Best (My Favorite) Albums of 2025 - Top 40
Here we are at the end of another year, and it's time to take a look back at all the great music released this year. Although it may have been a quite crappy year overall, for a lot of reasons, it was a really great year for music, that is if you look beyond the mainstream popular stuff. I certainly found a lot to like this year, in several different genres, including some all-time great albums as well greats in the making. Overall, I listened to about 150 new albums this year (I cut back a bit from last year, which was just too many) and found some real gems from both old and new artists. As is my musical preference, the bulk of them were in the general category of progressive rock or prog-related, but also included many rock, pop, and folk albums as well. And these were my very favorite, my top 40 best albums of the year. Just about all of these have already been covered in my seasonal new album roundup reviews, so the descriptions here are pretty brief, but the links to those roundup reviews are included after each album (Win25, Sp125, Sp225, Sum25, Fal25) to guide you to more info about each. So, without further ado, here's my top 40 favorite albums of the year.
40. The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers
Very enjoyable album from this versatile veteran rock duo that leans more toward pop and blue-eyed soul, with more lush arrangements and polished sound than their more rockin' albums. Sum25
39. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Carpe Diem, Moonman
A weird, wild, creative and compelling album featuring a blend of heavy psychedelia, energetic garage rock, dreamy pop psych, and eclectic prog rock. Sum25
38. Whimsical Creatures - Wistful Thinking
Debut album from this UK acoustic folk-prog duo (multi-instrumentalist-vocalist Michael Whiteman and vocalist-flutist Ella Floyd) features vocal harmonies and all acoustic instrumentation providing a breezy, refreshing sound. Sum25
37. Ihlo - Legacy
2nd album from UK Prog Metal band is a major step forward toward symphonic prog, with soaring melodies, great vocals, and impressive instrumental arrangements, but still a bit too much metal remnants for me. Sum25
36. Myth of Logic - Memory of After
Best yet from this solo project of Prog composer-vocalist-multi-instrumentalist Scott G. Davis, with dynamic keyboard work throughout and expanded instrumental passages highlighting classic 70's style progs, and strong melodies and themes. Fal25
35. The Mommyheads - No Quietus
Prolific veteran indie pop/rock band from New York with a unique kind of progressive pop, featuring catchy melodies and inventive, quirky arrangements. Fal25
34. Flower Kings - Love
A strong entry from this veteran prog band that takes a gentler, mellower tone overall than much of there previous work, emphasizing melodies and intricate instrumental tapestries. Sp125
33. Cosmic Cathedral - Deep Water
Neal Morse's latest band features a jazzier, funkier, and looser vibe than other Morse albums, but still mainatains most of the hallmarks of Morse's compositions and style. Sp125
32. Sloan - Based on the Best Seller
Latest from stalwart Canadian indie rock band delivers great fun, featuring bouncy, upbeat 70's-80's-style power pop with great melodies, hooks, vocals, and harmonies throughout, and a nice variety of sounds and styles. Sum25
31. Big Thief - Double Infinity
Another very good indie folk-rock album with a strong set of songs imbued with a pleasant easygoing charm and highlighted by Adrianne Lenker's plaintive vocals and perceptive lyrics, as well as sparse but effective arrangements. Sum25
30. Little Feat - Strike Up the Band
Mix of old and new players bring back the classic Feat sound and style for a triumphant new album. Sp225
29. Ambient Den - Ambient Den
Impressive debut from this new Australian Prog band. Although they go for crossover appeal in some more poppy tracks, the highlights of the album are the soaring symphonic prog instrumental excursions, with the 16-min epic instrumental Terraforming the absolute best, an adventurous, mesmerizing track. Sum25
28. Gazpacho - Magic 8-Ball
Richly textured, moody, atmospheric, hauntingly beautiful songs, with brooding and immersive synth and keyboard style, punctuated with some brighter keyboard riffs and lovely melodies and vocals. Fal25
27. Coheed and Cambria - The Father of Make Believe
Wide variety of styles and strong melodic sense highlight this latest entry in their ongoing series of albums. Win25
26. Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override
An expansive, 30-song triple album filled remarkably good songs throughout, ranging from plaintive acoustic guitar and vocals to more diverse arrangements to fully developed rockin' band tracks. it's mostly laidback with a gentle groove and free style, wth personal, insightful lyrics and cool melodies. Fal25
25. Cheap Trick - All Washed Up Legendary band returns with another set of great fun and entertaining rock and power pop songs, filled with power chords, killer riffs, and catchy sing-along choruses. Nothing new here, but great to hear such a a rousingly strong album from these veterans.
