This page contains Metacritic's official list of the 40 best-reviewed albums of 2025, ranked by Metascore. This list only includes new albums receiving at least 7 reviews from professional critics.
Otherwise, all full-length studio albums (or mixtapes) released between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 are eligible, though EPs, singles, reissues, live albums, remix albums, box sets and other compilations are excluded. (Those excluded titles are included in a separate list at the bottom of the page.) Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding based on scores as of December 17, 2025.
#40 through #21
| Saving Grace by Robert Plant with Suzi Dian | 86 | |
| #39 | Luminescent Creatures by Ichiko Aoba | 86 |
| #38 | Interior Live Oak by Cass McCombs | 86 |
| #37 | Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams by Patterson Hood | 86 |
| #36 | End of the Middle by Richard Dawson | 86 |
| #35 | Lotus by Little Simz | 86 |
| #34 | Owls, Omens, and Oracles by Valerie June | 87 |
| #33 | EUSEXUA by FKA twigs | 87 |
| Scratch It by U.S. Girls | 87 | |
| #31 | Snocaps by Snocaps | 87 |
| #30 | The Boy Who Played the Harp by Dave | 87 |
| #29 | Snipe Hunter by Tyler Childers | 87 |
| #28 | Birthing by Swans | 87 |
| #27 | caroline 2 by caroline | 87 |
| #26 | Like a Ribbon by John Glacier | 87 |
| #25 | Time Indefinite by William Tyler | 87 |
| #24 | Bleeds by Wednesday | 88 |
| #23 | EURO-COUNTRY by CMAT | 88 |
| #22 | Allbarone by Baxter Dury | 88 |
| #21 | Planting by the Signs by S.G. Goodman | 88 |
The top 20
The Welsh art-rock singer-songwriter enlists her countryman John Cale for an appearance on her seventh solo album (and first since 2022's Pompeii).
"Le Bon fills her music with ornately carved oddities, but she's always had an ear for pop melodies, even within her most ambitiously arranged songs." —Pitchfork
Iggy Pop and Ethel Cain guest on the sixth album by the Swedish composer/Goth rocker/pipe organ specialist, which earned comparisons to Kate Bush for its diverse blend of instrumentation and mature songwriting.
"It is intelligent, thrilling, unique, and endlessly replayable—challenging, yes, but always worth the effort. .... This is her Hounds of Love, her Brat. Yes, it's that good." —No Ripcord
Billing themselves as an "ecstatic" black metal band, L.A.'s Agriculture followed up their self-titled 2023 LP with this excellent sophomore set in October.
"Make absolutely no mistake, this record is a force of nature. It's one of the most crucial additions to the metal canon this decade." —Under the Radar
The first solo album in three years from the New York rapper (and his first release since his twin 2023 stunners, the Kenny Segal collab Maps, which landed on our 2023 year-end list, and Armand Hammer's We Buy Diabetic Test Strips) features production from Ant, El-P, The Alchemist, and more.
"Despite being an unnerving, disorienting listen, where samples of screams or phone calls clash with blank verse lines weaving in and out of consciousness, GOLLIWOG is a hugely rewarding experience. Blending an immense array of collaborators on the mic and behind the desk, it somehow manages to string them together cohesively in impressive fashion." —The Skinny
Lorde, Ben Watt, and Caroline Polachek are among the guests on the fifth—and highest-scoring—album from London's Dev Hynes under the Blood Orange name.
"A remarkable album with more gateways than a knowing mixtape, Essex Honey shows that Hynes is as ingenious as a would-be DJ, A&R, and talent connector as he is as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer." —AllMusic
Praised for its impeccable songwriting by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, Threats is the second album from the indie Americana project from former State Champion frontman Ryan Davis.
"What an incredible head-spinning trip this album is." —Uncut
Britpop survivors Suede are still flourishing after first reuniting 15 years ago. The triumphant, guitar-centric goth-rocker Antidepressants is their 10th studio album and one of their best yet.
"Somewhat of a companion piece to The Cure's Songs of a Lost World, Antidepressants will not only be a new favourite of Suede fans, but also open a new audience up to them." —Beats Per Minute
Nourished by Time is a solo project by Baltimore-born singer-songwriter/producer Marcus Elliot Brown, and his second album The Passionate Ones earned passionate praise from reviewers for its genre-blending "post-R&B" sound and earnest songwriting approach.
"The Passionate Ones, ponders late-stage capitalism, loneliness and love over an impeccable blend of breezy indie pop and grainy electro-funk. Brown's deadpan baritone is loose and relaxed, and he croons like he's drawling in bed. He delivers stunning poetic refrains with heart and the kind of vulnerable confidence only developed after climbing out of rock bottom." —Resident Advisor
One of the buzziest American indie rock bands of 2025 (thanks in part to the recent success of frontman Cameron Winter's recent solo album Heavy Metal), Geese released their third and best album in September.
"Not only is it Geese's best offering yet, it might just be one of the most creative indie rock records of the 2020s." —Consequence
Recording on the English prog-rock band's sixth and final album LSD began in 2007—three decades after the band was founded—but was interrupted when frontman Tim Smith had a stroke, leaving him paralyzed and unable to perform or even speak. His brother Jim (also a member of the band) eventually finished the album with Tim's guidance, enlisting family and friends after Tim's death in 2020.
"It is a wonderful life-affirming masterpiece." —Classic Rock Magazine
Aldous Harding guests on the seventh album from Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas). It's his best-reviewed release since 2020's Set My Heart on Fire Immediately and the second-highest-scoring LP of his career to date.
