The Best Albums of 2025

By using a scientific method (i.e., having Emacs count which albums I’ve listened to most this year), I can officially announce that these are the best albums of 2025, officially.

In ranked official order, they are:

	Richard Dawson	End of the Middle
Bolt I discovered Richard Dawson this year, and I’ve been absolutely flabbergasted at how great his albums are. I’m slowly buying his back catalogue, and it’s all good.
	Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto	Electric War
Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto - "Electric War" [Official Music Video] OK, this album is a bit Madchester/Stone Roses, which isn’t exactly er non-embarassing, but I just love the slinkiness of the music.
	Snapped Ankles	Dancing In Transit: Live 2025
Snapped Ankles - 摆烂 Bai Lan (Live) I saw Snapped Ankles live this year, and they were fantastic — all ghillie suits and everything. So I’ve listened to their live album more than I listened to their new “proper” album this year, but they’re both great.
	Stereolab	Instant Holograms On Metal Film
Stereolab - Aerial Troubles (Official Video) I also saw Stereolab live this year (in Nantes, of all places), and it was great seeing them again. And I like this album, but, er, you know — it’s no Dots and Loops. But it’s good.
	My Brightest Diamond	This Is My Hand
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND - Pressure I was surprised that this was so high up on the list, because it didn’t totally grab me. But I mean, there’s a bunch of good songs on here.
	Ministry	The Squirrely Years Revisited
Work For Love (Squirrely Version) This album has a truly unfortunate cover, so I assumed that the album would be a complete pisstake. Alan Jourgensen used to go apeshit if people played these songs around him — it’s from the era where he tried to become a British synth pop star (and failed). But these new versions are good! They’re slightly harder than the original versions, and they really work. For love.
	Marc Ribot	Map of a Blue City
Marc Ribot - "Daddy's Trip to Brazil" The new Marc Ribot album is really nice — it’s funny and it’s relaxing.
	Miki Berenyi Trio	Tripla
Miki Berenyi Trio - 8th Deadly Sin (Official Video) I was not expecting a new album from Miki Berenyi (of Lush fame), and I certainly didn’t expect it to be this good.
	CocoRosie	Little Death Wishes
CocoRosie - Cut Stitch Scar (Official Video) Huh, is the new CocoRosie album here? Well, OK… it’s fine, I guess.
	Sacred Paws	Jump Into Life
Sacred Paws - Turn Me Down (Official Music Video) Ray Aggs took a bit of a pause, and then ended the Shopping band… but there’s a new Sacrew Paws album. And it’s very bouncy indeed. Jump around!
	Porridge Radio	Machine Starts To Sing
Porridge Radio - A Hole In The Ground (Official Video) The first time I heard Porridge Radio I was all like “what? no”, but then I heard them again, and now I’m a fan for life.
	Herbert & Momoko	Clay
Calm Water I love Herbert’s old, calm albums (like Around The House), and this new albums seems like a callback to that era. And it’s a very cosy listen indeed. However, it could have done with tunes that are more memorable.
	Little Simz	Lotus
Little Simz - Young (Official Music Video) The new album from Little Simz is somewhat of a break from her previous music, and I think the reception has been rather tepid? But I love it. OK, there’s a couple of tracks on the album (that are more sound dramas) that I could have done without, but there’s also funny songs.
	The Ex	If Your Mirror Breaks
Wheel I love The Ex. However, this isn’t their best album. Wouldn’t mind seeing them again a bunch of times live, though.
	ganavya	Nilam
ganavya - Land (Official Audio) Here’s somebody I saw at random at a music festival this summer. And the album is very nice, too.
	jasmine.4.t	You Are The Morning
jasmine.4.t - Elephant (Official Video) Ditto! Another band I saw at the same festival.

I also bought old albums. These are officially the best:

	Arooj Aftab	Night Reign
Arooj Aftab - Aey Nehin (Visualizer)
	The Ex	Dizzy Spells
Town of Stone
	Charli XCX	Vroom Vroom
Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom [Official Video]
	Charli XCX	Number 1 Angel
Charli XCX - Lipgloss feat. cupcakKe [Official Audio]
	Shearwater	The Golden Archipelago
Shearwater - "Hidden Lakes" (official video)
	Various	The Residents Present: Buy or Die!
The Residents - Fire
	Arooj Aftab	Bird Under Water
Man Kunto Maula
	Chat Pile	Cool World
Chat Pile - I Am Dog Now (Official Music Video)
	Joan as Police Woman	Real Life
Joan As Police Woman - Eternal Flame