My Top Albums for the First Half of 2025
There’s been some amazing releases this year, everything from new work by old favourites, to relatively fresh new faces giving us some new jams. Below is a recap of my top albums this year, by month.
JUNE
“This Movie Sucks” - Durry
Released June 27, 2025 through Big Pip.
File under: alternative rock
Brother-sister duo Durry (Austin and Taryn Durry) release their second full length record This Movie Sucks, an alternative-pop-rock album full of singable anthemic tracks, joyful melodies and angsty lyrics. A follow up to their debut album Suburban Legend, which gained some traction with the single Who’s Laughing Now, an autobiographical song about life during the pandemic lockdowns of the early 2020s.
In the vein of Jeff Rosenstock, PUP, Fallout Boy and Paramore, This Movie Sucks is a really fun and upbeat take on angst and nostalgia, where the real winner is the listener. 12 songs over 36 minutes means there’s no time to get bored, and the only downside is it’s over before you know it.
Listen to “This Movie Sucks” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Metallic Life Review” - Matmos
Released June 20, 2025 through Thrill Jockey.
File under: alternative instrumental
Metallic Life Review is the 15th studio album by Baltimore-based duo Matmos (Drew Daniel and M.C. Schmidt). Known for their experimental soundscapes, syncopated rhythms, and obscure sampling, this album is no different in that aspect. (Their previous 2023 album Return to Archive was created entirely from samples from the Smithsonian archives sound collection). What sets it apart from previous work is that every sound in this album, from the shorter initial 5 tracks to the 20 minute title track, is created using metallic objects, creating a world where a creak of a gate becomes a saxophone replacement, or where a tin glockenspiel becomes the entire melody. Culminating in the 20 minute title track, replete with bells, tin pots, gongs and tubular bells, one is transported through the wardrobe to another place entirely.
At times reminiscent of Autechre’s Tri Repetae, and Aphex Twin’s Bucephalus Bouncing Ball, at other times harkening to the original score for David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, Metallic Life Review is like a journey through the back rooms of an antique store, where each object has a story to tell through sound. Yet again, Matmos have defied the pigeonholing of genre, creating something entirely their own.
Listen to “Metallic Life Review” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Necessary Fictions” - Gogo Penguin
Released June 20, 2025 through XXIM.
File under: electronic jazz/instrumental
Fancy some jazz that tastes like electronica? Well look no further than Manchester trio Gogo Penguin’s seventh studio album Necessary Fictions. Metronomic drum beats, suave keys, and jazzy bass lines, occasional gentle vocals and driving beats, this surely is an album with some chops.
An obviously crafted personal project, Gogo Penguin have given a glimpse into some of the forces and influences that drive their music. Of Necessary Fictions their label XXIM Records says: “The record represents a deep dive into identity, authenticity, and transformation.” This is another genre defying album, where experimental electronica sounds brush up against live instrumentation, creating a lush album of varied and emotive sonic journeys.
Listen to “Necessary Fictions” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“The Universe Will Take Care of You” - James Holden & Wacław Zimpel
Released June 13, 2025 through Border Community.
File under: electronic
The Universe Will Take Care of You is the debut collaborative album by British electronic innovator James Holden and Polish multi-instrumentalist Wacław Zimpel, released on June 13, 2025, via Border Community. This six-track collection is a deeply immersive journey through improvisational soundscapes, blending modular synths, clarinet, and an array of unconventional instruments.
Described as "blissfully escapist," the album invites listeners into a world where improvisation and experimentation lead to transcendent musical moments. It's a testament to the duo's ability to merge their distinct musical backgrounds into a cohesive and emotive experience.
Listen to “The Universe Will Take Care of You” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
MAY
“caroline 2” - caroline
Released May 30, 2025 through Rough Trade.
File under: post-rock
On first listen, this album left me speechless. A pastiche of cacophonous sounds, guitars and horns and stings, interspersed with irregular time signatures, floating vocals with choral overtones, distorted and random production, but all punctuated with intent. Overwhelmingly large sounds, and yet somehow intimate.