"With Glory, Hadreas discovers a rare balance between approachable songwriting and musical ambition that reinvigorates his music." —AllMusic
English electronic-punk duo Benefits follow their 2023 debut Nails with a strong (and even more electronic) sophomore set that features an appearance by Pete Doherty and drew comparisons to Underworld.
"With this album, they've crafted something that is still powerful, vital and confrontational, but balanced between fury and finesse. Constant Noise is more enveloping, mesmeric and, at times, beautiful in its mannered rage." —The Line of Best Fit
Still not slowing down at the age of 86, legendary singer Mavis Staples tackles songs by Frank Ocean, Tom Waits, Gillian Welch, Curtis Mayfield, Kevin Morby, Sparklehorse, and more on this Brad Cook-produced album.
"All in all Sad and Beautiful World is another always welcome collection of Staples' mastery and it's very much in evidence that she remains at the top of her game." —Under the Radar
California alt-metal stalwarts Deftones continue to impress on their 10th studio album, which reunites them with their Koi No Yokan producer Nick Raskulinecz.
"Even in the scheme of one of modern rock's most consistent and treasured back catalogues, Private Music is in the upper most tier, a record that succeeds where its predecessor didn't quite." —Kerrang!
Heartworms, the English post-punk project guided by Jojo Orme, worked with in-demand London producer Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C.) for this dark and promising debut LP.
"An extraordinary debut that proves Heartworms is a force to be reckoned with." —DIY Magazine
No longer signed to a major label, the Paramore frontwoman opted to self-distribute her third solo album—first as a string of online singles, then as a proper album in August—and was rewarded with the best reviews of her career.
"While her previous two solo records did not quite reach the high bar set by her work with Paramore, this record is in a tier with the group's absolute best, and is Williams's first solo masterpiece." —Exclaim
The second solo album (following 2021's Absolutely) from Grammy-nominated producer and R&B artist Dijon Duenas, who has worked with artists ranging from Justin Bieber to Bon Iver, earned acclaim for its playful and experimental nature.
"This is bold, irreverent, exploratory music." —Pitchfork
The previously little-known Irish singer-songwriter Dove Ellis earned comparisons to Jeff Buckley—and a support slot on a tour by the aforementioned Geese—with this just-released debut album.
"An album that sounds both cosily intimate and impressively ambitious at the same time, and presents as one hell of a calling card for Dove Ellis. This looks to be the beginning of an incredibly exciting journey." —musicOMH
The Spanish artist's fourth album missed out by a few tenths of a point on becoming her second straight Metacritic Album of the Year winner (following 2022's Motomami). The ambitious and at times experimental Lux finds her backed by the London Symphony Orchestra and joined (on one track) by the equally boundary-expanding artist Bjork.
"While Lux is certainly accessible, it's also a challenging listen. The fact that it sounds like nothing else may put some people off straight away. Yet for those willing to fully immerse themselves in its overwhelming sweep, the reward is likely to be a dizzying, unmatchable experience which cements Rosalía as one of the most visionary artists working today." —musicOMH
Metacritic's Official #1 Album of 2025. One of the very first albums released in 2025 is also the year's best. The Puerto Rican reggaeton star's sixth solo studio album—that title translates to "I Should Have Taken More Photos"—collected 6 Grammy nominations (following multiple Latin Grammy wins, including Album of the Year) in addition to stellar reviews. He just kicked off a stadium tour, but you'll see him soon in the biggest stadium gig on the planet: as the featured halftime performer at Super Bowl LX.
"As Bad Bunny confidently moves between a whirlwind of rumba rhythms and raucous reggaeton sirens, it's like he has found a whole new peak of greatness at the top of Puerto Rico mountains. On Nadie Sabe, he claimed he was in his prime. Now, on Debí Tirar Más Fotos, it's clear he finally is." —Rolling Stone
BONUS: Best reissues and compilations
We excluded reissues, box sets, EPs, singles, live albums, and compilations from our main list above. But here are 2025's highest-scoring releases that fall into any of those categories and received at least 4 reviews from professional critics.
| #1 | The Making of Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake | 100 |
| #2 | Wish You Were Here 50 by Pink Floyd | 100 |
| #3 | The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway [50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Ed.] by Genesis | 96 |
| #4 | Tracks II: The Lost Albums by Bruce Springsteen | 95 |
| #5 | A Ghost Is Born [Deluxe Ed.] by Wilco | 95 |
| #6 | Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963 by Bob Dylan | 93 |
| #7 | 1985: The Miracle Year by Hüsker Dü | 91 |
| #8 | I Can't Give Everything Away (2002 - 2016) by David Bowie | 89 |
| #9 | WINGS by Paul McCartney & Wings | 88 |
| #10 | Buckingham Nicks [reissue] by Buckingham Nicks | 87 |
BONUS: Biggest disappointments
While most out-and-out terrible albums don't get enough reviews to obtain a Metascore (if they even get reviewed at all), here are 2025's worst-reviewed albums receiving a minimum of 4 reviews from professional critics.
| #1 | Based on a True Story by Will Smith | 41 |
| #2 | American Heart by Benson Boone | 47 |
| #3 | SWAG II by Justin Bieber | 48 |
| #4 | JACKBOYS 2 by JACKBOYS & Travis Scott | 48 |
| #5 | Love Is Like by Maroon 5 | 50 |
| #6 | Tha Carter VI by Lil Wayne | 50 |
| #7 | UY SCUTI by Young Thug | 50 |
| #8 | SALVATION by Rebecca Black | 52 |
| #9 | $ome $exy $ongs 4 U by PartyNextDoor & Drake | 54 |
| #10 | Pink Elephant by Arcade Fire | 55 |
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