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 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QkOCvme5KU 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. |
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 | Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto | Electric War |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-MI4W6SvBo 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. |
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 | Snapped Ankles | Dancing In Transit: Live 2025 |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU6UYiH19-c 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. |
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 | Stereolab | Instant Holograms On Metal Film |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg69OglydeE 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. |
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 | My Brightest Diamond | This Is My Hand |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE1Y1QPNz5I 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. |
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 | Ministry | The Squirrely Years Revisited |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQMMaDEKHo 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. |
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 | Marc Ribot | Map of a Blue City |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppe37Oa7Zcw The new Marc Ribot album is really nice — it’s funny and it’s relaxing. |
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 | Miki Berenyi Trio | Tripla |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go5vjPskkC4 I was not expecting a new album from Miki Berenyi (of Lush fame), and I certainly didn’t expect it to be this good. |
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 | CocoRosie | Little Death Wishes |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2o_dRvpBYE Huh, is the new CocoRosie album here? Well, OK… it’s fine, I guess. |
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 | Sacred Paws | Jump Into Life |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmCJBn4CAM 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! |
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 | Porridge Radio | Machine Starts To Sing |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL3Vsy6pZHM 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. |
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 | Herbert & Momoko | Clay |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZCNXGLwQog 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. |
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 | Little Simz | Lotus |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s07gWh37Xcc 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. |
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 | The Ex | If Your Mirror Breaks |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-xINz8aIAo I love The Ex. However, this isn’t their best album. Wouldn’t mind seeing them again a bunch of times live, though. |
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 | ganavya | Nilam |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuN2Ceq5onc Here’s somebody I saw at random at a music festival this summer. And the album is very nice, too. |
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 | jasmine.4.t | You Are The Morning |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkT3ODAxmm8 Ditto! Another band I saw at the same festival. |
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I also bought old albums. These are officially the best:
 | Arooj Aftab | Night Reign |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsC0zNbGkE | ||
 | The Ex | Dizzy Spells |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ7XQY_lV_k | ||
 | Charli XCX | Vroom Vroom |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfAqtFuGjWM | ||
 | Charli XCX | Number 1 Angel |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3wSBK6xiXs | ||
 | Shearwater | The Golden Archipelago |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbPLy4-OgAw | ||
) | Various | The Residents Present: Buy or Die! |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff5fG5XtgiI | ||
 | Arooj Aftab | Bird Under Water |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHqyPbyjlrM | ||
 | Chat Pile | Cool World |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvBnmR_ClQ | ||
 | Joan as Police Woman | Real Life |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uMZ4EomJ3w | ||