“caroline 2” is the second full length album by English 8 piece band caroline, a follow-up to their self titled 2022 album, this builds on their already eclectic post-rock sounds, and adds to the journey we embarked on with them 3 years prior. Chanelling the spirits of The Velvet Underground and The Dirty Three, with an open room style production that nods to the great Steve Albini, there is not a dull moment.
Stereogum labeled this as “Album of the Week”, stating: “Have you ever realized several browser tabs are playing music at the same time? The first song on the new caroline album is like that, but in a good way.” This description encapsulates the chaos and flow of this new album. While it’s not an album you might listen to as relaxing background music, the eclectic nature of it might be too much for that, it is in its own way a beautiful and tuneful album. At times low low slow, at others with grand crescendos punctuated by sudden silences.
This is definitely one of the best and most exciting albums I’ve heard this year.
Listen to “caroline 2” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Instant Holograms on Metal Film” - Stereolab
Released May 23, 2025 through Duophonic and Warp.
File under: alternative pop
This marks a massive “welcome back” to out favourite Franco-pop favourites, Stereolab returns with their eleventh studio album, “Instant Holograms on Metal Film”. This marks their first studio release in 15 years, following 2010's “Not Music”.
The album blends Stereolab's signature elements; drum machine-esque rhythms, vintage synths, and leftist political themes; with fresh energy and warmth. Sweet, soft lyrics and syncopated beats, swirling guitars and percussion, this albem harkens back to earlier releases, but also points the compass in the direction Stereolab are headed.
Listen to “Instant Holograms on Metal Film” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Chuck D Presents Enemy Radio: Radio Armageddon” - Chuck D
Released May 16, 2025 through Soundspeak Holdings and Def Jam.
File under: Hip Hop
“Radio Armageddon” is Chuck D’s first solo project since 2018’s “Celebration of Ignorance”. A pastiche of driving beats, fractured samples and spoken word, “Radio Armageddon” gives the sense of switching between radio stations, tuning in briefly to each short message, and receiving some only in part as fragments of messages.
This politically charged album showcases Chuck D’s signature blend of nuanced lyrical content and hard-hitting beats, a signature of Chuck D’s work, showcasing everything from breakbeats to drum n bass. “Radio Armageddon” features a plethora of hip-hop royalty including Daddy-O (Stetsasonic), Schoolly D, Phill Most Chill, Donald D and Jazzy Jay (Universal Zulu Nation), dancehall legend 1/2 Pint, and a whole lot more.
A great collaborative album, “Radio Armageddon” is a fresh new hip hop release for 2025, speaking to the American political landscape, as well as many issues faced by the world at large.
“Tall Tales” - Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke
Released May 9, 2025 through Warp.
File under: electronica
Tall Tales is the debut collaborative album by electronic producer Mark Pritchard and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. The project originated during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with the duo exchanging musical ideas remotely over several years. Pritchard said of this exchange “I thought, ‘I’ll just send him a load of different things in different states [of completion]. That would be more interesting for him, he might want to pull some apart, add some things.’ Keep it open and organic and not be like, ‘We’re doing an album here.’” (From Apple Music)
Regardless, the resulting album is a blend of elements of synth-pop, progressive electronic, dub, and krautrock, creating a soundscape that reflects both artists’ experimental tendencies. Themes of technological dystopia, consumerism, and alienation are prevalent throughout the album, echoing Yorke’s longstanding lyrical interests.
The album comes with an accompanying design and art style, created by Jonathan Zawada, almost taking on the role of 3rd member of the group, overseeing all visual aspects of this release. Several videos have been released as well as a feature-length film, which screened worldwide on May 8th 2025, the movie poster for which is above.
Listen to “Tall Tales” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“GOLLIWOG” - Billy Woods
Released May 9, 2025 through Backwoodz Studioz.
