As the calendar year comes to a close, it’s time to once again join the chorus of annual lists which seek to recount the best releases from the previous 12 months.
With so many of these lists arriving annually from outlets and writers often far more respected than I, it feels almost pointless to share my own opinions, especially given they’ll likely just become lost in the vast sea of opinion pieces that arrive at this time of the year.
Well, that’s precisely why I’m approaching my own list with a bit of selfishness.
I’m not doing this to particularly add any real value into the wider discourse, instead, it’s simply a way for me to recall my favourite releases, and – if so desired – give others the chance to see what I’ve been spinning in 2025 and foster a bit of discovery in the process.
So, with that out of the way, how am I approaching this list?
Well, for a few years now, every time I listen to a record, I give it a Pitchfork-style rating in my trusty spreadsheet. That is, a rating on the scale of 0.0 to 10, whereby the latter indicates a perfect rating.
I will admit that I’m often a tad generous with my ratings, especially since I consider anything above a 5 to be anything that didn’t make me respond with a visceral negative reaction. (For the trainspotters, my lowest-ever rated album scored a regrettable 2.0.)
That’s not to say that I think everything is amazing. I do tend to enjoy a bit of everything, and I can usually see the appeal of most music I listen to.
At the end of the year, I collate those ratings and order them accordingly. As expected, there’s usually quite a few records that share a rating, in which case I’ll go through those which received a, say, 7.8, and rank them based on my own preference.
I will note that while I listen to as much as I can, a focus is on albums rather than EPs, and I don’t include singles on this list. There’s also a general confusion over what constitutes an album or an EP, so I tend to go with however the release is categorised on streaming services (which is why this year’s shortest album on my list goes for a whopping 5:47).
Lastly, I will unequivocally agree that some of the records on this list may not be placed as best as they could be.
Given how many albums I listen to, there’s every chance that I wasn’t in the ‘right’ mindset to appreciate a record when I listened to it. Therefore, six months down the line, I might wish that the album I had initially given a 6.2 instead received a better-deserved 8.9. Live and learn.
So, without further ado, here is this year’s list.
I listened to a total of 868 albums this year – an increase on last year’s 452. I’ll admit that it’s a lofty task, but I’m going to aim to crack the 1,000 mark next year. Let’s see if I can stay true to that plan.
For those who want more information, feel free to scroll to the end for a little wrap-up on my top 20. You can also find my previous lists (which I’ve finally put online this year), by heading here.
