My Top 15 Albums of the Year: Best of 2025
Here it is: my definitive Top 15 rundown of the best albums (and Top 5 vinyl reissues) of 2025. It has been an absolute monster of a year for music: indie darlings dropping career-best records, legends roaring back with fire in their veins, surprise drops that shook the game, and a wave of vinyl reissues that finally gave forgotten gems the vinyl treatment they deserve. This list is entirely made up of items I’ve added to my vinyl collection this year. Let’s get into the ranking…
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👉 Best Albums of 2024: https://youtu.be/qDhlPBkHtK0
Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Albums of the Year 2025
0:52 Honorable Mentions
3:34 Albums 15 to 11
7:25 Albums 10 to 6
11:01 Albums 5 to 1
15:23 Best Vinyl Reissues of 2025
#vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #bestof2025 #aoty #aoty2025 #albumsoftheyear #albumoftheyear #2025countdown
@AndyFenstermaker
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Wanna hear? The transcript, audio clips, and music videos can be found over on the Poetic Wax Substack 👉 https://poeticwax.substack.com/p/my-top-15-albums-of-2025
@pierremartin64
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
excellent, looking forward to hearing some new music.
@koalakyle19
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
I still can't stop listening to Geese
@paultomaszewski1964
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
No one can listen to all the new music that came out. But if you want to check out some other stuff that 2025 brought ( yes bought, don't stream music) here are 3 albums that I liked.
Re-Evolution by Devilskin. Hard Rock/Metal from New Zealand with a lead singer, Jenny Skulander, that has some Ann Wilson tones and will use some harsh vocals when it fits.
The Rest of the Story by Big Wreck. Rock/Hard Rock with some Prog elements. Ian Thornley is a very underrated guitarist and singer. They have been around almost 30 tears now.
The Bloody Light by The Trews. Power Pop/Americana style but Canadian. Making music for nearly 20 years.
@adamvanwickel538
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
me and julie-O?
@KateMarsh1
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
my top r&b albums of the year were sable hibiscus by black hibiscus and to see thru closed eyes by kenji!
@andypullar1382
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Cool list! I’m with you completely on the Arcade Fire and thrilled you placed Black Boltz so high – was just at the TVOTR Melbourne gig, the final of their world tour, and Tunde was incredible! Will give the Blonde Redhead and Big Thief a listen. I’m a big fan of Vundabar, Car Seat Headrest, Tropical Fuckstorm, and McKlusky, so 2025 has been a great year of albums for me. Thanks for the link too.
@jeffmusgrave3691
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Thank you for singling out International by the great Saint Etienne. They’re my favourite band, and I can’t wait to see them live again.
@jeremysette3657
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
My favs of '25:
1. Djo- "The Crux"
2. Matt Maeson- "A Quiet and Harmless Living"
3. Billie Marten- "Dog Eared"
4. Jacob Roberge- "The Passing"
5. Daniel Kleederman- "Another Life"
6. Dominique Adams- "To Keep"
7. Chatham Rabbits- "Be Real With Me"
8. Dream Theater- "Parasomnia"
9. Ed Harcourt- "Orphic"
10. Tammy Adams- "After the Rain"
11. Ihlo- "Legacy"
12. Josh Garrels- "Peace To All Who Enter Here, Vol. 2"
13. Kassi Valazza- "From Newman Street"
14. Tobacco City- "Horses"
15. Jon Guerra- "Jesus"
16. Heather Maloney- "Exploding Star"
17. Ruston Kelly- "Pale, Through the Window"
18. Jeff Tweedy- "Twilight Override"
19. Alan Sparhawk, Trampled by Turtles- "Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles"
20. Brian D'Addario- "Till the Morning"
21. JD Clayton- "Blue Sky Sundays"
22. Jonathan Peyton, Abigail Peyton- "How We've Come So Far"
23. Unreqvited- "A Pathway to the Moon"
24. Ethel Cain- "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You"
25. Sean McConnell- "SKIN"
26. Bonnie Prince Billy- "The Purple Bird"
27. Hayes Carll- "We're Only Human"
28. Ghost- "Skeletá"
29. Jess Ray- "MATIN: Home"
30. Ganavya- "Nilam"
