Like it or Not.

Another year, another list. This was the year I leaped into the vinyl game. And hard. This means albums were more prevalent in my rotation. I started purchasing some of my favourite albums which means a good portion of my listening hours were spent revisiting some of my all timers. However as the year went on, I felt the fire to seek out new music and found that what was resonating with me was a different type of music than my rotation for the last couple years, maybe more eclectic than ever! This list certainly keeps me the top 1% of your most cultured friends.

Before we dive in lets start with the let downs. The stinkers. We can all agree that Will Smith released the most cringe album of all time. I'm not sure that expectations were all that high. But still. Awful. The double SWAG release from the Biebs had some great tracks built on the backs of talented producers, but it felt a little flat and very forgettable. Life of a Showgirl was long and lacking creativity. Maybe T Swift is burnt out from touring and maybe her source material is running dry. Who knows. She needs some freshness injected into her music and this was most assuredly not it. I was personally looking forward to MUSIC by Playboi Carti and was soundly disappointed. It felt like the creativity and production quality was missing. For someone with great features leading up to the release, this album was a big let down.

Now before I get to the meat of the best of 2025 list, I would like to suggest for your listening pleasure the runners up. These albums I enjoyed and even went back to, but ultimately felt they couldn't quite make the cut for best of the year. They are certainly worth checking out if they happen to be absent from your rotation.

DeBí TiRAR MáS FOTos - Bad Bunny

RUSHMERE - Mumford & Sons

Hurry Up Tomorrow - The Weeknd

The Bad Fire - Mogwai

SHOLTO - Sirens

After The Sun Goes Down - Khalid

BLINK - Bob Moses

In The Beginning - Koastle

The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 - Lord Huron

Virgin - Lorde

Something Beautiful - Miley Cyrus

Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Ludwig Göransson (Movie of the year*)

SINK NOW, SWIM LATER - SIENNA SPIRO

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I have a hard time including EPs into the 2025 list. It just doesn't feel right including a snapshot of four or five songs next to a fully produced and fleshed out album. So these EPs are music that I absolutely loved and I think they deserve your attention. They are in no particular order. Please enjoy each suggestion equally.

My Way - Yola

I got turned onto Yola from her Song Exploder episode. It highlights the change in mindset and sound regarding her music. "Future Enemies" is sure to get your blood pumping. I love this song. Check out the EP and listen to the podcast here.

The Mannequin - Busty and the Bass

The R&B offering has a bit of funk to it and makes for a great listen. It's a unique blend of modern and 70s soul. It oscillates between ultra chill and vibey. Great for any mood you might be in.

Mt. Sava - Yuuf

This EP is a snapshot on some of the music I've really been into lately. No lyrics. Just really skillful instrumentation. Mt. Sava is centred around sounds and chord progressions that are more Middle Eastern in style but driven by melodic electric guitar.

Second Self - Jkyl & Hyde

The higher the decibels the better your listening experience will be. All bangers. Melodic entrancing vocals layered over synths and high energy beats make this EP feel like the classic dance music thats been missing for quite some time.

Nothing is Wasted - Zola Blood

This is the only EP on the list from an artist I listened to before this year. Very electronic in nature, but has the DNA of their indie alternative roots. Think more downbeat vibey cocktail lounge rather than dancehall bangers.

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Year’s end brings the rank,

Albums hailed, breath held in wait,

List of twenty-five.

15. FATHER FIGURE - Jon Bellion

I love the lyricism on this album. It's very personal and raw. This is a return to the spotlight from Bellion who has spent the last decade writing bangers for artists like Justin Bieber and Maroon 5. You might even hear a couple songs that sound like the The Biebs. I, for one, am glad he's back and hope he's here to stay. Keep the good music with the original artist, I say.

14. HEROINA - Sevdaliza

I discovered this album on my journey to find more Brazillian funk. HEROINA is jammed packed with catchy hooks and switches between English and Portuguese. It's quite poppy and often crosses into reggaeton territory. Some might not love the religious entendres on these tracks, I think they are quite clever.

