Music News: Top 28 Albums of 2025

The scores are in and we can finally reveal the Music News: Top 28 Albums of 2025.

The 2025 music year has been a masterclass in creative resurgence, as seen in this year’s Top 28 Albums list. From the return of Britpop legends to the coronation of indie-rock’s new vanguard, the industry has favored records that prioritize raw, human texture over digital perfection.

The New Standard: Geese – Getting Killed
Taking the top spot is the New York ensemble Geese with their fourth studio album, Getting Killed. Frontman Cameron Winter delivers a tour de force of "retro-rock" that feels both timeless and terrifyingly current. The record is a sprawling, cacophonous journey that trades polished pop for "pots and pans" percussion and visceral, first-person narratives. Its most haunting moment arrives in the opener, "Trinidad," where dreamlike soul deconstructs into a frantic cry of "There’s a bomb in my car!" It is a record that defines the "dark absurdity" of 2025, cementing Geese as one of the most vital bands of their generation.

The Return of the Icons
High on the list are the veteran voices who proved they still hold the keys to the cultural zeitgeist. Wolf Alice (Ranked #2) found peace in the hills of Los Angeles with The Clearing, a 70s-infused masterpiece. The standout single "The Sofa" has been hailed as a near-perfect pop-rock package, showcasing Ellie Rowsell’s vocal range as a "rock instrument." Similarly, Pulp (Ranked #27) made a triumphant return with More, their first album in 24 years. Dedicated to the late Steve Mackey, it captures the irony and horniness of middle age with Jarvis Cocker’s signature wit, particularly on the anthem "Spike Island."

Fearless Pop and Club Euphoria
The list also celebrates the transformative power of the dancefloor. FKA twigs (Ranked #3) released EUSEXUA, a club-pop odyssey inspired by the healing nature of raves. The title track’s "Eusexua afterglow" has become a literal term for the euphoria found in electronic music. Meanwhile, Self Esteem (Ranked #4) continued her reign with A Complicated Woman. The album’s best moment, the house-inflected "69," is a punchy, politically charged exploration of autonomy that lists sex positions with the same confidence she uses to discuss her personal life.

Soul-Stirring Realism
Rounding out the highlights is Sam Fender’s Mercury Prize-winning People Watching (Ranked #21). Co-produced by Adam Granduciel, it is a grand, "Springsteeny" wash of Americana that documents working-class life. The closing track, "Remember My Name," features a traditional brass band and serves as a devastatingly beautiful tribute to his grandparents, proving that even in a year of maximalist noise, a simple, honest story can still cut through the static.

The Top 28 Albums of 2025
1. Geese – Getting Killed
2. Wolf Alice – The Clearing
3. FKA twigs – EUSEXUA
4. Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman
5. Alex G – Headlights
6. SAYA grey – SAYA
7. James K – Play
8. This is lorelei – holo boy
9. Wednesday – It bleeds
10. Viagra Boys – Viagr Aboys
11. Getdown Services – Primordial Slot Machine
12. Home Counties – Humdrum
13. Tame Impala – Deadbeat
14. Shame – Cutthroat
15. Sports Team – Boys These Days
16. Arcade Fire – Pink Elephant
17. Welly – Big In The Suburbs
18. Divorce – Drive To Goldenhammer
19. The Murder Capital – Blindness
20. Antony Szmierek – Service Station At The End Of The Universe
21. Sam Fender – People Watching
22. Nas & DJ Premier – Light Years
23. The Clipse – Let God sort em out
24. The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
25. Raekwon – The Emperor's New Clothes
26. Mobb Deep – Infinite
27. Pulp – More
28. CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY

Here’s to another great year of music in 2026!