My Favorite Albums of 2025
2025 was yet another incredible year for new music! I narrowed it down to 30 of my favorite albums, spanning a wide range of artists and genres. Many of them are first‑time additions to my annual year‑end favorites list, which feels like a testament to how much I prioritized discovering and supporting new artists this year. Of course, there are some long‑time favorites sprinkled throughout, as well. Ultimately, this list reflects a little bit of everything I loved this year!
This is always my favorite post to write and curate each year. It is loosely ranked, but every single one of these albums was truly the soundtrack of my year for one reason or another. I have covered many of them in depth too, so if you are interested in reading more about any of these, be sure to check out the links throughout the post and at the end.
Enjoy! 💓
The Crux by Djo
At its core, The Crux by Djo is a heartfelt ode to the people that have shaped him, along with his family and friends that have supported him through every phase of his life. Musically, this album pays homage to many of the influences he grew up with, signaling a nostalgic return to the sounds that inspired his love for music at an early age. This album serves as a pivotal turning point for Joe Keery as a musician as this work feels uniquely tied to the level of creative freedom he is able to embrace with his art. The Crux strips back every layer of who he is in such an honest and deeply personal way, fully eliminating any persona or disguise he may have felt he wanted to hide behind in the past. It also feels like this was the start of such an exciting and creatively fulfilling era for Joe as an artist, which may be obvious based on the way he appears three times on this list of my favorite albums of the year.
With this release, he shifted gears and took a more analog approach to recording, differing from his past work which was largely recorded on his own, or with collaborator Adam Thein, at home in their studios. They worked exclusively in a professional studio for the first time, with the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York City serving as the birthplace of this project. The music history that lives in that building undoubtedly shaped the sound of this album. Paired with the journey of self-discovery he went on in the album process, they ended up returning to the classic rock influences that he grew up listening to and reconnecting with the sounds that first defined him as a musician and songwriter. He truly stands out as such a singular voice in music today, while also reflecting the influences of the great artists that came before him.
The Crux was also inspired by a period of significant life changes, going through a breakup, turning 30, moving from Los Angeles to New York, and overall trying to redefine his identity outside the context of a relationship or his career. With all of that happening in his life, Joe was able to create a record that is both deeply personal and reflective of this new chapter he is in now. Initially, during the early creation of The Crux, the main theme was going to be a breakup album, but as time went on it evolved into something so much more. It serves as such a beautiful celebration of all forms of love, in a light, yet deeply reflective run of tracks. It truly exudes pure joy throughout, even as he works through some of the harder emotions he has struggled with, the writing is still rooted in a very grounded perspective that comes off as so intentional and introspective.
There's something to be said about an artist saying exactly what they mean and fully committing to their vision without holding anything back. This is some of the best songwriting I've ever heard from Joe, with each track intricately woven together to form such a powerful narrative. After all, anything's cool if it's done with heart!
My Favorite Songs:
"Potion"
"Charlie's Garden"
"Gap Tooth Smile"
"Back On You"
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party truly solidifies Hayley Williams as one of the most captivating songwriters and vocalists of her generation, as if the last two decades were not enough already. It also marks the first independent release of her career, her third solo project, and absolutely feels like the start of a new creative era for Hayley. This record is rooted in autonomy, experimentation, and a renewed sense of artistic freedom.
Originally surprise released as a collection of seventeen standalone singles, these songs reintroduced the world to who she is as a solo artist and the life she has lived since her last project. She writes openly about her struggles with fame, ego, and the complicated feelings she carries surrounding the American South, religion, politics, and her own mental health. She also shares the emotional weight of navigating a major breakup, offering an intense yet beautifully captured perspective on that heartache and the process of rediscovering who she is outside of a band and outside of a relationship. It is all done on her own terms and it is so exciting to continue to witness the evolution of such a captivating artist.
