Joshua's Best Albums of 2025

Welcome to my third annual favorite albums list writeup! Here’s 2024 and 2023. Again, this is a list of my Favorite or Top albums and makes no claim of being the best - I love how diverse and subjective music is. I am increasingly aware of how much my mood and life circumstances can change how much I enjoy an album. I definitely had more periods than usual this year where it was tough to find new music, but I was pleasantly surprised while finalizing this list that I enjoyed some albums a lot more this time around than I had in the first few listens months ago.

I continued highlighting themes as an unorthodox listening map. B, D, E, and F continue from last year along with some new ones. Notably, I was more into Punk and Rap than I have been in probably a decade, at least partially due to the state of the world. Also, I thought this was an especially good year for album opening tracks.

The narrative writing generally gets longer as we get farther down, so read as much as you’re interested in. Each lists a few of my favorite tracks from the album, which are compiled in a playlist here.

If you like any of these or the way I’m thinking about them, check out "(Sic) Beets” on Qobuz or Spotify, an eclectic playlist I’ve been making monthly since 2018. If you don’t have Spotify, I’ll share the tracklist each month on my Instagram.

For the ranking, the following themes are present:

A - Punk/emo adjacent

B - Very emotionally honest and direct

C - Rap

D - Lush harmonies

E - Fem-pop

F - Album I enjoyed more than any track

G - Horns/Winds!

H - Unique/Distinct Melodies

I - First Song, Best Song

J - Paradise?

Now let’s get to it! Here are 25 albums I loved in 2025:

25. Pruning of the Lower Limbs // Moving Mountains

A, H, I

A pulsing, assured, lush album. I’m really fascinated by how consistently spacious the melodies are here, lots of long pauses within phrases.

Favorite Songs: "Ghosts", "Everyone Is Happy, and Nothing Is Good"

24. SCORPIO // Madison McFerrin

D, E, F

A soulful breakup album exploring Black tradition from the Blues to House music with a variety of stops in between.

Favorite Songs: "Over > Forever", "Heartbreak", "The End"

23. Let God Sort 'Em Out // Clipse

A, F, I

Pharrell’s production is excellent and all the rapping is confident and skillful. A collaboration impressive enough for me to get over not personally identifying much with the lyrical content.

Favorite Songs: "The Birds Don't Sing", "P.O.V."

22. THORN O’ THE TIMES // LOOLOWINGEN & THE FAR EAST IDIOTS

A

This is the first fully foreign-language-based album to make an end of year list for me. Japanese alternative music experimenting across punk, jazz, and math rock with intricate rhythmic precision. (This album is unfortunately missing from Qobuz)

Favorite Songs: "プラセボ (3)",  "ネガポジ" (1), "ねむり/めざめ" (5)

21. NEVER ENOUGH // Turnstile

A, G

The range covered on this album while still being cohesive is impressive. Soaring smooth vocals over synths, some jazzy almost bossa nova grooves, and some straight shouting. I haven’t enjoyed an album this punk-heavy since high school, but it really took me in.

Favorite Songs: : "I CARE", "NEVER ENOUGH", "BIRDS"

20. Paradise // Westerlies

G, I, J

Love the Westerlies, who are really reimagining what a horn quartet can be. If you read my 2024 favorite albums list, you’ll recognize member Riley Mulherkar’s haunting unconventional embrace of breath sounds. Listen with a subwoofer to really appreciate the low trombone notes.

Favorite Songs: "Fight On", "The Evening Trumpet", "Paradise"

19. Racing Mount Pleasant // Racing Mount Pleasant

 B, G, I

This album sounds like more than 7 musicians, which is already a lot of musicians. Was absolutely blown away and entranced by the opening track. The intricacies in instrumentation paired with unconventional often lilting vocals is fascinating.

Favorite Songs: "Your New Place", "Racing Mount Pleasant", "You Pt. 2"

18. Love & Hyperbole // Alessia Cara

E, I

I’ve always appreciated Alessia’s voice and hit singles, but this is the first time I locked in on an album. This was probably the most hit or miss on the list in terms of song by song, but the highs were really beautiful and sophisticated with thoughtful lush instrumentation and touching lyrics. On a side note, I can’t take the song Fire seriously because it sounds so thoroughly like an evangelical CCM song.

