E-Paper
From Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl to Rosalía's Lux: 15 albums of 2025 that redefined music of the year
From record-breaking albums like The Life of a Showgirl to genre-defying works by FKA Twigs and Lady Gaga, see best albums of 2025.
In 2025, music was anything but predictable. Artists pushed boundaries, experimented with new sounds, and told stories that were bigger, bolder, and more personal than ever. From chart-topping icons to innovative newcomers, the year showcased a fearless approach to creativity.
Also Read: From Adolescence to Pluribus: Top 10 TV shows of 2025 that redefined the small screen
Top 15 albums of 2025
The following list highlights some of the breakout stars of 2025, in no particular order, according to Rolling Stone.
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl
The Life of a Showgirl has made history with the biggest debut of the modern era (1991-present), breaking records for both single-week sales and total album-equivalent units on the charts dated October 18. Impressively, all 12 tracks from the album have landed in the top 12 of the Billboard Hot 100, as reported by Billboard.
Earl Sweatshirt: Live Laugh Love
Live Laugh Love showcases a style of rap that favors clarity and precision over maximalism, highlighting pristine, unadorned lyrical craftsmanship.
Sabrina Carpenter: Man’s Best Friend
Sabrina Carpenter's seventh album showcases her signature innuendo-laden wit, leaning into the updated '70s pastiche that fueled the success of earlier hits like Espresso and Taste.
Addison Rae: Addison
Addison Rae's self-titled debut is a vibrant and inventive pop album, designed for fans of the genre. Drawing inspiration from Madonna and Britney Spears, the record is crafted to get listeners moving and keep the energy high, as per Rolling Stone.
FKA Twigs: EUSEXUA
On EUSEXUA, FKA Twigs pushes into the heart of the club world, fusing techno, house, and harsh industrial sounds. She calls the resulting soundscape “so euphoric” that it lets listeners “transcend human form," as reported by Rolling Stone.
Playboi Carti: Music
Playboi Carti's new album, Music, spans a massive 30 tracks and features production from eavywweights like Cardo, F1lthy, Kanye West, and DJ from Atlanta legend DJ Swamp Izzo. It also includes features from Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and notably Kendrick Lamar. The album marks a major statement in Carti's career.
Hayley Williams: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
Hayley Williams surprise-released Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party this summer, initially sharing the collection on her website through a retro -style web player. The album draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, from Phoenix to TLC, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Wednesday: Bleeds
Bleeds retains the North Carolina band's signature fuzzy, feral shoegaze sound, while also exploring new textures, from the soaring creek-rock energy of Wound Up Here (By Holding On) to the sweet, melodic balladry of Elderberry Wine.
Tyler Childers: Snipe Hunter
Tyler Childers has spent a decade championing his distinctive Kentucky gospel, and his Rick Rubin-produced album Snipe Hunter pushes his boundary-pushing style even further. Highlights include the cheeky riff about koala STDs on Down Under and Hare Krishna chants that open the Scottish folk-inspired ballad Tom Cat and a Dandy.
Clipse: Let God Sort Em Out
Packed with sharp disses, high-profile guest appearances, inspired Pharrell production, and standout bars that range from icy to laugh-out-loud funny, the duo's first album since 2009 proves to be far more than the drama surrounding it, as per The Guardian.
Geese: Getting Killed
With their strikingly original third album, Geese dismantle rock music and piece it back together in thrilling new ways. The record moves effortlessly from the warped soft-rock sway of Cobra to the hclattering, hymn-like glow of Taxes and teh gut-punch boogie of Bow Down, as per Rolling Stone.
Dijon: Baby
According to the outlet, Baby is best described as experimental, yet Dijon also found room to lean into a more traditional R&B.
Rosalía: Lux
Recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and featuring multiple arrangements by Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw, the project stands as a radical, rebellious operatic opus unlike anything else in the pop landscape, according to the BBC.
Lady Gaga: Mayhem
OnMayhem, Lady Gaga delivers one of the most sonically ambitious and wide-ranging albums of her career, blending the influence of Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Prince, and her own Fame Monster-era instincts. The results are a daring project that stands as the strongest pop album of the year.
Bad Bunny: Debí Tirar Más Fotos
On his sixth album, Bad Bunny returns home, guiding listeners through 17 tracks that reflect the breadth and vibrancy of Puerto Rico’s musical traditions, as per Rolling Stone.