My Favorite Songs:
"Ice In My OJ"
"Whim"
"True Believer"
"Parachute"
Addison by Addison Rae
Addison Rae's self-titled debut album is a refreshingly sincere and euphoric burst of pop, glittering with personality and unshakable self-belief. She brings a radiant dose of positivity with her music, which not only shines throughout this entire album, but also reflects in her public persona as well. She is the girl she says she is, which makes even the campiest, tongue-in-cheek lyrics feel rooted in something genuine. Addison fills a space in pop that's been missing: something playful, glitzy, and heartfelt all at once.
Despite her uniquely unconventional rise as one of the earliest breakout TikTok stars, Addison has managed to carve out a new lane for herself, one that far surpasses her social media beginnings. She has been able to achieve something remarkably rare, as very few influencers have been able to pivot this successfully into a mainstream career as well as she has. Maybe it's the post-BRAT wave of pop music that has made way for artists to unapologetically embrace their hyper-feminine side, in a way that blends camp with true sincerity, or maybe its that she has had all of the ingredients for a future pop icon from the start and finally found the right moment to fully embrace it. She leans into a vision that is deeply referential yet unmistakably her own, pulling from her specific influences with clarity and confidence.
This album was co-produced, written and performed in it's entirety by three women; Addison, ELVIRA, and Luka Kloser. Every single track is a result of their creative synergy, which is such a strong and cohesive body of work. In an industry where women are still underrepresented behind the scenes, this album feels like a bold statement that reinforces the power of women-led pop from the ground up. It is sadly quite a rare feat in the industry, especially for a major label pop record, so that alone feels like such a meaningful statement for Addison to be making with this music. It's so rare to see a debut come together with this much clarity and confidence, but even more exciting is knowing that this is just the beginning.
My Favorite Songs:
"Money Is Everything"
"Times Like These"
"Headphones On"
Virgin by Lorde
Virgin is representative of a transformative chapter for Lorde's artistic evolution. With this album, she explores every facet of her identity with the most raw, unfiltered forms of introspection at the forefront. Themes of femininity, sexuality, body image, and identity are explored in a fully transparent and intimate way. Reemerging only once every four years with new music, Virgin feels like a culmination of every chapter in Lorde's life and artistic journey thus far. It's an album that is starkly different from each era that precedes it, yet still honors every version of herself in a way that feels like a retrospective as much as it is an embrace of the person she is still becoming.
She truly bares it all with this music in a way that does come off as if she was trying to also be intentionally divisive with how specific and abrasive so much of it is lyrically. The most compelling aspect of this album's narrative is her exploration of gender and generational identity. While her personal experiences and own sense of self make her who she is, she was also inherently shaped by the experiences of the women in her family who have come before her too, specifically her mom. It is a really thought provoking and beautifully executed concept that runs through the entirety of Virgin. So much of this album feels like a love letter to all of the past versions of herself and her own lineage that defined who she is and who she is still becoming. The dissection of her own womanhood and femininity also comes out of these songs too, the way she describes the feeling of finally feeling like an adult and feeling comfortable in her own body for the first time is such an impactful central theme to this record that I connected to so deeply.
My Favorite Songs:
"What Was That"
"Shapeshifter"
"Favourite Daughter"
"Current Affairs"
Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus
Something Beautiful, Miley Cyrus' "one-of-a-kind pop opera" fully defies modern pop conventions and sets out to create something completely singular in her discography. With an emphasis on high fashion, as well as avant-garde storytelling and aesthetics, this project brings her artistry to new heights. Something Beautiful draws from hypnotic, psychedelic rock production that heightens its cinematic qualities. Every element is so deliberate and detailed, making it such an immersive listening experience all the way through.
One thing has always stood true about Miley as an artist - she never does the same thing twice. She's no stranger to experimentation or stepping outside the norm to create something bold and unexpected. Even though it may not come close to the commercial success of her previous record, it was very clear that this was not at all the intention behind making an album like Something Beautiful now at this point in her career. Her willingness to take big creative risks is truly what has always made her remain one of the most enduring voices in pop music. By rejecting predictability and embracing a more expressive and conceptual path, she has chosen creative freedom over commercial success - which is an approach Miley said she is going to continue to take with future releases too. Something Beautiful feels like the album she has always wanted to make, in a way that feels very reflective of her own personal style and influences for the current chapter of her life.
