By Jack Stewart
The 2026 iteration of the Grammys happened on Sunday, February 1st. The ceremony celebrated the best albums and songs released in 2025, and in honor of this year’s Grammy awards, here are the top 5 albums of 2025.
Honorable Mention: God Does Like Ugly – JID
Atlanta based artist JID has become one of the most celebrated rappers of the current generation through albums like Dicaprio 2 and The Forever Story. While not as commercially successful as some of his previous work, JID’s most recent album, God Does Like Ugly, was another hit with critics. The record had an expansive feature list, with appearances from Pusha T and Vince Staples becoming fan favorites. The production and lyricism which made JID so successful at the beginning of his career have gotten better and better, and this album is testament to that. God Does Like Ugly is another great entry in JID’s catalog and shows promise for his future as an artist.
5. DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, The Creator
Only one year removed from his 2024 album Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator released another wildly successful record with DON’T TAP THE GLASS. Songs like Sucka Free and Ring Ring Ring showcased more of Tyler’s personality and style that made fans fall in love with his music. His signature aesthetic radiates throughout the entire tracklist with his energetic instrumentals and line delivery. This album was another huge success for Tyler and it proves why he’s become one of the most popular rappers of the 21st century.
4. The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
British singer songwriter Olivia Dean had a breakthrough year in 2025 with her album The Art of Loving. Her smooth vocals and soft pop instrumentals blew up this album with songs like So Easy (To Fall In Love) and Man I Need becoming major hits. Other tracks like Nice To Each Other and I’ve Seen It testified to Dean’s abilities as a songwriter and became instant fan favorites. Olivia Dean found overnight success with The Art of Loving and the album’s staying power throughout 2025 suggests that she’ll continue to be one of the biggest musicians in the world for years to come.
3. Forever Howlong – Black Country, New Road
After three years, experimental post-rock band Black Country, New Road finally released the follow up to their critically acclaimed record Ants From Up There. This next entry, Forever Howlong proved to be a challenge for BCNR following the departure of lead singer Isaac Wood; however, the rest of the band came together and produced another critical hit. The uniqueness and experimentation that contributed so heavily to Black Country, New Road’s rise is still present throughout this album, with songs like Two Horses and For The Cold Country being celebrated among the band’s best. While sonically this album deviated from the band’s previous records, Forever Howlong still proved to be an immense critical success for BCNR.
2. Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
Clipse is a hip-hop collective composed of brothers Pusha T and Malice, and their most recent effort, Let God Sort Em Out, has become their most successful by far. Pusha T’s delivery and energy has made him one of the most beloved rappers of the 21st century, and this record is the perfect continuation of his prestigious reputation. Ever since its release during July of 2025, Let God Sort Em Out has been celebrated as one of the best albums of the year and among the best rap albums of the decade. The album’s collaborations with John Legend, Pharell Williams, and Nas have become some of the biggest critical successes, and it’s obvious that Let God Sort Em Out will endure the test of time and remain as one of the best rap records of the 2020’s.
1. Getting Killed – Geese
No artist has had the same rise to fame in 2025 as New York based rock band Geese. With the release of their 2025 album Getting Killed, Geese grew from a relatively unknown jam band to headlining Saturday Night Live in the span of four months. The explosion of Geese has drawn a lot of parallels to the popularity of The Strokes in the early 2000’s, with both being huge indie bands coming out of New York City. Songs like Cobra and Taxes emanate that indie charm and have made Getting Killed one of the most beloved rock records of the decade. The guitar work and stylistic choices of frontman Cameron Winter have elevated this album and put Geese on the scene as one of the first big breakout bands of the 2020’s.