The Worst Albums of 2025
Enough of the positivity. It's time to get critical. What were 2025's worst reviewed records? And what do they say about the state of music criticism?
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The Best Albums of 2025
We are excited to reveal our Best 50 Albums of 2025, continuing an annual No Ripcord tradition that dates back to 2002. Dig in, enjoy the picks, get unnecessarily worked up about the omissions, and share widely!
The Best Albums of 2025: Bubbling Under
These twenty albums may have narrowly missed our Top 50, but they're simply too good to go unrecognised. Our Bubbling Under feature gives them the spotlight they deserve.
Sharp Pins – Balloon Balloon Balloon
Kai Slater’s latest exercise in British Invasion-inspired indie rock is a more chaotic affair than his breakout hit, Radio DDR.
My Bloody Valentine: Live at Aviva Studios, Manchester
The Irish shoegaze legends have a unique relationship with noise. The passage of time has not dulled their potency.
Tobias Jesso Jr. – s h i n e
Returning after a 10-year absence, the lapsed singer-songwriter faces the mammoth task of proving his individuality as an artist.
Waiting for Jesso
Tobias Jesso Jr. wowed critics in 2015 with his stunning debut, Goon. Was his long-awaited follow-up worth waiting for?