25 for ‘25: Rich’s Albums of the Year
Very few standout albums this year and any of last year’s top twelve albums could easily have been 2025’s number one. We will be publishing a list soon of the top tracks of the year so if you are looking in vain here for your favourite album then maybe one or two tracks from it will appear in that list. Some solid efforts just fell short of inclusion here including new albums by The Waterboys, Wednesday, Lord Huron, Brown Horse, Shame and Florist amongst many others. Let’s start with albums 25 to 11 before diving deeper into the top 10.
25. A Complicated Woman - Self Esteem
24. Antidepressants - Suede
23. From Newman Street - Kassi Valazza
22. Want - Esther Rose
21. Trying Not to Have a Thought - Algernon Cadwalladr
20. Lucius - Lucius
19. More - Pulp
18. Bright Nights - Allo Darlin’
17. Owls, Omens and Oracles - Valerie June
16. Borderlands - The Milk
15. No Rain, No Flowers - The Black Keys
14. Caveman Wakes Up - Friendship
13. That’s What The Music Is For - The Apartments
12. Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same - The Loft
11. Real Warmth - Joan Shelley
10. All Asimov and No Fresh Air - Half Man Half Biscuit
The Liverpudlian indie-punk outfit have been making cutting edge albums for decades and this most recent effort has them on top form. Song titles like “Horror Clowns Are Dickheads” and “I’m Going Out of My Mind Trying to Get Into Yours” indicate no letting up in their originality as biting wit wins the day especially on standout “Record Store Day”.
9. Tuff Times Never Last - Kokoroko
South London neo-soul/jazz afro-beat collective keep the South London flag flying high on uplifting album’s response to dark times. Taking time out in an isolated location earlier in the year this seven piece have put together possibly their most engaging work to date. If October’s Zurich gig is anything to go by then they should be caught live too.
8. Way To The Sun - Minor Gold
Every so often artists come along that had been hidden under the radar and what a joy it was to discover this duo on their latest Americana offering. Beautiful harmonies, crisp acoustic guitars - this year’s Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
7. Planting by the Signs - S.G. Goodman
Kentucky songwriting songstress strikes gold on her third album. Southern country-soul for the 21st century. Closer “Heaven Song” borders on the epic.
6. Remembering Now - Van Morrison
He’s back! Even the most blinkered fan couldn’t deny that some of Van’s recent output has fallen way below the standards set in his heyday. He seems to have viewed his upcoming 80th birthday last August as a call to arms and a chance to remind everybody why indeed he is the living legend we so eulogise. The beautiful “The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours” should be reason enough to add this 68 minute effort to your Van collection.
5. Get Sunk - Matt Berninger
The National lyricist and frontman’s second ‘solo’ effort is full of the cultured lyricism and dramatic moments one has come to expect. Opener “Inland Ocean” sets the tone and it continues right through to anthemic closer “Times of Difficulty”.
4. Snocaps - Snocaps
And out of nowhere Katie Crutchfield appears with her sister Allison for a 35 minute jangly frenzy of unparalleled indie-pop joined by man of the moment MJ Lenderman. Catch them on the Wilco 4 dayer in Mexico in January if you can!
3. When Youth Fades Away - Somebody’s Child
Outstanding second album release from Dublin indie band tells a coming of age story which may well see them heading for huge stadia in 2026. A chugging powerful tour de force! Recommended.
“Porcelain” by Somebody’s Child live in Zurich
2. Foxes in the Snow - Jason Isbell
Superb musicianship, strong songwriting, painful lyrics in the wake of his breakup to Amanda Shires, Jason, here totally solo, is heading towards the peaks of his South Eastern period on this early March release. Highly recommended.
1. Twilight Override - Jeff Tweedy
A triple album!!! Nooooo!! Can anybody name one decent triple album since All Things Must Pass? The Clash’s Sandinista was an honourable effort but the history of popular music is not littered with stunning examples. Along comes the Wilco frontman and gives us nigh on two hours of his gentler side on a production where little two or three minute gems are found throughout. To be doing this so deep into his career which started with Uncle Tupelo some 35 years ago is nothing less than awe-inspiring.
So there we go - Rich’s top 25 albums of the year! Billy’s list will follow soon as well as a combined list of the top 25 tracks of the year (which you can also find on our playlist). Let us know your favourite albums of the year down in the comments!