Top 25 Albums of 2025

Dig deep enough and any year is a great year for music. Sometimes we get lucky in the mainstream and enjoy some chart-topping projects that are as successful as they are ground-breaking. Other times, we need to rummage through every corner of the alternative and underground, seeking out those hidden gems. 2025 strikes a fine balance between the two. The indie scene is thriving like never before, the Mass Appeal Legend Has It series has injected new life into hip hop discussions, and the future of rock music is looking brighter than ever. Across sounds, languages, and cultures, in almost every avenue of the music world, 2025 was a fantastic year. Here are just 25 of my favourites.

But before we dig in, a handful of honourable mentions. There will be a whole list dedicated to the finest underground hip hop releases, but outside of that realm, some great records that didn’t quite make the cut include Cancionera by Natalia Lafourcade, The BPM by Sudan Archives, Infinite by Mobb Deep, Neighborhood Gods Unlimited by Open Mike Eagle, Alfredo 2 by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, and the excellent Lotus by Little Simz.

25. aya – hexed!

An erratic, glitchy, mind-bending record, hexed! sees English artist aya unlock her sound in its most unhinged form. The production can be brutal, combining elements of grime with industrial, electronic, and hardcore into an overstimulating mishmash of stabbing bass and thundering percussion. The splintering soundscapes are matched by aya’s raging vocals, showing her range with a blend of manic shouts and disturbing spoken word. For fans of the experimental and otherworldly, hexed! is a must-listen for 2025.

24. Maruja – Pain to Power

Following a run of fantastic EPs, Pain to Power is the long-awaited debut album from rock band Maruja. Their sound is dark and spacious, with growling guitar interlaced with rich percussion and some stunning horn-work that adds to the melancholy. Lead vocalist Harry Wilkinson sells every track with his fierce and articulate verses, balancing his anger at the world and those who corrupt it with his steady, unflinching presence on the microphone. For a debut album, Pain to Power does a fantastic job of capturing everything that makes Maruja so brilliant, and we can only wait to see where the band ventures next.

23. JID – God Does Like Ugly

A year on from the critical and commercial smash The Forever Story, JID doesn’t exactly break the mould with God Does Like Ugly, but rather, he uses the album like a whetstone to hone his craft and show the hip hop world why he is one of the most exciting rappers working today. From the writing alone, JID is a master of rhyme and wordplay, made even more impressive by his stylish mic presence where he can make the most tongue-twisting stanza sound effortless. Highlights like “Community,” “VCRs”, “Gz”, and “For Keeps” are some of the best songs in his catalogue. With sharp, eclectic production and no shortage of standout verses, God Does Like Ugly may not be much of an artistic switch-up for JID, but instead, it’s another reminder of why few active MCs are on his level.

22. Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

Although it isn’t an album I revisit often, there are few records that blew me away on first listen like Deafheaven’s Lonely People With Power. Without a doubt, this is my metal album of the year. An uncompromising bombardment of drums and guitar that thrash the ears, moving with an intention and intensity difficult to comprehend as humanly possible. The album’s themes of power, influence, and corruption are vivid, explored by George Clarke through his harsh, guttural vocals. From the writing to the endlessly layered production, there is so much to pick away it with Lonely People With Power. It’s hardly an easy album to swallow, but with each repeated listen, I find myself more enamoured by the band’s cacophonic sound.

21. Car Seat Headrest – The Scholars

The Scholars is an album that demands your attention. Each song is its own musical world, filled with vast instrumental progressions and unforgettable vocal work by Will Toledo, who gives the project his all. The opening song, “CFF (I’m Gonna Stay With You)”, encapsulates everything that makes the album special—the slow build of instruments, the hypnotic refrains, the exciting ebb and flow as the production falls and rises again. Each song on The Scholars is handled with the same passion and detail, the long-form song structure lending itself to the band’s remarkable attention to songwriting. Whether a longtime fan or a newcomer to Car Seat Headrest, The Scholars is bound to leave any indie fan in awe.

20. Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love

Live Laugh Love is an exciting step forward for one of the sharpest lyricists in modern hip hop. Unlike some of his older material, where Earl’s art draws from his struggles and despair, Live Laugh Love is distinctly hopeful, and that reflects in the music. Not only do we hear it in the lyrics, but in the brighter production, and the melodic edge to Earl’s delivery, building on ideas from previous records like SICK! and Voir Dire. Musically, Live Laugh Love has a lot in common with something like 2018’s Some Rap Songs, but from a lyrical standpoint, it’s a refreshing—and inspiring—addition to the rapper’s catalogue.

19. Sorry – COSPLAY

Sorry are among the most underrated bands working today, and COSPLAY a hidden gem any alternative fan should check out. The band’s sound is a dark twist on your traditional indie style, driven by the breathy, rambling vocals from lead singer Asha Lorenz. The production is rich and expansive, creating a series of eerie and foreboding atmospheres only Sorry could pull off. Songs like “Jetplane”, “Candle”, and especially “Waxwing” are some of the best of the year with their captivating genre fusion and mesmerising songwriting.

18. Wet Leg – moisturizer

Wet Leg aren’t reinventing the wheel with moisturizer, but there is something so simply addictive about this album that has drawn me back again and again. The production is punchy and bright, the lead performance from Rhian Teasdale just the right amount of playful. This is indie rock in its tightest, most mesmerising form, tackling universal themes of love and romance through a barrage of colourful riffs and earworm choruses. Highs like “mangetout”, “pokemon”, and “CPR” make this an undeniable highlight in the alternative scene this year.

17. The Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre

A common critique I’ve seen about From the Pyre is that it does not deviate enough from the band’s debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy. While it is true that the glam rock aesthetic is very much an extension of the band’s debut, From the Pyre displays a newfound sense of confidence—and chemistry—within that style. The Last Dinner Party have never sounded more united as a band, with each bandmate given their own time in the spotlight, whether it be the stunning guitar solos or the angelic group harmonies. There are emotional ballads and hard-hitting rock bangers, but no matter the approach, the tightknit group dynamic makes From the Pyre an undeniable evolution from the band’s first LP.

16. Jane Remover – Revengeseekerz

The state of pop music is always in flux, but Revengeseekerz is hard evidence that, right now, the scene is in a fantastic place. A colourful explosion of hyperpop and dance, the new album from Jane Remover is among the best pop projects of 2025. Every song is an overstimulating splatter of sounds and ideas, the processed vocals and wild, booming bass production culminating in an abrasive expression of self-identity. If there were any song I had to recommend, it would of course be “Psychoboost”, a manic crossover with rapper Danny Brown where the production reaches an overwhelming apex. Packed with energy and endless ideas, Revengeseekerz is a brilliant time capsule for the vibrant and forward-thinking era of pop music we find ourselves in.

15. FKA Twigs – EUSEXUA

All the way back in January, EUSEXUA was the first 2025 album that truly hooked me, and almost a year on, it still stands as one of the year’s best. A departure from the more accessible grooves and trap-inspired production scattered throughout Caprisongs, EUSEXUA is straightforward electronica, blending the high-octane madness of club music with the deep atmosphere of trip hop. The end-product is a tight, cohesive body of work that never misses a beat, showing off Twigs at her most vulnerable, creative, and daring.

14. Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong

As someone in the minority who never loved Ants From Up There—Black Country, New Road’s critically acclaimed sophomore album—I was curious to see how the band would evolve their sound following the departure of lead vocalist, Isaac Wood. The result is Forever Howlong: the band’s best album to date. The arrangements are lush and enveloping; the songwriting is warm and inviting, the lyrics hopeful, and the vocals bursting with joy and whimsy. The band put together a baroque wonderland of immersive stories and heartfelt confessions, wrapped up in gorgeous layers of strings and strums.

