Ethan's Top 20 Albums of 2025 ranked
Written by: Ethan Ainley | January 28th, 2026
The main sentiment I have heard about 2025 was that it was a bad year for music. Well, I don’t share this sentiment with those people. My ranking of 20 albums from 2025 came about after I looked back on the year trying to determine what was my favorite album of the year, and I struggled to pick just one. Maybe it’s the contrarian in me or my taste levels, but either way I stayed fed in 2025. The following ranking is a reflection of those taste levels, and as such includes mostly pop and country music. Judge me as you may. I won’t hear it anyways because I’ll be busy listening to these 20 albums.
#20 - Emotion (10th Anniversary Edition) by Carley Rae Jepsen
Well, yes. Technically, Jepsen released “Emotion” Side A and Side B ten years ago in 2015, but it’s just as fresh as the day it came out. The album is a pop bible that influenced the sounds of latter 2010’s pop music, along with containing a few of the greatest pop songs of all time. “Run Away With Me” is and forever will be the hit that never was because for some reason after “Call Me Maybe” success, Jepsen never hit the tops of the charts. She was writing with influences from past 80s music right on the cusp of the resurgence the decade saw.
This synth-pop masterpiece contains other highlights such as “Making The Most Of The Night,” “Let’s Get Lost,” “Cut To The Feeling,” “I Didn’t Just Come Here To Dance” and the title track “Emotion.” However, the most impressive aspect of this new edition is that some songs left out of the original album are released, and they sounded just as fresh in 2025 as they would have in 2015.
#19 - Tension Tour//Live 2025 by Kylie Minogue
Minogue has always been a low-key legend, but it’s with her most recent album cycle called “Tension” that the public seemed to rediscover this longtime pop music gem. The Grammy winning track “Padam Padam” brought her star back to the light in the States after experiencing her greatest success in Europe and Australia.
As a true contemporary of Madonna, the Australian singer impressively embarked on a world tour of her “Tension” album. This live album is the fruit of that labor. Again, there is no original music in this project, but the mixing and blending of these songs together is exhilarating. My main measure of the success of a live album is that if I close my eyes, I feel transported to the concert. In this case, I felt like Kylie herself was performing her hits right in my room.
#18 - Addison by Addison Rae
Addison Rae wants to be a pop star. Tik Tok and social media was just a launching pad for her career, and even with all the barrage of jokes at her expense, she has finally reached a level of pop stardom. In times like these, you can never be sure who is clout-chasing or who has talent and something to say. After the release of her debut album, I believe Rae has taste and is interested in creating a pop legacy for herself.
Rae’s debut EP “AR” contained fun but overall non-offensive pop music. It even had “Nothin’ On But The Radio” which was an old unreleased Lay Gaga song from “The Fame.” However, in “Addison” the former Tik Tok star is “all that” and more. The music and album aesthetic is reminiscent of the early 2000s, which is an immediate bonus for me. Outside of the nostalgia, there is Lana Del Rey and Charli XCX inspired production, but with a fresh twist brought by Rae and her producer Elvira Anderfjärd. This exciting direction for Rae has earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and starts her own exciting musical career.
#17 - Perimenopop by Sophie Ellis-Baxtor
After committing “Murder On The Dancefloor,” Sophie Ellis-Baxtor’s career has seen a sudden resurgence. She has gained more fans than ever before, including ones here in the States, after most of her success happening in the UK. If the title, which is a play on the word perimenopause, doesn’t grab your attention, well then, the groove of the tracks should draw you in.
Ellis-Baxtor sticks close to her guns and much of the tracks on this record reflect the sound of her Saltburn success and viral song. “Freedom Of The Night,” “Relentless Love,” “Vertigo,” “Taste” and “Dolce Vita” are all certified disco-pop bangers. The album follows in the tracks of other recent well-done disco-pop records such as “What’s Your Pleasure?” by Jessie Ware, “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa, “Disco” by Kylie Minogue and much of Lizzo’s releases. I say let’s keep this trend going and I loved to see a woman past their 30s in pop getting her flowers.
#16 - D R E A M S I C L E by Maren Morris
Morris officially departed the country music industry after facing backlash for her vocal support of LGBTQ+ rights, racial rights and other liberal causes. The talented songwriter and pop-country hitmaker wrote about it in her salacious EP called “The Bridge” where she called out the hypocrisy of the country music industry and criticized its world.
