Best 55 Albums of 2025 According to BrooklynVegan
BrooklynVegan’s Best Albums of 2025 brought a year full of unique music moments. Unlike previous years with significant cultural events like Brat Summer and “Not Like Us,” 2025 was a year where everything seemed more fragmented. The process of selecting a top album was challenging due to various diverse genres and standout moments in music. This year saw a peak in indie-country music, a resurgence in black metal, and a renaissance for emo music. Geese emerged as a prominent band, and there were exceptional releases across hip hop, hardcore, metal, country, indie rock, indie pop, pop, shoegaze, and more. The music scene witnessed legendary artists making comebacks and new musicians making exciting debuts.
This year was so filled with excellent music that BrooklynVegan’s list expanded to include 55 top albums of 2025. Despite this long list, there were still many other records not included that the team at BrooklynVegan loved throughout the year. Additionally, in 2025, BrooklynVegan launched a new weekly podcast called BV Weekly alongside their existing BV Interviews podcast. They encouraged their audience to subscribe to the podcasts, share them with friends, and leave positive reviews. Supporting BrooklynVegan was also possible through purchases from the BV shop.
One of the featured albums on the list was “Again” by The Belair Lip Bombs. The Australian quartet describes their music as “yearn-core,” blending indie rock with country and power pop. Their second album has a timeless sound inspired by various eras of music, making it instantly captivating. Led by singer/guitarist Maisie Everett’s powerful vocals and clever wordplay, The Belair Lip Bombs deliver a record filled with warm charm and likable tunes, reminiscent of ’70s AM radio and ’80s college rock.
The album “Sortilège” by Preservation & Gabe ‘Nandez also made it to the list. It followed their collaboration on billy woods’ album in 2022 and showcased their chemistry. Preservation’s eerie, slowed-down boom bap production paired perfectly with Gabe’s gripping lyrical style. Their shared French ancestry influenced the album’s title, with the songs embodying the dark and somber underground New York rap tradition.
Sharp Pins featured with their album “Radio DDR / Balloon Balloon Balloon,” blending jagged post-punk with jangly power pop. Led by Kai Slater, the project drew influence from iconic bands like Guided by Voices and The Beatles, delivering energetic and catchy two-minute tracks. S.G. Goodman’s album “Planting By The Signs” also stood out, gaining recognition from Tyler Childers and showcasing Goodman’s profound connection to the road and authentic musical storytelling.
Overall, BrooklynVegan’s list of the top 55 albums of 2025 highlighted the diverse and innovative music that made the year memorable for music enthusiasts around the world.