StarF's Top Ten Albums Of 2025
Let's get into it! A lot of great albums this year and narrowing it down to just ten was TOUGH. A real quick honorable mention goes to the album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams. It came out in early November but I didn't hear it for the first time until just a few days ago, and honestly if I had been listening to it when it originally came out it might have made the top ten. I even considered putting it in, but I couldn't bring myself to do it at this point.
As for the rest of the list... HERE IT IS!
10. The Mountain Goats - Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
The Mountain Goats are back with another album, and I am loving it! I've always enjoyed TMG but the amount that their albums individually connect with me can vary quite a bit. Personally this is the most I've enjoyed one of their albums since 2013's Beat The Champ, so it is a pretty high mark for me.
This concept album follows the story of a crew of 16 on a fishing boat that gets wrecked in a bad storm, following our survivors through their journey of survival. The first thing they learn is how strong they can be when they have to, and the next thing they learn is how cold it can get at night.
9. The Real Zebos - ZEBOHATER
The Real Zebos put out a lot of music this year, as it turns out. A tremendous amount with a punishing amount of style, actually. But amidst all the style they also put out this album proper, ZEBOHATER. Something about this album, even though it is brand new, really brings me back to the early 2000s. It gives me big We Are Scientists vibes, but with the Zebos own pop and rock sensibilities. I liked it when I first listened to it, and over the year the infectious nature of the tunes have only grown on me. I find myself with at least one of these songs stuck in my head all the time.
8. Anxiety Machine - dissociation music
I don't really know what to say about this except for that I love the vibes. Vibes all the time. Any time this year I needed to zone out, or just have something on in the background to hear something I was reaching for this album. I've always enjoyed Anxiety Machine for that sort of thing, but I think this album really nailed something with how the soundscapes are put together, and for that I have to acknowledge it in my top ten.
7. The Taxpayers - Circle Breaker
What an exciting entry for me!!! I've been a major fan of The Taxpayers for a little over 15 years at this point, and they haven't put out a full album release since 2016's Big Delusion Factory. When they announced this new album I was immediately locked in, and while it wasn't my favorite from them on my first listen it very quickly grew on me.
I also had the absolute pleasure to catch them on tour this year, which was the first time I was able to see them live, and their show was an absolute blast. Folk punk is alive and well in 2025, and Circle Breaker is a great album full of both cynicism and hope for the future.
6. Joey Valence & Brae - HYPERYOUTH
Holy hot damn, do you want to have some FUN?! JVB exploded onto the scene a few years ago and I've had a great time listening to them, but this new album really blew me away in the best way possible. I cannot tell you how much time I spent getting hyped up while listening to this album, whether it was just for enjoyment, while working out, or seeing them live as well which was probably the most hype show I've been to since before COVID.
JVB are bringing their high energy hip hop on this album that is loaded with amazing guest features, and they are proving that they are here to stay and that levity still has a place in music - even if a lot of stuff in the world is terrible nowadays.
5. Buck 65 - Keep Moving
What a whirlwind of emotion as I write this and find out this release has been removed from Spotify (as Buck 65 - I just learned - is removing all of his music from Spotify). Just a few weeks ago I learned from Spotify Wrapped that this was my most listened to album of the year, and for good reason, it rules! Buck 65 returned a few years ago after a hiatus from music and returned to a more classic hip hop style, and it's been amazing.
Keep Moving is a mixtape/album that is just a joy to put on and rock with. The lyrics are sharp, the breaks are clean, and the vibes are immaculate. You can still listen to this album online, and you absolutely should.
4. bbno$ - bbno$
Definitely the album on my list that least needs an introduction, bbno$ is literally everywhere these days. It's gotten to the point that no matter what media I'm consuming I assume there's at least a chance that bbno$ might show up.
While he's been consistently dropping bangers for years now, bbno$ has really outdone himself on his new self-titled album. This truly does feel like a defining project and his best to date, and I've been bumping it consistently ever since it came out. While I'm surprised and confused that some of the singles didn't make it to the album (I'm looking at you, antidepressents), it doesn't stop this nearly an hour long album from being an absolute powerhouse of catchy jams.
3. Viagra Boys - viagr aboys
This album absolutely steamrolled me the first time I heard it. I've been aware of Viagra Boys for years now, and while I've enjoyed some of their previously releases they never really clicked for me in a way that made me go "I love this band." So when I heard they put out a somewhat self titled album this year, I didn't check it out right away.
Months later I finally put it on and I was immediately hooked on the first listen. I don't know what it is about this album versus their previous work, but this one caught my attention in a whole new way. Every single track on this thing is catchy, weird, rocking, and bizarre. I love how crazy this band is, and I love listening to this album.
2. Aesop Rock - Black Hole Superette
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Aesop Rock nearly tops my list here. I thought that 2016's The Impossible Kid was going to be a high water mark that couldn't be topped, but Aes keeps proving over and over again that there is plenty of gas left in his creative tank. This isn't even the only full album that he put out this year! So shout out to I Heard It's A Mess There Too, which is also a great album - but not nearly as good as Black Hole Superette in my opinion.
This album features another collection of cryptic lyrics on top of bumping funky beats, some songs that are straightforward and some that will keep you digging into the lyrics to figure out just what Aes is trying to convey. You'll learn new facts about the world, you'll learn new facts about Aes, you'll have a great time visiting the corner shop that you cannot simply leave.
1. DURRY - This Movie Sucks
DURRY is truly something special, and I'm stoked to be on the ground floor of such an amazing band as they break out. I remember hearing their first big viral hit a few years ago on Tiktok, Who's Laughing Now, and immediately thinking this was a band to keep an eye on.
This year they proved that I was right by putting out their sophomore album, This Movie Sucks, which is a triumph of rock. Twelve songs that are immediate ear worms, oozing with personality, and as relevant as they will be timeless. This movie may suck, but this album certainly does not. If you do check it out please also check out their music videos, as DURRY is putting in the work to make music videos that are incredibly fun to watch - probably the best band to do it since PUP started putting out their music videos.