File under: experimental hip hop
“GOLLIWOG” is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of race, identity, and cultural memory. Steeped in horror movie sounds and samples, dark lyrics, wailing horns, creaking floorboards, crashing pianos and wailing winds, it’s by far his most unsettling album to date.
Unsettling and nightmarish at times, the album flows track to track like chapters in the same story, each one amplifying the dark, brooding and moody tone of the album. Adding to the depth of this album, included are guest appearances by some of hip hop’s best producers including Kenny Segal, El-P, Conductor Williams and DJ Haram.
All in all, not an easy listen, but GOLLIWOG stands as a significant work in Billy Woods’ discography, offering a layered and compelling examination of complex themes through a unique blend of musical styles and lyrical depth.
Listen to “GOLLIWOG” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“yes, please.” - Sextile
Released May 2, 2025 through Sacred Bones.
File under: hyperpop/electronic
Known for their fusion of post-punk, electronic rock, and synth-punk, Sextile delivers a record that pushes their sound into uncharted territory.
The album is a high-octane blend of anarchic electro energy and raw personal narratives, characterized by beefed-up basslines and a fearless approach to genre fusion. Drawing inspiration from no wave to hardstyle, yes, please. is described as an album of contrasts: a vulnerable record that bares its soul as much as it revels in excess, showcasing the band's confidence in shaking off inhibitions.
The album's dynamic range and the duo's ability to seamlessly blend various musical styles, “yes, please.” highlights the album's energy, and reflect a positive reception from listeners.
Listen to “Pink Silence EP” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
APRIL
“Jellywish” - Florist
Released April 4, 2025 through Double Double Whammy.
File under: folk/alternative
“Jellywish” is the fifth studio album by the New York-based indie folk quartet Florist, released on April 4, 2025, via Double Double Whammy. This ten-track album marks a departure from their previous self-titled release, embracing shorter, more structured songs with an emphasis on melody.
The album invites listeners to imagine a world where the supernatural is part of daily life, encouraging a rethinking of normalized perceptions to foster a more symbiotic relationship with each other and the Earth, while at the same time the world seemingly crumbles around us all.
While it is gentle and calming, and successfully addresses serious themes with lightness and warmth, for me it misses the almost voyeuristic “fly-on-the-wall” elements that their last self titled release had. And while it maintains the personal diary quality in the admissions of love, fear and death, the delivery is like so many other folk albums around at the moment.
All-in-all, while a nice listen, it lacks the personality that their self titled album had, the peeks into another life, the found sounds and late-summer free spirit, the cold drinks on hot oppressive afternoons. And that was what drew me to Florist in the first place.
Listen to “Jellywish” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Thee Black Boltz” - Tunde Adebimpe
Released April 18, 2025 through Sub Pop.
File under: alternative rock/experimental
Known for his work with TV on the Radio, Tunde Adebimpe’s debut solo album, “Thee Black Boltz” ventures into a diverse sonic landscape, blending synth-pop, post-punk, and funk elements. The album’s creation was deeply personal, conceived during the pandemic and following the loss of his sister, infusing the tracks with themes of grief and introspection.
The album’s balance of lyrical darkness with bright, catchy tunes, emphasizes Adebimpe’s nuanced abilities as an artist. “Thee Black Boltz” is a personal journey but also cements his place as a dynamic force in contemporary music, with a sound that is both experimental and accessible.
Listen to “Thee Black Boltz” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Pink Silence” - Cloth
Released April 25, 2025 through Rock Action.
File under: post-rock/low-gaze
The Glasgow-based sibling duo Cloth build upon the minimalist textures of their earlier work with their third release “Pink Silence”. Rachael and Paul Swinton delve into more expansive sonic territories, incorporating synth flourishes, string arrangements, and ambient drones. Collaborations with artists like Portishead’s Adrian Utley, Owen Pallett, and Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite contribute to the album’s rich tapestry, enhancing its emotional depth without overshadowing the duo’s signature intimacy. As with earlier work, “Pink Silence” focus on the interplay of gentle vocals and textured instrumentation exploring themes of loss, self-acceptance, and the complexities of human relationships.
