Top 10 Albums of 2025: All The Things Music
- All The Things Music
- Dec 29, 2025
- 12 min read
Being in this space where part of our job is to be consumers of all types of music, processing it both from a professionally objective lens and the lens of fans of music, a year like 2025 can make compiling a list of our top ten albums of the year feel impossible. There were indie records that we had on repeat more than some of the chart-topping mega albums of the year. Some of the most anticipated albums of the year came as mild disappointments, while unexpected albums became favorites. This year brought new music from some new artists, some of our very favorite artists, some artists we didn't expect, and so many memories tied to these songs it's hard to articulate just how special the releases of 2025 will be to us for many years to come. This is by no means a “ranking” of the quality of these albums, but rather a list of the albums that left an impact on us this year. Here are our favorite albums of this year - the ones that kept us repeatedly hitting play and soundtracked 2025.
10. The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift
Released: October 3, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,730 - Abby, 517 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "The Fate of Ophelia" - Abby, "The Fate of Ophelia" - Mikaila
For me, the magic of The Life of a Showgirl wasn't really the music itself. Every release from Taylor feels so different and continues to mark a period in my life, and Showgirl was one where life just felt a little more cosmically aligned than any other release this year. While songs like "Elizabeth Taylor" and "CANCELLED!" are songs that I feel like are the discreet stars of the concept of The Life of a Showgirl, pulling up to the movie theaters to see the album in it's full glamour, the dazzling physical records that came with this release, and the sheer star power of seeing Taylor break records so massive I didn't even know they were possible to break are what makes Showgirl a highlight release of the year. ~A
The Life of a Showgirl was one of the most unexpected turns of 2025, yet in hindsight, it felt entirely inevitable. Taylor Swift is arguably at the peak of her career, and still, this album pulls back the curtain to reveal the very human insecurities that exist beyond the glitter and spectacle. Despite facing criticism that the lyrics fell flat or that the album lacked excitement, it has gone on to become her most successful release to date. The visuals for this era were truly unmatched, and it feels like we’re witnessing Taylor at her happiest and most self-assured yet. ~ M
9.ORDER chaos ORDER, Calum Hood
Released: June 13, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,288 - Abby, 424 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "Don't Forget You Love Me" - Abby, "Don't Forget You Love Me" - Mikaila
"ORDER chaos ORDER feels more like a collection of moments gathered in a photobook of memories rather than a chronological narrative, all tied together by an oximoronic gritty-smooth alt-rock sound that Calum crafted to create a viscerally felt sonic diary." I honestly never saw a solo album from Calum Hood coming, especially not one that is as heartfelt, luscious, and moving as OCO. We were so fortunate that this was one of the first pre-listen albums All The Things received that we were able to listen to together in person, sitting on a rooftop in Nashville, and for that, "Endless Ways" in particular is always going to be a song I hold near and dear. ~A
I'll never forget the moment I pressed play on “Don’t Forget You Love Me” and was met with a sound so unmistakably Calum that words almost failed me, even though I had no idea what a Calum album would sound like. Experiencing his solo album as someone who’s loved 5SOS for over a decade felt like watching all the pieces finally fall into place, deepening my appreciation for everything they’ve created along the way. This album holds an especially personal place in my heart. I remember being on FaceTime with Abby when the press email came through, and we both immediately burst into tears. Considering our publication isn’t even a year old, the opportunity to work with any of my all-time favorite artists in any capacity is something I’ll never take for granted. ~ M
8. DREAMSICLE, Maren Morris
Released: May 9, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,333 - Abby, 58 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "push me over" - Abby, "because, of course" - Mikaila
Sometimes an album comes into your life at just the right time. While I've been a fan of Maren Morris for years, I didn't know what to expect from the album that came on her new label, under a new genre, and in a new stage of life. Somehow all of those things perfectly combined into the fresh, romantic, bossy, feministic summer suckerpunch that is Dreamsicle. This album will always sound like early summer in Nashville, with a little hint of the nostalgia of late summer (The Dreamsicle Tour was my final concert of the summer). And there are particular moments on this album that are a little extra magical, with the bond we formed with one of the musicians we interviewed, Neara Russell, over the dream that is the album's title track, and the shared love we got to give "push me over" with Maren's guitarist Erica Fox in our interview with her. Dreamsicle is just a little unexpected dazzling daze that came at just the right time. ~A
Earlier this spring, Abby and I found ourselves on an unexpected girls’ trip to Nashville, and this album has since become inseparable from that memory. It was my first time in the city, and the record feels like two best friends sitting in their hotel room, doing our makeup under horrible fluorescent lighting, laughing endlessly while talking through life before heading out to hear live music, like stepping straight into a 2000s rom-com. We closed out the weekend watching Maren perform alongside an incredible group of women in an intimate setting, and the entire experience felt like pure magic. That same magic is exactly what this album holds for me. ~M