My Favorite Songs:
"Something Beautiful"
"Pretend You're God"
"Reborn"
"Give Me Love"
Melt by Not For Radio
With Not For Radio, María Zardoya of The Marías steps out on her own for the first time with her debut solo release, Melt. As the name of her side project suggests, this music was not made with the intention of it receiving any mainstream attention or commercial success. Instead, Melt became a deeply personal refection, one that fully embraces intimacy and vulnerability in ways she has never explored before.
Written over the course of just three weeks in January 2024 in Upstate New York, María collaborated with Luca Buccellati and Sam Evian to craft the record against the backdrop of cold, isolated winter snowscapes. That distinct environment seeps into the music, shaping a gorgeous and atmospheric exploration of love, all centered around the overarching question: "Is love worth all of the pain?"
In many ways, it connects narratively to her past music while carving out a new space within her creative journey. Written around the same timeline as Submarine, it shares some of the tonal and storytelling aspects of that record, as well as the signature dreamy, cinematic lens she writes from. Here it feels even more raw, natural, and personal. The cold, isolated winter landscapes of Upstate New York serve as a stark contrast to the Los Angeles backdrop that has shaped so much of The Marías' music prior. Because of that, Melt is grounded in the solitude that comes from such a setting. I especially love the way María captures the changing of the seasons from autumn into winter, using it as a metaphor for the seasons of life and the transformations they represent.
My Favorite Songs:
"Puddles"
"My Turn"
"Magnet"
"Water On Your Nose"
EVERYONE'S A STAR! by 5 Seconds of Summer
EVERYONE'S A STAR! has such a clear narrative running through it, with a desire to poke fun at the concept of fame and what it even means to be a "rockstar" in the modern age. They lean into all the glamour and all the darkness of it, but also the reality of coming out on the other side of that chaos, growing up, finding love, and building a meaningful life beyond the spotlight.
They go back to the roots of their early work here, with tongue‑in‑cheek, sarcastic lyricism that lets each of their personalities shine through in the delivery. Now its filtered through an even more mature and evolved lens. As someone who's been here since the very beginning and watched every era unfold, it's been so cool to see them return to the elements that made their music stand out from the start. I love this album so much and it is absolutely some of their best work yet.
"Boyband"
"No. 1 Obsession"
"Evolve"
The Crux (Deluxe) by Djo
I normally wouldn't highlight a deluxe album apart from the standard release on a list like this, but The Crux (Deluxe) felt necessary to include. The expanded version of Djo's The Crux is more than just a regular deluxe album. As a whole, these additional twelve songs give so much more insight into the journey he took while writing this album and all of the different directions he could've taken with it narratively. The Crux (Deluxe) is more so a companion project of songs that were written during the same creative period as the rest of The Crux, but didn't make the initial cut. That said, they don't feel like leftovers. Each track is truly like a natural expansion of the time in his life that inspired this music, and collectively, they feel like a culmination of some of the more unhinged parts of himself that he had to work through to arrive at the final version of The Crux. From working through the early aftermath and heartache of a breakup, to navigating some of the darker parts of fame, virality and newfound pressures of the music industry that he experienced when making this album throughout 2024, he delves into some of his deepest thoughts with unflinching honesty and vulnerability. Both parts of The Crux take the listener on such a beautiful journey of rediscovery and experimentation with so many different sounds and influences being merged throughout.
The deluxe songs off of the album largely serve as sort of a prelude to the rest of the standard version. Even the sequencing of the new twelve songs being positioned before the standard version of the album on streaming services feels symbolic of the way it was intended to be listened to. Along with the progression of the album cover as well, signaling the transition from the darkness and desolation of the night, to the bright, bustling city street in the daytime. The Crux follows Joe dealing with a lot of change in his life; coming off of the end of a long-term relationship, moving to a new city, and facing major career changes. As much as the music symbolized the end for many chapters in his life, it also really embraced all that was to come in a beautiful and hopeful way. With it overall being a breakup album, he definitely took a very sweet and wholesome approach with so much of it. The overarching theme of not wanting to look back in anger at those that may have wronged you, instead embracing and celebrating the family and friends that have been with you through it all is at the heart of everything on The Crux. Songs like "Back on You" and "Lonesome Is A State of Mind" are just two moments on the standard album that best represent that healed mindset that so much of the album was written from.
