Considered to be the Noah Kahan of the Christian genre, Josiah Queen’s unique blending of modern folk, acoustic and pop has gained him immense popularity within Christian Contemporary Music (CCM), earning him a reputation for his “banjo-infused storytelling.” His newest album is titled “Mt. Zion,” which he says is inspired by the biblical symbol of God’s presence, glory and eternal promises as outlined in Scriptures. The album stems from his desire to communicate humanity’s shortcomings, as well as God’s ever-flowing love despite these flaws.
What I found especially cool about “Mt. Zion” was Queen’s ability to beautifully retell narratives found in the Bible and relate them back to the world today. Songs like “Cloud and Fire” reflect upon the Lord’s provision and direction in difficult times, referencing the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness. “Slow Down, Please” refers to the story of Martha and Mary found in the Gospels, highlighting one’s ability to miss God amidst the rapidity and busyness of life. “Two Wooden Beams” spotlights the importance of the crucifixion, yet is conveyed in a redemptive, compelling way. Other songs are more thematic, covering topics such as revival, heaven, self-talk and even phone addiction.
Regardless of what you’re listening to, all of Queen’s songs strikingly capture the essence of brokenness and longing for God’s grace, as well as what it means to find purpose in him. This album serves as a reminder of what life is really all about and embodies an anthem the world is truly in need of hearing. I would definitely give this one a listen!
On Sept. 12th, Djo released the deluxe version of their album, The Crux. The deluxe version features 12 additional songs, along with the original tracks. This is the band’s third album, and their talent is evident. The band has found their own unique sound, while still taking inspiration from other artists. This record is an outstanding addition to Djo’s discography.
The Crux is a concept album that follows the lead singer, Joe Keery, and his adventures through a fictional hotel and its patrons. The album explores the feelings that come with impactful moments within one’s life, and finding joy and purpose in the more mundane aspects of life. Each song has a different meaning, the lyrics painting a picture of the emotions the song conveys.
My favorite songs off the album are “It’s Over” which discusses the painful realization that a relationship is coming to an end, and all of the conflicting emotions that come with it. As well as “Carry The Name”, which has similar tones, but ends on a more positive note, as it talks of learning to accept one’s self while still navigating the loneliness that comes after a breakup.
Overall, this record encapsulates the feeling of self-love and the struggle to find connection as you navigate the world around you. A feeling that many can relate to. Keery urges listeners to embrace their authentic selves and enjoy all of life’s twists and turns. This message is extremely important, especially in today’s world, which is why this album deserves to be one of 2025’s best albums.
Three years after the release of their album “Brightside,” The Lumineers delivered another hit with “Automatic,” which was released Feb. 14, 2025. The album marks a reflective turn for the band, blending their signature folk-rock sound with the overall theme of personal growth. Instead of relying on a high-energy chorus, “Automatic” thrives in its restraint, allowing storytelling to lead.
The title track, “Automatic,” sets the tone for the album with its steady piano and lyrics that capture the feeling of drifting through life on autopilot. Songs like “Keys on the Table” rely on the strings and dive into strained relationships and emotional tension. In contrast, “Still Learning” gives a quieter sense of optimism, reflecting on mistakes and the slow process of change. Tracks such as “February Nights” lean into nostalgia with strong imagery in the lyrics.
Throughout the album, The Lumineers balance simplicity with depth and show audiences that growth does not require abandoning one’s past. “Automatic” is a strong album and features a band that has matured alongside its audience. The album leaves a lasting impression and reaffirms The Lumineers’ strength in honest, emotional songwriting.
Many people tend to look towards musicians with the most world-wide acclaim to choose the best in the year, but there are many absolutely incredible songs waiting to be discovered if one digs deep enough to find them. One album that I think deserves far more attention than it gets is the contemporary jazz album of the Moses Yoofee Trio: MYT. The German trio is composed of keyboardist Moses Yoofee, drummer Noah Fürbringer and bassist Roman Klobe-Barangă.
In the last few years, this group has quickly gained quite a good reputation within the jazz community, and in 2024 they were awarded the prestigious Live Act of The Year award by the German Jazz Prize. The tracks on MYT lean into more of an R&B, hip-hop and soul style of jazz, whilst keeping a relatively fast pace throughout the album. One of the best songs on this album is the fourth track, Bond, which has lightning fast double time drum sections underneath gorgeous melodic piano playing and some truly amazing bass sections. This masterfully presented contrast found in many songs on this album is just one of many reasons this album deserves so much more appreciation.
MYT is a must-listen for anyone who is a fan of structurally complex music that has an awesome groove.