It’s a delicate balance between vulnerability and sonic ambition; hushed vocals, poignant lyrics, and low-gaze sensibilities create an atmosphere that is both intimate and expansive. Throughout the album, Cloth maintains their characteristic restraint, allowing each song to unfold organically, inviting listeners into a space of reflection and emotional resonance.
Listen to “Pink Silence” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
MARCH
“Lonely People With Power” - Deafheaven
Released March 28, 2025 through Roadrunner.
File under: black metal/shoegaze/alternative
Running for over an hour, “Lonely People With Power” is immense, sometimes sprawling tracks that go on for over 8 minutes, but with never a dull moment. Standout tracks are “Doberman”, the epic that is “Amethyst”, and the “fast-slow-fast” instant metal classic “Revelator”. Every track on this album speaks to the intense emotional power that only Deafheaven can bring, and in spades too.
The album is a blend of aggression and emotional depth. Described as “unexpectedly heavy and entirely expectedly brilliant,” an “artistic triumph,” and “a dizzying return to the blackgaze heights which only Deafheaven have ever climbed”, noting that it combines the strongest elements of their previous works, this album showcases the band’s honed musicianship and songwriting abilities.
Listen to “Lonely People with Power” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Dead Channel Sky” - clipping.
Released March 14, 2025 through Sub Pop.
File under: experimental hip hop
The sixth full length album by horror/tech/alt-hip-hop/big-beat outfit clipping. “Dead Channel Sky” is an aggressive assault of industrial sounds and cutting lyrics over 20 tracks. A unique sound with slick industrial production.
“Dead Channel Sky” has been met with critical acclaim. Metacritic, a platform that aggregates reviews, indicates universal praise based on multiple critic reviews. The Guardian highlights the album’s exploration of cyberpunk themes and its critique of capitalism, noting that Diggs raps about hackers, soldiers, and digital avatars, allowing listeners to insert their interpretations.
Euronews Culture commends the trio’s commitment to their concepts, stating that clipping. has made a name for themselves by crafting transportive and frequently abrasive soundscapes populated with verbose rapping. Everything Is Noise praises the album as a successful fusion of rap and cyberpunk elements, describing it as laced with uncanny synthetics and the smell of burnt circuitry.
For those who like Death Grips, Anticon artists like Why?, JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown, and older artists like Aphex Twin, Sophie, Autechre and Atari Teenage Riot.
Listen to “Dead Channel Sky” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
FEBRUARY
“Pinball Wanderer” - Andy Bell
Released February 28, 2025 through Sonic Cathederal.
File under: psychedelic pop
Andy Bell’s third solo album, Pinball Wanderer showcases his continued evolution as a multifaceted artist. This eight-track collection offers a concise yet richly textured experience. Blending elements of psychedelic melodies, krautrock rhythms, and experimental textures, his influences are evident, from Stereolab to CAN to The Stone Roses and beyond.
A surprisingly great, albeit short album, “Pinball Wanderer” seems to come from out of the ether, an unexpected treat for us in 2025. This album solidifies Bell’s position as a dynamic force in contemporary music, seamlessly bridging his shoegaze roots with a forward-thinking sonic palette.
Listen to “Pinball Wanderer” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Microtonic” - bdrmm
Released February 28, 2025 through Rock Action.
File under: post-rock/electronic
“Microtonic” is bdrmm’s third studio album. Departing from their established shoegaze roots, this album ventures into a more electronic soundscape, blending ambient textures with pulsating rhythms. This album celebrates the band’s exploration of new sonic territories, with guest appearances from Working Men’s Club’s frontman Syd Minsky-Sargeant and solo artist Olivesque.