But to get to that point of wanting to move forward with grace, he had to work through a lot of other emotions that were more representative of that inner turmoil he was facing in the process of making the album. It's rare for an artist to release an album that is as incredible and detailed in terms of storytelling as The Crux is in the first place, but for him to do it all over again with the unexpected release of the deluxe version, that by all accounts feels like another full-length album set in the same universe as the original, is a testament to how singular Joe and his collaborators are in their artistry.
But to get to that point of wanting to move forward with grace, he had to work through a lot of other emotions that were more representative of that inner turmoil he was facing in the process of making the album. It's rare for an artist to release an album that is as incredible and detailed in terms of storytelling as The Crux is in the first place, but for him to do it all over again with the unexpected release of the deluxe version, that by all accounts feels like another full-length album set in the same universe as the original, is a testament to how singular Joe and his collaborators are in their artistry.
My Favorite Songs:
"T.Rex Is Loud"
"Mr. Mountebank"
"Carry The Name"
"Purgatory Silverstar"
"Awake"
Open Wide by Inhaler
Open Wide showcases a fresh and evolved sound for Dublin rock band Inhaler. Wanting to start with a clean slate, the band ended up making some of their best and most cohesive work yet. With Open Wide, it is so evident that they weren't necessarily focused on crafting an album around the singles but instead wanting to make an album that feels like a full, complete body of work. The confidence in their sound and the clear artistic direction they had when making this is evident when listening to this album. Every single song is so electrifying and consistent in the energy and narrative at the heart of this record.
My Favorite Songs:
"Eddie In The Darkness"
"Open Wide"
"Concrete"
"Little Things"
Wishbone by Conan Gray
Wishbone feels like the most honest, unfiltered version of Conan we've ever heard, like he's finally made the album he was always meant to create. There's a sense of emotional clarity that runs through every single song in such a striking way. The songwriting, the production, and the storytelling is all so intentional and beautifully layered. Every track feels like a page torn from a diary, but crafted with the kind of precision that only Conan could pull off.
My Favorite Songs:
"Actor"
"Vodka Cranberry"
"Romeo"
"My World"
Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
Coming just a year after Short n' Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter is already back with a follow-up record and it's clear she's striking while the iron's hot. Man's Best Friend feels like a playful extension of the persona she's been building, with a level of her signature humor and self-awareness that lies within each song.
Much of the inspiration behind this album stems from her on-again-off-again relationship with her ex-boyfriend. It chronicles the emotional highs and lows she was experiencing in real time, and Man's Best Friend feels like it was a creative outlet born from that turbulence. It also became a space for her to experiment with sounds she hasn't explored before. Sabrina worked on the entirety of this album with her frequent collaborators, producers John Ryan and Jack Antonoff, as well as songwriter Amy Allen. Her previous releases were made with a much bigger team of songwriters and producers, but it's clear that this was a much more intimate and streamlined process. They started working on it very soon after completing Short n' Sweet and felt motivated to continue writing after the positive reception she received from that album.
She knows her strengths as an artist and leans into them with unwavering confidence, especially in the first half of the album. It feels like a fun little detour for Sabrina artistically, taking it as an opportunity for her to experiment with new genres and continue building on the momentum of her previous work, while still giving herself the space to figure out what she wants to say next. There are plenty of highlights that showcase some of her best characteristics as an artist overall.
