The 15 best albums of 2025, according to Metacritic
Table of Contents
- LUX – Rosalía
- DeBí Take More Photos – Bad Bunny
- Baby – Dijon
- Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams
- Glutton for Punishment – Heartworms
- Private Music – Deftones
- Sad And Beautiful World – Mavis Staples
- Constant Noise – Benefits
- Glory – Perfume Genius
- Dove Ellis – Blizzard
- LSD – Cardiacs
- Getting Killed – Geese
- The Passionate Ones – Nourish By Time
- Antidepressants – Suede
- New Threats From The Soul – Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band
Music fans can't complain about this year's releases. From alternative rock to... reggaeton, artists like Hayley Williams, Rosalía e Bad Bunny They made their mark by releasing the best albums of 2025, pleasing both the public and specialized critics. Every year, the Metacritic We've compiled a list of the highest-rated albums; see below for the best albums of the year:
LUX – Rosalía
Rosalía shook things up with her album LUX. The Spanish singer performs 12 tracks dedicated to saints from various religions, drawing attention even from those unfamiliar with her previous work.
With a score of 97 out of 100 from critics, LUX is on Metacritic's list of best albums of the year and has everything it takes to be among the best albums at the 2027 Grammy Awards. Until then, take some time to appreciate the words of the best album of the year.
In fact, you don't need to know what's going on to find LUX a truly immersive and captivating experience. The songs are uniformly beautiful, full of memorable moments.
Alex Petridis for The Guardian in a review for Lux (100/100).
DeBí Take More Photos – Bad Bunny
Another album that also needs no introduction is that of Bad BunnyReleased on January 05, 2025, the work, entirely in Spanish, also served as a political act amid Donald Trump's sanctions against foreigners in the US and around the world. DeBí Tirar Más FOToS it was also most streamed album of the year on Spotify, And Bad Bunny return to the position of most listened-to artist on the green platform in 2025, registering 19,8 billion reproductions in their catalog.
As Bad Bunny confidently navigates between a whirlwind of rumba rhythms and the strident sound of reggaeton, it's as if he's reached a new peak of greatness atop the mountains of Puerto Rico. In Nadie Sabe, he claimed to be at his peak. Now, in Debí Tirar Más Fotos, it's clear he finally is.
Maya Georgi's review for Rolling Stone (100/100).
DeBí Take More PHOTOS on Spotify
Baby – Dijon
In his second studio album, American rapper Dijon collaborated with artists such as BJ Burton, Henry Kwapis, Tommy King, Tobias Jesso Jr., Mk.gee, and Andrew Sarlo. The work was acclaimed for its visceral lyrics on themes such as sex, family, lasting love, insecurities, work, and the uncertainties of adult life, all in a blend of jazz, funk, R&B, and rap.
Toddler It is undeniably made in a way that surprisingly emphasizes its own creative process. That's what makes it all so real.
Ivy Nelson's review of Baby on Pitchfork gave it a 90/100..
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams
Another name on the list of best albums of the year that needs little introduction. The Paramore vocalist appeared online with a project that seemed different at first glance: instead of putting the songs on Spotify, Hayley williams He chose to release the songs from his new album on his official website so that everyone could listen to them in whatever order they preferred. After that, the work reached music platforms and gained prominence in specialized reviews.
A musical catharsis of traumatic patterns, depression, love, loss, and, of course, ego, the wit and honesty of Hayley's lyrics are the highlight of this work. It's an unlimited exploration of a life lived under the scrutiny of misogyny and in the spotlight, from the perspective of one of the most creative and fearless artists of our time.
Ali Shutler's review for NME (100/100).
In addition to insecurities and phases of her previous relationship, Hayley also sings about challenges amidst a new chapter in her life, now that... Paramore It's completely independent. The work is the fourth best album of 2025.
Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party on Spotify
Glutton for Punishment – Heartworms
First studio album by the English band Heartworms, Glutton for Punishment This album arrives as an essential listen for anyone who appreciates alternative rock. Led by English-born singer-songwriter Jojo Orme, the album has been praised for its unique production, showing that the band is here to stay and deserves even more recognition.
There's a fascination in the way these elements intertwine, and it's possible to perceive the diverse musical influences at work, creating a unique and well-crafted album.
The Quietus analyzing Glutton for Punishment.
Glutton for Punishment on Spotify
Private Music – Deftones
private music This is the tenth album of Deftones And the first in five years, as well as being the first with the bassist. Fred SablanThe work has been described as one of the best of the decade and features production by Nick Raskulincz, who had already produced other albums for the band in the past. The private music He was also praised for successfully balancing the brutality of alternative metal with the ethereal atmosphere of the genre. shoegaze.
Even within the context of one of the most consistent and valuable catalogs in modern rock, Private Music stands at the highest level, an album that surpasses the limitations of its predecessor.
Kerrang Magazine on private music (100/100).
Sad And Beautiful World – Mavis Staples
The album of covers and interpretations Mavis Staples's new album arrives with songs that acknowledge the sadness of the modern world without losing faith in humanity. The idea is to maintain Mavis Staples's originality, with production by Brad Cook (known for working with Bon Iver and Waxahatchee), and focuses on avoiding effects that alter Staples's deeper voice.
The contributions may be stellar, but they revolve around her. She tried to retire in 2023, but felt she still had so much to offer. And what a gift this is. Mavis Staples is 86 years old.
At The Barrier on Mavi Staples' album.
Sad And Beautiful World on Spotify
Constant Noise – Benefits
The album Constant Noise, the second of the pair Benefits (Kingsley Hall and Robbie Major), is praised for innovating in post-punk by mixing the genre with elements of ambient, electro-rock, metal and krautrock, serving as a basis for spoken vocals (spoken word) filled with anger and social criticism.
