One thing is certain: these releases have shaped the musical year.
The musical year 2025 presented itself as stylistically diverse as rarely before. The spectrum of the most formative releases ranges from experimental pop to post-punk revivals to introspective singer-songwriter projects.
Particularly striking: the return of legendary acts like Pulp and the continued relevance of experimentalists like FKA Twigs and Blood Orange.
The year also showed that the boundaries between genres continue to blur – electronic elements meet organic instrumentation, hip-hop merges with art-pop, and traditional song structures are broken down.
The highlight albums of 2025
Rosalia – LUX
Love, sex and divinity: Rosalía brings bombast back to pop.
Little Simz – LOTUS
Without her previous home producer, the UK rapper is making a great new start full of collaborations.
FKA Twigs – EUSEXUA
She always manages to make experimental pop sound new and exciting and yet suitable for the masses.
Pulp – MORE
Yes, yes: more is more. And that too from all phases of Britpop poets.
Lola Young – I’M ONLY F***ING MYSELF
The 24-year-old from Croydon could be the missing link between Adele and Amy Winehouse. Their fearless retro rock pop shows that.
Big Thief – DOUBLE INFINITY
Psych-folk rock with community, groove and lines that you want to embroider into your towel.
Blood Orange – ESSEX HONEY
R’n’B vibes & Elliott Smith: Devonté Hynes does grief work.
Stereolab – INSTANT HOLOGRAMS ON METAL FILM
The successful comeback of the white coats of art rock.
Gymnastics styles – NEVER ENOUGH
With NEVER ENOUGH and impressive mosh pits, the band is considered one of the top live acts in the hardcore scene.
DJ Koze – MUSIC CAN HEAR US
Nobody, really nobody, allows house, pop and crazy musical experiments to collide as beautifully as Stefan Kozalla. Damon Albarn, Soap&Skin, Sophia Kennedy, The Düsseldorf Düsterboys and many other guests help him.
Lorde – VIRGIN
Banger summer: Lorde comes back – with pop anthems and really big feelings.
Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
Indie folk king Justin Vernon returns to basics and reaches new heights.
Tristan Brusch – IN THE BEGINNING
Many different Tristans sing chansons between explaining the world and processing trauma.
Ethel Cain – WILLOUGHBY TUCKER, I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
The clocks tick differently to elegiac Southern Gothic pop.
Water From Your Eyes – IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE
The New Yorkers transport rock from the bedroom into the universe.
Perfume Genius – GLORY
The arthouse indie pop star has upped the ante. And how.
Florence And The Machine – EVERYBODY SCREAM
Ritual pop with noise and love, screaming and witchcraft.
Tocotronic – GOLDEN YEARS
The indie rock institution counters the threatening darkness with strangely stiff humor and combative defiance.
The Last Dinner Party – FROM THE PYRE
Completely out of date indie art glam rock that is still incredibly modern.
Sophia Kennedy – SQUEEZE ME
Am I about to burst? Edgy pop on the fine line between too close and too far away.
You can find the entire curated list in the current MUSIKEXPRESS – the can be ordered here and includes many more best lists for 2025. Have fun reading and discovering!