The 25 best albums of 2025

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Musicians continued to find creative ways to use the album format this year, even though streaming services have changed how we listen to music. These 25 albums especially captured my attention in 2025.

Jensen McRae’s pop songwriting is a standout this year. The 28-year-old Los Angeles native expertly captures the complexities of modern relationships, recognizing they involve more than just the two people directly involved. Her songs are conversational yet precise, packed with catchy melodies and relatable lyrics about the awkwardness, hurt feelings, and miscommunications that all couples experience. Be prepared to feel a range of emotions – you might laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely find yourself pondering the details of a particularly messy breakup.

Okay, let me tell you about SZA’s “Lana.” It dropped right before Christmas as basically a surprise – fifteen extra tracks added to her already amazing “SOS” album from 2022. Honestly, the only weird thing is SZA herself keeps saying it isn’t a full album, which, as a music lover, I just don’t buy! It feels like a complete project to me.

3. Madi Diaz, “Fatal Optimist”
Nothing to lose and nowhere to hide.

4. Morgan Wallen, “I’m the Problem”
It’s his party, and he’ll cry if he wants to.

5. Dijon, “Baby”
An album about new parenthood that feels like new parenthood.

Music

The singer-songwriter, who lives in Nashville, talks about the raw and emotional breakup songs on her latest album, ‘Fatal Optimist.’

6. Bad Bunny, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”
After the adventure, the homecoming.

7. Tobias Jesso Jr., “Shine”
A pop-star whisperer takes a moment to listen to himself.

Parker McCollum’s self-titled album is a good example of how artists sometimes succeed when trying to present a genuine, down-to-earth image – even if that approach can feel contrived. It’s a reminder that authenticity, even when manufactured, can resonate with audiences.

9. Gigi Perez, “At the Beach, In Every Life”
Like an emo-folk snowglobe.

Justin Bieber’s song “Swag” feels like a moment of reflection, as if he’s looking back on his experiences with fame and casually dismissing the past.

11. Geese, “Getting Killed”
Rock is safe in the hands of the 25-and-unders.

12. Alemeda, “But What the Hell Do I Know”
Seriously.

Music

Enjoy a playlist featuring the best songs of the year, curated by music experts August Brown, Cerys Davies, and Mikael Wood from The Times.

13. Sam Fender, “People Watching”
A pint hoisted in the heartland.

14. Lady Gaga, “Mayhem”
The second (third?) life of a showgirl.

15. Bon Iver, “Sable, Fable”
“I could leave behind the snow / For a land of palm and gold.”

16. Sabrina Carpenter, “Man’s Best Friend”
Every himbo has his day.

CMAT’s song “Euro-Country” is a raw and honest expression of desire – a craving for connection and experience that goes beyond the superficial or predictable. It’s about wanting something real and unpretentious, something beyond the mainstream.

Haim’s album, “I Quit,” stands out from many breakup albums. While most offer a sense of resolution, Haim embraces the uncertainty and messiness of a split.

19. Lucy Dacus, “Forever Is a Feeling”
Sensual or cerebral is a false dichotomy.

Music

The singer-songwriter, age 29, will soon release her first solo album, ‘Forever Is a Feeling,’ after gaining recognition as part of the band Boygenius.

20. Summer Walker, “Finally Over It”
A sculpted eyebrow arched in perpetuity.

21. Lily Allen, “West End Girl”
[Flush-faced emoji]

Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia Sessions” offers a more compelling look at his melancholic side than the film “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” These recordings, part of his collection of unreleased material called “Tracks II,” reveal a raw emotionality that the film doesn’t quite capture.

23. Zach Top, “Ain’t in It For My Health”
Nashville’s friskiest traditionalist.

24. Eddie Chacon, “Lay Low”
Shimmering slow-mo psychedelia.

Mariah Carey’s sixteenth studio album, “Here for It All,” is a diverse collection of songs. It blends retro ’70s soul, energetic gospel with prominent bass, and even includes a cover of the classic Wings song “My Love,” offering a little bit of everything for listeners.

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2025-12-05 14:05