Best Albums Of 2025
868. PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
867. Chance The Rapper – STAR LINE
866. Saul Williams, Carlos Niño & Friends – Saul Williams Meets Carlos Niño & Friends At Treepeople
865. Fred Armisen – 100 Sound Effects
864. Lacuna Coil – Sleepless Empire
863. Patrick Wolf – Crying The Neck
862. Ghost – Skeletá
861. The Smith Street Band – Once I Was Wild
860. Central Cee – CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS
859. Katatonia – Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State
858. Offset – KIARI
857. Sick Puppies – WAVE THE BULL
856. Jessie Reyez – PAID IN MEMORIES
855. Guy Blackman – Out Of Sight
854. Royel Otis – hickey
853. Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness
852. Florry – Sounds Like…
851. Bret McKenzie – Freak Out City
850. The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
849. MIKE – Showbiz!
848. G Flip – Dream Ride
847. Mumford & Sons – RUSHMERE
846. Black Lips – Season Of The Peach
845. Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
844. CLAMM – Serious Acts
843. Hot Milk – Corporation P.O.P
842. Mabel – Mabel
841. The Dreggs – The Art Of Uncommon Practice
840. Merzbow, Iggor Cavalera & Eraldo Bernocchi – Nocturnal Rainforest
839. Daniel Caesar – Son Of Spergy
838. Pierce Brothers – Moonrise
837. Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman
836. The Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon
835. MIKE – Pinball II
834. Belinda Carlisle – Once Upon A Time In California
833. Edwyn Collins – Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
832. TOKiMONSTA – Eternal Reverie
831. Neko Case – Neon Grey Midnight Green
830. mgk – lost americana
829. Counting Crows – Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!
828. Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)
827. BOY SODA – SOULSTAR
826. Rose Gray – Louder, Please
825. Pentagram – Lightning In A Bottle
824. d4vd – WITHERED
823. Thornhill – BODIES
822. Anand Wilder – Psychic Lessons
821. Brainchip – I Am Brainchip
820. Dijon – Baby
819. FEX – Skyscraper
818. FELIVAND – my body’s my true north
817. Justin Bieber – SWAG
816. Hein Cooper – My Own
815. merci, mercy – Don’t Take It To Heart
814. SG Lewis – Anemoia
813. Killswitch Engage – This Consequence
812. Yukimi – For You
811. Coheed And Cambria – The Father Of Make Believe
810. WILSN – Bloom
809. Jamie Woon – 3, 10, Why, When
808. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter VI
807. Doja Cat – Vie
806. William Basinski & Richard Chartier – Aurora Terminalis
805. André 3000 – 7 piano sketches
804. thndo – Lessons In Love
803. Olly Alexander – Polari
802. Finn Wolfhard – Happy Birthday
801. Durand Jones & The Indications – Flowers
800. Isabella Lovestory – Vanity
799. Lucius – Lucius
798. Sofi Tukker – butter
797. Wolfgang Flür – Times
796. Smoked Salmon – Smoked Salmon
795. Ty Dolla $ign – TYCOON
794. Ruel – Kicking My Feet
793. Khalid – after the sun goes down
792. Cate Le Bon – Michelangelo Dying
791. Bush – I Beat Loneliness
790. David Gray – Dear Life
789. Zac Brown Band – Love & Fear
788. Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong
787. Mariah Carey – Here For It All
786. Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another [Soundtrack]
785. Bliss N Eso – The Moon (The Light Side)
784. Jeshi – Airbag Woke Me Up
783. Paul Weller – Find El Dorado
782. Ex-Vöid – In Love Again
781. Shouse – Collective Ecstasy
780. Kim Wilde – Closer
779. Justin Bieber – SWAG II
778. Fleshwater – 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky
777. Sharpie Smile – The Staircase
776. Hamilton Leithauser – This Side Of The Island
775. Great Grandpa – Patience, Moonbeam
774. Destroyer – Dan’s Boogie
773. MALI JO$E – GOD IS THE WIND
772. Låpsley – I’M A HURRICANE I’M A WOMAN IN LOVE
771. Madison Cunningham – Ace
770. Nadia Faye – Gardening
769. Earl Sweatshirt – Live Laugh Love
768. Lady Gaga – MAYHEM
767. Various Artists – Marc Urselli’s Ramones (Redux)
766. Bring Me The Horizon – Lo-files
765. Ocean Alley – Love Balloon
764. Chris Lake – Chemistry
763. Boy & Bear – Tripping Over Time
762. Songhoy Blues – Héritage
761. Djo – The Crux
760. Deradoorian – Ready For Heaven
759. Josh Ritter – I Believe In You, My Honeydew
758. The Swell Season – Forward
757. 50 Lions – New Reality
756. Benmont Tench – The Melancholy Season
755. Dark Thoughts – HIGHWAY TO THE END
754. Robert Glasper – Keys To The City Volume One
753. The Chameleons – Arctic Moon
752. Leon Vynehall – In Daytona Yellow
751. Yung Lean – Jonatan
750. Josh Freese – Just A Minute, Vol. 2
749. The Doobie Brothers – Walk This Road
748. Gus Englehorn – The Hornbook
747. The Waterboys – Life, Death And Dennis Hopper
746. AJ Tracey – Don’t Die Before You’re Dead
745. Alexandra Savior – Beneath The Lilypad
744. Paz Lenchantin – Triste
743. Larissa Lambert – Chronosick
742. Rival Consoles – Landscape From Memory
741. The Aces – Gold Star Baby
740. Neil Young – Oceanside Countryside
739. Chicks On Speed – HEARandNOWtopia
738. Patrick Watson – Uh Oh
737. Rochelle Jordan – Through The Wall
736. Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me
735. The Bug vs. Ghost Dubs – Implosion
734. Madvillain – Madvillainy Demos
733. Insane Clown Posse – The Naught
732. DON WEST – Give Me All Your Love
731. Of Monsters And Men – All Is Love And Pain In The Mouse Parade
730. Jackal Twins – Cuzco
729. Biig Piig – 11:11
728. Inhaler – Open Wide
727. Freckle – Freckle
726. Cuco – Ridin’
725. Gruff Rhys – Dim Probs
724. Guerilla Toss – You’re Weird Now
723. Joe Jonas – Music For People Who Believe In Love
722. Kevin Abstract – Blush
721. Vildhjarta – + där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar +
720. 360 – Out Of The Blue
719. Ólafur Arnalds & Talos – A Dawning
718. The Rasmus – Weirdo
717. Suede – Antidepressants
716. The Vanns – All That’s In My Head
715. Vinyl Williams – Portasymphony
714. U.S. Girls – Scratch It
713. The Kooks – Never/Know
712. Max Frost – Shelby Ave
711. Sharon Van Etten – Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
710. Charlie Needs Braces – NYAA WA
709. Winston Surfshirt – WINSTON
708. Mild Minds – GEMINI
707. Purity Ring – purity ring
706. Hannah Frances – Nested In Tangles
705. Emma Louise & Flume – DUMB
704. BENEE – Ur An Angel I’m Just Particles
703. Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts – Talkin To The Trees
