Rolling Stone UK’s 25 best albums of 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look back at the 25 albums that have defined the year for the Rolling Stone UK team
We get it. It’s the final full week of work before Christmas and your thoughts are on little else but where the next mince pie is coming from and how long until you’re clocking off work. It can, therefore, be a royal pain to recall all the wonderful music that’s arrived this year. Here’s where we step in. From FKA twigs’ year defining Eusexua to returning Britpop icons, it was another stellar year for British music.
Before you tuck in to your festive treats, join us here to remember a brilliant year in music. In alphabetical order (twigs aside, being our top choice, of course), these are Rolling Stone UK’s 25 best albums of 2025.
Words: Nick Reilly (NR), Will Richards (WR), Richard Burn (RB)
Our album of the year: FKA twigs – Eusexua
FKA twigs – Eusexua
Rolling Stone UK’s Album of the Year for 2025 is a record built around a made-up word that became a binding principle. Eusexua, to FKA twigs, feels like “when everything moves out the way, everything in your mind is completely blank and your mind is elevated”. In musical terms, it’s presented on a third album that’s a dizzying whirlwind of techno beats, pop hooks and pure euphoria. Without sacrificing one bit of her musical depth or artistry, twigs makes her most accessible record yet. Will Richards
Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong
On their first studio album as a six-piece, Black Country, New Road turn even further into baroque majesty led by three striking voices. W.R.
caroline – caroline 2
This London octet’s second album is a divine collection of swirling post-rock songs punctuated by distinctive and powerful Auto-Tuned vocals. W.R.
Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness
The title of Cench’s debut album sums up his story – it may have taken a hot minute, but his arrival was worth the wait. N.R.
CMAT – EURO COUNTRY
After the viral trend of ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’, CMAT’s third album dives headfirst into discussions of body image and politics. Richard Burn
Dave – The Boy Who Played the Harp
His first album in four years proves why the Streatham rapper is one of the UK’s great innovators and a true poet. N.R.
Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer
On their debut album, the Nottingham quartet bring sweeping Americana and indie crunch to the UK guitar scene. W.R.
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
With a voice that stops you in your tracks, this stunning debut album is built upon queer culture, connection and community. W.R.
JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
A true testament to working on your craft, the Little Mix star breaks free to create the most exciting pop record of the year. R.B.
jasmine.4.t – You Are the Morning
Recorded with boygenius in LA, this Manchester singer’s superb debut album calls for trans liberation through perfectly crafted indie-rock songs. W.R.
Jim Legxacy – black british music
Pop-punk, beats and acoustic guitars all have a place on the new record created by a shining light of 2020s UK rap. W.R.
Joy Crookes – Juniper
The singer’s second album reflects on her mental health battles with a record that is as bold as it is beautiful. N.R.
Lily Allen – West End Girl
This searing recollection of the breakdown of Lily Allen’s marriage to David Harbour pulls no punches about the situation she faced. N.R.
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
The London singer’s second album, something of a catchy, inventive and deep 101 of all things love, rightly has her selling out arenas. W.R.
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Her name is Pink and we’re really glad to meet her. Fancy That is a much-needed reintroduction to the sweet world of PinkPantheress. R.B.
Rianne Downey – The Consequence of Love
In Rianne Downey, Scottish country music has found an incredible new voice that washes over you like a musical balm. N.R.
Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman
Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s third album comes out swinging, with her purest pop songs yet set to a backdrop of existential dread. W.R.
Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia
The masks still remain firmly intact, but this is a record that sees Sleep Token continue their ascendancy to metal royalty. N.R.
The Tubs – Cotton Crown
The Smiths and Richard Thompson are touchpoints for the excellent and supremely catchy second album from this indie-pop quartet. W.R.
Wretch 32 – Home?
The Tottenham MC proves why he continues to be one of rap’s boldest voices on a record of frank and urgent discussions about identity. N.R.