the best music of 2025 so far
my favorite albums and songs of the year! (along with the releases i'm most looking forward to)
Hello hello hello!
It’s June, which means we are halfway through our year. 2025 has had a lot in store already: politically, socially, culturally. But I’m here to offer a brief reprieve from the chaos of 2025 and talk about what it’s had in store musically.
There have been a lot of new releases this year, some good, some not so good, but don’t fret! I’m here to talk about the good ones. Actually, not just the good ones, but, in my humble opinion, the very best.
Below you’ll find my absolute favorite releases of the year, and trust… there are lots of great picks included, but I also want to hear what your favorites of the year have been so far. Did I miss any of your top picks? Probably! So please give me your recommendations and enjoy reading (and hopefully listening ) through mine!
Happy mid-2025! Let’s hope there are brighter days ahead for you, for me, and for our world.
ദ്ദി・ᴗ・)✧
♡ Alex
☆ Choke Enough by Oklou ☆
I cannot get enough of this album. Oklou has created an electronic album that fully leverages the capabilities of modern production tools but also employs traditional instrumentation, including some sick ass horns (which I always appreciate). If you’re still reeling from brat summer, you’ll love this record that feels like a soft come down from the high-energy glittery pop storm that took over last year. Lyrically, this album is just as strong as it is sonically. Choke Enough is a toned-down hyperpop masterpiece that doesn’t have a single dull moment. I love every song on this album, and think each one is a necessary addition. Something I look for when listening to new releases is artists who are doing something truly inventive. It sometimes feels like modern artists are either stuck in a loop of trying to recreate what’s already been created or finding what will perform best in whatever algorithm is controlling the charts at the time. Choke Enough steps outside of those bounds and exists as a singular piece of art, and my favorite release this year.
HONORABLE MENTION: Saya by Saya Gray
Saya Gray has managed to top her already impressive discography with her newest album, SAYA. Leaning even heavier into her experimental roots, Gray’s album is dynamic. There are moments of light (“SHELL (OF A MAN)”) mixed in amongst darker moments (“H.B.W”). SAYA is a deeply interesting listen and has been a standout amidst 2025 releases.
☆ “Bloom Baby Bloom” by Wolf Alice ☆
In a crowded field of new releases, Wolf Alice’s song “Bloom Baby Bloom” has taken my top spot. Ellie Rowsell’s vocals are ethereal, rising and falling, while the consistent beat and piano trill ground the song. “Bloom Baby Bloom” exists in the space between glam rock and alternative, while also taking notes from modern pop in parts. It occupies a unique zone that creates a sprawling sonic landscape, fully enrapturing me in every listen. Wolf Alice takes full advantage of being a band instead of a solo act, and you can hear it in the track. Each aspect is individually thought out, yet merges effortlessly with the others. I always appreciate a song that manages to take listeners on a journey, and “Bloom Baby Bloom” does just that.
HONORABLE MENTION: “Jacked” by Heartworms
Heartworms’ entire debut album, Glutton for Punishment, is worth a listen, but their song “Jacked” is a standout. This song is intentional in its messiness, crafting cohesion amidst the chaos. Without sounding familiar, “Jacked” is a solid representation of the modern alternative scene and one of my favorite releases this year.
☆ “Real Thing” by Drugdealer & Weyes Blood ☆
Ooooooh, how I love this song! I mentioned earlier that lots of modern artists are stuck trying to emulate music of the past, and while “Real Thing” definitely sounds straight out of the 1970s, the difference is that it’s an excellent song. Both Drugdealer and Weyes Blood consistently pay homage to past acts and eras that inspire them, but their releases still do something new. They don’t sound familiar, but instead like a song released at that time that I’ve never heard before. The two have collaborated many times before, but this is by far my favorite release from them yet. Weyes Blood’s soft, silky vocals match perfectly with the strings and the soft rock sound that leads her way, with string and horn additions bringing the song to the next level. As I keep “Real Thing” on repeat, I will also be crossing my fingers, wishing for a full collaborative album from these two someday…
HONORABLE MENTION: “Oh Dorian” by Ben Kweller & MJ Lenderman
As a long-time Ben Kweller fan, I was anxiously awaiting his newest album release. Written in the aftermath of the untimely death of his son, the album is a beautiful homage and public processing of his grief. Kweller’s collaboration with MJ Lenderman, “Oh Dorian,” highlights the lighter moments of grieving, the reliving of memories, the looking back on the fun times, the love we feel for someone even when they’re gone that leaves us missing them even more. This song is a lovely listen and an even lovelier homage to Dorian.
☆ Echolalia by Echolalia ☆
Echolalia’s self-titled debut is a quiet triumph. With soft, restrained percussion that follows the subdued vocals, Echolalia emits a dreamy mist that slowly creeps up and down throughout its playtime. This album is full of variety, with each song contributing its own sound and perspective to the strong-held collective energy of the album. Every song on the tracklist has a unique setting it transports me to, some bringing me to a beachside cliff (“Dreams of You”), some to an open meadow (“Twisted Hemlock”), and some to a crowded, dingy pub (“In The Pub”). The album is sewn together with a psychedelic sound that pulses throughout, bringing even the most vastly different songs together with a solid throughline. We’ll see what other new releases capture my attention this year, but for now, Echolalia is the best 2025 debut out there.
HONORABLE MENTION: Addison - Addison Rae
Despite my initial resistance, Addison Rae’s self-titled debut has completely won me over. Using smart production choices and immersive world-building, Addison and her all-female production team (Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser) have put together my favorite pop album of the year so far.
☆ BONUS! These are the upcoming releases I’m most looking forward to listening to this year: ☆
June 27th: Virgin by Lorde
July 25th: Precipice by Indigo De Souza
August 22nd: The Passionate Ones by Nourished by Time
August 22nd: It’s a Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes
August 29th: The Clearing by Wolf Alice
September 5th: Double Infinity by Big Thief
September 5th: Who Is The Sky? by David Byrne
September 5th: International by Saint Etienne
As always, thanks for reading!
Stay cool!
ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊
That Saya Gray album is so so good.
I have a simlar list. NEVERYTHING by Tiberius b, Lifetime by Erika de Casier, and Big city life by Smerz are on mine too. Check out malibU, pink + pink, and Johnny Glamour from rusowsky's new album, I'd think you'd like them based on this list. <3