Fal25 24. The Doobie Brothers - Walk This Road The return of Michael McDonald, along with founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, together for the first time, provide great variety and create some new Doobie Brothers classics. These seasoned professionals know how to craft appealing and effective songs with top-notch musicianship and arrangements.
Sp225 23. Nad Sylvan - MonumentataNad's chameleon vocal style, strong songwriting, and contributions from numerous guest artists create a strong album that combines prog and mainstream rock. The songs have a solid rock feel, but are filled with clever
arrangements and proggy instrumental breaks that keep them always
interesting and vibrant.
Sp225 22. Solstice - ClannTasty mix of folk, jazz, and melodic prog in an upbeat, joyful style that is accessible and engaging, with great vocals and harmonies. Featuring the alluring effortless vocals of Jess Holland and great vocal
harmonies, as well as highlighted use of violin, guitar and keyboards
throughout. A wonderful album of uplifting, positive melodic tunes that is sure to make you feel good.
Sp125 21. Flyte - Between You and MeUK alternative folk duo delivers gentle folk-rock with deeply personal reflections and features an intimate, quietly wonderful, impactful, and cohesive album. Beautiful vocals, melodies and harmonies, great acoustic guitar, and simple but effective arrangements.
Sum25 20. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Phantom IslandLatest from this prolific genre-hopping band presents breezy, upbeat psych-rock with added orchestration (strings, winds, horns) for fuller richer sound. The songs still have a light, spacey charm, with some infectious
grooves and melodies, lifted to additional textures and sounds with the
added orchestration.
Sp225 19. Jacob Roberge - The PassingCanadian multi-instrumentalist's debut album is a grand excursion in symphonic prog, highlighted by the epic title track consisting of multiple sections, styles, and dynamics, encompassing the
best of symphonic prog, embracing the styles of the classic bands as well as more modern influences to produce a wonderful majestic track that satisfies on every level, with beautiful melodies
and rousing instrumental passages, and culminating with a grand majestic
finale.
Win25 18. Rocking Horse Music Club - The Last Pink GlowWorthy follow-up to their previous masterwork, Circus of Wire Dolls (2023), as it maintains the beautiful songwriting, exquisite
production, and impeccable arrangements and instrumentation throughout,incorporating prog, pop, folk, jazz, and blues into a presentation of Jack Kerouac's A Haunted Life.
Sp125 17. Motorpsycho - MotorpsychoAnother wonderful album from this eclectic versatile Norwegian Prog band, as they back to heavier aspects and their psych, prog, and hard
rock roots, but also contains bits of everything from their past and
still maintains their melodic sensibilities and that Motorpsycho sound,
in this expansive self-titled double album.
Win25 16. Bjorn Riis - FimbulvinterGuitarist
from prog band Airbag presents moody, atmospheric soundscapes with a poignant, introspective, and personal feel for a wonderful album, as the songs create brooding and powerful moods, punctuated by great guitar lines and fills.
Sp125 15. Madison Cunningham - Ace Talented singer-songwriter, with great vocals, melodies, and perceptive lyrics throughout, but what really sets this album apart is the bold and dynamic approach to instrumentation, arrangements, and production. Compelling songs are bolstered by the inventive arrangements and contributions of a chamber ensemble, providing a fresh, vibrant, and natural sound.
Fal25
14. Anders Buaas - TrollringenWonderful, mostly instrumental melodic prog album from this Norwegian multi-instrumentalist. Absolutely beautiful, full of great instrumental Prog tracks and a few vocal tracks, with prominent acoustic and classical guitars, gentle moving melodies, lovely spirited instrumentals, jazz and folk influences, and grand and dynamic themes.
Sum25
13. Pattern-Seeking Animals - Friend of All CreaturesThis offshoot of Spock's beard has developed into one of the premier modern melodic progressive rock bands. Great melodic Prog in another batch of wonderful songs, beautiful and well-played, with great vocals and musicianship, and the full range of emotions, dynamics, and instrumentation.
Win25 12. Karfagen - OmniKeyboard-centric symphonic prog from prolific Ukranian musician Antony Kalugin's band, featuring their most accessible and cohesive release to date. Although broken up into individual tracks, it plays out as one
long suite of interconnected songs, and it is more focused on vocals,
harmonies, and pop-rock melodies (with numerous guest vocalists)
than their usual more instrumental-heavy releases. There is still plenty
of great instrumental prog on display here, but
the vocal melodies and arrangements take center stage.