13. Turnstile – NEVER ENOUGH

The latest effort from Turnstile is a hard-hitting standout in a great year for rock music. As more bands enter the scene, rock seems to split off even more, diverging into a million avant-garde and experimental sounds, but with NEVER ENOUGH, Turnstile prove that the basics still hit hard. But that’s not to say that the band don’t have their own style; this album is brimming with personality and creative flair, heard in the spacey quiet of “SEEIN’ STARS”, the uplifting production on “I CARE”, and the maddened horns on “DREAMING”. What Turnstile offer is a fast-paced, in-your-face, and endlessly captivating rock record up there with the very best of 2025.

12. Danny Brown – Stardust

Stardust is a surprising but welcome change of pace for Danny Brown. The new LP sees the rapper tackle hyperpop and electronica, inviting support from the likes of underscores, Quadeca, and Jane Remover to build a truly manic soundscape befitting his deranged approach to the mic. Despite the drastic change in genre, Brown sounds as comfortable as ever, flowing effortlessly over the breakbeat highs of “The End” and the irresistible grooves of “Lift You Up”. Stardust is the most upbeat and optimistic we’ve ever heard Danny, and his craft has never been more refreshing.

11. Wednesday – Bleeds

There are albums that take a few listens to digest, and then there’s Bleeds—a hard-hitting grunge throwback that pulls you in within the first minute and refuses to let go. The guitar riffs are rough, the drums brutal, and the moody vocals enchanting. Wednesday deliver an abrasive rock album, but the band never lose themselves in the noise, injecting their poetic writing flair and sharp attention to melody into every tune. From “Townies” to “Elderberry Wine”, you would be hard pressed to find a song on Bleeds that isn’t worth at least a dozen listens.

10. PinkPantheress – Fancy That

Few albums have hooked me like Fancy That. It is everything you could want from a pop album—endlessly catchy, with feelgood production and fantastic songwriting. Clocking in a tight 20 minutes, it’s an LP that demands an immediate relisten, then another, then another. Pink has found a niche for herself and perfected it, blending the best parts of dance and pop into a musical hybrid that makes 20 minutes fly by like 30 seconds. Her soft, whispery vocals work in perfect contrast to the busy production. In an era where it feels like so many artists are opting for shorter, less realised projects, the 20 minute runtime works perfectly for PinkPantheress, making for her strongest effort yet.

9. Rosalía – LUX

LUX is an album that makes you stop. It isn’t the type of album you can listen to while doing something else; it demands your full attention, or rather, it seizes it, from the very first piano note. LUX is a vast, worldly album, exploring various themes through a range of languages, performed with operatic precision by Rosalía as she sings over the jaw-dropping grandeur of an orchestra. There are standout songs here and there, but LUX thrives as a cohesive piece: a bold, breath-taking effort that represents everything powerful—and beautiful—about making music. It may not be for everyone, but LUX is one of those rare albums that I would call essential for anyone who considers themselves a fan of music.

8. billy woods – GOLLIWOG

Possibly his darkest album to date, the new billy woods LP is a chilling standout in his catalogue. Everything that makes woods great is still present—the vivid writing paired with the stream-of-consciousness style delivery—but it’s given new life by the diverse, and invariably foreboding, production. Countless producers contribute to the album, each unlocking new strengths in woods’s approach. On “Waterproof Mascara”, he raps over a drumless loop of a faint voice crying, whereas on “Corinthians” he rambles over a pulse of droning noise like the roar of a distant warzone. The album’s sound is nowhere near as palatable as something like Maps or Haram, but it envelops the listener in a way only billy woods can, making for an unforgettable listen.

7. Oklou – Choke Enough

Choke Enough is one of those albums that seems to pop up on every year-end list, and for good reason. A gorgeous blend of pop, dance, and ambient, Oklou strikes a fine balance of sounds hard and soft. Every song is carved with precision, with just enough emphasis on atmosphere without ever overdosing on the synths. Oklou’s gentle vocals fit right in with the glittering production, making for a subtle and intimate listen with the melodic flair to keep the entire album running in your head for days. In stark contrast to the loud, in-your-face approach to pop we’ve seen boom over the past year, Oklou reveals the beauty of pop music at its most soft and serene.

6. Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On

A change of pace from Horsegirl’s grungy beginnings, Horsegirl’s sophomore LP is a minimalistic twist on the indie rock formula. The production is gentle and rhythmic, hooking the listener in with a clatter of guitars without ever overwhelming the ear. It’s busy but never abrasive; a fine-tuned work where every guitar strum feels calculated, the whole piece coming together as a hypnotic standout in the rock landscape. The softer guitar-work is matched by the silky, half-whispered lead vocals from the lead singers, whose phonetic refrains make this album one of the catchiest, and most addictive, of 2025.

5. De La Soul – Cabin in the Sky

An emotional tribute to Trugoy the Dove, Cabin in the Sky album brings together a host of hip hop legends to celebrate the late rapper. From Common to Slick Rick to Q-Tip, many familiar faces add their own touch to the project, but it’s Posdnuos who commands the album. Reckoning with his own mortality in the wake of Dave’s death, reminiscing on the past and pondering the future, Plug 1 gives his most emotional performance, rapping over the same colourful fanfare that brought De La to fame. Born out of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series, Cabin in the Sky is an emotional masterpiece, finding a way to turn such a tragic loss into an hour of jazz-infused joy.

4. Viagra Boys – viagr aboys

The self-titled return of Viagra Boys is rock in its most vibrant and carefree form. This LP is equal parts hilarious and jaw-dropping, the rambling anecdotes from Sebastian Murphy made even more chaotic by the multi-layered, gut-punching production. The bass is deep and enthralling; the guitar work punchy and memorable. Every aspect coalesces into a fever dream of bizarre stories and insatiable grooves, making for one of the wildest, and most engaging, rock albums of the decade.

3. Geese – Getting Killed

What can be said about Geese that hasn’t been repeated a thousand times by now? While Getting Killed may not be as instantly gratifying as the smooth songwriting of 3D Country, the band make up for it with bolder production and some of the band’s most impactful performances to date. Cameron Winter’s drunken, half-slurred delivery gives every line such power and purpose, matched by the endlessly nuanced production which complements his every emotion. You never quite know what direction Geese will take you with Getting Killed; every song is a stunning surprise, but at every turn, you can expect the same electric chemistry and a wandering approach to writing no other band could pull off.

2. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

In a year full of hip hop veterans picking up the mic once again, no act has outshone the absolute masterclass that is Let God Sort Em Out. A modern rap classic in every sense, Clipse’s comeback captures all the grit, intricacy, and passion of their older work, made new with a modern finish and some of the best writing of Malice and Pusha T’s careers. Every verse is worth hours of dissection: the rhyme schemes, the flows, the way the brothers contrast and complement one another on every cut. The rapping alone is enough to be amazed, but the production adds even more. Every colourful sample chop and punching synth-line from Pharrell makes for the perfect evolution of Clipse’s colourful and eccentric sound. Modernising their craft with help from fellow rap veterans and modern titans of the game, Let God Sort Em Out marks a special moment in hip hop that will have us in awe for years to come.

1. Water From Your Eyes – It’s a Beautiful Place

2025 has been a year full of incredible music, but no album blew me away like It’s a Beautiful Place. A seamless blend of alternative, industrial, and electronic sounds, this album is nothing short of mesmerising. The band’s style is endlessly eclectic, yet the album comes together as a cohesive whole—a barrage of off-the-wall ideas given form and clarity by Nate’s warped production and Rachel’s intimate, deadpan performance. Each song is its own musical wonder, from the rippling wave of guitars on “Nights in Armor” to the stunning, dance-driven crescendo on “Playing Classics”. Bookended by some dizzying instrumental passages, it sounds like the band are trying to hypnotise the listener into playing the LP over again, but it takes no convincing to hit repeat and step back into the dazzling world forged by Water From Your Eyes. Packed with eccentric ideas, and with the versatility to convey them in limitless ways, there is no album more exciting, nor as breathtaking, as It’s a Beautiful Place.