7. Music for People Who Believe in Love, Joe Jonas
Released: May 23, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,119 - Abby, 136 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "Only Love" - Abby, "Heart By Heart" - Mikaila
"A sonic triumph as great as the feat of allowing love back in to a broken heart, Music for People Who Believe in Love is a reminder that even when some loves die, others can arrive in perfect cosmic alignment, making us believe in love all over again." Dare I say that this album was my most unexpected favorite album this year. There's just something about a late spring album about rediscovering love through new eyes to give a little bit of appreciation for the aesthetic of music. And maybe I'm dramatic, but I don't know if anyone was a bigger fan of hearing "Only Love" live on the Jonas20 Tour than me. ~A
An unexpected album that I loved this year, Joe Jonas is so authentic and honest and human, how could you not fall in love with it? There's something special about seeing him open up on such a personal level outside of the stage persona that is The Jonas Brothers and seeing that "even baddies get saddies." It's crazy to me how underrated this album is, and honestly, I'm begging for a Joe Jonas solo tour in 2026. ~ M
6. Chasing the Chimera, Del Water Gap
Released: November 7, 2025
Minutes listened: 644 - Abby, 144 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "How to Live" - Abby, "How to Live" - Mikaila
"Chasing the Chimera stunningly explores the intimacies and complexities of being faced with desire, humanity, and reverie in a world that feels like its sole purpose is to strip those things away. This is music that goes layers deep in a quest through heaven and hell for personal understanding, hiding behind a dazzling instrumental production that makes Del Water Gap rises as one of the most eloquent geniuses in alt-rock." All I'll say is every moment associated with this album this year has felt like some kind of romantic kismet, from being able to hear the live debuts of "How to Live" at Lollapalooza and "Damn" at the intimate Schubas Tavern Lollapalooza after show, all the way to getting to drive through the changing colored leaves of the countryside spinning this album in it's prereleased form without the noise of the world weighing in on it's subtle genius. ~A
I had the rare joy of listening to this album in full with my best friend before the rest of the world as an early birthday gift, and I’ll never forget stepping into the shimmering world Del Water Gap created. Abby introduced me to his music a few years ago; she always has an instinct for discovering the best new artists, and I was instantly hooked. His songs became something we’d talked about experiencing live together for a long time, and that finally came to life in 2025. To say Del Water Gap left a mark on my year would truly be an understatement. ~ M
5. The Art of Loving, Olivia Dean
Released: September 26, 2025
Minutes listened: 195 - Abby. 29 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "Nice to Each Other" - Abby, "A Couple of Minutes" - Mikaila
The last time I truly loved an album about falling in love was probably sometime around 2010 when Taylor Swift released Speak Now. I've lived quite a bit of life since then, but have never found an artist who made light of hopeless romanticism in such a distinctly realistic light - until Olivia Dean came along. I fell for The Art of Loving right along with the rest of the world, absolutely captivated but the gorgeous richness of every vocal line and the tangible feeling both in the instrumentals across the full album and it's emotional content. Loving The Art of Loving was a slow burn that I can only hope continues until these songs become ones I get to hear live. ~A
One thing about me is that I need to be in the right headspace to fully take in new music, so it took me some time to truly connect with Olivia Dean, and I wish I had done so sooner. The way she captures love and loss feels entirely her own, unlike anything I’ve really heard before. Even though I didn’t spend as much time with this album as I would’ve liked this year, it still found its way into my heart, and I know it’ll stay with me well into 2026. ~M
4. Virgin, Lorde
Released: June 27, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,081 - Abby, 212 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "Favourite Daughter" - Abby, "Current Affairs" - Mikaila
In an almost poetic way, Virgin was weaved into some of the most human moments of some of the grandest experiences of my year. "What Was That" sonically illustrated the time of year right around my birthday when spring finally feels like it's arrived, the album released in full while I was in Edinburgh and all those in between moments of falling asleep in the late-night fading European sunlight and riding public transport through the city, and the songs from this album came to life on the Ultrasound World Tour where by a stroke of luck my sister and I ended up in the front row of a college arena, singing the words to "Favourite Daughter" with nothing but air between us and one Ella Yelich-O'Connor. An album that somehow to me feels like simultaneous nostalgic coming-of-age and heart-heavy understanding of the multidimensional human experience, Virgin is an album that trademarked my 2025. ~A
"Virgin is a visceral and honest exploration of sexuality, identity, and transformation. It’s not so much a reinvention as it is a reclamation, and across its deeply personal tracks, Lorde is more candid than ever before." Lorde effortlessly captured the whirlwind of emotions that come with being a young woman, perfectly embodying the feeling of asking yourself, “What Was That?” For me, this album feels like a serene summer walk. I remember putting on my headphones, listening from start to finish, and thinking, "Wow, she’s putting into words things I’ve had swirling in my own brain." Experiencing it live was nothing short of magical. I feel so lucky to have witnessed Lorde transform a massive room into an intimate space, connecting with everyone in a way that made us all feel completely at home. ~M