The new hit album, What No One’s Thinking by AJR, which was released on September 5, 2025, has the typical AJR flow. It contains so much deep, powerful emotion. AJR released this album after finishing their tour, which several of my own friends jumped at the chance to attend. In addition to the huge financial success with 40 sold-out shows for the band, the fans loved the album too.
The band said in an interview with Shore Fire Media, “We’ve been missing that connection with our fans, so we pulled together a bunch of our friends into a great lineup, created some new cool effects, and found the perfect excuse to get back out there!” The band’s connection with the fans is something unique to very few bands, and the tour definitely managed to bring in fans and build those relationships. Their advertising definitely spread out far and wide, with a large amount of social media advertising done, likely contributing to the large turnout at shows.
AJR’s website helps anyone interested in their music with a beautiful, captivating album cover, as well as the ability to listen to it on many of the most popular music applications. This album certainly deserves a best of for its explosive popularity.
Jon Pardi is a very well-known and talented country singer who grew up in Dixon, CA, before moving to Nashville, TN to pursue his career in music. After releasing the single and highlighted song, “Friday Night Heartbreaker” in September of 2024, Jon Pardi released his awaited 5th album, Honkytonk Hollywood, on April 11th, 2025.
With the perfect blend of traditional country and a bit of rock, this album brings excitement, energy and can easily get you on your feet. The album explores themes of everyday life, romance, and personal experiences. Titles such as “Boots Off” and “Rush” bring more of a fun and lively feel to the album while titles such as “He Went To Work” and “She Drives Away” show more of an emotional side, touching on topics such as family, love and separation. The combination of storytelling and energetic songs makes this album perfect for any mood and any time of day.
Very quickly after releasing, Pardi hit the road with his “Honkytonk Hollywood Tour”, starting off on April 25, 2025, and due to strong demand, the tour was extended through late October, bringing his music to fans all across the country. His show featured upbeat, energetic performances that highlighted tracks from his new album, while also giving viewers the opportunity to experience some of his biggest hits and fan favorites, including “Heartache Medication” and “Head over Boots.”
Jon Pardi has shown time and again that his storytelling and music capture both the heartfelt and exciting parts of life. This is why I chose Honkytonk Hollywood for album of the year. As someone who attended the tour, I would recommend this album and this artist to anyone who loves country music that is fun and full of energy. Whether you enjoy listening to music that makes you want to get up and dance, or songs where you can relate to the lyrics, this album covers it all.
Zara Larsson’s fifth studio album, “Midnight Sun,” is a dance-pop masterpiece that leaves listeners dancing, vibing and celebrating life. Spanning 10 songs and roughly 32 minutes, this pop earworm was released on September 26 to wide critical acclaim.
Known for her pure-pop sound and stunning vocals, Larsson encapsulates the essence of summer and fun in this love letter to her native Sweden. The album embraces the messiness of unrequited relationships and the importance of self-love. It’s the perfect addition to Larsson’s highly underrated discography, which, up until this point, has been characterized by sporadic chart-topping hits with no name recognition. My personal favorites include “Hot and Sexy” and “Eurosummer.” Their lively beats make for the perfect dance tracks. Like the rest of the album, these tracks use empowering themes to embrace authenticity and autonomy.
The album leans into fun Lisa Frank-esque, neon fever dream visuals, which perfectly embody the lively music. The album’s brand draws heavy inspiration from internet memes that circulated in previous months. It’s the perfect marketing strategy to employ for career traction, which has eluded her thus far. It makes sense that this album, clearly the best release of the year, would be the one to pull her out of obscurity and into her well-deserved limelight.
The album Hail to the Thief by Radiohead has songs layered with soft emotions that switch to strong ones in seconds, and the live version was no different. Hail to the Thief was released by Radiohead in 2003 and the live version of it released August 13, 2025. People who loved the studio recorded album are coming back to the live version. Radiohead, a rock band founded in England, has always been able to pull listeners back to their music like reeling them in on a fishing rod.
Two of my favorite songs are Where I End and You Begin and Go to Sleep. Where I End and You Begin has a grunge buildup and then soft lyrics as a little bit of techno builds up. Once the buildup hits a climax, the soft lyrics get tougher and the electric guitar has a small solo that sounds gritty and grindy. The second song, Go to Sleep, is the polar opposite. It starts with the gritty guitar and techno and ends with the soft lyrics.
Overall, the live version of this album is a different experience from the original. Taking We Suck Young Blood – Live has the crowd in a slow clap as Thom Yorke sings. I personally feel that these two are completely separate songs. The power in Yorke’s voice, as well as the incomparable amount of emotion in his voice, makes Radiohead a must-listen-to band if you have the time. This album is one of the best works of music published in 2025, without a doubt.