702. Good Neighbours – Blue Sky Mentality
701. Dove Ellis – Blizzard
700. Jane Remover – Revengeseekerz
699. The Bennies – You Can’t Put Out This Fire
698. Raekwon – The Emperor’s New Clothes
697. Throwing Muses – Moonlight Concessions
696. Bad Cop Bad Cop – Lighten Up
695. Eddie Chacon – Lay Low
694. Will Smith – Based On A True Story
693. Wafia – Promised Land
692. Bonnie Prince Billy – The Purple Bird
691. BRONCHO – Natural Pleasure
690. Alison Goldfrapp – Flux
689. EGOISM – And Go Nowhere
688. Joy Crookes – Juniper
687. Merzbow – Tsubute Mosaic
686. Press Club – To All The Ones That I Love
685. Nova Twins – Parasites & Butterflies
684. M83 – A Necessary Escape (Dakar Chronicles Original Soundtrack)
683. bdrmm – Microtonic
682. Aloe Blacc – Stand Together
681. Tape/Off – Fort Sensible
680. Miami Horror – We Always Had Tomorrow
679. The Verve Pipe – Reconciled
678. Armand Hammer – Mercy
677. BICEP – CHROMA 000
676. Amber Mark – Pretty Idea
675. Perturbator – Age Of Aquarius
674. Austra – Chin Up Buttercup
673. Good Charlotte – Motel Du Cap
672. The Gunshy – Hurricane Umbrellas
671. Westerman – A Jackal’s Wedding
670. Chris Lanzon – You’re Missing The Best Part
669. Whitney – Small Talk
668. Hachiku – The Joys Of Being Pure At Heart
667. Teether & Kuya Neil – YEARN IV
666. ILUKA – the wild, the innocent & the raging
665. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
664. Robert Plant With Suzi Dian – Saving Grace
663. Sleep Token – Even In Arcadia
662. Dear Seattle – TOY
661. Panchiko – Ginkgo
660. Burna Boy – No Sign Of Weakness
659. Blood Orange – Essex Honey
658. múm – History Of Silence
657. Dominic Fike – Rocket
656. TOPS – Bury The Key
655. yeule – Evangelic Girl Is A Gun
654. Yaya Bey – do it afraid
653. Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea
652. daste. – dasteWORLD
651. Upchuck – I’m Nice Now
650. Frost Children – SISTER
649. Mouseatouille – DJ Set
648. Machine Girl – PsychoWarrior: MG Ultra X
647. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele 2
646. Tennis – Face Down In The Garden
645. Jimmy Barnes – DEFIANT
644. Van Morrison – Remembering Now
643. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island
642. The Darkness – Dreams On Toast
641. The Cure – Mixes Of A Lost World
640. The Weather Station – Humanhood
639. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
638. The Wombats – Oh! The Ocean
637. Circa Waves – Death & Love
636. Big Thief – Double Infinity
635. Nine Inch Nails – TRON: Ares [Soundtrack]
634. Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe – Luminal
633. Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day
632. silent collision – Storms Within Stillness
631. All Time Low – Everyone’s Talking!
630. Moontype – I Let The Wind Push Down On Me
629. Mimi Gilbert – undrowning
628. Open Mike Eagle – Neighborhood Gods Unlimited
627. Robert Forster – Strawberries
626. Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film
625. Wolf Alice – The Clearing
624. Tune-Yards – Better Dreaming
623. The Last Dinner Party – From The Pyre
622. Architects – The Sky, The Earth & All Between
621. Barney Artist – They Changed When I Did
620. Rise Against – Ricochet
619. Flock Of Dimes – The Life You Save
618. Mansionair – Some Kind Of Alchemy
617. Night Tapes – portals//polarities
616. Queenie & Henry Wagons – Queenie & Hank
615. Stella Donnelly – Love And Fortune
614. Sun Kil Moon – All The Artists
613. HAAi – HUMANiSE
612. Remains – Grinding From The Grave
611. Benjamin Booker – LOWER
610. Ringo Starr – Look Up
609. Bartees Strange – Horror
608. Lewis Love – Lovesick
607. John Glacier – Like A Ribbon
606. quickly, quickly – I Heard That Noise
605. Elton John & Brandi Carlile – Who Believes In Angels?
604. Dirty Projectors & stargaze – Song Of The Earth
603. Anamanaguchi – Anyway
602. Billie Marten – Dog Eared
601. Ashley Naylor – Alexandria Sunset
600. Cory Hanson – I Love People
599. El Michels Affair – 24 Hr Sports
598. JID – God Does Like Ugly
597. Lido Pimienta – La Belleza
596. Joey Valence & Brae – HYPERYOUTH
595. Merzbow – Hatonal
594. ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now
593. saoirse dream – saoirse dream
592. POLIÇA – Dreams Go
591. SPELLLING – Portrait Of My Heart
590. Courting – Lust For Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’
589. Emily Ulman – Severe Clear
588. Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override
587. Alison Wonderland – GHOST WORLD
586. Salarymen – Take It Or Leave It
585. Caution – Peripheral Vision
584. Nick Mulvey – Dark Harvest, Pt. 2
583. CIVIC – Chrome Dipped
582. Miguel – CAOS
581. The Saints – Long March Through The Jazz Age
580. Half Japanese – Adventure
579. Mepire – MILK POOL
578. Pop Will Eat Itself – Delete Everything
577. Ed Sheeran – Play
576. The Electorate – By Design
575. BANKS – Off With Her Head
574. Halfway – The Styx
573. Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear
572. Teenage Bottlerocket – Ready To Roll
571. Brad Mehldau – Ride Into The Sun
570. Jacob Collier – The Light For Days
569. Vegyn & AIR – Blue Moon Safari
568. Cut Copy – Moments
567. Jonathan Richman – Only Frozen Sky Anyway
566. Kali Uchis – Sincerely,
565. Liam Finn – Hyperverse
564. Nourished By Time – The Passionate Ones
563. Reneé Rapp – BITE ME
562. Pelican – Flickering Resonance
561. Obongjayar – Paradise Now
560. Saint Etienne – International
559. Osees – ABOMINATION REVEALED AT LAST
558. YUNGBLUD – Idols
557. Shura – I Got Too Sad For My Friends
556. Miso Extra – Earcandy
555. Wavves – Spun
554. Twin Shadow – Georgie
553. Clio Renner – Don’t Hurry The Dance
552. SASAMI – Blood On The Silver Screen
551. YHWH Nailgun – 45 Pounds
550. The Starting Line – Eternal Youth
549. Cosmic Psychos – I Really Like Beer
548. Underoath – The Place After This One
547. Todd Snider – HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME.
546. Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart
545. Icecream Hands – Giant Fox Pineapple Tree
544. Portugal. The Man – SHISH
543. Pupil Slicer – Fleshwork
542. Mogwai – The Bad Fire
541. Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You ii
540. Ezra Furman – Goodbye Small Head
539. Pile – Sunshine And Balance Beams
538. Snocaps – Snocaps
537. Scowl – Are We All Angels
536. Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
535. Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer
534. John Butler – PRISM
533. Dylan Atlantis – It Starts Again
532. Butthole Surfers – Live At The Leather Fly
531. Samia – Bloodless
530. Arcade Fire – Pink Elephant
529. Baxter Dury – Allbarone
528. Taylor Swift – The Life Of A Showgirl
527. David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
526. Fitz And The Tantrums – Man On The Moon
525. Clea – Every Version Of Love
524. Indigo De Souza – Precipice
523. Jim Legxacy – black british music (2025)
522. Jehnny Beth – You Heartbreaker, You
521. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – GUSH
520. Gordi – Like Plasticine
519. MØ – Plæygirl
518. Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
517. The Bug Club – Very Human Features
516. Antony Szmierek – Service Station At The End Of The Universe
515. PUP – Who Will Look After The Dogs?
514. Zac Farro – Operator
513. Tate McRae – So Close To What
512. Rich Brian – WHERE IS MY HEAD?
511. Jason Isbell – Foxes In The Snow
510. Dead Mall – SUPERLIMINAL
509. Steven Wilson – The Overview
508. David McCormack & The Polaroids – A Complete History Of Popular Music
507. Not For Radio – Melt
506. Addison Rae – Addison
505. The Devil Wears Prada – Flowers
504. Tim Hecker – Shards
503. Bryan Estepa – I See It Now
502. Hot Mulligan – The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still
501. SPRINTS – All That Is Over
500. They Are Gutting A Body Of Water – LOTTO
499. Celeste – Woman Of Faces
498. Nick Mulvey – Dark Harvest, Pt. 1
497. Sigrid – There’s Always More That I Could Say
496. FKA twigs – EUSEXUA Afterglow
495. Scary Monsters – The March Of Hope
494. Longmont Potion Castle – Alive In ’25
493. Sun Kil Moon & Amoeba – Sun Kil Moon And Amoeba, Vol. II
492. Close Counters – LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY
491. Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – Still Blooming
490. Babe Rainbow – Slipper imp and shakaerator
489. Dropkick Murphys – For The People
488. DOPE LEMON – Golden Wolf
487. Frankie Cosmos – Different Talking
486. General Mack’s Grapeshot – Revel, Revel
485. Twin Shadow – Cadet
484. Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend
483. Parcels – LOVED
482. Rico Nasty – LETHAL
481. Post Animal – Iron
480. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop
479. Ty Segall – Possession
478. Teethe – Magic Of The Sale
477. Merzbow – Sedonis
476. Ichiko Aoba – Luminescent Creatures
475. The Antlers – Blight
474. Liz Stringer – The Second High
473. Sam Akpro – Evenfall
472. JENNIE – Ruby
471. Harvey Sutherland – Debt
470. Blawan – SickElixir
469. Mel Blue – nomorejacketsplease
468. HEALTH – CONFLICT DLC
467. Lida Husik – The Voyage Out
466. The Gnomes – The Gnomes
465. Nerdlinger – Growing Up Is Getting Old
464. Lola Young – I’m Only F**king Myself
463. King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To
462. Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World
461. Calum Hood – ORDER chaos ORDER
460. SoSo – So Much For Second Chances
459. The Horrors – Night Life
458. Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – GLORY
457. Hatchie – Liquorice
456. Elijah Fox – Ambient Works For The Highways Of Los Angeles
455. Hayden Pedigo – I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away
454. CHRIST DILLINGER – There’s Evil In New York
453. jasmine.4.t – You Are The Morning
452. Jacob Banks – Yonder
451. Serj Tankian – Covers, Collaborations & Collages
