by Jesse Hudgins
2025 was a stunning year for music, with great albums coming throughout the year across different genres. There wasn’t a time of the year when there wasn’t a good release to jam out to. For me, this was the first year where I actively made sure my top albums of the year weren’t just the genres of punk, pop punk, emo, alternative, and hardcore. While my list features a fair amount of that, there was a lot of music out of my typical genre sphere that blew me away.
10. Straight Line Was a Lie by The Beths
Since 2020’s Jump Rope Gazers, I’ve been keeping my eye on The Beths. After their single “Metal,” I knew that Straight Line Was a Lie would be a record to keep in the back of my head. The Beths not only bring great energy to this record, but also great awareness of sonic peaks and valleys. This album perfectly encapsulates the window it was released in as each song fits many summer scenes that the music could be a backdrop to. The instrumentals on this album are so intriguing as they, as well as the vocals, play with rhythm, creating multiple catchy moments like on the songs “No Joy” and “Take.” There isn’t a single dull moment on this album, thanks to how the band laid out the track listing, being aware of where the highs and lows rest on the record.
Favorite Songs: “Ark Of The Covenant,” “No Joy,” “Mother, Pray For Me”
9. Belong by Jay Som
Before listening to this record, I was unfamiliar with Jay Som, but after listening, I have nothing but great things to say. Blending early 2000s alternative and 2010s indie creates a combo that works way more than I thought it would. I found myself relating to all the lyrics on this album as they tackle finding your place in life and imposter syndrome. Along the ride, Jay Som brings in heavy hitters like Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and Hayley Williams of Paramore to join in, adding so much to the tracks that they are featured on. There was a quote I saw about the album from someone who reviewed it that said it felt like a party you witness from the outside. This was a great introduction to Jay Som, and it got me even more excited to listen to the rest of their discography.
Favorite Songs: “Past Lives,” “A Million Reasons Why,” “Float”
8. Essex Honey by Blood Orange
Sometimes you just need something chill to sit back and relax. Essex Honey provides that and much more. Blood Orange stacks up great lo-fi and alternative laid-back instrumentals throughout the entire record with features all throughout. The musical landscapes put together by the London-based artist can take anyone away to a calm and serene mood. The layering of instrumentals on this record is nothing short of superb. Each feature on the album also brings that extra bit of spice to bring the tracks to the next level. Blood Orange’s vocals rest so well within the songs, not overstepping, but increasing the overall strength of the song.
Favorite Songs: “The Train (King’s Cross),” “Scared of It,” “Somewhere in Between”
7. Never Enough by Turnstile
Arguably the most anticipated album for some people, Never Enough had a lot to live up to. Overall, it’s an extremely solid release. Turnstile takes everything that worked on their last album, Glow On, and ramps up the alternative elements while keeping their hardcore roots. The band does a great job taking risks with songs like the disco-inspired “SEEIN’ STARS” then going straight into a hardcore anthem in “Birds.” The biggest complaint I’ve heard about this album is that it’s very similar to Glow On, but when the album is compared to another that’s fantastic, is it really such a bad thing? One thing that’s certain is that Turnstile continues to do a great job of pushing the hardcore limits, and it is exciting to see what they will do going forward.
Favorite Songs: “SEEIN’ STARS,” “I CARE,” “LOOK OUT FOR ME”
6. Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Malice, and Pusha T
There’s a reason this was the most talked about album for a good few months after it dropped: it has some of the strongest rap beats and performances put together on any album. There are features from some of rap’s biggest names like Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, and Pharrell Williams which boost it to a higher level. Each verse and bar on the album brings a purpose and there isn’t a single a throwaway. The motif of “this is culturally inappropriate” is repeated multiple times in the album, and it works to the greater benefit of the themes discussed. The production behind the record is some of the most top notch on any hip hop release in 2025. It combines aspects of different scenes throughout, resulting in a gorgeous culmination of the instrumentals and mixing.