Released on Nov. 21, 2025, “Do It” is a Stray Kids hit album that was an absolute chart-topper. It is a continuation of the previous mixtape released the previous year titled “HOP.” The album expresses the themes of anti-procrastination and empowerment.
These themes can be seen throughout the mixtape, especially in the two title tracks, “Divine” and “Do it,” which emphasize the importance of living in the moment with confidence and trust in yourself. “Do It” approaches with a more rhythm-driven sound from reggaeton, a Latin and hip-hop fusion music originating in Puerto Rico. The music, combined with the lyrics, gives off an effortlessly cool vibe alongside the dancing.
“Divine” takes a more hip-hop-inspired approach with a strong beat and intense lyrics that tell the story of ascending to a sky with no constraints when it comes to creativity and freedom of expression. It cleverly meshes the traditional Korean accents with contemporary hip-hop to create a truly original voice and aesthetic.
Stray Kids exhibits passion and originality with every release, and “Do it” is no exception, as it showcases clever songwriting and profound lyrics that make the band stand out from the crowd.
Laufey’s “A Matter of Time” is a world-changing pop studio album that is worth a solid listen. Released on Aug. 22, 2025, this album takes a dive into personal reflection, the loss of friendships and resisting love. It is 45 minutes of pure art, diving deep into reflective topics that really make you feel. In the first week of release, it was a recognized chart-topper, dominating “Independent Albums”, “Jazz Albums,” “Traditional Jazz Albums” and “Vinyl Albums.”
For the TLDR of this album, just look into four of the best-ranking songs among the fans, lovingly named “Lauvers”, to get the gist. Hit song “Silver Lining’ explores the concept of embracing your true self, and being comfortable sharing that with a partner or friend. Another favorite is “Mr. Eclectic”, which makes fun of the recent increase in performative males. One that everyone has at least heard a snippet of, “Lover Girl” was trending on TikTok for its teasing, lovesick tones.
This is truly a must-listen; it will change your life forever.
Alienation, one of the lone alternative metal albums of 2025, is a huge success in consideration of the publicity this genre receives. This was exciting for Three Days Grace, widely known throughout the 2000s, to release an album just as good as their previous best-selling work, but disregarding the band’s and genre’s history, the album itself is greatly enjoyable, as many songs will instantly become classics within the genre’s community.
In pure music terms, Alienation peaks with all 12 songs being hits and all having solid metal composition that can provide strong motivation for workouts, letting loose, or just straight jams that never fail to satisfy any music enthusiast. This album supplies sturdy electric guitar rhythms, timeless drums and dominant vocals. The lyrics are serious yet moving, containing themes of isolation, addiction and heartbreak.
Before release, many were in constant hope of this genre to return, and with its original heavy and introspective feeling. Several bands released tunes alike but failed to capture the source of alternative rock as it used to be. However, with Alienation, it’s absolutely safe to say this is what most were looking for and that Three Days Grace has once again created another musical masterpiece.
Olivia Dean’s sophomore album, “The Art of Loving,” provides a refreshing perspective on the realities of modern love. Dean explores the complexities of love in a variety of forms: platonic, romantic, and self-love. Some of the album’s songs, such as “Man I Need” and “Nice to Each Other,” reached popularity on social media platforms, like TikTok, and even made former president Barack Obama’s “Favorite Music” list.
Dean’s charming melodies and powerful statements about finding love in the modern world have enchanted listeners from around the globe. Many people have discovered Dean’s music from the various social media platforms that they were popularized on, allowing some of her debut songs released in 2023 to resurface. Overall, “The Art of Loving” displays a creative and relatable take on the difficulties of managing relationships in a modern society that provides an enjoyable experience for all listeners.
KATSEYE is a girl group that debuted in 2024 under HYBE. Their second EP, BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, was released in June 2025. The EP is just over 14 minutes long and contains 16 songs.
The first single of BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, Gnarly, reached the Billboard Hot 100, and the entire album entered the U.S. Billboard 200 after its full release. The EP contains a large variety of music from genres such as hyperpop, Latin pop, dance pop, contemporary R&B and electronic music. The difference in the genres that are represented makes the album feel very diverse. This diversity is very representative of what KATSEYE stands for, as they are meant to be a “global girl group” coming from countries all around the world.
While the music and lyrics might not be the biggest highlight for many, each song has gotten popular online for its unique and fun dances. The entertaining choreography and catchy lyrics keep these songs stuck in your head for days. While I don’t think this album is perfect on a technical level, it is so much fun, and sometimes that is just what you need.