450. Geoffrey O’Connor – I Love What We Do
449. GOON – Dream 3
448. Garbage – Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
447. Meg Washington – GEM
446. KAROL G – Tropicoqueta
445. KAYTRANADA – AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
444. TWICE – TEN: The Story Goes On
443. Welcome Strawberry – desperate flower
442. Perfume Genius – Glory
441. Hotline TNT – Raspberry Moon
440. Guided By Voices – Thick Rich And Delicious
439. Willie Nelson – Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle
438. The Belair Lip Bombs – Again
437. Daniel Avery – Tremor
436. Green Circles – Green Circles
435. The Cloud Maker – The Cloud Maker
434. Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
433. Mac Miller – Balloonerism
432. Mama Kin Spender – The Promise
431. Dream Theater – Parasomnia
430. Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
429. Freddie Gibbs – Alfredo 2
428. Kojey Radical – Don’t Look Down
427. Carla Geneve – Don’t Be Afraid
426. MARINA – PRINCESS OF POWER
425. Mansur Brown – Rihla
424. Nation Of Language – Dance Called Memory
423. MonoNeon – You Had Your Chance… Bad Attitude!
422. Men I Trust – Equus Caballus
421. Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke – Tall Tales
420. spill tab – ANGIE
419. Fade Evare – Welcome Back
418. Pyramids – Pythagoras
417. The Terrys – The Terrys
416. TWICE – THIS IS FOR
415. thatboykwame – In A Matter of Time
414. Nicole Lawrence – Time In Love
413. These New Puritans – Crooked Wing
412. Everything Is Recorded – Richard Russell Is Temporary
411. Merzbow – The Prosperity Of Vice, The Misfortune Of Virtue
410. Wisp – If Not Winter
409. Blarke Bayer – THE KING IN YELLOW
408. Weval – CHOROPHOBIA
407. The Budos Band – VII
406. Various Artists – Anthems: A Celebration Of Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People
405. Circuit des Yeux – Halo On The Inside
404. Mdou Moctar – Tears Of Injustice
403. Lil Durk – Deep Thoughts
402. Rocket – R Is For Rocket
401. Tom Skinner – Kaleidoscopic Visions
400. Jack Ladder – Separation Rock
399. Youth Group – Big Whoop
398. Amadou & Mariam – L’Amour À La Folie
397. clipping. – Dead Channel Sky
396. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Carpe Diem, Moonman
395. breathe. – For Your Darkest Days
394. Willie Nelson – Oh What A Beautiful World
393. CLEWS – What’s Not To Love?
392. Sevdaliza – HEROINA
391. Michael Cera Palin – We Could Be Brave
390. Brandi Carlile – Returning To Myself
389. DJ Premier & Roc Marciano – The Coldest Profession
388. The Bats – Corner Coming Up
387. Peter Peter Hughes – Half-Staff Blues
386. Michael Clifford – SIDEQUEST
385. Sharp Pins – Radio DDR
384. Fabiano do Nascimento – Cavejaz
383. Shoko Igarashi – Kokoro no Kibi
382. Lance Ferguson – Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3
381. Titanic – HAGEN
380. Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
379. Tom Green – Home To The Country
378. Maribou State – Hallucinating Love
377. Bukowski – I Don’t Wanna Live, I Don’t Wanna Die.
376. Polish Club – POUND CAKE
375. Young Franco – it’s Franky baby!
374. Pendulum – Inertia
373. Sumac & Moor Mother – The Film
372. Florist – Jellywish
371. Lorde – Virgin
370. Kid Cudi – Free
369. Eiko Ishibashi & Jim O’Rourke – Pareidolia
368. Sons Of The East – SONS
367. The Beaches – No Hard Feelings
366. REDD. – RAUNCH.
365. Miya Folick – Erotica Veronica
364. Sparks – MAD!
363. Doves – Constellations For The Lonely
362. grentperez – Backflips In A Restaurant
361. The Men – Buyer Beware
360. limbs may fall – limbs may fall
359. Elias Rønnenfelt – Speak Daggers
358. The Living End – I Only Trust Rock N Roll
357. Cookin’ On 3 Burners – Cookin’ The Books
356. Kelly Moran – Don’t Trust Mirrors
355. Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
354. Husky Gawenda – Storms
353. Anberlin – Nevertake
352. Del Water Gap – Chasing The Chimera
351. Bec Sandridge – Happy Futures
350. Tobias Jesso Jr. – s h i n e
349. Danny Brown – Stardust
348. 21 Savage – WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS?
347. FKA twigs – EUSEXUA
346. The Kleptones – Shirts & Gurgles
345. Horsegirl – Phonetics On And On
344. Tim Minchin – Tim Minchin Time Machine
343. L.S. Dunes – Violet
342. Cardboard Cutouts – Politics And Footy Tips
341. Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence
340. Mogwai – The Bombing Of Pan Am 103 [Soundtrack]
339. Thrice – Horizons/West
338. Mallrat – Light hit my face like a straight right
337. Sky Juice Duo – Dope Folk
336. King Princess – Girl Violence
335. Squid – Cowards
334. BABYMETAL – METAL FORTH
333. Sam Fender – People Watching
332. Alisa Xayalith – Slow Crush
331. CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY
330. Aitch – 4
329. Ben Kweller – Cover The Mirrors
328. Blondshell – If You Asked For A Picture
327. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear Demos, etc.
326. Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird – Rosewater Crocodile
325. Tropical Fuck Storm – Fairyland Codex
324. Guided By Voices – Universe Room
323. La Dispute – No One Was Driving The Car
322. Leikeli47 – Lei Keli ft. 47 / For Promotional Use Only
321. Jessie Murph – Sex Hysteria
320. Jenny Hval – Iris Silver Mist
319. Minor Gold – Way To The Sun
318. Men I Trust – Equus Asinus
317. Robert Randolph – Preacher Kids
316. PinkPantheress – Fancy That
315. Loyle Carner – hopefully !
314. Snakeheads – BELCONNEN HIGHS
313. TWICE – ENEMY
312. Saya Gray – SAYA
311. The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers
310. These New South Whales – GODSPEED
309. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – Gift Songs
308. DARKSIDE – Nothing
307. Purelink – Faith
306. Moreish Idols – All In The Game
305. Jay Som – Belong
304. Sudan Archives – THE BPM
303. Yew – Chapter I: Observatio
302. HAERTS – Laguna Road
301. Tortoise – Touch
300. Field Monuments – Field Monuments
299. DJ Premier & Ransom – The Reinvention
298. Shlohmo – REPULSOR
297. The Valery Trails – Winter Palace
296. Room Full Of Pussy – Wrong Way To Love
295. Everything Is Recorded – Solstice Equinox
294. Kronos Quartet – Forgive Us For
293. Slowly Slowly – Forgiving Spree
292. Joanne Robertson – Blurrr
291. Worm Girlz – Worm Girlz
290. Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
289. Sarah Mary Chadwick – Take Me Out To A Bar / What Am I, Gatsby?
288. Melody’s Echo Chamber – Unclouded
287. bar italia – Some Like It Hot
286. Skrillex – F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3
285. Polish Club – Christmas Stinks!
284. Ruby Gill – Some Kind Of Control
283. Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles – Alan Sparhawk With Trampled By Turtles
282. Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light
281. The Wonder Years – Burst & Decay (Volume III)
280. Aminé – 13 Months Of Sunshine
279. sombr – I Barely Know Her
278. Cardi B – AM I THE DRAMA?
277. Cheekface – Middle Spoon
276. Duke Dumont – Union
275. Bliss N Eso – The Moon (The Dark Side)
274. Frankie And The Witch Fingers – Trash Classic
273. Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
272. L’Eclair – CLOUD DRIFTER
271. Joyner Lucas – ADHD 2
270. Margaret Glaspy – The Golden Heart Protector
269. Djrum – Under Tangled Silence
268. Motion City Soundtrack – The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World
267. Wet Leg – moisturizer
266. Bell Of Mimir – Nocturne
265. Touch Sensitive – In Paradise
264. Sports Team – Boys These Days
263. terraplana – natural
262. KETTAMA – Archangel
261. Richard Dawson – End Of The Middle
260. Juliana Hatfield – Lightning Might Strike
259. Richard Ashcroft – Lovin’ You
258. BANFF – Bleed Out
257. Jerskin Fendrix – Once Upon A Time… In Shropshire
256. McKinley Dixon – Magic, Alive!
255. Oklou – choke enough
254. The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie
253. SnarskiCircusLindyBand – What’s Said And What’s Left Unsaid
252. Mac DeMarco – Guitar
251. Charlie Collins – Nightwriter
250. Biffy Clyro – Futique
249. HAIM – I quit
248. Pulp – More
247. bbno$ – bbno$
246. Hand Habits – Blue Reminder
245. No Joy – Bugland
244. Tei Shi – Make believe I make believe
243. The Vasco Era – I Don’t Mind
242. Water From Your Eyes – It’s A Beautiful Place
241. U.e. – Hometown Girl
240. aya – hexed!