In 2024, she collaborated a lot with pop hitmaker and popular songwriter Julia Micheals on an EP titled “Intermission.” And in 2025, she released a full-length album featuring the songs of that EP and more. It’s a light and airy pop-country album featuring songs about relationships, womanhood and empowerment. Tracks to highlight are “people still show up,” “push me over,” “cut!” and “i hope i never fall in love.”
#15 - The Party Is Over (recovered) by Morgan Wade
We are talking about Morgan Wade and NOT Morgan Wallen, which is a very annoying confusion people have when I bring this country artist up to non-country fans. Wade has been own crafting her own unique blend of country and rock since her debut album “Reckless.” With her newest album she continues her trend of combining vulnerable songwriting with 90s inspired sounds of country and alt rock.
Wade’s music and lyrics deal with mental health, addiction and relationships. This record is a pondering on what happens after the recovery and its Wade thinking about her future while reflecting on the past. My favorite tracks on this album are “High in Your Apartment,” “Candy From Strangers,” “Roses” and “Hardwood Floor.”
#14 - It’s Not That Deep by Demi Lovato
It’s really not that deep of an album, but it can be if you want it to. Lovato made her return to pop music this year after a short stint in rock with her last couple of records. This isn’t the same pop sound she has had in the past, and rather it’s a reflection of the hyper pop trend brought on by Charli XCX.
However, one thing Lovato has that many other hyper pop artists don’t is a powerhouse voice. This incredibly dominating voice elevates the production of the tracks to another level. Lovato is an underrated pop songwriter, and her prowess really shines on tracks like “Kiss” and “Let You Go.” Other fun songs are “Frequency,” “Little Bit” and “Here All Night.”
#13 - . by Kesha
“.” as it is stylized instead of the word period is a return to the sounds of early Kesha or Ke$ha as she once went by. This album and the previous Lovato album hold a similar place in my rankings for the year. They both have that hyper pop sound and feature just plain fun pop songs. Each record has great earworms and even if they aren’t reaching that deep, they gave us all something to dance to in 2025.
In the opening track, titled “Freedom,” Kesha proclaims just what this album is all about, which is finally breaking free from her oppressive record label and leaving Dr. Luke in the past. “RED FLAG,” “THE ONE,” “CATHEDRAL” and “GLOW.” This album reminds everyone that Kesha was the original party girl point blank period.
#12 - The Eldest Daughter by Gatlin
Indie pop darling Gatlin finally released a debut album in 2025, and it features all the elements of authenticity that has garnered her fans. Gatlin has released singles and an EP in the past, but now listeners have a full-length LP to get an idea of her full artistry. “The Eldest Daughter” feels like a coming-of-age album with topics such as romantic relationships, family trauma and early pop stardom.
The album is filled with relatable lyrics and pleasant melodies. It’s a promising start to the artist’s career and leaves me excited to hear more in the future. “Pipe Dream” and “Happy.” Plug into Gatlin’s chill indie pop vibes by giving this album and some of her other songs a listen
#11 - All Things Light by Cam
Underrated country singer/songwriter Cam returned with a new album in 2025 after helping with some of the writing on Beyoncé’s country album “Cowboy Carter.” In her newest album she delves into a combination of psychedelic pop and acoustic country sounds. This fusion combined with Cam’s unique perspective when writing songs provides an incredible sonic journey.
“Turns Out That I Am God” and “Alchemy” were the first songs released from this project and they are my favorite on the record. Cam is experimenting with the blending of genres, and the results are heavenly. This album shows real growth in her artistry, and it’s a real pity that innovative music like this doesn’t get appreciation in mainstream country music. “Everblue,” “Kill The Guru!” and “Canyon” stand out in the album as sharply produced tracks accompanied by Cam’s angelic vocals and intuitive songwriting.
#10 - Cherry Valley by Carter Faith
Carter Faith was the biggest surprise in 2025 for me. She was an artist I was previously unaware of and it’s with her album “Cherry Valley” that I have been made a huge fan of her. It’s her southern drawl voice that truly brings a sparkle to all of her songs. Faith’s music is a breath of fresh air for the country genre while also harkening back to its early sound. It’s currently unclear if the industry of country music will accept Faith as much as fans have. There is so much of this album to highlight and I find it difficult to only mention a few songs, but I love “Betty,” “Bar Star,” “Grudge” and “Sex, Drugs and Country Music.”
