Our "Listened List" continues, after the break!
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"The Listened List" (Part 2)
Read Part 1 "My Apple Music Replay & Spotify Wrapped for 2025" Here!
My Favorite Albums of 2025
*The Honorable Mentions*
2025 felt like an age.
My goal at the start of the year was to be active in the music scene despite not having an hour long freeway drive to assist anymore. So I made due listening to a few tracks on my five-minute drive to & from work, during my lunch breaks, and in bed playing games (mostly Balatro. I played A LOT of that since departing FFXIV this year. Quite proud to quit cold turkey another MMORPG.) This old man experienced over 300+ different projects during these 360-ish days. That's not counting some classic projects or replays. Quite proud I kept my ear to the soundwaves despite everything happening all around us.
Some albums hit harder than others, which is always the case isn't it? You know those beloved projects will be featured shortly. That doesn't change the fact that every album below (with some exceptions) were rated ★★★★☆ over on the (dying?) Musicboard. Just because they didn't connect harder with this listener... doesn't mean they won't for you. Many made other "Best Of 2025" lists. We like what we like. That's what makes every subjective opinion quite meaningful. Probably why I like showcasing these bonus albums because you, dear reader, might connect with them more than I ever did.
Whatever the case, please give them a try! Here are my Honorable Mentions for 2025 (with some commentary) ... enjoy!
Collections, Live, & Anniversaries
Many of my favorite albums of all-time celebrated their anniversaries in 2025. I wasn't a music blogger back in 1995 or 2005. The latter was merely an obsessed MMORPG CD burner in a digital wild west. So it means the world to this fan that I can give these meaningful projects a small plug all these years later. Helps that music remastering has become a clever & (somewhat) controversial practice of itself nowadays.
Also, I don't really want to extend our Favorite Album Series beyond 2010... at the moment!
Here are the few worth spotlighting:
'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Deluxe Edition)' by My Chemical Romance
An album that changed my musical life back in 2004. Would probably be crowned my Favorite Album from that year if a countdown existed. For I had a full emo rock phase after the countless replays of 'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge' strangely enough. (We eventually became "Okay", I promise.) Will always journey back to relive the tragic gothic lore of the demolition lovers & their near impossible task.
Vividly remember putting this album on my mini-MP3 player for an early morning business project. Spent the entire day in our small office rocking out while I hustled DVD transfers. Fun times inbetween inconsistent community college courses. The pure venom frothing from the speakers inspired screenplay stories and haunting dreams. The medicine I needed as I chased an impossible dream. That kid didn't know how close he truly was to the finish.
<buy the silver & black vinyl on amazon!>
'TM:101 (Live)' by Jeezy & Color of Noize Orchestra
'E•MO•TION (10th Anniversary Edition)' by Carly Rae Jepsen
Have already spoken about this album enough over the years, haven't I? Having everything under one package sure is great!
'xx (2025 Deluxe)' by The xx
You didn't know The xx added three previous unreleased tracks to their self-titled 2009 debut album? I found it worth listening even though I still love 'Coexist' & 'I See You' way more.
'Born to Do It: 25th Anniversary Edition' by Craig David
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Still remember originally experiencing Craig David's R&B masterpiece, 'Born To Do It', through the walls of my sister's college dorm room. This album reached diamond status throughout my life since and I will always find someway back to it. One some random night. Just "Walking Away".
The 25h Anniversary Edition adds bonus content galore for the hallmark tracks. Really wish they included the live renditions from Craig David's "Live in Costa Rica: Music in High Places" special. Maybe sometime down the road? Luckily the special still exists on YT.
'Still At Their Very Best (Live From The AO Arena, Manchester, 17.02.24)' by The 1975
Got really into The 1975 after Florence + The Machine's 'Everybody Scream' shoutout. Never considered myself a fan so I went back to remind myself.
Found this Live Album waiting for me. Spent a week reconnecting.
'The Next Ten Years' by Frank Turner
'Augustana (Live with String Quartet)' by Augustana
'Millennium 2.0' by Backstreet Boys
'Stankonia (25th Anniversary)' by Outkast
'Speak For Yourself (20th Anniversary Remaster)' by Imogen Heap
Fell in love with indie film and music around 2005 as I managed my father's digital transfer business. Highly intellectual texts for a blooming college kid to digest. A vivid snapshot from 2 decades ago. And I was really... really into "Garden State" alongside its timeless soundtrack. That final scene, which I replayed close to a hundred times, stamped Imogen Heap onto my musical heart forever.
