As I mentioned recently, list-making is not, generally, my idea of a good time. But at the invitation of Pitchfork and The Wire, which tally up the lists of critics at the end of each year, I did get together a set of 25 albums I loved in 2025. I break down my vague color-coding below.
The top 10 of these I feel particularly strongly about. The next second set of 9, from 11 to 19, are in their own zone, in terms of my frequency of listening. Then come two albums by artists I follow quite closely, closely enough that I may veer toward uncritical.
And the list closes with a set of four mainstream hip-hop albums that helped me, this year, find a way back into the rap fold. (Doechii is another favorite.) I’ve always been listening to hip-hop instrumentals — far less so, however, the full tracks. Something shifted this year. For one of my final social media solicitations of 2025, before I entered into a year-end hiatus, I asked folks for recommendations of albums based on my affection for these recent four, and I’m still working through the excellent titles that resulted.