After months of releases, rewinds, and reassessments, these ten records rose above the noise.
They didn’t just soundtrack 2025—they defined it.
From left-field pop reinventions to boundary-pushing indie rock, these albums challenged expectations and rewarded repeat listens.
Here are the ten best non-Canadian albums of the year.
1. Lily Allen – West End Girl
A full-circle moment that no one could’ve predicted.
West End Girl finds Lily Allen sharper, older, and far more self-aware, turning wit into wisdom without losing her bite. It’s funny, bruised, theatrical, and quietly devastating—her most complete statement to date.
2. Rosalía – LUX
Restless and radiant, LUX is Rosalía at her most untouchable.
She bends classical, pop, and avant-electronics into something both hyper-modern and deeply rooted, sounding like no one else in the process.
An album that feels engineered for the future without losing its soul.
3. Erika de Casier – Lifetime
Soft doesn’t mean slight.
Lifetime drifts through glossy R&B, downtempo pop, and whispered confessionals with exquisite control.
Erika de Casier continues to perfect the art of understatement, making intimacy feel expansive rather than small.
4. Squid – Cowards
Anxious, propulsive, and confrontational, Cowards is Squid at their most focused and ferocious.
The band sharpen their post-punk chaos into something darker and more political, without sacrificing the thrill of unpredictability.
5. Nation of Language – In Another Life
Sleek synths and aching melodies collide on In Another Life, a record that perfects Nation of Language’s retro-futurist sound. It’s romantic, melancholic, and built for late-night reflection under neon lights.
6. Perfume Genius – Glory
Mike Hadreas delivers one of his most expansive and emotionally resonant albums to date.
Glory balances fragility and power, with songs that feel both deeply personal and quietly triumphant.
7. Oklou – choke enough
Dreamy, digital, and emotionally immersive, choke enough blurs the line between pop and ambient experimentation.
Oklou crafts a soft-spoken world that rewards patience and close listening.
8. Geese – Getting Killed
Wild, unhinged, and thrillingly alive, Getting Killed captures Geese at full velocity.
It’s messy in all the right ways—proof that rock music can still feel dangerous and fun.
9. Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer
Abstract yet oddly comforting, Tranquilizer showcases Daniel Lopatin’s gift for emotional abstraction.
Electronic music that feels cinematic, uneasy, and strangely beautiful all at once.
10. Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong
A bold new chapter for the band, Forever Howlong trades past intensity for emotional openness and melodic exploration.
It’s a challenging, rewarding listen that confirms BCNR’s refusal to stand still.
