Since the end of 2024, people were talking about how hard 2025 was going to be, and for music releases, too. Everyone released in 2024, and even if the big name releases didn’t necessarily make it to my year end list, my general 2025 playlist is at the length of my other year end playlists by the time I get into the semifinals. I have also been making best ofs for long enough where clusters of musicians who made it one year all release on the same cycle, making the even end lists looking repetitive. This year, some people also released back to back, giving them an edge through familiarity (Fair or not) in a rebuilding year. Also, I am now aware that I like to look for albums based on winners from previous years.
It’s funny because a bad season for a reality show can be just entirely terrible, or a bad season of Saturday Night Live can be an interesting experiment of 90 different bad things going on at once (Chemistry! Tone! Sets! Social context!) for an entire television season. And while there can be entirely bad, unredeemable albums in a year end playlist, a weak year for music usually means you have to look harder for music, not skip entirely. Or like this year, the more you listen to music, the less of an impression it can leave on you.
Total Sellout -Jae Stephens- I’ll be honest. I was an OG Jae Stephens fan, but her EP roll out situation sort of confused me. However, the payoff (AKA not checking out the songs as to have more songs to listen to come album release time) was worth it. A great set of breezy ‘00’s R&B inspired songs. Him&Him&Him, SMH, 10/10, Kiss It, WET, Choosy.
Sister - Frost Children - I didn’t totally get them with their dual projects in 2023, but who knew that one could be ahead of the time with a throwback sound? Electro flash so cathartic you’ll feel like you are sweating in a polo at the dance of the 8th grade overnight field trip, before the come down that you and your friends are all growing up sinks in. For people who are still mouthing along to Forget Forever by Selena Gomez. What is Forever For, 2 LØVE, Radio, Ralph Lauren, Don't Make Me Cry.
West End Girl - Lily Allen - For favorite musicians, I have a couple firsts- First time I felt encouraged to ask to buy a CD- Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson. First band/ gateway for the rest of my music taste- No Doubt. First legacy fave (Symptoms include Weaponized Stan Identity, Call to Action, Impact can be found in more dignified settings like Academia or Legit lists like the 1001 Albums book, Random pop culture references)- Janet Jackson. But the first musician who I felt scene by? Lily Allen. Her wry observations about life (That were both deep but also written in very clear rhyme schemes) and equal tendency to punch up at targets like capitalism or politicians, or sideways at friends, family, and exes in her songs, and other celebrities in interviews was very relatable in middle school. Everyone wants to say that the musician that they see themselves in the most is someone innovative and talented, like Prince or the Beatles. However, Lily Allen’s signature move of talking trash about everyone around her (In her music and interviews) and losing any points she had was more true to my life than accidentally creating a new genre of music or being able to play every instrument on an album. Unfortunately, Lily became that elementary school friend who movies away, and you only keep up with through her vaguebooking statuses on Facebook. Last I heard of her, she was working on a country album. Instead, we got this album with no boundaries, emotionally or musically. Lily is able to go through the chaos of her separation and divorce with Ruminiating and Relapsing, and make me feel the dire dreariness in songs like Pussy Palace and Just Enough. Elsewhere, her trademark wit and storytelling come back for 4 chan stan, West End Girl, and Madeline.
Man’s Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter - Everyone else (aka my corner of the Internet) wanted her to change up her sound already, but her soft rock inspired pop rock is still interesting enough for me. Sabrina is able to go from cheeky and humorous Manchild and Never Getting Laid to the vulnerable We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night and Don't Worry I'll Make you Worry. Also check out Nobody’s Son and Goodbye.
She Comes From Nowhere - Neggy Gemmy - Most improved is a little harsh, but Neggy Gemmy shot up massively with this set of Saint Etienne esque chillwave. Perfect for a Spring day, pretending your life is soundtracked by the Love Story: JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette soundtrack. I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, Mysterious Girl, Who Wanted, Doll, Blue Eye See Through.
The BPM- Sudan Archives- I didn’t give 2022’s Natural Brown Prom Queen enough of a shot, but I hope that I can make up for it with the BPM. On the BPM, Sudan Archives continues her quest of world domination, starting with the dance clubs. Anthemic and aspirational A Bug’s Life and My Type, celebratory Noire and futuristic David and Goliath.