Described as a dense, disturbing, and even more furious work than the band's debut, the album addresses themes such as mental exhaustion and the toxicity of social media, praising its ability to be a relentless and honest "sonic storm" that makes no commercial concessions but rewards those who seek intense and visceral music.
With this album, they created something that remains powerful, vital, and provocative, yet balanced between fury and subtlety. Constant Noise is more immersive, mesmerizing, and at times, beautiful in its restrained rage.
The Line of Best Fit
Glory – Perfume Genius
Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, Perfume Genius' fifth studio album has been praised by critics for its more cautious optimism, despite its denser lyrics. The band's vocalist sings about the anxieties of modern life, confronting his own fears and what he expects from a post-pandemic future.
“I was trying to confront a lot of that — how to get involved, how to be present in my relationships, in the world, how to be a part of things, even while being afraid?”
Mike Hadreas, lead singer of Perfume Genius, in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Recorded between London and Liverpool and self-produced by Dove Ellis himself, Blizzard It was born from a personal period of difficulty and hope for the Irish composer, taking shape while he was opening for the band Geese on tour.
Released on December 05th, 2025, the album was celebrated as a glorious debut that justifies all the hype. hyping by mixing textures of sophisti-pop and folk with a visceral vocal performance often compared to legends like Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright.
The Guardian review of Dove Ellis's Blizzard (100/100).At times, the fingerpicking and chords of the guitars, the characteristic rock piano of the 70s, the wind instruments and the strident percussion are interspersed with random noises and distortion, but somehow everything seems to have fit together perfectly in this glorious debut.
LSD – Cardiacs
The album LSD It carries a history marked by tragedy and perseverance, having finally been released in September 2025 after almost two decades of waiting. Originally planned for 2008, the project was indefinitely suspended when the band's leader, Tim Smith, suffered a heart attack that left him paralyzed, culminating in his death in 2020.
The album was completed posthumously by the remaining members and close collaborators, who rigorously followed the guidelines and compositions left by Smith. Critics hailed the release as a "triumphant conclusion" and a final masterpiece, praising how the album preserves the chaotic complexity and "pronk" (progressive punk) spirit of the band, serving as a moving and vital tribute to the legacy of its creator.
In short, LSD is a moving celebration of nearly fifty years of music and a memorable farewell to a true industry pioneer. … Without a doubt, it has become one of the best releases of 2025.
SputnikMusic on LSD (100/100).
Getting Killed – Geese
The album Getting Killed from the band geeseReleased on September 26, 2025, it was acclaimed as one of the year's highlights, solidifying the New York group's evolution towards an even more ambitious and unpredictable sound. Produced with the help of Kenny Beats, the album moves away from the obvious retro references of the previous work (3D Country) to embrace a controlled chaos that blends art-rock, post-punk, and experimentalism.
Critics widely praised the band's ability to combine surreal and apocalyptic lyrics—ranging from car bombs to biting social commentary—with sophisticated melodies and intense instrumental performances. Described as an "anxious and beautiful" soundtrack for absurd times, the album balances moments of frenzy, reaffirming Geese as one of the most vital and creative bands of their generation.
This is a band that lives up to its reputation for being incredibly free and laid-back, not so much by proving it deserves all the praise and fervent fanaticism that surrounds it, but by demanding it.
NME about the album Gettling Kiled.
The Passionate Ones – Nourish By Time
Second album from the musician whose real name is Marcus Brown, The Passionate Ones It was considered the 13th best album of 2025. Critics highlight the synthesizers while still retaining the characteristics of their first album. Erotic Probiotic 2, as described by Paste Magazine: “a range of anger and romance that drive its composition.”
Even though the essential musical elements that made Erotic Probiotic 2 or last year's Catching Chickens EP such impressive and homegrown projects are still present, The Passionate Ones simply expands the scope of those releases to encompass the full range of anger and romance that drive his songwriting — and he makes that leap masterfully.
Paste Magazine review of The Passionate Ones (92/100).
The collaboration with rapper Tony Bontana was a major highlight of the album, and the compositions on emotional and social decay, as well as consumerism, were also pointed out by critics as high points of the record.
The Passionate Ones on Spotify
Antidepressants – Suede
The second volume in a trilogy of albums with a black and white aesthetic from the band The London Suede (the first is called Autofiction). antidepressants It was defined by the musicians as a post-punk and gothic rock album. With an average score of 89 out of 100, the work was praised as a "career great".
Each of its 11 tracks flows with an immediacy that gives the feeling of being separate parts of a similar narrative. … Antidepressants seems to be an album that Suede has been longing to make for years, maybe even decades.
Under The Radar review of Antidepressants.
The third album in the trilogy, still untitled, has been described by Brett Anderson, the band's vocalist, as more experimental, with a projected release in 2026. Meanwhile, the band has garnered critical acclaim for addressing themes such as death and disconnection in the modern age.
New Threats From The Soul – Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band
Rounding out the list of best albums of the year, the New Threats From The Soul It's an album with songs that exceed 11 minutes in length, but even that didn't stop it from being well-received by critics. The group's second studio album, the work stood out for its interesting compositions that establish Ryan Davis as "one of the best musicians of his generation".
It's interesting to note that the album only has seven tracks, but it's almost an hour long. The album is the duo's second, following... Dancing on the Edge After 2 years. The group was also characterized as a select group of artists who are deepening, expanding, and revitalizing the Americana genre.
New Threats From The Soul on Spotify
And for you, what's the best album of the year? Did your favorite singer appear on the list above? Tell us in the comments! Comment!
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With information: Metacritic
reviewed by Luis Antonio Costa in 10 / 12 / 2025
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