30 best albums of 2025, 10 - 1

Welcome back. After counting down from 30 to 11, today we go to the top. Something strange happened this year. Usually, I have a pretty good idea what my favourite album of the year is. An album that simply stands out as a bright beacon on a hill. Not this year. Right until the moment of creating this list, I had no idea who would be on top. I even contemplated making the top 6 random, as all these albums are so good.

Something else may have been a little more unique than in other years. Four bands that have ended in the first spot over the past years released a new record. One of them even ended there twice. And all released a great new record. Each one played so many times in 2025. So, how to make a choice that does right to each album? This is the list that came out of me today.

 

10. Antidepressant. Suede, 12 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/antidepressants-suede.html

"Our most punk-tinted album", Suede said. Suede is Suede, I'd say. Antidepressant is a very tightly played album and, once again, better than most albums produced before the comeback in 2013. This album is Suede at its best.

 

9.  One More Trip Around The Sun. Cari Cari, 10 March

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/03/one-more-trip-around-sun-cari-cari.html

With this album, Cari Cari settled back into the top 10 after missing out with album number 2. Partly more laid back but with songs of a very nice quality that stuck in my head immediately. The Viennese duo can look back on a successful year.

 

8. Best Western. Bones Owens, - -

I'm not sure if this ever happened before, but I never reviewed this album. It was part of a nice packet of albums I received a few weeks back. This blues-country-rock album sounds extremely familiar but does everything right. Owens rocks and no little at that. I just never got around to writing about it.

 

7. Fly. Claw Boys Claw, 15 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/fly-claw-boys-claw.html

The band may be about to retire (as a live band?), with this album the band scores in my book. With that Claw Boys Claw has taken the same route as Nick Cave with me. From loathing to liking in a few decades. From beginning to end, this albums sounds so good.

 

6. All That Is Over. SPRINTS, 26 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/all-that-is-over-sprints.html

The first of the former number ones. Also the album I've listened to slightly less than the others, causing it to be number 6. That said, the combination of good to great songs and the truckload of energy SPRINTS shares with the world, makes All That Is Over an album that could have been a number 1 in any other year.

 

5. Bleeds. Wednesday, 19 September

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/bleeds-wednesday.html

Country, rock, alternative rock, loud screaming in deep despair, Wednesday offers it all. I already have several of the band's albums, this is my favourite, because the songs are of superior and consistent quality, plus some great guitar work.

 

4. The Clearing. Wolf Alice, 22 August 

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-clearing-wolf-alice.html

Wolf Alice took off in a totally different direction. Pop, soul, diva, it is all in the songs on The Clearing. For several months this was my number 1 for 2025. It did not last. The disappointing concert was no help here either. As with SPRINTS, in any other year this would almost have been a certainty.

 

3. The Human Fear. Franz Ferdinand, 16 January

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-human-fear-franz-ferdinand.html

The band with the number 1 position in 2004 and 2005 returned with a new album after six years. From nice it went to good and from good to very good. Just a few weeks ago, I thought it to be number 1, but no. The Human Fear is a very strong album though, showing Franz Ferdinand at its best. As if the fun in making music together has returned. It results in very strong songs. Even the bit daft ones started to grow.

 

2. Moisturizer. Wet Leg, 15 August

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/08/moisterizer-wet-leg.html 

And here's the number 1 of 2022. It did not last as my number 1 after it kicked 'The Clearing' from the throne circa a half year ago. With Moisturizer Wet Leg returned with an album that any fan must have loved to receive. Enriching and broadening the sound, without losing touch and quality. What more can I ask for?

 

1. Straight Line Was A Lie. The Beths, 1 September 

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/09/straight-line-was-lie-beths.html

And the number 1 position goes to The Beths. Another band from New Zealand, five in all. All through the past months the album kept growing and the band played a fantastic live show in Paradiso. It make me like the new songs even more. Elizabeth Stokes and her three men are on the top of their game. The only question is, how high can they go?

 

Looking back I notice that by far most albums in this list were either written on in March and September. I never noticed something like this before. But then, who cares. These thirty albums are my favourites this year.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght