As the year comes to a close, so does my audit of new music from the past 365 days. No official criteria here, purely just what I loved, what got me grooving, and what frequented my “On Repeat” playlist over the past 12 months. 

As always, these are listed in the order of when I discovered them, not in order of favorites. You can see my first five favorite albums from 2025 here, and Part One and Part Two of my 2024 review here. 

Without further adieu, let’s get into the last half of my top 10 favorite albums this year!

006. The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 by Lord Huron 

I’ve loved Lord Huron since the moment I heard “She Lit a Fire” in 2012. Their music is so soulful and stirs all my poetic reservoirs. I was over the moon that they released a new album in July, and although it wasn’t my all-time fav of theirs (it will be hard to beat Strange Trails from 2015), I still really liked this one. I mostly had it on in the background while I was at work, and it was always the afternoon boost I needed. So good!

Fav Songs: “Bag of Bones,” “Nothing I Need,” “Who Laughs Last (feat. Kristen Stewart)” — this is weird, but good?? — and “Watch Me Go”

007. The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean

I mean… it’s hard to listen to this and not love it. Like, lalalalove it! It came out right around the time we moved into our house, and it elicited a great, cozy, and warm vibe in the background as we moved in. Groovy. Cozy. Swanky. All the fun things!

Fav Songs: “Nice to Each Other,” “Lady, Lady,” “Baby Steps,” “Man I Need,” “Something Inbetween”

008. I quit by Haim 

This had quite the range of tracks and channeled some of Haim’s O.G. sounds, I felt like. A return to their original aura brought forth a lot of nostalgia and joy from deep within my high school self. I also loved having this one on in the background at work or as I was doing chores around the house. 

Fav Songs: “Gone,” “All Over Me,” “Relationships,” “Cry,” and “Tie you down (feat. Bon Iver)”

009. The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift 

There was a lot of controversy around this album, and I will be honest—I don’t get it. Some suggestive themes? Sure. But isn’t that most of her music and most music these days anyways? I’m by no means condoning that, but this wasn’t much different to me than anything else. That said, OMG! A return to her pop roots. I loved it. Soooo many songs had me dancing in the kitchen all fall long. What did you think of this album?  

Fav Songs: “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Ruin the Friendship,” “Wi$h Li$t,” “Honey,” “The Life of a Showgirl”

010. I WANT MY LOVED ONES TO GO WITH ME by Noah Cyrus 

This album pulled me in song by song. First, I fell in love with “Don’t Put It All On Me (feat. Fleet Foxes)”, and then “I Saw the Mountains” totally stole my heart. Such wide range, depth, and emotion in all these tracks. I’ve never been a huge Noah Cyrus fan, but this album certainly piqued my interest and was also great ambiance as I was writing. And so many incredible featured artists on there, holy cow!

Fav Songs: “I Saw the Mountains,” “Don’t Put It All On Me (feat. Fleet Foxes),” “Way of the World (feat. Ella Langley),” and “New Country (feat. Blake Shelton)” 

Other 2025 Honorable Mentions

— Returning to Myself by Brandi Carlile 

— RUSHMERE by Mumford and Sons

— good grief by Jervis Campbell

— Eye to the Telescope by KT Tunstall. Not new, but I listened to this album approximately 24897543985 times this summer and loved every single second. So good, and so much early 2000s nostalgia. I’m convinced so much great art came out of this time period that we can just now fully appreciate.

Albums I’m Excited / Hoping For in 2026

— Mumford and Sons have already shared ANOTHER new album will come out February 13, 2026! Eek. I’m hoping that I’ll love this one. I wanted to love their last release, RUSHMERE, in 2025, and while I really did enjoy a few tracks, overall I didn’t love it like I wanted to. Hoping the new one tickles my fancy in 2026!

— I’m really praying Mat Kearney blesses us with a new album next year. If we’re just going off of past patterns, it would seem like we’re in for something fun… but time will tell!

— The Paper Kites have an album coming out January 23, 2026, and I’m so thrilled. Mainly because one of the songs that’s already been released is one of my top tracks from 2025, “Where the Lavender Blooms.” I can’t wait to hear the full body of work with it. 

Post Scripts

— If you have last-minute shopping going on, my 2025 gift guides are here to help!

— My Top 10 Albums of 2024, Part One and Part Two 

— Ready, Set, Write is on sale through the end of 2025—don’t miss the chance to grab a copy or gift one to someone special for just $10!