From K-Pop Demon Hunters dominating the movie scene and the Billboard charts to the rise of AI musicians, 2025 has definitely been a weird year for music.
Yes, this year has definitely been interesting for music. With everything going on in the world right now, it’s easy to feel burnt out and worn. Despite this, music has always been a way to escape from the burdens of the world and linger in an album’s world.
Looking back at this year in music, I decided to compile what I believe are the 10 best albums of 2025. For days, I listened to various albums from different genres and subgenres and ranked them on my own list. To my own pleasure, I discovered some new artists who made it onto my Spotify playlists and new albums that have been on repeat ever since my first listen. Based on my hundreds of hours of listening and scouring the internet for various albums, here is what I believe to be the best albums of 2025.
Honorable mentions
Wishbone – Conan Gray
Although it didn’t make it into my top 10, Wishbone is one of my favorite pop albums released this year. “Vodka Cranberry” is a gut-punching ballad that captures the messy reality of relationships, and in “Caramel,” Gray leans into a more pop-rock sound. With this album, Gray proves he knows how to make a heartbreak masterpiece.
girl c’mon!– The Two Lips
girl, c’mon! is The Two Lips’ debut EP that captures the experiences of girlhood, breakups, and your early 20s. “it’s complicated” draws from early 2000s rock music with its guitar riffs, and “happy for me” is a glittery and whimsical track that explores the complexity of relationships.
Man‘s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Despite its controversy at the beginning of the year, Man’s Best Friend is an album that doesn’t take itself too seriously. “House Tour” is an upbeat and glittery track filled with Carpenter’s cheeky double entendres, while “Tears” is one of her catchiest songs on the album.
10 best albums of 2025 ranked
10. The Crux – Djo
With his third studio album, The Crux, Djo proves he’s not only a great actor but a musician as well. Compared to his previous work, Djo takes on an older rock and folk direction with this record. “Charlie’s Garden” is a Beatles-inspired song about Djo finding solace and escaping reality in Stranger Things’ costar Charlie Heaton’s garden. On “Potion,” Djo yearns for a genuine kind of love with a guitar riff that sounds like it was taken from Fleetwood Mac’s “Never Going Back Again.” All the songs off the record are super fun to listen to as Djo pulls from different eras and genres of music, such as The Cars and The Beach Boys.
9. Fancy That – PinkPanthress
Despite barely hitting the 20-minute mark, PinkPanthress’ mixtape, Fancy That, is one of her best releases yet. “Illegal” acts as an introduction into the mixtape’s Y2K world and aesthetic. “My name is Pink and I’m really glad to meet you,” the singer cooly states. From here, the record dives headfirst into a Y2K-inspired rager. “Stateside” is a particularly infectious track that captures the mixtape’s bubbly, lighthearted, and retro sound, reminiscent of early 2000s music. The mixtape is filled with hyperactive beats and catchy songs that feel carefree and danceable. With Fancy That, PinkPanthress effortlessly scratches a nostalgic itch Gen-Z has been longing for.
8. Malcolm Todd – Malcom Todd
On his debut studio album, Malcolm Todd, Todd proves he is a master of alternative and indie pop songwriting. “Bleed,” which features bedroom pop artist Omar Apollo, is a standout on the album. The single features a bubbly and bright instrumental paired with both Omar’s and Malcom’s vocals. ‘Concrete” is a particularly catchy song on the record with its bashful lyrics and upbeat tempo. With this album, Malcolm proves why he is a frontrunner in the indie pop scene. As a whole, the record feels like a breath of fresh air from other indie pop projects.
7. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
No one does reggaeton quite like Bad Bunny, and his sixth studio album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, further proves why he is the king of reggaeton. This record offers a glimpse at Puerto Rico’s identity and history as the superstar mixes the island’s past and present sound. On “EL CLúB,” the singer longs for simpler times over nostalgic guitars and synth. “DtMF” is another great track on the album. The song focuses on nostalgia, regret, and memories as the singer wishes he had taken more photos with the people he cherished before they were gone.
6. Forever Is A Feeling – Lucy Dacus
With Forever Is A Feeling, Dacus is her most ambitious as she pushes boundaries with her storytelling and songs. The indie record is tender as the singer explores love and heartbreak. In “Ankles,” Dacus takes a more baroque pop direction as she craves an unsatisfied intimacy. Dacus does not hold back with storytelling with her impactful and weighty lyrics. “Limerence” is a melancholic and cascading ballad about feelings of detachment and seeking an escape within a relationship. The album offers a relatable and highly poetic lens on love with its beautiful storytelling and instrumentals.
5. MAYHEM – Lady Gaga
On her seventh studio album, Lady Gaga serves loud and chaotic pop as she dives into themes and struggles with identity and fame. With this record, Gaga returns to her early days, grabbing sounds from earlier albums, such as The Fame and Born This Way. “Killah” is a perfect blend of funk and electronic with its heavy bass and synthesizers. “Zombieboy” is a disco and dance-filled track that is confident and fun. This record is bold and a reconnection with her old self as she delves into larger-than-life sounds.
4. LUX – ROSALÍA
With LUX, Rosalía moves away from the intensity that defined MOTOMAMI and dives into an avant-garde and classical-influenced sound. On this record, the singer explores themes of spirituality and feminine power. “La Perla” is filled with cinematic and tender violins as Rosalía sings to a former lover and fights to protect her peace. The production of “Berghain” feels climactic and theatrical, as it is filled with operatic and classical elements. This record is nothing short of magnificent and shocking as it cements Rosalía as a visionary artist.
3. NEVER ENOUGH – TURNSTILE
NEVER ENOUGH is a record of innovation, growth, and confidence, and has quickly become one of my favorite albums this year. It’s bold and dreamy as the band continues to push boundaries with their music. “BIRDS” is a hardcore, high-energy, and raw track that blends the punch that punk music produces with dreamy synths. On “SEEIN’ STARS,” the band recreates an 80’s sound with its clean guitar tone, which creates a shimmering and powerful sound. The ambitious, expansive, and cinematic sound that the band brings to this record has shown TURNSTILE’s mastery with creative freedom.
2. Getting Killed – Geese
Getting Killed is a bold and compelling album that offers a step forward into rock’s new sound. The album’s sounds and controlled chaos are something only Geese could create. “100 Horses” is a captivating single, where frontman Cameron Winters sings of global collapse over a rambling and catchy melody. “Au pays du cocaine” is a ballad filled with emotional weight and explores themes of love and addiction as the piano and guitar riff swell into a climax. A great release from Geese as each listen keeps getting better. This record is sure to become an instant classic.
1. Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams
Although Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party was a surprise release, it has certainly made its mark in the music world. The album is Williams’ third solo album and first independent release after signing a 20-year contract with Atlantic Records when she was only 15. Unlike her other albums, Williams explores multiple genres of indie rock, dream pop, and pop rock on this record, allowing her to fully delve into themes of grief, loss, and ego. “True Believer” is hauntingly elegiac as Williams critiques the commercialization and gentrification of Nashville. On “Parachute,” Williams belts out her romantic frustrations and the loss of her partner, as she confronts the anger and grief of her last relationship. Ego Death is one of Hayley’s best solo releases to date. Williams has never sounded freer as she explores her personal heartaches, while also finding new ways to move forward and let go.
