2025 was yet another banner year for music.
While some of our biggest stars may not have come through as much as we would’ve hoped, there was still enough quality and love being produced in a vast majority of scenes this year that made this list quite difficult to finalize.
I believe these 10+ records truly give a great glimpse into the chaotic grandeur that was the music and culture of 2025.
- McKinley Dixon – Magic, Alive!
Underground sensation McKinley Dixon gave us another reason to pay attention to hip-hop this year with a thought-provoking concept album and some of the best jazz-rap production I’ve heard in recent memory.
Don’t let this one slip through the cracks, it’s truly magical.
3 tracks to try: “Sugar Water,” “Run, Run, Run Pt. II,” “Listen Gentle”
- Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
Legendary indie folk pioneer and cabin dweller Justin Vernon made a full return this year as the beloved Bon Iver.
While SABLE, fABLE could be seen as the last proper Bon Iver record, it leaves fans with a lot to chew on. With one side sounding as raw and evocative as Vernon’s first outing, For Emma, the other might be the most lush and exuberant set of tracks the solemn songwriter has ever put to tape. And it all still works incredibly well together.
I couldn’t think of a brighter note for Bon Iver to go out on as this record only continues to add to his incredible catalog.
3 tracks to try: “Things Behind Things Behind Things,” “From,” “If Only I Could Wait”
- Joey Valence & Brae – HYPERYOUTH
One of the most thrilling and infectious rap duos to come out of the decade might have a defining work on their hands with HYPERYOUTH.
From just making music for fun in their dorm room to filling concert halls with their endlessly energetic songs about partying, letting loose and growing up, Joey Valence & Brae have cultivated and inspired a young audience that I can only see growing in the years to come.
People are ready to have fun and be themselves again and guys like Joey Valence & Brae are more than willing to lead that charge.
3 tracks to try: “LIVE RIGHT,” “HYPERYOUTH,” “THE PARTY SONG”
- Geese – Getting Killed
Maybe the band of 2025, and for good reason.
While the Geese hype-train may have started back in 2023, the amount of success and exposure they’ve amassed in just these past few months is the most their career has seen to date. And Getting Killed has only helped fuel the Geese fire.
These Brooklyn underdogs only continue to become more unpredictable and experimental with their abrasive yet intricate soundscape, subversive songwriting and one-of-a-kind voice in Cameron Winter.
If you thought rock was dying, just turn on Getting Killed. You’ll quickly realize how wrong you were.
3 tracks to try: “Taxes,” “Islands of Men,” “Au Pays du Cocaine”
- Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper
I think it’s time the term “YouTube music” didn’t come with such a negative connotation, because former “YouTuber” Quadeca just put out one of the most grand and adventurous musical statements of the decade so far.
Vanisher, Horizon Scraper sees Quadeca at his most fruitful and expansive, crafting a colorful world of indietronica, folk, hip-hop and just about anything else you want to tag this album’s sound with, as it’ll probably fit in somewhere.
On top of that, the album is also home to an ever-intriguing concept, discussing a sailor’s journey to reach the horizon to varying degrees of success, to keep it brief.
Months after the album’s release, I’m still finding little details to fall in love with. Quadeca remains one of the most promising young virtuosos of the 2020s.
3 tracks to try: “MONDAY,” “AT A TIME LIKE THIS,” “WAGING WAR”
- twenty one pilots – Breach
While I would now call myself a reformed TØP fan, I still found a lot to love about Breach.
Acting as a thematic conclusion to the band’s current lore and storyline, this album also saw the beloved duo at their more explosive, raw and to-the-point, which is a specific sound they haven’t truly dabbled with in quite some time.
Even if you’re a twenty one pilots skeptic or hater, I bet you’ll find something to adore about this.
3 tracks to try: “Drum Show,” “Center Mass,” “City Walls”
- The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Speaking of thematic conclusions, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye put out what could possibly be his magnum opus back in January and I haven’t been able to put it down since.
Acting as the finale to his most recent “divine” trilogy, succeeding After Hours and Dawn FM, as well as Tesfaye’s time as this “Weeknd” character, Hurry Up Tomorrow is home to some of the best pop production, cinematic hooks and achingly vulnerable songwriting Tesfaye has ever released.
Truly an outro for the ages. We can pretend the movie never happened though.
3 tracks to try: “Without a Warning,” “Enjoy the Show,” “Baptized in Fear” / “Open Hearts”
- Turnstile – NEVER ENOUGH
I became enamored with hardcore band Turnstile back in 2021 with the release of their amazing and forward-thinking record GLOW ON.