Favorite Songs: "Go Outside!", "Subside", "Dead Man"

17. hopecore // Anatole Muster

H

I lack the vocabulary to adequately describe this accordian-driven jazz-pop. Feels like it has a lot of Latin and African influences I don’t fully understand? Whatever it is, I really love it and it tingles a part of my brain rarely accessed.

Favorite Songs: "M Field Music", "All my friends love melodies", "little spider"

16. Lotus // Little Simz

C

Her first album since severing ties with producer Inflo, the overall production doesn’t feel as memorable as her last couple albums. Still plenty of great moments including guest spots from Obongjayar, Moses Sumney, Sampha, and Michael Kiwanuka. Simz herself remains effortlessly cool and confident, this time with a striking increased emphasis on introspection and vulnerability, at times switching to spoken word rather than rap. "Free" is such a good song, I especially love the outro.

Favorite Songs: "Free", "Peace", "Lion"

15. Paradise Now // Obongjayar

B, J

This was my first Obongjayar album having previously known him from guest spots with Little Simz and Fred Again. Enjoyed his soft, effortlessly cool voice delivering tender lyrics over African-fused grooves.

Favorite Songs: "Born In this Body", "Happy Head", "Talk Olympics"

14. Patience, Moonbeam // Great Grandpa

A,H

I love how many unexpected turns Great Grandpa’s melodies take. This album is stitched together so well while covering a lot of ground sonically and lyrically. It also wins the award for most relatable non-aggressive use of expletives ("Ladybug" and "Doom").

Favorite Songs: "Junior", "Ladybug", "Doom", Kid"

13. Magic, Alive! // McKinley Dixon

C, G

Incredibly energetic hip-hop album blending jazz and gospel among others. Rare that such ambitious production is met with equally ambitious rapping. I’m slow to appreciate bravado, but McKinley’s is well earned. Not to mention the storytelling! If you like rap, please give this a listen. "Sugar Water" puts my stank face on every time.

Favorite Songs: "Sugar Water", "We’re Outside Rejoice!", "Magic Alive!"

12. The Breeze Grew A Fire // Mereba

E, H

The way Mereba stretches and shortens vowel syllables is mesmerizing. Instrumentation on this feels simultaneously lush and sparse. Groove never leaves the pocket and the lyrics are tender and heartfelt.

Favorite Songs: "Ever Needed", "Heart of a Child", "Sanctuary"

11. NGL // JoJo

D, E, I (L, O, L 😎)

A fun wrinkle of 2025 was that an 8 song, 22 minute project by JoJo (yes, that JoJo) was my legitimate favorite 2025 release for the first quarter of the year. This is a damn fine pop record. Singing, lyrics, production, all cohesive. Love the brief harmony opening track, and also the lyrical transition from "Nobody" into "Too Much To Say."

Favorite Songs: "Nobody", "Porcelain", "Start Over"

And now, for my Top 10!

10. Blue Reminder // Hand Habits

B, G

This album is really beautiful. Equal parts melancholy and hopeful, choosing joy while facing reality with such honest sincerity. Appreciating and giving attention to the little things in life. The depth of love conveyed is stunning, and the melodies and instrumentation hold it well.

Favorite Songs: "Jasmine Blossoms", "Wheel of Change", "Beauty 62"

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9. Precipice // Indigo de Souza

B, E

A moving, multifaceted meditation on growing older. De Souza always writes with such authenticity and vulnerability. While I’ve liked a lot of songs by her from previous projects, this feels like the most complete and defined album. Exploring more of a pop sound did not come at the expense of building rich sonic textures.

Favorite Songs: "Heartthrob", "Not Afraid", Precipice"

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8. Oh Snap // Cecil Mclorin Salvant

B, H

Incredibly inventive vocal “jazz” album that confidently and earnestly traverses extensive sonic ground. “Take this stone” is so memorable and timeless I was convinced it was a cover of a song I had heard elsewhere until about 10 minutes of googling proved otherwise. The experimentation in sound is matched with deeply relatable and tender lyrics.

Favorite Songs: "Take this stone", "Anything but now", "Second guessing", "Thank You"

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7. From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID // Saba and No ID

C

The Chicago rap scene is alive and well and Saba is among the chief torchbearers (Chance’s album was pretty disappointing). Endlessly creative lyrically, rhythmically, and melodically, few can make a sing-songy rap verse sound so natural and defined. I’m not typically into “I’m better than them” verses, but the man left no crumbs on "Acts" and "Westside Bound." No ID’s collaborative production really elevates this album and there are some great guest features as well. "How To Impress God" seriously stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it.

