Finally, the time has come to reveal my Top 10 Canadian Albums of 2025.
It was another stacked year across the country, spanning art-pop, indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and everything in between. These are the records that stayed in heavy rotation, revealed new layers with each listen, and ultimately defined my 2025.
1. Patrick Watson – Uh Oh
Patrick Watson delivered a quietly devastating masterpiece.
Uh Oh leans into fragility, space, and emotional weight, letting silence and restraint do as much work as the melodies themselves.
It’s intimate, cinematic, and deeply human of an album that lingers long after it ends.
2. Basia Bulat – Basia’s Palace
Warm, elegant, and endlessly inviting, Basia’s Palace feels like a creative rebirth.
Bulat blends classic songwriting with subtle experimentation, resulting in songs that are both comforting and adventurous.
A career-highlight that rewards repeat listens.
3. U.S. Girls – Scratch It
Meg Remy once again proves there’s no one else operating in her lane.
Scratch It is sharp, playful, and politically aware, jumping between genres while never losing its sense of purpose.
Bold, unpredictable, and unmistakably U.S. Girls.
4. TOPS – Bury the Hatchet
Cool, clean, and effortlessly stylish, TOPS refine their sound without sanding off its charm.
Bury the Hatchet is packed with sleek pop hooks and subtle emotional depth, making it one of their most confident and cohesive releases yet.
5. The Weather Station – Humanhood
Humanhood is thoughtful, layered, and emotionally resonant.
Tamara Lindeman continues to explore vulnerability, relationships, and self-reflection with grace.
The arrangements are rich yet restrained, allowing the songwriting to quietly hit hard.
6. Ribbon Skirt – Bite Down
Raw, urgent, and cathartic, Bite Down crackles with intensity.
Ribbon Skirt blends punk energy with deeply personal storytelling, creating a record that feels both confrontational and healing.
One of the year’s most powerful listens.
7. Saya Gray – Saya
Genre lines blur beautifully on Saya.
Saya Gray’s boundary-pushing approach results in a bold, experimental pop record that constantly surprises.
It’s confident, inventive, and refreshingly unpredictable.
8. No Joy – Bugland
Bugland finds No Joy balancing melody and noise with precision.
The album dives into hazy textures and distorted bliss while maintaining an emotional core.
A rewarding listen for fans of shoegaze with bite.
9. Marie Davidson – City of Clowns
Sharp, ironic, and dancefloor-ready, City of Clowns sees Marie Davidson in top form.
It’s confrontational and witty, pairing club-ready beats with pointed commentary.
Smart electronic music that doesn’t pull its punches.
10. Shad – Start Anew
Shad closes out the Top 10 with one of his most reflective and mature releases.
Start Anew balances thoughtful lyricism with soulful production, offering insight, growth, and optimism without losing its edge.