239. Matt Pryor – The Salton Sea
238. The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Dreams Of Being Dust
237. Tom Smith – There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light
236. HTRK – String Of Hearts (Songs Of HTRK)
235. Hudson Freeman – Is A Folk Artist
234. Pink Siifu – ONYX’!
233. Cleo Reed – Cuntry
232. Way Dynamic – Massive Shoe
231. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – X’s For Eyes
230. Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
229. Iron Mind – Test Of The Iron Mind
228. Lust For Youth & Croatian Amor – All Worlds
227. Rufus Wainwright With The Pacific Jazz Orchestra – I’m A Stranger Here Myself (Wainwright Does Weill)
226. Tash Sultana – Return To The Roots
225. Sigur Rós – Takk… (The Tape Variations)
224. Maria Somerville – Luster
223. Basia Bulat – Basia’s Palace
222. The Empty Threats – happy birthday
221. Holden & Zimpel – The Universe Will Take Care Of You
220. Laufey – A Matter Of Time
219. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk
218. Skunk Anansie – The Painful Truth
217. Noah Cyrus – I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME
216. Pool Kids – Easier Said Than Done
215. Zheani – LONG LIVE THE OLD DEAD GODS
214. Placement – Insect
213. LEISURE – Welcome To The Mood
212. Eiko Ishibashi – Antigone
211. Twelve Point Buck – Loud Music For Quiet People
210. Ashnikko – Smoochies
209. Public Enemy – Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025
208. Miles Kane – Sunlight In The Shadows
207. AVTT/PTTN – AVTT/PTTN
206. Sorry – COSPLAY
205. Anna Of The North – Girl In A Bottle
204. Spookey Ruben – Toronto, You’ve Changed
203. Shearling – Motherfucker, I Am Both: “Amen” And “Hallelujah”…
202. Sword II – Electric Hour
201. Good Flying Birds – Talulah’s Tape
200. Hoon – Speed And Fatigue
199. TEED – Always With Me
198. Nancy And The Jam Fancys – Swan Songs
197. Max Richter – Sleep Circle
196. Lily Allen – West End Girl
195. Lambrini Girls – Who Let The Dogs Out
194. Kele – The Singing Winds pt. 3
193. Ela Minus – DÍA
192. Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon
191. Sleigh Bells – Bunky Becky Birthday Boy
190. Alex G – Headlights
189. Cola Boyy – Quit To Play Chess
188. The Apartments – That’s What The Music Is For
187. Death In Vegas – Death Mask
186. Herbert & Momoko – Clay
185. Emma Swift – The Resurrection Game
184. Jens Lekman – Songs For Other People’s Weddings
183. Holy Holy – Sweet Bitter Sweet
182. Kae Tempest – Self Titled
181. Steve Gunn – Music For Writers
180. TVOD – Party Time
179. The Lemonheads – Love Chant
178. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – IC-02 Bogotá
177. Baker Boy – DJANDJAY
176. Sharp Pins – Balloon Balloon Balloon
175. Haunted Mouths – A Collection Of Greetings
174. Playlunch – Sex Ed
173. Rebecca Black – SALVATION
172. De La Soul – Cabin In The Sky
171. Deftones – private music
170. Viagra Boys – viagr aboys
169. Beth Seymour & The Lizzies – You Wouldn’t Like It Inside My Head
168. Divide And Dissolve – Insatiable
167. Greg Freeman – Burnover
166. Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
165. Pink Siifu – BLACK’!ANTIQUE
164. Anna B Savage – You & i are Earth
163. Mayaewk – VINTAGEISM
162. Um, Jennifer? – Um Comma Jennifer Question Mark
161. BIG SPECIAL – NATIONAL AVERAGE.
160. Chitra – You Can See It When It’s Dark
159. Dead Pioneers – PO$T AMERICAN
158. GoGo Penguin – Necessary Fictions
157. Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time
156. Star 99 – Gaman
155. Little Simz – Lotus
154. Sammy Virji – Same Day Cleaning
153. shame – Cutthroat
152. Surprise Chef – Superb
151. Momma – Welcome To My Blue Sky
150. Swans – Birthing
149. Soulwax – All Systems Are Lying
148. Davey Lane – Finally, A Party Record.
147. Suzi – Patchwork
146. Two Shell – IIcons
145. Alabaster DePlume – A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole
144. A Day To Remember – Big Ole Album Vol. 1
143. Bob Mould – Here We Go Crazy
142. Ministry – The Squirrely Years Revisited
141. Cartel – Chroma – 2025
140. Mobb Deep – Infinite
139. Bumpy – Kanana
138. Platonic Sex – Face To The Flywire
137. Nas & DJ Premier – Light-Years
136. Pigeon Pit – crazy arms
135. This Is Lorelei – Holo Boy
134. The Rions – Everything Every Single Day
133. Chasing Ghosts – Therapy
132. Marshall Allen – New Dawn
131. William Tyler – Time Indefinite
130. Jessie Monk – Mis O’ The Mountains
129. Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
128. Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense
127. The Hives – The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
126. Militarie Gun – God Save The Gun
125. The Cruel Sea – Straight Into The Sun
124. Nao – Jupiter
123. cootie catcher – Shy At First
122. Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
121. Clark – Steep Stims
120. Phoebe Rings – Aseurai
119. Snõõper – Worldwide
118. Nick Batterham – First Snow (Music For Piano And Strings)
117. The Armed – THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED
116. EsDeeKid – Rebel
115. caroline – caroline 2
114. Model/Actriz – Pirouette
113. Annie-Rose Maloney – Circle Walking
112. Youth Lagoon – Rarely Do I Dream
111. Princess Nokia – GIRLS
110. Glitterer – erer
109. 5 Seconds Of Summer – EVERYONE’S A STAR!