A new hit album by Mumford and Sons titled “Rushmere” is, in my opinion, the best album of the year. Mumford and Sons is my favorite band, and every single album they come out with has always caught my interest, and this album is no different. “Rushmere” was released on Mar. 28, 2025, and has been successful since its release. This is a slower album by Mumford and Sons that I feel shows a more depressing side of life, but the concepts touched upon within this album shouldn’t be forgotten. Grief, struggle and acceptance are huge themes within these songs and the band touches on them perfectly with catchy melodies and great vocals.
Although this is my favorite band, I feel like anyone who enjoys folkish music would enjoy at least a few songs on this album. The band has great strumming patterns and banjo playing within this album, and some of the verses leave you thinking long after the song is over. Although the album isn’t the best album they’ve made in my opinion, it is still an important one, and some of the songs are simply beautiful. If anyone were to learn anything from these songs, it would be that life is filled with grief and beauty, and Mumford and Sons does a perfect job of portraying that. That is why it’s my pick for best album of 2025.
“Man’s Best Friend” is Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh studio album, which was released on Aug. 29th, 2025. This album was significant because Carpenter had released her previous album “Short n Sweet” just a year before in August. While “Man’s Best Friend” had a quick release, it is, nonetheless, exceptional.The album discusses heartbreak, loneliness, anger and letting go. Though some of these themes are quite depressing, most of the songs on the album are upbeat and lively.
Catchy tunes like “Manchild” and “Go Go Juice” truly bring a fun, danceable feeling when listening to the album. A lot of people on social media have gone on to make dances from various songs on the album, including “Manchild” and “Tears”. Even though most of the songs seem to have a happy beat, there are a couple of songs with slower, deeper rhythms. These songs include “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” and “Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry”.
The entire album seems to go through all the emotions of breaking up and dealing with it. . I was really happy with the outcome of this album. I was skeptical at first, but I was not disappointed. I truly feel there is not a song that I could skip from this album and recommend it to anyone I come across.
If I had to pick my top three songs from the album, I would pick “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night”, “Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry” and the deluxe track, “Such A Funny Way”. You can honestly find me in my car, screaming the lyrics. Carpenter did a wonderful job with this album.
“Let God Sort Em Out” marks hip-hop duo Clipse’s first album release in 16 years (since 2009’s “‘Til the Casket Drops”), marking a return to the studio and to the signature Clipse sound for Pusha T and No Malice. Most of the album’s production was helmed by Pharrell Williams, allowing for the group to continue fostering their signature sound. The project blends street-level realism with religious reflection, incorporating themes of judgment, aging and faith, particularly from No Malice’s perspective.
The album received significant attention and critical acclaim upon release due to its long-awaited release and high-profile relevance. Several notable tracks on the album stood out to me. “Chains & Whips,” one of the most discussed tracks on the album, featured rapper Kendrick Lamar and highlighted themes of power, control and accountability, which helped to reinforce the album’s cultural weight. The opening track, “The Birds Don’t Sing,” utilizes a reflective and emotional tone with themes of grief and loss coinciding with the topic of the deaths of Pusha T and No Malice’s parents. This song signaled the album’s (and the group’s) shift toward maturity and introspection. After more than a decade apart, this album acts as a refined and confident return for Clipse.
“I’m The Problem” by Morgan Wallen, released on May 16, 2025, is a 37-song and roughly two-hour-long country hit. The album contains heartbreak, regret and sentimental centerpieces that really pull all 37 tracks together. With some of the top played songs being “I’m The Problem” at 148 million streams, “What I want” featuring Tate McRae at 51 million streams, “Superman” at 32.5 million streams and “I Got Better” at 29 million streams, the emotion really shines bright in all of the songs.
While Wallen continues to make country-style music, he is well known for his blended taste, combining multiple genres into one, often creating a unique blend of sounds. The Tennessee native first rose to fame when competing on season six of “The Voice” in 2014. Since then, he’s released four studio albums, four EPs and 22 singles since the start of his career in 2015. Considering that Wallen has been in the game for 11 years and only has four albums, would make anyone think that he hasn’t won many large awards, or possibly even no awards at all. But that isn’t the case at all. Wallen has had 47 total nominations across the boards and 10 total wins. Most recently, on Dec. 16, 2025, Wallen became the RIAA’s highest certified country music artist of all time. This proves that he is more than capable of competing with other country music artists such as Luke Combs, Kane Brown and Chris Stapleton.
The album itself reveals a deep vulnerability and self-reflection as Wallen expresses accountability, love and chaos as he tells his story. While some say that some tracks on the album seem repetitive, Wallen manages to stay true to his country roots, never leaning too far from home. Throughout Wallen’s career, he’s faced many hardships, but he never fails to persevere and continue creating music. Wallen continues to tell stories of his life through his music, showing that anyone can overcome anything, even by simply enjoying music. Which is why I believe Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” is the album of the year.
