Welcome to my review of the best new albums of 2025. I wonder what you think I might say? That it’s been a dreadful year for new releases or that it’s been a vintage one? My answer, without qualification, is that 2025 has been a vintage year by every measure imaginable. And it’s taken me the best part of a month to come up with my top ten. Even now I’m not sure whether it will all change tomorrow. Let’s put it this way: today’s list is a bit different from yesterday’s.
I only have to look at the albums that failed to make the list. Turnstile, TEED (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs), My Morning Jacket, St Etienne, The Hives, Midlake, The Besnard Lakes, Princess Nokia, Ash, Say She She, Parcels and Wetleg are among many artists who may never speak to me following their omission.
All I can say is that I have loved the music from 2025 and here are my top albums:
10. Snocaps by Snowcaps. This new band features the Crutchfield sisters Katie (Waxahatchee) and Allison, M J Lenderman and Brad Cook. The Guardian described it as “headstrong, tender Americana about chasing integrity and conviction.” Couldn’t have put it better. Listen to Heathcliff.
9. Walk This Road by The Doobie Brothers. A storming return by the ageless Doobies, fresh from their never ending 50th anniversary tour. Listen to Walk This Road Feat. Mavis Staples.
8. Lay Low by Eddie Chacon. Hot-ish on the heels of his stunning 2023 album of the year (for me) Sundown, Lay Low is not far off the standard he set. This is the Eddie from Charles and Eddie (Would I Lie To You?). Listen to Good Sun.
7. People Watching by Sam Fender. I feel a little mean having Sam so low in my listings. He is not the new Springsteen, but as The Boss slips slowly into the sunset the boy is about to assume his rightful role in the world of superstardom. Listen to The Treadmill.
6. Teal Dreams by Yazmin Lacey. One of the great voices in my view and Teal Dreams more than did it justice. Listen to Wallpaper.
5. I Quit by HAIM. A quite brilliant album by the three sisters. Listen to Relationships.
4. Foxes In The Snow by Jason Isbell. Some say this album is Isbell’s Nebraska, acoustic and raw. Call it what you want but it’s a great record. Listen to Foxes In The Snow.
3. Lux by Rosalia. A quite magnificent album, unlike anything you will hear this year or next. Listen to Yahritza Y Su Esencia – La Perla.
2. The Clearing by Wolf Alice. Such a great record, easily their best to date. They were always going to massive. They are now. Listen to The Sofa.
1. Essex Honey by Blood Orange. Although the competition for my top ten was strong, my mind was made up for the album of the year at the end of August when Essex Honey came out. Featuring a stunning ensemble of contributors, including the wonderful Caroline Polachek, there’s no filler on this album. A deserved winner. Listen to Mind Loaded.
I am thrilled by the number of female artists in my list. Until the last couple of decades, my collection was predominately male-led music but I have managed to open my mind and my musical life is so much the better for it.