Sp125 11. Jonas Lindberg - Time FramesThis Swedish Prog band has taken a further step forward with another great album of modern melodic symphonic prog. Their sound is a masterful mix of catchy pop melodies and vocal harmonies combined with extended instrumental passages, grand themes, and virtuoso musicianship. Excellent use of lighter acoustic sections that build into big, bold, soaring symphonic prog, punctuated by heavier, harder rockin' sections and scorching solos.
Fal25
10. Styx - Circling From Above
Legendary 70's rock band continues their recent resurgence with this dynamite album, as they build on their core melodic rock sound with progressive and classic elements. The tracks cover a variety of styles featuring classic Styx vocal harmonies and soaring melodies, but also including diverse influences from several other classic bands, for a wonderful excursion through classic and prog rock. Each member gets a chance to shine here on lead vocals and great songs. Sum25
9. Counting Crows - Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets
After a long 11 years since their last full album, we finally have a new album from Counting Crows, and it is fantastic! Although half the album was previously released as an EP (Butter Miracle Suite One), this offers a great mix of songs that highlight Adam's strong storytelling style and unique rock vibe of the band, showing all of the qualities that I love about the band, with a fresh new sound, but also right in line with previous classics. The new tracks are all great, from the blues-rock opener, the rousing single Spaceman in Tulsa, the roots-rock gem Boxcars, the angsty story-telling ballad Virgina in the Rain, and the catchy bluesy rocker Under the Aurora, they really add another dimension to the other trracks, and lots of great stuff here. A wonderful addition to the band's stellar legacy.
Sp125 8. Echolyn - Time Silent Radio ii & vii
U.S. symphonic prog band Echolyn emerged from a 10-year absence with not 1 but 2 great albums here, providing their unique rockin' prog sound, mixing classic melodic rock and power pop with sumptuous symphonic prog for a wonderful set of albums. TSRii consists of 2 epic-length tracks (16 and 29 min.) that ebb and flow and take their time to develop through
multiple musical sections and themes, but never lose focus, remaining
consistently enjoyable and entertaining throughout. Whereas TSRvii, has 7 shorter tracks that are even better, with songs that are
brighter, punchier, with more emphasis on melody and catchy rock tunes,
but still with plenty of proggy goodness throughout, and both albums featuring their unique that sound that is not quite like any other band.
Win257. Lunatic Soul - The World Under Unsun
Led by Polish Prog
band Riverside's composer-vocalist-bassist Mariusz Duda, but with a
different sound and style, more subdued, moody, and atmospheric, but
still quite melodic, filled with cool beats, bass lines, and melodic
riffs, and Duda's otherworldly vocals. This is mainly a one-man show, as Duda plays or provides virtually all
the instruments, sounds, and vocals, with just some additional drums and
sax provided by others. An expansive double album (14 tracks, nearly 90 min.) that
justifies its length, as the tracks all work and flow together, the
music takes its time to explore themes, build and develop into masterful
soundscapes. Many of the tracks are nearly or entirely instrumental, but vocals are
used effectively throughout to enhance mood and advance the storyline. Overall, a rich, superb, atmospheric album.
Fal256. OK Go - And the Adjacent Possible
Its been 11 years since the last full album release (
Hungry Ghosts,
2014) by this wildly creative and inventive eclectic indie pop band,
and the world has been a noticeably less fun place in their absence. Known for their extraordinary, ingenious, and meticulously crafted music
videos, the boys do not disappoint in either the music or video
department with this latest release, as they go above and beyond again
and deliver a fantastic new album. All-out, fun, good-timey pop songs, featuring well-crafted, imminently tuneful, clever, and catchy songs in a variety of pop styles, incorporating power pop, sunshine pop, synthpop, alt-pop, pop ballads,
and dreamy vocal harmonies, even some 70.s glam rock, and with just enough quirks and weirdness to
always be interesting and fun. Great summer album, this is what pop music should be (but was sadly ignored). I've probably listened to this album more than any other throughout the year because it provides so much fun and enjoyment.
Sp125 5. Lars Frederik Froislie - Gamle Mester2nd solo album, following the splendid
Fire Foretellinger (2023) from Lars, the keyboard player from Norwegian Prog band
Wobbler is further proof that new classic-style Symphonic Prog is alive and
well in 2025. Froislie plays all the instruments (and vocals as well),
with just some help on bass,
and of course a big emphasis on keys/synths, with the great diversity
of keyboard sounds and styles always hitting just the right feel for the
song. Richly textured, complex, and dynamic songs, as Froislie
weaves his melodies and compositions with some recognizable touches
from previous masters (
Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull, ELP, Gentle Giant,
etc.), along with modern Scandinavian influences, but is never
derivative, creating remarkably fresh, warm and adventurous songs.
