Music fans across the UK and beyond have cast their votes, revealing a diverse and passionate list of the albums that defined their 2025. From long-awaited comebacks to stunning debuts, the selections submitted to the Guardian showcase a year rich in musical storytelling, genre innovation, and raw emotional power.
Acclaimed Returns and Powerful Debuts
The list is headlined by the monumental return of hip-hop duo Clipse. Their album, Let God Sort Em Out, marks their first full-length project in over 15 years and has been hailed by reader Lewis Johnstone, 22 from Scotland, as "one of the best rap albums of the decade". The record opens with a poignant track addressing the recent passing of their parents, setting a tone that builds through production from Pharrell and features from greats like Nas and Tyler, the Creator.
Meanwhile, new talent is breaking through with force. Freddie, an 18-year-old from Surrey, champions the band Geese and their album Getting Killed. He praises Cameron Winter's "ridiculously good" writing, which navigates beauty and despair, and highlights the hypnotic track Islands of Men. From Liverpool, the rock duo Picture Parlour have impressed with their debut EP The Parlour, with Londoner Eddie predicting they will soon graduate from tiny venues like Brixton's Windmill to much larger stages.
Personal Stories and Genre-Defying Sounds
Authenticity and personal narrative resonate strongly with readers. Lily Allen's West End Girl is celebrated by Alison, 37 from Ireland, for its wordplay and the "slightly detached layered vocals" that sound like "a person in shock". She applauds hearing an "imperfect person tell their own stories". Similarly, Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) earns high praise for an album A Complicated Woman full of "honesty, humour, sincerity and despair", described by Jacqui Martin from Exeter as "made for live performances".
The boundaries of genre are being stretched. Australian producer Ninajirachi creates a modern Wall of Sound on I Love My Computer, evoking emotion from digital bleeps, while Dijon is pushing maximalist R&B into new, glitchy territories on his album Baby. Reader Christian Gibson from Australia notes the artist's high-profile collaborations, including work with Justin Bieber and bass legend Pino Palladino.
Standout Tracks and Lasting Impressions
Specific songs have captured listeners' imaginations. Chloe, 40 from Perth, Australia, highlights Oklou's track ICT from the album Choke Enough, calling it "the greatest song ever about an ice-cream truck". For Anna Harries from Oxford, Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia from The Life of a Showgirl has been "the song of the year".
Other notable reader choices include the beautiful despair of Jerskin Fendrix's Once Upon a Time... in Shropshire, the soulful 70s vibe of Brooke Combe's Dancing on the Edge, and the ever-evolving sound of Black Country, New Road on Forever Howlong. The collective list paints a picture of a vibrant and deeply personal musical landscape in 2025, where established artists share the spotlight with thrilling new voices.
