The Best Albums of 2025, So Far
With artists having set the bar so high in 2024, the mid-decade point has been one for the books. 2025 is looking to keep up the pace with an embrace of wistfulness, unexpected hyperpop adjacent melodies from Addison Rae, second rounds after stunner debuts from Blondshell, and hiatus’ broken from Franz Ferdinand and Turnstile. It’s am impressive preview of what is in store for the rest of the year.
Here are the best albums from the first half of 2025 in chronological order.
The Human Fear, Franz Ferdinand - Jan. 10
Cassidy LaPointe, Senior Staff Writer
Franz Ferdinand returned with their first new album in seven years this January. Though the band is best known for their work in the 2000’s “Meet Me in the Bathroom” era of indie rock, The Human Fear is proof they can’t be pigeonholed there. The album is funky. It’s light (even in its darker moments). It’s quintessential Britpop. It’s everything we know Franz Ferdinand to be, and yet feels timeless. Frontman Alex Kapranos told Pitchfork the album is “a bunch of songs searching for the thrill of being human via fears,” a concept he deftly executes by trying on many different hats. On one track, the audience gets a glimpse into the lives of those who frequent “Bar Lonely.” On another, he’s a man desperately trying to salvage a relationship on the outs (“Come on, hold me, kiss me / Tell me I should stay here”). The Human Fear is both an evolution and a return to form, a present-day reminder that the alternative rock bands who paved the way for “indie sleaze” are still kicking.
Like A Damn Dog, Sarah and the Sundays - Feb. 7
Brooke Shapiro, Music Extras Editor
In a musical landscape where an album can be produced with just one computer, sometimes all you need is some good ol’ garage indie rock to refresh the ears. With two LPs under their belt, Austin-based five-piece Sarah and the Sundays delivered a timeless piece of art with their third studio album, Like A Damn Dog back in February. In 12 tracks spanning 40 minutes, the band explores themes like grief, self-worth and depression, all while delivering sonically powerful and catchy moments. The album is a lesson in balance, with tracks like “Afterlife” and “Cease,” which act as gentle reflections on life, juxtaposing brash self-lamenting anthems like “Casanova” and “Looking Dead At The Function.” While Sarah and the Sundays have always been keen songwriters, the sophistication and maturity evident in Like A Damn Dog suggest that the band is ready to soar to new and well deserved heights.
People Watching, Sam Fender - Feb. 21
Maddy Yen, Senior Staff Writer
UK artist Sam Fender’s anticipated third album, People Watching, was released in February this year. Known for this Springsteen feel, Fender pushed beyond with a sonically-dense, authentic album about struggle and the realities of working-class life. The album opens with the title track, which sets the record’s tone and features raw, heartfelt lyrics delivered through yearning vocals: “The place was fallin' to bits / Understaffed and overruled by callous hands.” Tracks like "Crumbling Empire" and "Remember My Name" delve into his experiences and relationships, while others like “TV Dinner” and “Chin Up” discuss navigating a modern world and class issues. The complete album represents everyday people and real experiences. Fender is not – and has never been – an artist who is afraid to write about societal issues and personal themes.
Like Cartoon Vampires, The Convenience - April 18
Brooke Shapiro, Music Extras Editor
On their sophomore album, New Orleans-based duo The Convenience makes brooding sound epic. Like Cartoon Vampires is a gripping post-punk record that sees Duncan Troast and Nick Corson at their most explorative — a feat that paid off. The 13-track album is nuanced yet cohesive, with a constant gritty guitar presence acting as a sonic thread that ties each song together. From the under-two-minute-long, spoken-word track “Rats,” to the ten-minute-long, droning closer “Fake The Feeling,” Troast and Corson keep listeners on their toes, yet still sonically satisfied. The album is also scattered with provocatively perceptive lyrics, delivered sometimes with the bluntness of “I killed my mother / I killed my father too / Ain’t that just living in 2022,” in “2022,” and other times with the poeticness of “Blue pills just to read your mind / I won’t miss it when I’m far behind” in “Waiting For A Train.” With its sonic and lyrical sophistication, Like Cartoon Vampires is undeniably compelling.
Bloodless, Samia - April 25
Lucy Curtis, Contributor
After incredible debut and sophomore albums, Samia has done it again with her third release, Bloodless. It is cohesive, compelling and strikes that perfect balance of carrying forth her signature sound while still adding fresh themes and sonic elements. Bloodless explores identity — how it is formed and, in turn, how it affects our relationships with others. With moments of deep yearning — “I just wanted to be your friend / Cup of tea in your cold hand” in “Bovine Excision” — Samia recognizes the impact that others can have on her. With daring proclamations like “You’ve mistaken my joy for weakness” in “Spine Oil” or “You don’t know me, bitch” in “Proof,” Samia establishes a sense of self that is separate from others’ impressions. The album as a whole is both polished and raw, inviting listeners to see her vulnerability while still providing a unique and well-produced experience.
You can read about Samia’s journey to Bloodless in Volume 5 of Off The Record.
If You Asked For A Picture, Blondshell - May 2
Reegan- Tate Johnson, Editor- In-Chief
Blondshell’s second album, If You Asked For Picture, is a continuation of her personal journey of self awareness. It’s spelled-out and in-your-face honesty-soaked ballads of repeated trials and tribulations. The lead single, “T&A” and “Arms,” are both flawed recognitions and moments of clarity where she questions and addresses the spikiness of relationships, saying “Why don’t the good ones love me?” and “I gave it my all / You do it to yourself.” Riddled in painful truths, the music is vivid and at some points it becomes a fleeting admission of battlescars but a commitment to rising from those ashes. She teeters through youthful bad decisions with the pent up rage and dynamics of late 90’s rock on her side.
Addison, Addison Rae - June 6
Logan Goettemoeller, Senior Staff Writer
From her early years of fame as a TikTok influencer to redefining music culture as an emerging pop star, Addison Rae has captured the full attention of music critics and pop culture fanatics alike with the release of her debut album, Addison. There’s no denying that she successfully delivers a taste of “the glamorous life” with her new release, as every single track showcases some of the most luscious and refreshing tunes pop music has offered this year. Addision draws inspiration from iconic musicians like Madonna and Lana Del Rey while infusing modern splashes of hyperpop and contemporary R&B. This blend curates a powerful sonic landscape that pays homage to iconic music legends while simultaneously evolving into something entirely new. It’s hard to pick a favorite song from the tracklist, because every one is simply that good. However, “Summer Forever” certainly encapsulates exactly what the entire Addison record provides to listeners: an enchanting collection of tracks that feel like a June breeze through car windows with a crisp Diet Pepsi in hand.
Never Enough, Turnstile - June 6
Reegan-Tate Johnson, Editor-In-Chief
Certified hardcore group Turnstile returned with their fourth studio album, Never Enough, via Roadrunner Records. The group is taking strides with their sound, making a gradual progression over their decade-long run from full metal to a balance of ambiance with a dedicated heavy sound. Never Enough embodies that balance of light and dark that they’ve long been striving for. It opens up with “NEVER ENOUGH,” the perfect strike of negative space and that forward guitar texture that's native to the group. Heaviest in nature are songs like “BIRDS,” “LOOK OUT FOR ME” and “SOLE,” which scratch that punk itch and bring in influences like Blink-182 and Rage Against The Machine. The record in its entirety is a stark display of their evolution and an all encompassing sound fitting for stage diving and moshing.