31. Panda Bear- "Sinister Grift"
32. The Neighbourhood- "(((((ultraSOUND)))))"
33. Noah Cyrus- "I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO COME WITH ME"
34. HORSEBATH- "Another Farewell"
35. Great Lake Swimmers- "Caught Light"
36. Steven Wilson- "The Overview"
37. Kathleen Edwards- "Billionaire"
38. SYML- "Nobody Lives Here"
39. The Wildmans- "Longtime Friend"
40. Weaving- "Webs"
41. I'm With Her- "Wild and Clear and Blue"
42. The Besnard Lakes- "The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation"
43. Natalie Bergman- "My Home Is Not In This World"
44. Denison Witmer- "Anything At All"
45. Robert Finley- "Hallelujah! Don't Let The Devil Fool Ya"
46. Austin Koukal- "Running"
47. The Deep Dark Woods- "The Circle Remains"
48. Nick Chambers- "It Is Good To Be Here With You"
49. Watchhouse- "Rituals"
50. Sleep Token- "Even In Arcadia"
@tameimpala37
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
I really enjoyed the Mogwai album. I loved their moody 2025 soundtrack release (The Bombing of Pan AM 103).
@DemetriSparks
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Great list! Huge props for including Club 8 and Saint Etienne, both of which make my Top 10 actually. Did you hear the second Club 8 album, Seasonal Echoes? I’ll have to pick up the Broadcast reissue! I loved the Wet Leg album personally so thanks for the mention. Mine includes releases from Austra, Alison Goldfrapp, Hotline TNT, and Horsegirl among others. I’ll have to keep checking out your videos!
@peterstubbs8645
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Interesting list! The first time Ive seen anyone list Arctic Fire and Tennis. Both Album's are in the lower end of my Top 40. But WE was my favourite of 2022 and Tennis 's Pollen my favourite of 2023. Of all the YT Vloggers You are closest to my own taste. Matt Berninger is my number 2 of 2025 and I don't like Wet Leg at all. The Waterboys topped my list.
@nateschmidt8881
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Teethe made my list too. I caught their live show in Austin a few months back. I’m obsessed!
@RichardsVinylTaphouse
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
So glad to see Dope Lemon get mentioned along with Nation of Language, both of which made my top 10 this year! 😎 I need to check out the Geese album as I’ve seen that on several lists already and it completely passed me by thus year! Super ranking! 👍 Cheers-R
@neil3467
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
I’m more of an country/ Americana guy but listen to all things rock to some degree. Surprisingly to me, Moisturizer was my 2nd most listened to album of the year. Just a fun listen.
@MaddelynKayKay
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Wow, what a surprise. I thought, because I'm much older than you, that this would be a list of groups I've never heard of. Already you've covered Mogwai and Blonde Redhead. I had to stop the video just to post this. Well done sir.
@niallq8447
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Moisturizer is good album but not my number 1.
@flamingroove
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
ha! the only one I've heard is Moisturizer. love your descriptions
@AbstractCatsMedia
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Some great stuff in there. Being from Louisville, KY. I'm looking forward to the Slint, release, I've never owned it, I need to fix that. Some of my favorite releases, Blackmoth Super Rainbow: Soft New Magic Dream(first thing I've bought on vinyl since about 1992. Automatic: Is It Now? NightTapes: Portals / Polarities. Arc De Soleil: Lumin Rain. Faerybabyy: Blabber Mouth.
@TheAVroomChris
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Man I love St Etienne…didn't know that was out there. Great video !!! Subscribing now!
@gmassa7404
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
Thumbs up for Mogwai and JWIII live. Nice list. Thanks for sharing.
@SkinnyEatWorld95
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
I remember asking you if you'd listened to Pink Elephant and here it is as one of your 15 albums of the year!😊
@SkinnyEatWorld95
February 20, 2026 at 10:32 am
It definitely has been an interesting year for music.
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