Albums of The Year 2025
For 2025 weβve tried a slightly new approach, selecting 20 essential albums across broader umbrella categories to condense the list while still covering our favourite corners of music. Did that make it any easier? No, and it only reduced our 2024 total of 122 to 100.
Our new categories reflect the flavours we love and stock. Jazz, Ambient, and Electronic make up the backbone of our store, Hip-hop & Soul is the fourth list, and finally Alternative & Experimental which covers folk, rock, and everything in between. The result? Once again the best album list on the internet (hehe).
To make things a little easier, live album, compilations, and 30 minutes albums werenβt considered, and where multiple releases leaned toward a similar style, we often picked one that offered something different. Full category accolades will be revealed with the release of the complete list, alongside our take on Tuning In, Day Thinking, Cutting Shapes, and Winding Down, so you can explore the genres and vibes that made 2025 a great year in music.
Let each list and playlist guide your musical discovery and take you somewhere deeper than that YouTube music rabbit hole a couple years back.
Note: weβve switched our playlists to Tidal.
(1) Jazz
20 essential Jazz {including fusion) albums from 2025. Our picks celebrate deep grooves, beautiful improvisation, and fresh ideas. Moving from classic foundations to new explorations, these albums are perfect for listening closely, drifting off, or getting a little lost in the music. If you enjoy any track on this playlist, chances are youβll love the album. Happy exploring.
Playlist
(2) Ambient
This yearβs ambient selections span a wide range of approaches, from subtle textures and slow-moving compositions to more expansive electronic explorations. The playlist presents a curated snapshot of these releases, though some albums are not currently available on TIDAL. Together, they represent a broad cross-section of contemporary ambient music, suitable for both focused listening and open-ended exploration.
Playlist
(3) Electronic
Our Electronic Albums of the Year 2025 brings together records that explore rhythm, texture, and emotion across a wide spectrum of electronic music. From deep, dancefloor-leaning releases to introspective and experimental works, these albums reflect a year defined by curiosity, evolution, and thoughtful sound design. Together, they capture electronic musicβs ability to move bodies, shape moods, and create space for reflection.
Playlist
(4) Alt/Experimental
This is our selection of 20 alternative and experimental albums weβve been spending time with so far this year. Thereβs no order to the list, just records that linger, unfold slowly, and reward repeat listening. Moving across ambient, folk, electronic, jazz, and art-rock, these albums sit outside easy categories and follow feeling over form. Music for drifting, thinking, and staying with a little longer.
Playlist
(5) Hip-Hop / Soul
Hip-hop continues to evolve while staying rooted in rhythm, storytelling and soul. This selection brings together some of the records that stood out to us this year, from laid-back grooves and sample-driven beats to more forward-leaning sounds. A mix of albums for close listening, late nights and everything in between.
Playlist
