We're halfway through 2025, and it's already been a standout year for new music. From long-awaited comebacks to unexpected curveballs, these are the records that have stuck with us, challenged us, and kept our speakers warm. Whether you're catching up or just curious what we’ve had on repeat, here are ten albums that defined the year so far.
(In no particular order)
Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling
Dacus continues her streak of emotionally resonant songwriting with a record that feels both intimate and expansive. It's thoughtful, layered, and quietly powerful.
Jensen McRae – I Don’t Know How But They Found Me
McRae’s latest blends folk, R&B, and sharp social commentary into a sound that’s all her own. It’s poetic, bold, and filled with moments that stop you in your tracks.
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Her most fully realized project yet—playful, polished, and unpredictable. PinkPantheress is still rewriting the rules of pop, and she’s doing it with style.
Playboi Carti – Music
Wild, chaotic, and strangely beautiful. This is Carti at his most experimental, pushing boundaries and refusing to play it safe. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s impossible to ignore.
FKA twigs – Eusexua
A surreal, genre-blurring journey that dives deep into vulnerability, identity, and desire. With inventive production and ghostly vocals, this album rewards close listening.
Stereolab – Instant Hologram On Metal Film
A welcome return from one of experimental pop’s finest. Hypnotic grooves, analog warmth, and cerebral charm—Stereolab still knows how to make timeless future music.
Kelela – In The Blue Light
This record is a masterclass in mood. It’s sleek, haunting, and emotionally raw, with Kelela confidently navigating the space between the club and the quiet.
Oklou – Choke Enough
Dreamlike and disorienting in the best way. Oklou blurs digital textures with raw emotion, creating a world that’s both fragile and immersive.
Lorde – Virgin
A sharp turn and a bold leap. Virgin is Lorde’s most experimental work to date, brimming with risk, reinvention, and some of her most striking lyrics yet.
Deafheaven – Lovely People With Power
Heavy, hypnotic, and emotionally charged. Deafheaven continues to evolve their sound with a record that feels both crushing and cathartic.
Addison Rae – Addison
What started as a curiosity has quickly become one of the year’s most replayed pop records. Addison leans into glossy Y2K aesthetics with full confidence, delivering hooks that are sharp, self-aware, and surprisingly sticky.
Car Seat Headrest – The Scholars
Will Toledo continues to evolve, this time with a record that feels more refined but no less raw. The Scholars explores disillusionment and identity with layered arrangements and a few moments of full-throttle catharsis.
Kali Uchis – Sincerely
A lush, bilingual journey through love, self-worth, and generational identity. Kali’s smooth vocals and genre-blending production make Sincerely one of the most emotionally resonant and sonically rich records of the year.
Lady Gaga – Mayhem
A triumphant return to the dancefloor, Mayhem is equal parts chaos and catharsis. Gaga embraces her theatrical side while layering in sharp commentary and club-ready beats—this is high-drama pop at its best.
Panda Bear – Sinister Gift
Dreamy, eerie, and deeply textured. Panda Bear taps into the uncanny on this record, creating a sonic landscape that’s as beautiful as it is unsettling. One of his most ambitious solo projects in years.
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Dark, cinematic, and deeply introspective. The Weeknd trades glossy pop for something more expansive and existential—like a late-night drive through a crumbling city.
Turnstile – Never Enough
A huge leap forward. Never Enough balances raw energy with unexpected melodic turns, pushing the boundaries of hardcore while still hitting like a freight train. It’s bold, dynamic, and built for movement.
Listen with us
We put together a playlist of our favorite tracks from these albums—perfect for long drives, late nights, or just getting lost in something new. Listen Here