#9 - I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME by Noah Cyrus
Noah Cyrus has distinguished a sound for herself outside of the shadow of her sister Miley Cyrus, just as Miley had to outside the shadow of her father Billy Ray Cyrus. In her latest record, Noah continues blending a bluegrass country with a folk sounding alternative pop. “The Hardest Part” was a stunningly beautiful debut for the young singer/songwriter, and this newest record feels like a natural continuation.
Cyrus has successfully curated a unique sound for herself that no one else in pop or country has at this moment. Noah Cyrus is excellent at collaborating with other artists by perfectly meshing her voice with another. In the record, she continues to explore themes of relationships, grief, mental health and familial connection. My favorite tracks are “New Country,” “Way of the World,” “Love Is a Canyon,” “I Saw the Mountains” and “Don’t Put It All on Me.”
#8 - Louder, Please by Rose Gray
Rose Gray has arrived on the scene, and this brit-pop star isn’t getting the “attention” quite yet that she deserves. I first discovered her when she collaborated with Kesha on “ATTENTION” in which she announced her presence with, “Rose Gray on the track.” From there I dived into her solo work and discovered the absolutely hypnotic “Louder, Please” which feels like an instant club classic.
The stunning album cover perfectly captures the vibes that Gray is going for with her sound. This album features earworm after earworm and will have you wanting to get to a club ASAP. There are so many highlights to discover but my favorites from this project are “Free,” “Angel of Satisfaction,” “Wet & Wild,” “Switch” and “Party People.”
#7 - Princess of Power by Marina
Marina may have dropped the Diamonds, but she hasn’t lost her sparkle. With “Princess of Power” she reclaims her title as a true pop princess. This is her first project as an independent artist after splitting ways with her previous record company. The production on this album is multi-layered and clever. One example of this is in the track “Metallic Stallion” where she simulates the trotting of a horse as the basis of the song’s beat. It’s production and creative songwriting like this which helps bring her concept album to life and give rebirth to the pop persona of Marina. If this creative endeavor is any sign of what is to come, then it must mean Marina is only just reaching her artistic peaks. My favorite songs are “Cuntissimo,” “Je ne sais quoi,” “Princess of Power” and “Cupid’s Girl.”
#6 - Who’s the Clown? By Audrey Hobert
I’ll tell you who the clown is, it’s listeners for not giving Audrey Hobert the same level of success as Gracie Abrams, whom she wrote many of Abram’s hit songs. However, it’s here in her debut album where Hobert steps out from the shadows to shine as her own awkward pop star. Hobert embodies the meme of the girl with a bag of chips on her head that says, “She’s so crazzzzzy! Love her!” It’s this strange and sometimes cringey adolescent humor accompanied by catchy pop melodies that has garnered her a fanbase.
In this debut album she solidifies herself as some weird love child of Bo Burnham, Weird Al and Taylor Swift. Perhaps it’s Hobert’s strange background as a nepo baby writing for Nickelodeon that gives the songwriter her sometimes off-putting humor. Tracks to highlight include “I Like to Touch People,” “Chateau,” “Thirst Trap,” “Bowling Alley” and “Sex and the City.” Even more impressive about this debut is that the majority of songs were solo written, and only one other writer was involved with a few of the songs.
#5 - Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
Paramore is iconic of course and undoubtedly a great band, but part of me things they hold Hayley Williams back from her full potential. It’s in solo projects like “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” where I can find a strong emotional connection to the music. Williams is somewhat of an edgier Taylor Swift with less culturally domineering pop impact on the general public. She has that punk spirit and a brilliant songwriting brain which has crafted her greatest album to date.
One of my favorite aspects of this album was its unusual release. Multiple singles were released at once and then continued dropping on a weekly basis. This was a smart strategy because each time a new song was added to the album, I noticed it popping up on streaming as a new release. This strategy was also fun to experience as a fan as you always had a new song to look forward to dropping. “Glum,” “Parachute,” “Hard,” “Mirtazapine,” “True Believer” and basically all the tracks on this album are standouts.