108. Ethanol Blend – Can’t Help But Wonder
107. Wednesday – Bleeds
106. lots of hands – into a pretty room
105. Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
104. Turnstile – NEVER ENOUGH
103. Various Artists – Heart Of Gold: The Songs Of Neil Young, Vol. 1
102. Cool Sounds – Party Punisher
101. Tres Leches – The Smooth Sounds Of Tres Leches, LHCC Mart Vol. 1
100. Other Joe – Flawless
99. Bleak Squad – Strange Love
98. The Necks – Disquiet
97. The Pro-Teens – MF TEEN: Your Concurrence In The Above Is Assumed
96. Mini Skirt – All That We Know
95. Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve
94. Tiny Vipers – Tormentor
93. Floodlights – Underneath
92. Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling
91. Home Front – Watch It Die
90. Sunscreen – Everything You Gave Me
89. Georgia Knight – Beanpole
88. Ball Park Music – Like Love
87. Paul Kelly – Seventy
86. Heartworms – Glutton For Punishment
85. Skeleten – Mentalized
84. Gigi Perez – At The Beach, In Every Life
83. Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe – Lateral
82. Nels Cline – Consentrik Quartet
81. AFI – Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…
80. Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – That Wasn’t A Dream
79. Sunbeam Sound Machine – Double Magic
78. Madi Diaz – Fatal Optimist
77. Seaside – Desiderata
76. WITCH – SOGOLO
75. Tame Impala – Deadbeat
74. ROSALÍA – LUX
73. Beth Seymour & The Lizzies – Outside, You’d Love Me To Death
72. Pete Murray – Longing
71. Beach Bunny – Tunnel Vision
70. Lawrence Hart – Come In Out Of The Rain
69. Adult Mom – Natural Causes
68. Audrey Hobert – Who’s The Clown?
67. billy woods – GOLLIWOG
66. Chaos In The CBD – A Deeper Life
65. For Those I Love – Carving The Stone
64. Shaki Tavi – Minor Slip
63. Baths – Gut
62. claire rousay – a little death
61. The Tubs – Cotton Crown
60. Kurralta Park – Powell Place
59. Arseless Chaps – Arseless Chaps
58. claire rousay & Gretchen Korsmo – quilted lament
57. Nadia Reid – Enter Now Brightness
56. Blonde Redhead – The Shadow Of The Guest
55. Loscil – Lake Fire
54. Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful
53. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Pogo Rodeo
52. Benefits – Constant Noise
51. Boggle – Boggle
50. Pan-American & Kramer – Interior Of An Edifice Under The Sea
49. Kesha – .
48. DITZ – Never Exhale
47. Superchunk – Songs In The Key Of Yikes
46. Whatever The Weather – Whatever The Weather II
45. Propagandhi – At Peace
44. Not Drowning, Waving – Malira
43. Kevin Atwater – Achilles
42. Los Thuthanaka – Los Thuthanaka
41. Born Ruffians – Beauty’s Pride
40. Laura Jane Grace – Adventure Club
39. Drop Nineteens – 1991
38. Shallowater – God’s Gonna Give You A Million Dollars
37. DOVS – Psychic Geography
36. The Orb – Buddhist Hipsters
35. Shady Nasty – TREK
34. Essendon Airport – MOR
33. DJ Koze – Music Can Hear Us
32. Sandy Dish – JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT MUSIC COULDN’T GET ANY BETTER
31. Petey USA – The Yips
30. Slick Rick – VICTORY
29. Alexander Biggs – Stay With The Horses
28. FaltyDL – Neurotica
27. NewDad – Altar
26. mclusky – the world is still here and so are we
25. The Mountain Goats – Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
24. Craig Finn – Always Been
23. Headache – Thank You For Almost Everything
22. Raccoon City – FUGUE
21. Laura Stevenson – Late Great
20. Long Fling – Long Fling
19. Cassandra Jenkins – My Light, My Massage Parlor
18. SOHN – Albadas (Dawn Songs)
17. Chiodos – All’s Well That Ends Well (20th Anniversary Edition)
16. Kieran Hebden & William Tyler – 41 Longfield Street Late ’80s
15. Mister Romantic – What’s Not To Love?
14. Our Carlson – OC Spray
13. Private Function – ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
12. Ben Frost – Under Certain Light And Atmospheric Conditions
11. Car Seat Headrest – The Scholars
10. Geese – Getting Killed
9. Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo – In The Earth Again
8. MUDRAT – SOCIAL COHESION
7. Lauren O’Connell – Everything Feels Quieter (Acoustic Sessions)
6. dust – Sky Is Falling
5. Paul Dempsey – Shotgun Karaoke Vol. II
4. Ethel Cain – Perverts
3. The Pretty Littles – Force
2. Pigeon Pit – Leash Aggression
1. Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
Firstly, major kudos to Ethel Cain for having two releases in my top five. To follow up her debut with the otherworldly ‘project’ that is Perverts and then hit us with Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You was just sublime. While the former is a visceral experience, the latter was heart-rending. I’m yet to listen to it without weeping.
I’ve become really adverse to exploring folk punk music in recent years, but Pigeon Pit’s Leash Aggression was phenomenal. It made me fall in love with the genre again, and capturing that early Mountain Goats sound was sublime.
The Pretty Littles’ Force was a majorly slept-on piece of Australian greatness this year, too. I get chills every time I listen to it, and can’t praise it enough.
Paul Dempsey is still the undisputed king of the cover album thanks to Shotgun Karaoke Vol. II, with some truly inspired choices and performances. I’ve also loved watching dust rise from their earliest days to releasing a truly stunning debut album this year by way of Sky Is Falling.
Lauren O’Connell remains an intoxicating artist to listen to, and their Everything Feels Quieter (Acoustic Sessions) record was just so gorgeous. I recommend that everyone experience this release.
I need to share a massive shout out to MUDRAT as well, who has given me such renewed hope for musicians using their platform to affect real change. And of course, I can’t go without repping OKC, with Chat Pile’s collab with Hayden Pedigo being such an unexpected breath of fresh air.
And wrapping my top ten, I admit that I still don’t get the hype behind Geese at all, but I’ll be damned if I can’t avoid enjoying Getting Killed.