Albums of the Year
Danny Neill’s 2025 selection celebrates a year of overwhelming musical depth, favouring passionate artistry over cold analytics. Eschewing traditional rankings, Neill highlights ten standout records—from the “mesmerising” folk-rock of Hannah Frances to Kathryn Williams’ most personal collection to date and the “outsider genius” of Richard Dawson to the pure vocals of Josienne Clarke. It serves as a vital compass for those seeking authentic, enduring sounds in an ever-crowded musical landscape.
It’s that time of year again: Our End-of-Year Album longlist is finally here. 100 meticulously selected top albums that shaped the year, covering a vast sonic landscape—from intimate folk and boundary-pushing jazz to the dense topography of ambient and experimental works. Dive in now, read the essential review highlights, and listen to the music that made 2025 unforgettable.
It’s that tough time of the year again, when music writers feel like they’re throwing some of their favourite artists under the bus by not including them in their annual Top 10. But here are the ten albums that made it. From Shabason, Krgovich, Tenniscoats’ feather-light pop to Milkweed’s eerie folk and Ben Lamar Gay’s thrilling jazz, 2025 delivered essential, fearless, and deeply distinctive records.
Glenn Kimpton looks back at the year and selects his Top Ten Albums of 2025. As he says, “This year really feels like a real banger in terms of fascinating and exciting album releases… I’m sure I say that every year, but that’s no bad thing. It was tricky choosing just ten, but each of the works…have really resonated.”