Top 25 of 2025
Been literally years since I've made a list on this site but figured I'd throw my top 25 for posterity.
Honourable mentions to TWIABP, Thrice, The Toxhards and Geese (cool album but I'm so tired of everybody telling me how increible it is). |
| 1 |  | Pile
Sunshine and Balance Beams
Pile is probably in my top 5 bands ever and there's something so satisfying about when one of your all-timers comes through with a genuinely amazing album. This thing fucks and is tight as hell from top to bottom. |
| 2 |  | The Antlers
Blight
I don't see anybody talking about this album. Shame because it hit me so god damn hard this year. Such an emotionally resonant album full of incredibly memorable moments despite being pretty understated. Up there with The Antlers' best material if you ask me. |
| 3 |  | Maruja
Pain to Power
Not as moody or eerie as their first couple breakthrough EPs but it makes up for it with sheer energy and intensity. Bloodsport is probably the best opener of the year. |
| 4 |  | Crippling Alcoholism
Camgirl
This band is 2 for 2, 2 years in a row now. Absolutely loving the aesthetic their carving out for themselves. Unsettling, creepy, catchy, heavy, ultra melodic. Such a unique band and this album rules. |
| 5 |  | Deafheaven
Lonely People With Power
So much has been said about this LP and I have nothing original to offer. It's awesome, we all know that by now. Coolest album title / artwork of the year. |
| 6 |  | La Dispute
No One Was Driving the Car
LD came through BIG this year and reminded me why I fell in love with their sound in high school. So cool to hear a new and unique narrative from Jordan Dreyer. The depiction of the rapture in Top Sellers Banquet is still one of my favourite moments in music 2025. |
| 7 |  | McKinley Dixon
Magic, Alive!
So fucking tight and electric. First listen absolutely flew by and I immediately ran it back from the beginning again. Very gratifying album to listen to start to finish. Hiphop AOTY. |
| 8 |  | The Mars Volta
Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos Del Vacío
I am a Volta die hard but MAN was their last album not for me at all. It's not even that I needed them to be as spastic or chaotic as they were in the 2000s, I was fine with the more subdued and "mature" approach, but the songwriting just felt so inconsequential.
This album (Lucro Sucio) was exactly what I wanted TMV's return to be. It's not as high octane as their early shit, and that's fine. But it does return to the spirit of those original album in being entirely unique and experimental again. I loved the experience. |
| 9 |  | Earl Sweatshirt
Live Laugh Love
Some of Earl's stickiest bars in years and just a good solid rap album top to bottom. |
| 10 |  | Viagra Boys
Viagr Aboys
Another album with a ton of hype this year, for good reason. So much fun, so hilarious, full of depth as well behind all of the ridiculous one-liner lyrics. Band rocks. |
| 11 |  | clipping.
Dead Channel Sky
Maybe a slight step down from their horror focused sister LPs from a few years back but clipping. just does it like no other. They are their own subgenre of hiphop and even if it doesn't live up to the last two it still shines well above most of its contemporaries. Dominator and Code are two of the coolest fucking songs to come out this year full stop. |
| 12 |  | Aesop Rock
I Heard It's A Mess There Too
One of 2 incredible Aesop Rock LPs to hit this year, and both made my top 25. I prefer this one slightly because it felt like a tighter listen track-to-track and had a slightly more propulsive energy and a classic hiphop vibe, but you can't go wrong with either. |
| 13 |  | Clipse
Let God Sort Em Out
I know others definitely fell in love with this album more than I did but I still found it to be a fantastic comeback album. Another really great tone-setting opening track. |
| 14 |  | The Last Dinner Party
From The Pyre
These folks rule I don't care. Such a fun album, the first half especially is all killer. Some cheeky lyrics and surprisingly heavy in places (love how the background vocals often sound like a fucked up witches coven). Rifle is the standout. |
| 15 |  | The Callous Daoboys
I Don't Want to See You in Heaven
So over-the-top and ridiculous but such a blast. Wtf is even happening with the guitars on this album lol. |
| 16 |  | Aesop Rock
Black Hole Superette
The other Aesop Rock album and surprise, it's great as well. Man had a good year. |
| 17 |  | Low Roar
House in the Woods
RIP Ryan. An album I've listened to 2, maybe 3 times. Tough one to get through because Low Roar really meant (and still means) a hell of a lot to me. Great sendoff. |
| 18 |  | Greyhaven
Keep It Quiet
Greyhaven continue to put out some of the best post-hardcore in years. Another batch of ridiculously replayable and electric tunes with some of the finest guitar work in the genre. Brent also writes some of the stickiest hooks in the game. The ending to Burn A Miracle is in contention for coolest moment of 2025. |
| 19 |  | Miley Cyrus
Something Beautiful
Definitely the biggest surprise of the year for me. Damn good pop album and the title track is bar none the best song Miley's ever released. |
| 20 |  | Open Mike Eagle
Neighborhood Gods Unlimited
OME coming in hot with another batch of reliably great indie hiphop cuts that tow the line between funny and sad and witty and introspective. Mike is one of one. |
| 21 |  | Deftones
private music
Funny story, I met Chino this year because Deftones rented out my towns local arena for 4 days to rehearse for the private music tour (my job is setting up shows that come through town). Came into work and just saw Chino chillin in the parking lot. Chill dude, low-key dude. |
| 22 |  | The Armed
The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be...
Wacky and hella inventive. Love the sound these guys bring to the table. Some punishingly heavy moments on here, too. |
| 23 |  | Billy Woods
Golliwog
There's some shit on this album that feels legitimately creepy and unsettling to listen to. Damn good artrap project, this fella knows how to spit. |
| 24 |  | JID
God Does Like Ugly
Why is nobody giving Gz the love it deserves that track is so fucking magnetic. Amazing bars throughout this whole projct. |
| 25 |  | Ethel Cain
Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You
Great indie sad gorl vibes and a super affecting story at the heart of this album. Really good stuff. |
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