The Dream marks a new chapter for close friends and longtime collaborators Finneas and Ashe, joined by drummer David Marinelli and guitarist Ricky Gourmet. Collectively they make up The Favors, a band born out of friendship and the shared desire to make music without boundaries. On Instagram, the band described the process of making the record as "...unfiltered, no expectations, zero pressure". They added, "No one asked us for this, this was for us until we realized we made something unique enough to share." That shared ethos of The Favors shines through in the music itself. There is a classic, timeless sound that radiates joy throughout, the kind of joy that only comes when an artist is creating freely, without constraint or expectation. It feels deeply authentic to all four of them as artists, while still being distinctly different than much of the work they have made in the past.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Dream is the way it continually shifts perspectives. Sometimes the songs are written from the outside looking in, observing those down on their luck in search of their big Hollywood break and examining the enduring allure of the city. Others capture the viewpoint of those left behind by someone chasing their dreams, haunted by the lingering questions of what might have been if they had stayed. At other times they take on a more insular approach, reflecting on their own personal experiences as native Californians navigating what it means to chase your dreams and the sacrifices that often come along with it. The album is grounded in this universal story, as well as the band's collaborative spirit that runs through every single song.
My Favorite Songs:
"Tears"
"Nobody's Son"
"When Did You Get Hot?"
"Goodbye"
The Dream by The Favors
One of the most compelling aspects of The Dream is the way it continually shifts perspectives. Sometimes the songs are written from the outside looking in, observing those down on their luck in search of their big Hollywood break and examining the enduring allure of the city. Others capture the viewpoint of those left behind by someone chasing their dreams, haunted by the lingering questions of what might have been if they had stayed. At other times they take on a more insular approach, reflecting on their own personal experiences as native Californians navigating what it means to chase your dreams and the sacrifices that often come along with it. The album is grounded in this universal story, as well as the band's collaborative spirit that runs through every single song.
My Favorite Songs:
"Times Square Jesus"
"David's Brother"
"Someday I'll Be Back In Hollywood"
"Home Sweet Home"
I quit by Haim
This album feels like the future of rock music in a lot of ways. Sonically, it's such a strong evolution and expansion of Haim's sound, pushing them into a space that feels both familiar and completely new. At the core of it all is the theme that runs through the entire album; the importance of choosing to leave behind the things that no longer serve you, even when it's complicated or painful. It's a rollercoaster of the emotions that come with a long‑term relationship ending and trying to rediscover who you are outside of that, and who you want to become. In doing so, it naturally leads you back to who you were before and highlights the parts of yourself you forgot and the things you loved when you were younger. It's complicated and emotional and powerful and strong and independent and freeing all at once.
My Favorite Songs:
"Down to be wrong"
"Take me back"
"Lucky Stars"
"Everybody's trying to figure me out"
LUX is one of the most ambitious and boundary‑pushing albums I've ever heard. Rosalía sings in thirteen different languages throughout the record, and you honestly need to hear it to believe it. It's an album that's best experienced in its entirety, because the world she creates here is so immersive and so meticulously built. I was blown away from start to finish by the scope of it. The sound is avant‑garde, orchestral, and completely unpredictable, it's absolutely incredible.
My Favorite Songs:
"Divinize"
"Porcelana"
"Mundo Nuevo"
"De Madrugá"
"Dios Es Un Stalker"
Mayhem by Lady Gaga
Mayhem is a true return to form for Lady Gaga. The pop music pioneer herself has continuously found new ways to evolve and transform herself with each release. This time around, she went back to her dance music roots, which resulted in one of the best records of her entire career. With Mayhem, she revisited many of the same aesthetics and themes that were present in her art at the start of her career, with albums like The Fame, The Fame Monster and Born This Way - which were truly innovative records at the time and greatly shaped what the future of pop music became. At the same time, she offers a modern and matured approach to the music, which fully reflects who she is right now at this stage of her life.
This album truly is mayhem - it's clear that Gaga drew from so many different influences that make up the tapestry of sound this album represents. Above all, the greatest influence this album draws from is herself. For nearly 20 years, she has continuously refined and perfected this very distinctive sound that remains true and recognizable no matter what genre she is experimenting with at the time. Whether it's pop, rock, country, jazz or literally anything else in between, no matter what she's making it is always certainly going to be unmistakably Gaga. To be a musical chameleon in the way that she has throughout her entire career is a testament to the true, once in a generation level of artistry that she holds with her work.
