Continuing the countdown of the best Canadian albums of 2025, this stretch captures artists refining their sound, taking smart left turns, and delivering some of the year’s most replayable records.
From art-rock tension to orchestral folk and future-facing pop, here are albums that lingered long after release.
11. Casper Skulls – Kit-Cat
Casper Skulls sharpen their post-punk edge on Kit-Cat, balancing anxiety, melody, and momentum with remarkable control.
It’s a record that feels restless but focused, turning jagged guitars and taut rhythms into something both immediate and enduring.
12. Orchidae – True Beginning
Ottawa’s Orchidae deliver a hypnotic blend of ambient, jazz, and experimental textures on True Beginning.
Patient and immersive, the album rewards deep listening, unfolding like a slow-moving dream that pulls you further in with each pass.
13. Dan Mangan – Natural Light
Natural Light finds Dan Mangan in a reflective, unguarded mode, pairing warm arrangements with deeply human songwriting.
It’s an album that feels lived-in and honest, proving that restraint can be just as powerful as grand gestures.
14. Afternoon Bike Ride – Running with Scissors
Bright, breezy, and deceptively thoughtful, Running with Scissors is indie pop done right.
Afternoon Bike Ride combine sun-soaked melodies with subtle emotional weight, making this one of 2025’s most effortlessly charming listens.
15. Thanya Iyer – TIED/TIDE
TIED/TIDE is a stunning fusion of chamber pop, jazz, and experimental songwriting.
Thanya Iyer’s voice floats through intricate arrangements that feel both fragile and expansive, creating an album that’s as intellectually rich as it is emotionally resonant.
16. Lido Pimienta – La Belleza
On La Belleza, Lido Pimienta crafts a bold, orchestral statement that feels timeless and confrontational.
Blending classical instrumentation with Afro-Indigenous traditions, the album is powerful, political, and undeniably beautiful.
17. Austra – Chin Up Buttercup
Austra return with confidence and clarity on Chin Up Buttercup, delivering sleek synth-pop that balances vulnerability and empowerment.
It’s a record that feels both intimate and dancefloor-ready, anchored by Katie Stelmanis’ commanding presence.
18. Debby Friday – The Starr of the Queen of Life
Debby Friday pushes her sound into darker, more experimental territory, crafting a fearless album that thrives on tension and release.
The Starr of the Queen of Life is confrontational, stylish, and impossible to ignore.
19. Preoccupations – Ill at Ease
Ill at Ease sees Preoccupations refining their brooding post-punk into something more expansive and atmospheric.
Still urgent, but more reflective, the album rewards patience while maintaining the band’s signature sense of unease.
20. Cici Arthur – Way Through
Intimate and emotionally raw, Way Through is a quietly powerful debut.
Cici Arthur’s songwriting is deeply personal yet universally felt, blending folk and soul influences into songs that hit with understated force.
Best of 2025: Canadian Albums [#11 – #20]
