Peer Review: Artists pick their top releases of 2025
As the year draws to a close, it officially becomes the most chaotic time in a music journalist’s life: list season. In the finale weeks, we attempt to sum up 365 days of music in a need run-down of the best records.
However, there is really no one better to call on for a good musical opinion than musicians themselves. They’re the people out there in the field week after week, watching bands in their festival gaps or catching up on new releases in the van as they speed up and down the motorways.
As we formulate our bumper list of top albums and tracks, we called up some of our favourite artists of the year to see which releases stand out for them, or which other artists have come to define their 2025.
From inspiration production to juicy storytelling, long-established bands to new risers, they covered all bases of the year’s finest musical moments. Providing a broad snapshot of what broke through and what had mass appeal, here is what artists themselves are saying about 2025 in music.
Artists pick their top releases of 2025:
‘West End Girl’ – Lily Allen: Picked by Madeline Rose Witney and Blossom Caldarone<br>
When Lily Allen dropped her first album in eight years, the world was gripped. Part of that comes down to the fact that across the tracklist, Allen dissects her very public relationship breakdown in a very public way, delving into exactly why her marriage broke down as a treat to nosey people everywhere.
But part of it comes down to the sharp, succinct power that the 44-minute-long record holds, touring through thoughts, feelings, and also musical styles. For artists with a love for storytelling, that’s heaven.
“Lily Allen’s West End Girl, without a shadow of a doubt. I think it’s genuinely a masterpiece,” Madeline Rose Witney said, giving the record her top spot without a doubt. Blossom Caldarone had to agree, calling it “concise and hilarious”.
‘Luminescent Creatures’ – Ichiko Aoba: Picked by Kety Fusco
Becoming a firm favourite early in the year, Kety Fusco had her top pick locked in and ready for months. “I was struck by how she merges the delicacy of her voice with a profoundly contemporary musical language,” the artist said, celebrating the Japanese singer-songwriter’s latest folk masterpiece.
“There’s a beautiful balance between the organic textures — harp, flutes, natural sounds — and a sense of suspended time,” she continued, describing the record so beautiful that you can almost hear it.
‘Never Enough’ – Turnstile: Picked by Curser
For south London’s Curser, along with countless other artists with a love for the heavier side of things, there was one clear winner in 2025.
“I’ve been listening to Turnstile for probably like eight years. I’ve done my time, I love hardcore music,” the band’s bassist Alex Lambert said, making sure to clarity that he’s not new on his hype train. But this year, plenty of other people got on board as hits like ‘Birds’ and ‘I Care’ brought the band to the masses with their biggest commercial success to date.
For Lambert, it’s the more the merrier when it comes to that blow-up. “That new album is sick,” he said, adding, “I love that it’s bringing heavy music to a huge audience when they’re playing Coachella and stuff like that.”
‘This Better be Something Great’ – Westside Cowboy: Picked by Yaang
When we talk about the biggest breakout acts of 2025, Westside Cowboy’s name is always quick to come up. At the start of the year, the band won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition, and quickly, everything changed. The power of word of mouth was very much on their side as gig goers recommended them over and over, causing people to pay attention to these Manchester risers.
But Yaang were already locked in. Starting out in the same scene, the band all work at various venues across town and so saw Westside Cowboy’s story from the start.
“I’ve watched them play in bands before, and watching them get massive and release these amazing songs and be such a good live band – I’m so proud of them,” they said, adding simply, “They’re conquering the world, they’re the real deal. They deserve everything.”
‘Welcome To My Blue Sky’ – Momma: Picked by The Beths
When The Beths found themselves in LA, they also found the perfect album to soundtrack their trip when Momma dropped Welcome To My Blue Sky, their fourth album.
Part recorded in Los Angeles at Wasatch studios, clearly the sounds of the city and its climate floated in as The Beths’ singer Elizabeth Stokes said, “They’ve just got that thing. It’s so hooky, and it’s just like guitar music that feels really good and feels really sunny.”
But on the flip side, the album, also being partly crafted in Brooklyn, seems to give it an edge that keeps it all too shiny and sweet. That’s what guitarist Jonathan Pearce loves about it, as he added, “They do the radio rock thing, but it’s not overproduced.”
‘Choke Enough’ – Oklou: Picked by Emma Bradley
Released back in February, Oklou’s debut album has been a long-running favourite for a lot of people. Especially for people with a love for interesting production, the record was a hypnotic treat.
Emma Bradley definitely fits that bill as 2025 saw her go all-in on her own self-production journey, meaning that throughout the year, Oklou has been a perfect inspiration.
“I love Oklou. I love everything she makes, but this album is some of my favourite work of hers ever,” Bradley said, adding, “She has truly such a unique, personal, distinct sound, and it’s so cool to see an artist living in their own unique space and expanding on it with each release.”
In particular, ‘Blade Bird’ stands out as the one she said has been “on repeat since it came out.”