3. Mayhem, Lady Gaga
Released: March 7, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,413 - Abby, 394 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "How Bad Do U Want Me" - Abby, "How Bad Do U Want Me" - Mikaila
Oh, MAYHEM, the absolute pop gem you are. "MAYHEM is a sensational dancefloor-battleground where Lady Gaga’s personas collide, shatter, and ultimately find a fragile peace, leaving us with the lingering question: Will we go mad trying to separate the star from the woman beneath the glitter?" Having dissected MAYHEM for many many minutes of listening this year, interweaving my own stories with those of a star as colossal as Gaga, and topping it off by seeing the glittering gothic feat that is the Mayhem Ball Tour, there is very little I can say to sum up how I feel about MAYHEM besides that I think this is pop music magic created by an absolute master. ~A
Lady Gaga returned to her truest weird pop girl form on this record, and I mean that as the highest compliment, and I was completely all in. She is genuinely one of the most impressive artists and performers of our generation. Pressing play instantly transported me back to being a kid listening to The Fame, but through a more grown-up lens, one where embracing your weirdness and quirks only makes you more confident. After watching countless videos from the first leg of the tour, I’m beyond excited to see this album come to life next year. ~ M
2. Man's Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter
Released: August 29, 2025
Minutes listened: 1,999 - Abby, 212 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "Don't Worry I'll Make You Worry" - Abby, "When Did You Get Hot?" - Mikaila
"Confident, chaotic, and couldn’t care less about playing it safe, Sabrina’s not out here pretending to be perfect; she’s busy weaponizing her mistakes with sparkly one-liners, wink-wink innuendos, and hooks so catchy they should be put out with the dogs. After years aiming to meet the expectations of the industry and the men who don't deserve her, Man's Best Friend feels like the moment Sabrina stopped trying to prove anything and just had fun, finding that who she is at her core is the exact reason the whole world, men included, worship at her feet." I think everyone who listens more than once has their own story with how they relate to Man's Best Friend, and I'm no different. A couple of these songs (I'm looking at you "Don't Worry" and "My Man on Willpower") became practically a form of twisted therapy, and catching the last performance of "Manchild" before the album's release at Lollapalooza was another laugh-so-you-don't-cry moment of joyful angst sponsored by my favorite princess of pop. ~A
Hearing that "Manchild" was dropping so soon after Short n’ Sweet, and then realizing we were getting a completely new album with Man’s Best Friend, was a total surprise. But being a woman in your mid-twenties is full of surprises too, and that’s exactly what Sabrina captures in this record. This one is especially memorable because Abby and I got to witness her final live performance before the new album was released at Lollapalooza. Hearing her close the show with "Don’t Smile", only for the opening of what we would soon find out was "Tears" to start as she exited the stage, felt like witnessing the seamless transition from the Short n’ Sweet era to Man’s Best Friend in real time, a moment I’ll never forget. ~ M
1. EVERYONE'S A STAR!, 5 Seconds of Summer
Released: November 14, 2025
Minutes listened: 3,402 - Abby, 1,481 - Mikaila
Most streamed song: "NOT OK" - Abby, "NOT OK" - Mikaila
The album that I waited all year for. "Concise, flashy, and deliciously dripping in the juiciest of all styles of rock production, EVERYONE'S A STAR! is suspended somewhere between a dismissive submission to the corruption caused by the fear of anonymity and an undercurrent of loneliness in losing yourself in a world that seeks to strip a sense of connection." Everyone who's waited for the return of their favorite band knows the mass hysteria that ensues the second that first single hits your ears for the first time, and from the jump, every piece of the release of EVERYONE'S A STAR! reminded me why 5 Seconds of Summer is always a band that's worth the wait. I've always dreamed of being in New York City for the release of a highly-anticipated album and by a twist of fate, I happened to find myself seeing the words "EVERYONE'S A STAR! THE NEW ALBUM BY 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER" plastered across Times Square, and I will always remember sitting in a cab in the heart of Manhattan as I realized my review of this album was quickly becoming statistically the most successful one I had ever written. The best thing about EVERYONE'S A STAR!? I know the best memories with this album are still yet to come - see ya on the road out there next year, boys. ~A
This isn’t just my number one album of the year-it’s officially taken the top spot as my favorite 5 Seconds of Summer album, which is no small feat considering I’ve held their self-titled album close to my heart for over a decade. This record feels like a culmination of their entire journey, and the rollout was so true to 5SOS at their core. Watching them embrace their larger-than-life, hilariously extra selves and laugh like teenagers is something I cherished deeply. Being part of the album rollout, experiencing the first live performance of their new songs in West Hollywood, is an experience I’ll never forget, even if I am definitely getting too old to be sitting on the sidewalk waiting for these guys. Though it was only out for two months in 2025, this album became the absolute highlight of my year in music, giving me so many new favorite songs that I’ll return to again and again. ~ M
Here's to more great music & great albums in 2026. Thanks for reading. ~A&M
