daily, The Quietus, and more. Real human curation that beats Spotify's algorithm every time.
Why I Still Read Music Blogs
Writers with actual taste and the ability to articulate why something matters
Discovery of music I’d never find through streaming algorithms
Context—the stories behind the songs, the scenes, the cultural moments
Passion that makes me want to listen even when the genre isn’t “my thing”
Human curation over machine learning
The blogs below deliver this. They’re run by people who genuinely love music and have something to say beyond “this slaps.”
The Essential Music Blogs Still Worth Your Time
1. Aquarium Drunkard
If you could only follow one music blog, this would be a strong contender.
AD started in 2005 and has somehow maintained quality and voice for two decades. They cover everything from cosmic American music to Japanese folk to modern psych rock, but what makes them essential is their ability to make you care about music you didn’t know existed.
Their “Transmissions” podcast features deep conversations with artists. Their mixtapes are thoughtfully curated. Their writing treats music like it matters—because it does. The site’s motto is “Only the good shit,” and they mean it.
Founded by Justin Gage in Los Angeles, Aquarium Drunkard has evolved from a simple blog into a full music magazine with a Patreon, a record label (Autumn Tone Records), and partnerships like Gold Diggers studio/hotel in Hollywood. But it’s never lost its core mission: championing music that deserves attention.
What makes them special: Their “Lagniappe Sessions” where artists cover songs by their influences. Their deep archive covering psych, folk, jazz, avant-garde, and beyond. Writing that provides genuine context rather than hype.
Best for: Psych rock, folk, indie, reissues, deep cuts, thoughtful album reviews
2. The Quietus
The Quietus is what happens when you let smart people write long-form pieces about music without worrying about SEO or virality.
Founded in 2008 by John Doran and Luke Turner, they’ll publish 3,000-word essays on Coil’s influence on industrial music, then follow it with coverage of a new grime artist, then review an ambient album from Japan. Their “Baker’s Dozen” series—where artists pick their 13 favorite albums—is consistently fascinating.
The site doesn’t chase trends. They write about what they think matters, whether it’s popular or not. They champion experimental and underground music with genuine intellectual rigor while remaining accessible. The writing staff includes former journalists from Melody Maker, NME, and Q, plus BBC Radio 6 DJ Steve Lamacq.
What makes them special: Fearless long-form criticism. Coverage of music and culture ignored elsewhere. A genuine commitment to reappraising forgotten artists and championing new ones with equal respect.
Best for: Experimental music, in-depth analysis, underground scenes, long-form writing
3. Brooklyn Vegan
BV is the indie/punk/metal scene’s most reliable news source. Tour announcements, album streams, show reviews, music videos—if it’s happening in independent music, Brooklyn Vegan has it.
They’re not trying to be Pitchfork. They’re trying to cover the scene comprehensively, and they do it better than anyone else. Their coverage spans indie rock, punk, hardcore, metal, and everything adjacent, with a particular strength in documenting touring culture and live music.
What makes them special: Comprehensive scene coverage. Fast, reliable news. Strong focus on touring and live shows. They cover artists at all levels, from DIY basement shows to arena tours.
Best for: Indie rock, punk, metal, hardcore, tour dates, comprehensive scene coverage