The album’s thematic focus on dystopian elements and emotional introspection is apparent, noting that the world is harder and hard to navigate with every given day. This sentiment is echoed in tracks like “Snares,” which contrasts tense verses with euphoric choruses, and “Lake Disappointment,” a more straightforward track with glitchy beats and menacing rhythms . Overall, Microtonic represents bdrmm’s bold step into a new musical direction, blending their shoegaze origins with electronic experimentation to create a compelling and immersive listening experience.
Listen to “Microtonic” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“Not Around but Through” - Amulets
Released Feb 21, 2025 through Beacon Sound.
File under: post-rock/shoegaze
Renowned for his use of handmade cassette tape loops and live processed guitar loops, Randall Taylor (AKA Amulets) crafts immersive soundscapes that blur the lines between ambient, drone, noise, and electronic music. “Not Around But Through” traverses a sonic landscape that ranges from gentle and meandering to explosive and cathartic, showcasing Taylor’s cinematic tension and meticulous attention to detail.
The album features a collaboration with Madeline Johnston, known as Midwife, on the track “Lifelike,” which pulsates with post-shoegaze energy.
This album creates sounds that suspend the listener in both confusion and awe, and exhibits grandeur akin to post-rock bands like Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Explosions in the Sky.
Listen to “Not Around but Through” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
JANUARY
“Full Moon” - Moonchild Sanelly
Released January 10, 2025 through Transgressive.
File under: alternative dance/alternative pop
Moonchild Sanelly’s third studio album, “Full Moon”is an evolution in her distinctive “future ghetto funk” style. Recorded across Malawi, the UK, and Sweden, the album blends South African genres like kwaito, amapiano, and gqom with elements of electro-pop and hip-hop. From her playful, sex-positive lyricism, to more introspective themes, reflecting on personal relationships and growth, this album is covers a lot of ground.
The album’s fusion of African and Western musical influences highlights her innovative approach to music-making. This album signifies her ascent to commanding presence in the global music scene.
Listen to “Full Moon” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“EUSEXUA” - FKA Twigs
Released January 24, 2025 through Young.
File under: alternative dance/alternative pop
FKA Twigs’ third studio album, EUSEXUA, released on January 24, 2025, marks a bold evolution in her artistry, blending avant-pop, techno, and trance to explore themes of sensual transcendence and emotional liberation. The album’s title, a neologism coined by twigs, encapsulates a state of euphoria that transcends ordinary experiences—a sensation of losing oneself in music, intimacy, or profound connection.
Critics have lauded EUSEXUA for its innovative soundscapes and emotional depth. Pitchfork praised the album’s fusion of techno, house, garage, and drum and bass, noting its balance between avant-garde experimentation and accessible pop elements. It’s a very personal album, reflecting her journey through adversity.
Listen to “EUSEXUA” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
“The Bad Fire” - Mogwai
Released January 24, 2025 through Rock Action.
File under: post-rock/shoegaze
Mogwai’s eleventh studio album, “The Bad Fire” marks a poignant chapter in the band’s 30-year journey. The title is derived from a Scottish colloquialism for “hell,” reflecting on the personal challenges faced by the band during its creation, notably guitarist Barry Burns’ daughter’s serious illness.
The album’s exploration of personal turmoil and resilience has been highlighted as a testament to Mogwai’s enduring artistry. With its blend of introspective themes and dynamic instrumentation, The Bad Fire stands as a compelling addition to Mogwai’s discography, reaffirming their status as pioneers in the post-rock genre.
Never a band to rest on their laurels, this album continues to experiment with musical approaches and sounds, and at the same time, manages to maintain much of the signature sound that Mogwai is known for.
Listen to “The Bad Fire” on:
Apple Music }|{ Spotify }|{ Tidal
Is there some reason so many of the music stackers refuse to embed music into articles about music?
It seems if one is actually trying to share music, lowering the barrier to readers being able to hear it would be the top priority.