Mostly instrumental, but with vocals (in Norwegian) sparingly added
where they can be used to best augment the songs.
Sp1254. Spock's Beard - The Archaeoptimist
Premier U.S. Prog band returns after a 7-yr absence with this stellar album that explodes with masterful symphonic prog and that both harkens back to their classic days and forges forward. Led here by keyboard player Ryo Okumoto, who wrote or co-wrote all the songs, provides dazzling keyboard work throughout, but the others contribute great playing-singing and dynamite solos as well. It starts off with Invisible, a strong opener
showing that classic Spock's Beard sound, and the album just continues
to build from there, with great melodies, dynamic and complex song
structures featuring ever-changing rhythms, beats, and grooves, and
sensational instrumental passages. But the culmination of the album, the final 2 tracks, which account for
half the album's length, are the absolute best, with the epic title
track and the closer Next Step, delivering stunning symphonic prog and
everything you could want in epic prog tracks. A really great album by one of the best modern prog bands.
Fal253. Karmakanic - Transmutation
Another 'side project' for The Flower King's bassist,
Jonas Reingold, that grew into something much more, becoming one of the premier modern symphonic prog bands, is back after a 9-year absence with this brilliant album. Jonas and band have brought along many wonderful prog guest artists to help out, including
Steve Hackett (and members of his touring band),
Andy Tillison (
The Tangent),
John Mitchell (
Frost, It Bites, Lonely Robot),
Randy McStine, Nick D'Virgilio, and
Simon Phillips, to produce one of the best albums of the year. It opens with a burst of energy in the brief, but powerful rockin'
instrumental Bracing For Impact, and then continues to get better and
better with each subsequent track, culminating with the sensational Prog epic title track (23 min), which is stunningly
brilliant, with everything you could want in a
prog epic, from tender acoustic sections to glorious majestic themes to
incredible soloing and exciting instrumental passages. Best epic of the year.
Win252. Great Wide Nothing - A Shout Into The Void
This 4th album from Keyboard-centric U.S. Prog Trio delivers an absolutely fantastic musical experience. Delightful prog elements masterfully presented in an energetic, bold, dynamic, hard-driving modern rock context, with catchy melodies and hooks throughout, yet still maintains a strong melodic sensibility, with catchy melodies and hooks throughout. A concept album of sorts with a theme dealing with social commentary on
our place in the world of today. Sensational keys/synth-work (Dylan
Porter), from the backing aura to dazzling solos, always with just the
right sounds and voices. Powerful bass and vocals from primary
songwriter Daniel Graham, and dynamic drumming backing from Jeff
Matthews. A unique, powerful and excitingly enjoyable album, brilliant from start
to finish. Every track is superb and they all work together to create
something really special .Absolutely adore this album, have played it repeatedly all year. Every song great, no weaknesses, a masterpiece. This has been and I thought would remain as my undisputed album of the year, right up until late November, when things changed quickly, because ...
Sp1251. Moron Police - Pachinko
Just released on 11/28/25, but I have been listening to this everyday since, and I just can't get enough of it, as this is just a phenomenal album. Brilliant from start to finish, it is a crazy concept album, a big, bold,
exhilarating, boisterous, uplifting, joyous romp. It is filled with
their unique blend of frenetic high energy catchy pop melodies amidst
hard-driving rock beats, jazz and prog elements, and just non-stop fun
and entertainment. Endlessly inventive and creative, as quick, punchy,
unforgettable tunes abound as it moves from one track to another,
featuring great vocals, sensational synth-keyboard work, and excellent
arrangements and production, including just-right instrumentation and
use of additions such as sax, trumpet, banjo, violin, or whatever is
needed to fill out the perfect sound. The indisputable best album of the year. And not only the best album of 2025, but also one of the very best albums I have ever heard! Anyone who has liked any of the albums and artists I have featured on this blog needs to check this one out. Regardless of your musical preferences, this has something for everyone and is just sensational, every track, no weak spots at all. Fal25
Well, there you have it, those are my very favorites of the year. there also were many other good to very good albums that didn't quite make this top 40 list, and I'll go through some of those in a separate post. But what were your favorite albums of the year? What would you recommend I listen to that I may not have checked out? Let me know what you thought of my selections and the year in music overall.