Louder, Please! - Rose Gray - I wasn’t sure how much I would like the album, if only because my corners of the Internet are more enthusiastic about poptimist dance pop than I am (Think Georgia from 2020, Future Nostalgia, SG Lewis, even Jessie Ware’s last two albums). But Rose Gray is here to reclaim dance albums with beach covers from the Ibiza compilation industrial complex. The opener Damn shows that this album won’t just be a David Guetta compilation pack, with its cold beats and abstract lyrics, and First is similarly attention grabby and dark. Free is a song I would imagine from the cover, but it actually feels earned. I thought I had my doctor recommended serving of tropical house already, but the chorus makes me sigh and want to be celebrating on a beach in golden hour. Everything Changes (But I Won’t) is another highlight.
It’s Not that Deep - Demi Lovato- I feel bad for liking this era as much as I do because of ‘She’s All That’ Syndrome. Before, I checked out of following Demi Lovato when Scooter Braun became their manager, because the headlines were outpacing the music more than I enjoyed. I checked out so much, in fact, that I only learned about this era from a Vevo Channel playing the lead single. (On a related note, Still Alive from the Scream soundtrack slaps) This album is (obviously) fun, short, and catchy. I know what I just said about mall pop-esque dance pop, but there is enough balance between the quirkier music like Fast, Kiss, and Frequency, and the more regular songs where songs like Sorry to Myself or Before I Knew You can stand out. I also like Here All Night and In My Head.
Liquorice - Hatchie . After the more baggy detour on Giving the World Away, Hatchie returns to her dream pop sound. Reminds me of Lush and the Cocteau Twins (More of their 80s stuff than Heaven or Las Vegas). Reminds me of the Fireside Vanilla Spice flavor from Celestial Seasonings. Carousel, Lose it Again, Part that Bleeds, Only One Laughing.
Total Freedom- Cowgirl Clue - Somewhat the afterparty to 2023’s Rodeo Star, this album continues the vibe of dark, idiosyncratic dance music. When High Tide has that one breakdown, it feels like my third eye opening or I am hitting a note streak in Guitar Hero (Disclaimer- I never played Guitar Hero). TNT, Cruise Control, Left Unsaid.
Hyperyouth by Valence and Brae- More hypemen music to get your amped up for your mornings, your nights, and every moment in between. A little less variety than their previous album, but still good. Bust Down and See You Dance are two different good looks at ‘00’s sound (Pharell and late 2000’s electropop, respectively) and Wassup and The Party Song will get you up like an energy drink. Is This Love is also a bop.
Never Enough- Turnstile - a lot of people have written about them more, but I just like it as rock music. Light Design, Never Enough, Magic Man, Slow Dive, Seeing Stars.
The Penthouse - Michael Medrano - Loud, tacky, brash, not at all subtle, even for the limited people who would understand what this album is going for, and all the better for it. Tom Hardy and Hollywood are highlights, and the entirely shady Sylvia.
Bleed - Bleed - Great numetal. Also, if I was giving out awards for cover of the year, this one feels like a contender, reminding me of the full page video game ads I see whenever I browse Spin Magazine on Google Books. Climbing Down, Shallow, Killing Time, and Marathon.
Rave Immortal - ALT BLK ERA - Edgy in your face alternative rock meets drum and bass. Crashing Parties and My Drummer’s Girlfriend are great introductions to their sound, and Hunt You Down has a more late 2000’s eletropop feel.
Euro-Country - CMAT - Fitting that my favorite country album from 2025 came from outside the United States. CMAT has a witty and relatable way of writing about more banal everyday topics, like begging yourself to stop irrationally disliking people in The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station, feeling the blahs of your life in Coronation St, and balancing them with weightier topics like national identity in Euro- Country, or grieving friends who have died in Lord, Let That Tesla Crash. Also has one of my favorite songs of the year in Janis Joplining, which has a great piano introduction and is a great song about the act of having crushes.