Favorite Songs: "How To Impress God", "Every Painting Has a Price", "Westside Bound Pt. 4"

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6. Better Dreaming // tUnE-yArDs

B, D

tUnE-yArDs is one of my favorite artists, but this was the first time in 11 years I’ve liked a full album from them, so I’m probably higher on it than most people. It’s got everything I look for from Merrill and Nate: absurdly lush harmonies, prominent funky basslines, adept eclectic percussion, unconventional song structures, poignant social commentary, hopeful rallying cries. There’s been a notable shift toward electric synths and away from saxophone, which is a bummer in principle, but honestly effective and gives the album a coherent feel.

Favorite Songs: "Sanctuary", "Get Through", "Limelight"

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5. I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! // Jensen McRae

 E

Jensen McRae is one of my favorite living singers. I love her vocal range, control, and especially her lower alto tone. As in her debut album, catchy hooks abound here. I wish topics veered outside heartbreak/evil ex’s. Don’t get me wrong, I think she writes some of the best breakup songs out there and explores heartbreak in nuanced and unique ways, I just wish some other content was covered so it could be in my rotation a bit more frequently (and for her sake, I hope she stops dating trash men). I experienced her vocal prowess in person this year, as well as her warmth and relatability.

Favorite Songs: "Savannah", "Let Me Be Wrong", "Mother Wound"

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4. The Life You Save // Flock of Dimes

B, E, G, I

I think I relistened to Afraid and I Think I’m God like 4 times the first day I heard this album. My favorite album opener/closing song combo I’ve heard in years. Flock of Dimes is the solo project of Jenn Wasner, better known as half of Wye Oak and also a member of Bon Iver since 2019. Her voice is beautifully expressive and rich. Her lyricism is tender, honest, and mature, paired with familiar and memorable melodies. She’s also a skilled guitarist and the instrumentation and arrangements on this album serve the songs so well. Some moments massive in sound, others effectively restrained, this album benefits from headphones or surround sound. Every moment holds intention.

Favorite Songs: "Afraid", "I Think I’m God", "Keep Me in the Dark"

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3. Clarity of Cal // Vulfpeck

D, G

A talented funk band whose instrumental songs are as enjoyable as those with tender and/or cheeky lyrics. I’ve liked songs by them in the past, but something about the hellscape of 2025 had me returning to this album regularly as an enjoyable and comforting balm. I had the most difficult time ordering my favorite songs for this album, I like them each differently and didn’t even have room to include the more silly ones.

Favorite Songs: "Tender Defender", "Big Dipper", "In Real Life", Memories"

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2. The Art of Loving // Olivia Dean

E

About her album Messy, which ranked #3 on my 2023 list, I wrote: “The album has all the hallmarks of a classic full-length debut from someone that’s been releasing music for 4 years: polished, distinct, and cohesive sound with wall-to-wall hits. Here’s hoping she can strike gold again on the sophomore effort, preferably with a broader range of subject matter.”

Folks, I’m pleased to report she did it again. Her voice is still so calm and natural. My favorite current pop artist, Dean writes some of the best hooks around. And wouldn’t you know it, "Lady Lady" is not about romantic relationships/breakups. If she can keep adding one more non-romance song per album and maintain her signature sound, we are in for many future treats. Here’s hoping she doesn’t cave to the increased commercial success and attention of this album and start making more safe/formulaic songs. Can’t wait to report back on the next one.

Favorite Songs: "Lady Lady", "Nice To Each Other", Man I Need"

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1. Straight Line Was A Lie // The Beths

A, B, I

The title track on The Beths' 2022 album Expert In A Dying Field is one of my favorite songs of the decade. I love the writer’s ability to examine something universal (a relationship ending) through an unusual human metaphor (archaic academic expertise) to help you see your own personal experience in a new light. That is again on full display in this year’s release, from reexamining conceptions of time passing, to the function of human bodies in ecosystems, and even the literal bacteria and carbon that make us. This album cultivates hope amidst difficulty and pain. I love how the sonic structure of the title track reflects the meaning of the lyrics. The New Zealanders’ indie pop/punk sound is as tight and purposeful as ever. I saw them live this year and was delighted to find that with just the four band members on stage, no significant sound was lost from the album. The building, pulsing intensity on songs illustrate this well. Each part is vital to the whole.

Favorite Songs: "Straight Line Was A Lie", "Mother Pray For Me", "Metal, Til My Heart Stops"