Top 10 Albums of 2025 (Cathy Brown)

We’ve asked some of our journalists to tell us about their musical highlights of the year. This time out, it’s Cathy Brown.

10. Begging for the Night to Take Hold – Emma Pollock

Following a reunion tour with The Delgados and an adult autism diagnosis, Emma Pollock returned in 2025 with her fourth solo album to little fanfare. That’s a shame, because Begging for the Night to Take Hold is a stunner: Pollock’s Dusty Springfield-like vocals, backed by cello, piano, and bass, create an elegiac, lush, and deeply honest work.

9. Cut & Rewind – Say She She

Say She She’s disco-funk aesthetic has never sounded sharper. Cut & Rewind is a joyous, all-out celebration of disco, balancing seductive, danceable energy with sharp social commentary — paying homage to the genre’s activist roots without ever tipping into pastiche.

8. Get Sunk – Matt Berninger

Berninger doesn’t reinvent the wheel on his second solo album, but he doesn’t need to. Get Sunk blends the moody grandeur of The National with an introspective, intimate vibe, anchored by his distinctive gravelly baritone. It’s reflective, cinematic, and quietly powerful.

7. Every Dawn’s a Mountain – Tamino

Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino returns with his second album, showcasing lush, atmospheric tracks enriched by the Arabic oud and a guest appearance from Mitski. Often compared to Jeff Buckley, Tamino delivers a beautiful, immersive record — worth it for the title track alone.

6. Getting Killed – Geese

Following the surprise success of Cameron Winter’s solo work Heavy Metal, Geese’s fourth album is as strange as it is strong. Fans of Winter’s unique vocal delivery will delight in this collection of sprawling yet tightly executed songs — proof that rock music remains alive and in capable hands.

5. Now Would Be a Good Time – Folk Bitch Trio

Folk Bitch Trio’s debut showcases stunning three-part harmonies reminiscent of The Staves. Sparse instrumentation and lo-fi, analogue warmth give their voices space to shine, turning songs of heartbreak, confusion, desire, and longing into something deeply special.

4. A Sober Conversation – B.C. Camplight

Theatrical, eccentric, and deeply personal, B.C. Camplight’s seventh album finds him at his peak. Confronting alcoholism and childhood trauma, A Sober Conversation balances boldness with melody, wit, and his trademark operatic instrumentation.

3. Iris Silver Mist – Jenny Hval

Named after a French fragrance, Hval’s ninth album explores scent and memory, weaving them into a cohesive collection of evocative, intoxicating songs. With lush textures and her haunting vocals, Iris Silver Mist is as atmospheric as it is unforgettable.

2. Earthstar Mountain – Hannah Cohen

Blending a ’70s Laurel Canyon vibe with modern Americana and a touch of dream-pop, Cohen delivers an irresistible album featuring collaborations with Clairo and Sufjan Stevens. With its warm, vintage sound reminiscent of Minnie Riperton, Earthstar Mountain is both nostalgic and contemporary.

1. A Bridge to Far – Midlake

A Bridge to Far marks a compelling return to form for Midlake, their strongest work since 2006’s The Trials of Van Occupanther. Assured songwriting, intricate arrangements, and those signature, gorgeous melodies make this a beautifully crafted and fully immersive album.