My Favorite Songs:
"Garden Of Eden"
"Perfect Celebrity"
"Killah (feat. Gesaffelstein)"
"Blade of Grass"
Bloodless is one of Samia's most beautifully crafted and emotional projects yet. She has always had such a gift for taking simple moments and familiar feelings and turning them into something so special, but this record enhances that even further. The album is incredibly heartfelt, full of small emotional details that bring so much life to every single song.
My Favorite Songs:
"Bovine Excision"
"Lizard"
"Spine Oil"
"Carousel"
"North Poles"
I Said I Love You First is Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's first joint collaborative record, which depicts an intimate and heartfelt portrait of every stage of their relationship thus far. From both of their perspectives, both Selena and Benny share so much of their love, life, and the journey they each took to get where they are now. The element that shines through most of all in this music is just how strong their artistic chemistry is. It is so clear that Benny knows exactly what works best for Selena as an artist and helped create the strongest and most confident body of work she has ever released. The deep understanding he clearly has for her as an artist allows her to shine in the most personal and authentic way.
This album takes the listener on such a journey from start to finish in a way that represents so much of their past, present and future all at once. Every song draws from different moments in their lives and different sonic directions, but it all finds itself back to this really central place that creates such a cohesive and strong body of work.
My Favorite Songs:
"Sunset Blvd"
"Bluest Flame"
"Don't Take It Personally"
"Scared Of Loving You"
Iron by Post Animal
For the first time in nearly a decade, all of the original members of Post Animal, including Joe Keery, who went on hiatus from the band in 2017 to focus on acting, reunited to record Iron. In just 30 days together, they recorded the entirety of the album and you can feel that energy in every moment. This band is one of my very favorite music discoveries of the past year, and this record builds beautifully on their past work while also feeling featuring such a diverse array of styles and voices.
I love that this album, above all else, is really rooted in their friendship and how that connection translates into the entire project. It's reflective, uplifting, and deeply moving. Every song is a true testament to the power of persistence and authenticity.
Happy Birthday by Finn Wolfhard
Happy Birthday feels like a coming‑of‑age story in so many ways. You can hear Finn experimenting with a wide range of influences, building his sound, and finding his voice as an artist with a confidence that grows track by track throughout his debut. The project pulls from grunge, indie rock, and even touches of 70's rock, blending those textures into something that sounds so true to him.
My Favorite Songs:
"Choose the latter"
"Objection!"
"Trailers after dark"
"Crown"
"Wait"
SIDEQUEST by Michael Clifford
In a lot of ways, SIDEQUEST reminds me of a more mature version of 5SOS' early work in the way that it is very much still rooted in his pop‑punk influences, but with even deeper emotional weight. He explores themes of his mental health struggles and struggles he has faced in his life, but also balances it with beautiful moments of meeting his wife, becoming a father and entering a new phase of life. This album feels so true to Michael as an honest representation of his artistic identity and shaped by all of his experiences.
My Favorite Songs:
"enough"
"fashion"
"thirsty"
"nosebleed"
"eclipse"
ORDER chaos ORDER by Calum Hood
Calum Hood's debut solo album, ORDER chaos ORDER, is dreamy, psychedelic, and expansive in all the best ways. It's been so exciting to hear him explore ideas and sounds that feel uniquely his through this project. I also love finally getting to hear more of his voice and his own personal exploration of his influences outside of 5SOS, with a looseness and fluidity to the production that creates this almost hypnotic atmosphere.
My Favorite Songs:
"Don't Forget You Love Me"
"Sunsetter"
"Endless Ways"
"Streetwise"
"Three of Swords"
West End Girl by Lily Allen
West End Girl is bold, messy, and self‑aware in all the best ways. It's an album that really needs to be experienced in full to grasp the depth of the brutal honesty. It is so sharply written and she holds literally nothing back when it comes to sharing her experiences. So many of these lyrics are genuinely jaw‑dropping, delivered in a confessional, stream‑of‑consciousness style that leaves little room for interpretation as she lays everything fully out there. It’s confrontational, but also deeply cathartic, as she shares her life in such unfiltered detail. If nothing else, this album is further proof that so much of today's pop landscape is built on Lilly Allen's style and impact.