Now in 2025, NEVER ENOUGH goes even deeper into uncharted territory with a greater emphasis on lyricism, unpredictability and even pop hooks reminiscent of beloved ‘80s acts like The Police and New Order.
While I can definitely see how this record might not click with some of their diehard fans, I have nothing but respect for Turnstile continuing to pursue experimentation and genre-fusing, especially when the results are this addictive to my ears.
3 tracks to try: “LOOK OUT FOR ME,” “I CARE,” “DREAMING”
- Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
2025 truly became the year of “unc” rap domination and Let God Sort Em Out is the prime example.
Returning after a 15 year hiatus, brothers Pusha T and Malice lay down some of the best verses of their careers on top of some pristine Pharrell production.
All killer, no filler and a great reminder of what hip-hop has been missing.
“Open the sunroof wave to my father.”
3 tracks to try: “The Birds Don’t Sing,” “Chains & Whips,” “So Be It”
Honorable Mentions:
ROSALÍA – LUX
ROSALÍA makes her grand return with a symphonic art-pop opera.
LUX is easily home to some of the best production I’ve heard all year along with immense orchestral instrumentation, breathtaking vocal performances and an earnest universal message.
3 tracks to try: “Reliquia,” “Divinize,” “La Perla”
Danny Brown – Stardust
Underground rap pioneer Danny Brown remains ahead of the curve on Stardust.
Bringing some of your favorite underground hyperpop and digicore adjacent artists into the fold, Brown crafted a sporadic and intense listening experience while also still making room for thought-provoking and personal songwriting.
A victory lap in every sense and I couldn’t be happier for the guy.
3 tracks to try: “Copycats,” “Lift You Up,” “Book of Daniel”
Wolf Alice – The Clearing
I truly became a Wolf Alice obsessive this past year so to say I was excited for this new album would still be an understatement.
While I don’t think it’s their best by any means, I still think it’s great and has a lot more going for it than people are giving it credit for.
With production as polished as ever, slick guitars and sticky melodies reminiscent of classic ‘70s acts, think The Carpenters or Fleetwood Mac, and front-woman Ellie Rowsell having some of the best vocal performances of her decade-long career thus far, The Clearing remains a fantastic addition to Wolf Alice’s ever-evolving catalog.
3 tracks to try: “Leaning Against the Wall,” “The Sofa,” “White Horses”
Little Simz – Lotus
After a tumultuous year or two, UK rap prodigy Little Simz returns with one of her most revealing and vulnerable records to date.
While Lotus can seem rather vengeful and angry on the surface, there’s also underlying themes of hope, love and perseverance that kept me coming back to it throughout the year.
Simz reminds us that you’re always able to grow and change for the better, even in the toughest of circumstances or situations. Truly a record for the times and a needed glimmer of light.
3 tracks to try: “Free,” “Thief,” “Lotus”
FKA twigs – EUSEXUA
Even if FKA twigs’ latest shrunk on me a bit throughout the year, it’s still an undeniable clubby, glitchy and danceable art-pop record that showcases some of her greatest strengths.
3 tracks to try: “Eusexua,” “Striptease,” “Sticky”
JID – God Does Like Ugly
JID confirmed that The Forever Story wasn’t a fluke with some of the best rap bangers of the year. The Grammy nominations are more than well deserved.
3 tracks to try: “Community,” “VCRs,” “Of Blue”
- Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
It’s only natural that the album that snuck up on me the most this year ended up being my favorite.
Like possibly many of you, I’ve been a fan of Hayley Williams and especially her beloved band Paramore for years now.
Over 20 years into her career and Williams is still pushing herself musically, lyrically and vocally. So much so, that this new record might be the best thing she’s ever done.
Across all 20 songs, I didn’t find myself feeling bored or indifferent once. No two tracks sound the same and they all have something unique and special to say, which makes sense knowing how they were all released as singles first.
Though, that’s another reason why I love this record and this era of Hayley’s so much. The release and rollout for this record was so fan-oriented and community-driven.
Having fans submit playlists of the songs, discussing certain track’s meanings and backstories and then eventually having the album officially released with these ideas from fans in mind, it’s truly an unforgettable experience for a record that’s already so important to me.
Thank you Ms. Williams as you truly defined my 2025 along with so many other longtime fans. Here’s to the art and how it evolves with its audience.
“Guess that’s curtains.”
3 tracks to try: “True Believer,” “Parachute,” “Negative Self Talk”
