Looking back on my favorite albums of 2025, I’m delighted by the sheer variety of sounds and genres that permeate music culture. It’s one of those “gift and a curse” things though because it feels like music streaming services have helped silo listeners a bit, to the point where we’re losing more of the monoculture (something I’ve talked about before). It’s how Bad Bunny can literally be the most streamed artist in the world, yet when he’s announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, a huge swatch of people have no idea who he is. (Although there are other reasons unrelated to the music, but that’s for another day).

I kind of miss the blockbuster album releases, the ones where people lined up at stores and pretty much everyone seemed to know about it. Now, I’ll ask someone if they’ve listened to the new Lady Gaga album and I can get a response like “Oh, I didn’t know she had a new one out”. But I’m grateful this art still exists, whenever we’re ready and willing to find it.

I think the best thing we can do is simply talk to our friends and family about the music we love. Share what you love! Tell them about the new album you can’t get enough of. Talk about music as often as we talk about what TV shows and podcasts we’ve been blazing through. Host an album listening party at your place where everyone simply hangs out with music blasting. Everyone knows how important music is to our lives, so let’s treat it with the level of importance it deserves.

Here are my favorite albums of 2025:

40.) Doja Cat – Vie

39.) Tyler, The Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS

38.) Jane Remover – Revengeseekerz

37.) Hayden Pedigo – I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away

36.) Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful

35.) Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

34.) Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE

33.) Pulp – More

32.) Oklou – choke enough

31.) Addison Rae – Addison

30.) Kali Uchis – Sincerely,

29.) The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever The Hives

28.) M83 – Resurrection (Original Score)

27.) Alex G – Headlights

26.) Panda Bear – Sinister Grift

25.) Tate McRae – So Close To What

24.) Skrillex – FCK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!!

23.) Wednesday – Bleeds 

22.) OsamaSon – Jump Out

21.) Nick León – A Tropical Entropy

20.) Dijon – Baby

19.) Florence + the Machine – Everybody Scream

18.) Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper

17.) ROSALÍA – LUX

16.) Lady Gaga – MAYHEM

15.) Nine Inch Nails – TRON Ares (Original Score)

14.) The Armed – THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED

13.) Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party

12.) Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

11.) Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend

10.) FKA twigs – EUSEXUA

09.) Chaeyoung – LIL FANTASY vol.1

08.) Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer

07.) Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

06.) Wet Leg – moisturizer

05.) Lorde – Virgin

04.) Amaarae – BLACK STAR

03.) Gelli Haha – Switcheroo

02.) HEALTH – CONFLICT DLC

01.) Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power