13. Lotus - Little Simz

Earlier this year I had this ranked higher but that shouldn't take away from how good it is. Lotus is well produced with expert flow and lyricism. Little Simz uses this album to show us how talented she really is. I believe this could be a step into a bigger stage, introducing herself to a larger audience. She has way more talent and potential than most of the female rap acts that get attention in the United States.

12. SAYA - Saya Gray

I covered the lead single "LIE DOWN..." for Ones To Watch here. Gray has a flawlessly smooth voice and writes heartfelt visceral songs. She is definitely someone you need to familiarize yourself with. SAYA is a hell of a debut album and merely a snapshot into what she has to offer.

11. LUX - Rosalia

I struggled with not ranking this album higher. It is an absolute technical achievement and beautiful on so many levels. I would say relisten-ability is why it fell. LUX contains 14 languages and I would not be surprised if we are referencing this album for years to come. I certainly hope we are.

10. Blue Sky Mentality - Good Neighbours

This is a long awaited debut album, at least in this modern era of not actually waiting too long for anything. I debated all year whether this would rank or not. It makes the list because it's an upbeat, easy listening, high-energy pop/rock album that you cant help but enjoy.

9. Baby - Dijon

You could call this an experimental R&B or gospel/soul album. But either way, call this an expertly produced album that doesn't play it safe. Dijon was certainly not afraid to release something true to his sound and personal style rather than try to appease the masses and maybe gain some more general audience listens.

8. USB - Fred Again..

You know my boy had to be on here. He is changing the game with every release. The USB tour and subsequent album release was legendary. 10 cities and 10 new songs over 10 weeks chalked full of creative bangers with unique features.

7. Son of Spergy - Daniel Caesar

This was way more gospel (or maybe has more religious overtones?) than I was expecting. Caesars voice is angelic and maybe only second to Frank Ocean, but he's dead to us now. Caesar can sing anything he wants and make it sound heavenly. I also loved all the features on this album (double Bon Iver!).

6. SABLE, fABLE - Bon Iver

You should not be surprised this is here. But what is surprising is happy Justin Vernon. I mean, he doesn't seem happy in real life, but this album is certainly more hopeful and positive than any of his other work. It's refreshing while at the same time giving us the same high quality, pour my entire being in to my music, that we are accustomed to from him.

5. Island5 - Islandman

This is where the fun begins. Islandman is a little known Turkish alternative group traditionally focused on guitar led modern folk music. However with Island5 it seems they are venturing into some ethereal psych-rock while still keeping true to the Middle Eastern traditional sounds. I am all over this and you should be too.

4. Getting Killed - Geese

Everyone is ranking this album and deservedly so. It took me a while to get here, but I am on the hype train. This is Americana meets Southern Rock meets Radiohead & John Mark Mcmillan. There is so much talent here and this album is so refreshing yet oddly familiar.

3. Deadbeat - Tame Impala

I love this band more with each release. Did you know it's just one guy? Anyway. Tame Impala made a dance album and I love it. I imagine someone out there predicted this for me. this seems like a controversial release, but to me that just reflects that fans are too attached to certain style or sound. Put Deadbeat on and let loose why don't you.

2. The Beauty of it All - Monolink

Insanely vibey electronic album that ear-wormed its way to repeat listens from the first play. So perfectly crafted for that much needed dopamine boost that it's almost mesmerizing. The down-pitched vocals throughout give the songs a beautifully haunting quality that helps it rank so high on this list.

1. Take a Seat - Stavroz

It's hard to put this album into words. Its eclectic in all the right ways. It pulls from multiple genres like Jazz, Funk, and Electronic, yet gives a very cohesive vibe. "Lilac" is song of the year by a significant margin.

Well. Like it or not. This is the list. The music that will go down in my personal zeitgeist as the best of 2025. I am in love with this list and I am obsessed with this music. If I am being perfectly honest, I'm not sure I can say that every year.

As always. Thanks for reading, and if you have the time, send me some music. It's my love language.