Favorite Songs: “M.T.B.T.T.F,” “P.O.V.,” “Chains & Whips”
6. Tunnel Vision by Beach Bunny
Beach Bunny’s Tunnel Vision is the album that will dance and party with you while you go through your latest existential crisis. Providing commentary on the world in front of it, the band backs the charged lyrics with fun pop-rock instrumentals. Each song is extremely catchy and will have you singing the lyrics to the choruses before the song even ends. It also helps that the vocals on this album are killer and perfectly performed by lead singer Lili Trifilio. I especially love the duality of the tracks “Chasm” and “Tunnel Vision,” which feel like a part one and part two. Even if the subject matter isn’t the most upbeat, it’s hard not to smile and have a good time.
Favorite Songs: “Violence,” “Chasm,” “Pixie Cut”
4. Getting Killed by Geese
To say Geese had a breakout year is an understatement. Getting Killed blew up in the mainstream with many music publications hailing it and the band as the next great thing in rock music. For those who’ve been following for some time, this album is a culmination of what the band has been doing sonically. Getting Killed features smart song writing and energetic performances that keep you hooked through its entire runtime. For those who are new, you might be thrown off by the strange and often bombastic style, but if you stick with it, you’ll hear one of the most solid and well put together records of 2025.
Favorite Songs: “Taxes,” “Trinidad,” “100 Horses”
3. Cabin in the Sky by De La Soul
I’m a huge fan of De La Soul, but I didn’t expect them to drop one of the best rap records in 2025. Cabin in the Sky is not only a beautiful rap record but also a gorgeous tribute to De La Soul member David Jolicoeur, who passed away in 2023. Throughout the album, De La Soul and their slew of top tier features talk about mortality and processing death. The flow from track to track on this record is one of the best this year, with each flowing perfectly into the next, making this album seem completely seamless in its hour and ten-minute runtime.
Favorite Songs: “A Quick 16 For Mama,” “EN EFF,” “Different World”
2. Soft Spot by Honningbarna
Sometimes, when you get randomly recommended music, you come across gems. That was how I came across Honningbarna. Soft Spot kicks off in an unusual manner of a three-and-a-half-minute monologue spoken in the local dialect of the band’s hometown in Kristiansand, Norway, which when translated, takes us through a man’s life and embraces the flow of life itself. After that, “Schäfer” bombards you with hardcore instrumentals and vocals that enthrall from the moment they begin. The album keeps up the energy while also embracing some more post-hardcore influence during songs like “MP5.” The best comparison I can give it to is the band Refused. The album is a blast to listen to, and even if you don’t speak the language, you can understand the heart and passion that the band puts into every single track.
Favorite Songs: “Schäfer,” “MP5,” “Rød bic”
1. Violet by L.S. Dunes & Earthkeeper by Pinkshift
I, for the life of me, could not decide between these two albums. Starting with L.S. Dunes, Violet is a well-crafted piece of work where the current songs sounds nothing like the one before or after it, yet everything feels cohesive. Each member of the band plays a great part in fleshing out the songs to where they reach their full potential, with little details that you may not catch until your second or third listening. Thematically, it does a great job of separating itself from its predecessor, Past Lives, by embracing a more hopeful theme.
Favorite Songs: “Violet,” “Fatal Deluxe,” “Forgiveness”
Earthkeeper, like other records on this list, doesn’t hold back from its commentary on the world and the issues facing it. Pinkshift is quite open with how they feel and the lyrics and instrumentals perfectly accompany that frustration. The first four tracks on this album are barn burners that floor you with their energy. Even if they take their foot off the gas slightly, the band still refuses to hold back, offering their best songwriting and performances yet. Incorporating elements of hardcore, nu-metal, and thrash metal brings a great blend throughout the album. The mixing of the seamless riffs and fantastic drums is expertly raised by an all-time vocal performance from lead singer Ashrita Kumar with lyrics that will bring you hope, despair, and the urge to be better than you were yesterday for the sake of a better tomorrow.
Favorite Songs: “Anita Ride,” “Don’t Fight,” “Something More”