'Speak For Yourself', her 2005 sophomore project, remains timeless. Would definitely fall in my Top 3 albums for 2005 if I ever did a blurb about that year. Might claim #1 honestly. "Hide and Seek", "Clear the Area", "The Walk", "Just for Now", "I Am in Love with You", "The Moment I Said It", and the rest still give this listener chills. I can recall all those burnt mixtapes with that lovely haunting essence spew from those car speakers. Feelings I never want to forget.
'The Musings Of Miles (Remastered 2025)' by Miles Davis
'Gems' & 'Hidden Gems' by Josh Groban
Original 2025 LPs
'Juniper' by Joy Crookes
'Lonely People with Power' by Deafheaven
'All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade' by Of Monsters and Men
'Chet Baker Re:imagined' by Various Artists
'No Name' by EMANON
'From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D.' by Saba & NO I.D.
'Dead Channel Sky' by Clipping
'MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN' by VUKOVI
'Lefty' by Penny & Sparrow
'Even in Arcadia' by Sleep Token
'How You Been' by SML
'HOME?' by Wretch 32
'I quit' by Haim
'Harsh & Exciting' by Moonrisers
'Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party' by Hayley Williams
<buy the "Pool Party" vinyl on amazon!>
'Deadbeat' by Tame Impala
'STAR LINE' by Chance The Rapper
'Alfredo 2' by Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs
'West End Girl' by Lily Allen
'EUSEXUA Afterglow' by FKA Twigs
'Getting Killed' by Geese
'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' by Bad Bunny
'Don't Tap the Glass' by Tyler The Creator
'DETOX' by One OK Rock
'Sinister Grift' by Panda Bear
'Lux' by Rosalia
'Eternal Reverie' by TOKiMONSTA
'Lower' by Benjamin Booker
'Rushmere' by Mumford and Sons
'For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)' by Japanese Breakfast
'People Pleasers Pleasing People' by Strange Neighbors
'Animaru' by Mei Semones
'La Brea' by Hesse Kassel
'Perverts' by Ethel Cain
'The Price of Admission' by Turnpike Troubadours
'Bloodless' by Samia
'Worthy' by Anderson East
'Late to My Own Funeral' by Nicholas Craven & Boldy James
'Something New' by Lexytron
'Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements' by Seth MacFarlane
'Who's the Clown?' by Audrey Hobert
'Breach' by twenty one pilots
'Dialogue of Thoughts' by The Harper Trio
'Let it Hiss' by The Barr Brothers
'Jazz Report from the Hood' by Omasta
'Okinawan Wuman' by Awich
'Son Of Spergy' by Daniel Caesar
'Loved' by Parcels
'All Night Days' by Rob Thomas
'How To Be Human' by Cat Burns
'Stardust' by Danny Brown
'GYALGEBRA' by Major Lazer & Diplo - Mad Decent
'Music' by Playboi Carti
'VSQ Performs Frank Ocean' by Vitamin String Quartet
'Play' by Ed Sheeran
'Commitment' by Craig David
'Umi Ippai Ni Furishikiru Hoshi' by Aqua Timez
'EPIPHANY' by UVERworld
'15' by tuki.
'Alligator Bites Never Heal (Extended)' by Doechii
Soundtracks
'TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' by Nine Inch Nails
'Thunderbolts* (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' by Son Lux
'Superman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' by John Murphy & David Fleming
'Jurassic World Rebirth (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'by Alexandre Desplat
'Highest 2 Lowest (Original Soundtrack)' by Various Artists
'Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Collective' by James Liam Figueroa
'The Naked Gun (Music from the Motion Picture)' by Lorne Balfe
'Hollow Knight: Silksong (Original Soundtrack)' by Christopher Larkin
'Lazarus (Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack)' by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo and Floating Point
<buy Kamasi's vinyl version on amazon!>
'Hamnet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' by Max Richter
'One Battle After Another (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' by Jonny Greenwood
EPs
'Fall Back - EP' by Florence Road
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'EP' by Finessekid
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'I AM ___' by Imogen Heap and ai.mogen
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Thanks for reading!
My 25 Favorite Albums of 2025... next time!
