My Favourite 30 Albums of 2025
No metal in sight - sorry... |
| 30 |  | The Divine Comedy
Rainy Sunday Afternoon
This spot could have gone to any of three great 90s Britpop bands who released very good albums this year. But Neil Hannon’s distinctive style, affecting storytelling and tendency towards the absurd elevates this above Pulp and Suede. 73 |
| 29 |  | Ela Minus
Día
One of a spate of successful electronic pop releases this year which lean more towards the club than the radio. Día mobilises trance and techno but never sacrifices the pop heart of the songs. Very enjoyable. 73 |
| 28 |  | FKA Twigs
Eusexua Afterglow
Trippy collection of music seemingly designed to complement the parent album. Eusexua was the main event, and Afterglow is well… the afterglow. Some very cool beats and moods here, but lacks some of its progenitor’s personality. 74 |
| 27 |  | Real Lies
We Will Annihilate Our Enemies
A beautifully structured album that feels derivative, like the ghosts of 90s London have left their imprints all over it, but at the same time has a powerful vitality that draws you in. Memorable. 74 |
| 26 |  | Barry Can't Swim
Loner
I listened to this a lot in the middle of this year, and coming back to it now, it feels so familiar… maybe because of the diverse array of dance music styles and catchy hooks, or maybe because it sounds a little too much like other people’s music. Either way, it’s a good time. 75 |
| 25 |  | Oneohtrix Point Never
Tranquilizer
Still need to live with this for longer to truly get a handle of what I think, but right now I’m in love with how simultaneously (and paradoxically) calming and unsettling it is. 76 |
| 24 |  | Perfume Genius
Glory
A slight let-down but only because Ugly Season was such a magnificent surprise. Glory is a slower-paced and more traditional set of songs, but the melodies still satisfy the urge. 76 |
| 23 |  | Feeo
Goodness
Moody, dark and immersive ambient collection that reveals more with repeated listens. Win! (in particular) burrowed its insidious way under my skin. 76 |
| 22 |  | Blawan
SickElixir
Abrasive and a little exhausting, but also inventive and engaging. And the quality never dips throughout. Very good soundtrack for exercising. 77 |
| 21 |  | Water From Your Eyes
It’s A Beautiful Place
Only discovered this album (and band) a couple of weeks ago, so not sure how time will affect my judgement, but right now I’m intrigued. Short, but very surprising, and the more I listen, the more I like. 77 |
| 20 |  | Sudan Archives
The BPM
Club-focused follow up to one of the best albums of the decade was always going to struggle in comparison… It’s great, but I still found myself wishing for more. Just lacked some of the personality and variety of NBPQ. 77 |
| 19 |  | Big Thief
Double Infinity
A couple of not-so-compelling songs towards the middle dull the impact of what is nevertheless another highly enjoyable release from Big Thief. DNWMIBIY had a few weaker moments as well, but they were absorbed better. 78 |
| 18 |  | Marie Davidson
City of Clowns
Consistently impressive collection of industrial and raw sounding beats with a lot of personality. Really hard to stay still to. 79 |
| 17 |  | Ethel Cain
Perverts
Technically this was labelled an EP, but at 89 minutes it’s longer than many double albums, so that’s just silly. Sparse, atmospheric and eerily penetrating, it was the weaker of Cain’s two releases this year, but not by much. 79 |
| 16 |  | Andrea
Living Room
Another satisfyingly addictive mix of ambient and breakbeat from the Ilian Tape family. Continues in a similar mode as Due in Color but maybe a little more on the downtempo side. 80 |
| 15 |  | aya
hexed!
Frenetic, inventive, intense and generally nutso mix of a dozen or so genres and sub-genres. Not a quiet, reflective listen, but boy, does it ever sound alive. 80 |
| 14 |  | Craig Finn
Always Been
Not normally my sort of thing, but this just clicked with me this year – the perfect listen to refresh my palette (if that makes sense). Luke & Leanna is one of the best songs of 2025. 80 |
| 13 |  | Voices From The Lake
II
An ambient feast of a sequel 13 years in the making that sounds every bit as essential as the original. I can see myself falling asleep to this for the next decade. 81 |
| 12 |  | Ninajirachi
I Love My Computer
There were HEAPS of albums like this in 2025 – high energy, club-focused collections of bangers with undeniable pop leanings. This was the best. I Love My Computer seems to take some inspiration from early to mid 90s dance pop but the result sounds contemporary and is frequently exhilarating. 81 |
| 11 |  | Turnstile
Never Enough
First time I really gave Turnstile a chance and now I wish I’d given Glow On more of a go. Lots of dynamic moments backed up with surprising depth. Look Out for Me was the song that won me over. 81 |
| 10 |  | Sprints
All That Is Over
Powerful, angry and, like the debut, has real staying power. Some successful experiments with more of a melodic structure, and possesses what may be the strongest closing three-song stretch in recent memory. 81 |
| 9 |  | Rosalia
Lux
One of the more exceptional first listens of my life, but despite the gloriously ambitious vision, I found it difficult to truly embrace on a personal level as I have no idea what the fuck she’s singing about. 84 |
| 8 |  | FKA Twigs
Eusexua
More club-orientated than usual, but with enough variety and depth to engage anyone wanting something more than momentary bliss. The re-imagined version re-released in November adds a further dimension at the expense of some of the more commercial tracks. 84 |
| 7 |  | Oklou
Choke Enough
A subtle grower that manages to sustain its effortlessly cool vibe throughout. One of those albums that feel like going home when you return to it. 84 |
| 6 |  | Lucrecia Dalt
A Danger To Ourselves
Maybe not quite as weird as usual, but definitely wonderful. Tones down the jazz elements but retains the languid open-world panorama where anything can happen and usually does in beguiling micro moments. 85 |
| 5 |  | Ethel Cain
Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You
Miserable. Bleak. Beautiful. Willoughby… is an evocative saga that induces a deeply personal listening experience, but which requires commitment from the listener to truly appreciate. 86 |
| 4 |  | Wet Leg
Moisturizer
A level up in both depth and consistency, Moisturizer had staying power, and I found myself coming back to this over and over again. 87 |
| 3 |  | Saint Etienne
International
A high quality finale from one of my favourite bands of all time. The three singles were as good as anything in their discography and every song had its charms. Especially easy to fall in love with. 87 |
| 2 |  | Tame Impala
Deadbeat
Maybe my ears are broken, but for me Deadbeat is the perfect blend of melodic indie and electronic music. Love every song and would choose this over any other Tame Impala album. 89 |
| 1 |  | Djrum
Under Tangled Silence
An intricate and inventive adventure that reveals more of itself each listen. Nothing else came close to this level of immersion all year. 90 |
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