Bunky Becky Birthday Boy- Sleigh Bells - My first introduction to Sleigh Bells was a Tumblr friend saying he used to listen to them in the mornings on the way to school to wake up. Ironically, from the albums I know of them, I know their 2020’s projects the most instead of their landmark debut. I’ve seen people say they peaked with their first album or have been watered down, and while I am not the judge of that, I think about that when I enjoy their music. Do I understand it as noise pop? I don’t know. Is it catchy, energetic, attention grabby pop rock that is loud enough to stay with me? Yes. Alexis Krauss’s voice soars above the already loud guitars, and I like the energy and passion she sings with. She has a pleading style that gives the songs urgency. Life Was Real, Can I Scream, This Summer.
. Kesha- I have come to realize I underrate Kesha. Since I started making best of lists in 2014, Kesha caught my attention with three of her four albums (I thought I had Rainbow on my best of in 2017, but oops, I did not. Fortunately for Kesha, it made it to my 2017 best of list by popular memory. 2020’s High Road I am choosing to forget), even if I think her albums are a little more songs put together instead of a coherent piece, or that she would not necessarily have luck in a album rate. With this album, Kesha returned to lighter dance pop with no problem. Joyride. was a great lead single that will stick in your head whether you want it to or not. Elsewhere, Kesha was able to blend both ‘cheesier’ types of music you would call a guilty pleasure, like Yippee-Ki-Yay. (Check out the AG Cook remix) Or Love Forever., with cooler, more futuristic explorations in dance music, like Red Flag., Attention., or Boy Crazy.
Ghostholding - Venturing - This is probably the worst review I’ve written. In 2023, I wasn’t sure if I should have included Census Designated by Jane Remover (This band is a side project of Jane’s, in case you didn’t know) in my bests ofs. At first, I thought it was too long, samey, and depressing. But the longer I listened to my best of playlist, the more I appreciated it for being too long, samey, and depressing. The menacing nature was perfect for doomscrolling when I would try to read the newspaper while feeling nauseous or having a headache in the dark, too lazy to turn the lights on, and the house on the cover that reminds me of the house from Courage the Cowardly Dog felt like a home. Unfortunately, it was a very competitive year, and I ultimately chose other albums. Anyway, this year has more room, and this Jane Remover side project went for a slightly more conventional, less post-rock. What a difference a year makes! We Don’t Exist and Famous Girl.
Through the Wall - Rochelle Jordan - A slightly more dance version of 2021’s Play with the Changes. Ladida.
Private music- Deftones - A good alternative metal album that came out the year after I got reacquainted to White Pony. i think about you all the time and my mind is a mountain.
Girls- Princess Nokia- It feels mean to call her projects side quests, but I’m not sure when the last time she was trying to go for mainstream/critical success was. After 1992 Deluxe, it feels like her projects could be described as just for her or pastiches. Anyway, Girls feels like a return to form for Princess Nokia, with the weightiest three songs in a row from her with Blue Velvet, Medusa, and Period Blood (Just ignore a certain reference in Blue Velvet). Elsewhere, she goes back to her underrated ability of setting the scene with pop culture references in Drop Dead Gorgeous, Gossip Girl, and Phoebe Philo.
Don't Tap the Glass - Tyler the Creator- I don’t keep up with Tyler the Creator Like That™ to know what his fans thought of this album, but I enjoy the dance sounds. My only issue is that it is too short, and sort of ends before it begins. Sugar on My Tongue, Ring Ring Ring, Don’t You Worry Baby.
Flop Queen - Precious - A misleading album name, this album is anything but a flop, providing a more breathier, ASMRy version of 2000’s R&B. Tweaking, Don’t Hate the Girls, Whip It.
From the Pyre - The Last Dinner Party - Grand. Theatrical. Dramatic. The Last Dinner Party picks up where they left off with their debut last year. Inferno, This is the Killer Speaking, The Scythe.
favourite 2024 albums → THE GREAT IMPERSONATOR by Halsey
"I hope once you listen you will find that behind this theatrical facade is a record I made in a time of grave existential bewilderment. The album is sad, this is true. It's frenzied and calm all at once somehow. To have it in the world with the knowledge of all that I learned while I was making it, is a profound feeling."
turns out the woman that replaced a housewife after sending her to prison by being an informant in her trial also used to secretly run an instagram fan account that had been terrorizing her cast mates for four years
2087
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