My Favorite Songs:
"Sleepwalking"
"Tennis"
"Nonmonogamummy"
"Fruityloop"
PinkPantheress' second mixtape, Fancy That, is yet another reminder of why she's one of the most fun and exciting voices in pop music right now. It's a fun, infectious blend of Euro‑dance and electronic influences, all filtered through a style that is so inexplicably her. She has such a distinct voice and aesthetic, and she executes it with an effortless confidence. This short 20 minute album is packed with some of the catchiest pop hooks of the entire year, these songs are constantly stuck in my head!
My Favorite Songs:
"Illegal"
"Tonight"
"Stars"
"Romeo"
Deadbeat by Tame Impala
Deadbeat is such a dynamic blend of all the elements that make Tame Impala so singular. It's largely rooted in mellow, hypnotic house music, but incorporates poppier elements throughout that he effortlessly blends together. The production is so lush and immersive, serving as yet another reminder that Kevin Parker is truly a generational producer.
My Favorite Songs:
"My Old Ways"
"Loser"
"Oblivion"
"See You On Monday (You're Lost)"
moisturizer by Wet Leg
moisturizer is packed with the sweet sincerity and clever lyricism that has always made Wet Leg's music so captivating to listen to. I really fell in love with this project this year, "CPR" even ended up being one of my most‑played songs. There's such a heartfelt and sweet approach to so much of the writing, balanced with the sharp wit that's become so distinctly theirs.
My Favorite Songs:
"jennifer's body"
"mangetout"
"pokemon"
"don't speak"
DON'T TAP THE GLASS by Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator surprise released his latest album this summer and it may just be my favorite project he's released yet. DON'T TAP THE GLASS is so dynamic in its production, with such a bold and vibrant sound throughout. The way he so effortlessly and experimentally blends genre is something so singular to him, shifting between rap, soul, funk, and pop so confidently.
My Favorite Songs:
"Sugar On My Tongue"
"Don't Tap The Glass / Tweakin'"
"Don't You Worry Baby (feat Madison McFerrin)"
"I'll Take Care of You (feat. Yebba)"
Little House by Rachel Chinouriri
I can't believe it took me this long to discover Rachel Chinouriri's music, but I am so happy to have found it now! Her EP, Little House, is such a gem and really captures what makes her such a refreshing voice in music right now. Her songwriting is both heartfelt and fun, blending pop and rock influences into a sound all her own.
My Favorite Songs:
"23:42"
"What A Life"
"Little House"
Wicked: For Good Soundtrack
My Favorite Songs:
"No Place Like Home"
"I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)"
"No Good Deed"
"The Girl In The Bubble"
"For Good"
Am I The Drama? by Cardi B
My Favorite Songs:
"Dead (feat. Summer Walker)"
"Hello"
"Pick It Up (feat. Selena Gomez)"
"Bodega Baddie"
"Pretty & Petty"
Operator Zac Farro
Zac Farro's debut solo album is such a beautiful introduction to this side of him as an artist. There's an inherent warmth and deep introspection radiating through the whole project. Each song is wrapped in such a sweet, mellow '70s‑inspired style that feels so natural for him. He's so talented and I love getting to hear his voice and perspective outside of Paramore.
My Favorite Songs:
"Operator"
"1"
"My My"
"Gold Days"
"All I Really Want Now"
Thanks for reading! This is my last post of 2025 and I wanted to once again than anyone who has taken the time to support my writing this year. I truly can't believe how many people have read my writing this year. I'm always so grateful for anyone who takes the time to read my work and support what I do, it means more than I can ever say! It's such a joy to be able to share my love of music here, and I can't wait to see what 2026 will bring next!
To close out the year, I also posted a list of my top 30 favorite songs of the year, which I'd love for you to check out! If you're interested in reading about even more of my favorite music of the year, be sure to check out my New Music Friday series as well as my song of the week series.☆
Happy New Year!
-Melissa ♡
All credit to photo owners - header designed by Melissa Kacar
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