#4 - Returning To Myself by Brandi Carlile
“Returning to Myself” snuck up on me this year. I have mostly been a casual listener of Brandi Carlile, but with this album I found myself connecting more than ever before. Carlile is open and honest with motherhood, her relationship to her partner and most dramatically with death or the passing of time. This album feels like meditation on the soul, and it speaks to human experience.
My favorite listening experience of the album is playing it with the commentary tracks as I enjoy hearing Carlile speaking on the songs before they play. This Americana soft rock record is a true triumph from the beloved and constantly awarded Calile. The feelings I get from listening to this record stick with me to this day. “A War with Time,” “Human” and “Church & State” are some of my favorites. The song “You Without Me” is a truly unique examination of the confusing feeling parents get when seeing their kids grow up. It delves into devastating feelings of both pride and devastation at seeing your child growing apart from you.
#3 - Silver Deliverer by Aly & AJ
Sister duo Aly & AJ triumphantly returned to music in 2021 with a beautiful pop album that has a ridiculously long title. Since then, they have toured several times and dropped another album in 2023 before their most recent album in 2025. All of these albums have been their strongest output of work and a creative highpoint for the duo, who originated on Disney Channel around the same time as Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff and the Jonas Brothers. Aly & AJ’s pleasant mixing of indie pop-rock sounds and often acoustic styling blends well with their perfect harmonizing voices.
The songwriting in “Silver Deliverer” is more personal and mature than ever before. Unlike their Disney channel contemporaries, the duo often doesn’t get the attention or flowers they deserve. And it’s this newest record that feels like a mashing of the previous two. “What It Feels Like,” “Next To Nothing,” “Places to Run,” “Dandelions” and the title track “Silver Deliverer” are my favorites on the album, which features zero skips for me. Here’s to hoping the duo never goes on a long hiatus again.
#2 - Mayhem by Lady Gaga
Mother Monster returned in full form in 2025 with what is potentially a contender for being her magnum opus. The weird, theatrical and dark pop queen was fully back after being somewhat MIA since ARTPOP. I love all versions of Gaga, but the nostalgia of a “Fame Monster” evoking era brought all her fans life this year. This era began luke warm with the lead single “Disease” (an underrated single that deserved better) released at the end of 2024 with not much attention. However, “Abracadabra” brought the hype of Mayhem to life as it felt like a quintessential Gaga song.
Once the album released both Monsters and pop music fans celebrated it’s interesting and versatile tack list. “Perfect Celebrity,” “Shadow Of A Man,” “Garden of Eden” and “How Bad Do U Want Me” are all excellent pop perfect songs added to her discography. The mega-hit “Die With A Smile” even felt naturally fit into the album’s track list. An album chaotic like this shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
The album features songs wrapped in that Gaga shine while also evoking sounds of Prince, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and Queen, as well as bending the rock, pop, disco and electronic genres. The one song that feels like a career peak for me personally is the superb “Vanish Into You,” which is a powerful love song with lyrics painting a striking picture of deep human connection. This David Bowie-inspired track blends glam rock with disco, as well as lyrics evoking her friend Tony Bennett. I’m rooting for Lady Gaga and Mayhem to sweep at the Grammys because she deserves it for staying innovative and relevant for this long into her career.
#1 - Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus was given her “flowers” and then immediately had them swiped away the following era. The public and the charts decided not to tune into Cyrus’ creative breakthrough which is “Something Beautiful.” Even the Grammys are not giving it the level of recognition this peak pop masterpiece deserves.
“Something Beautiful” has EVERYTHING including strong power ballads, easy pop listens, experimental pop-rock and groovy electronic disco. The album transitions from song-to-song smoothly, and I’m a sucker for an album with transitions. “Something Beautiful” is also a visual album with an accompanying film that was released limited to theaters before hitting Disney+. The visuals bring the album even further to life as its sound was already cinematic without seeing the film.
Cyrus has created a sonic universe with a cinematic atmosphere. She further cemented this album’s placing when releasing the deluxe edition of the album. It featured a 13-minute psychedelic song collaboration with David Byrne, alongside another pop perfect song where she collaborated with members of Fleetwood Mac. Cyrus continues her artistic evolution, and I will be listening intently as she progresses further into her artistic career. Track highlights include “Reborn,” “Golden Burning Sun,” “Easy Lover,” “Walk of Fame” and “Pretend You’re God.”