On the record 2025 - wrap up
Published December 27, 2025
Another year of listening to old and new albums is complete and I’ve loved the adventure this year. It felt like things got off to a bit of a slow start but gradually things picked up and I ended up with a short list for best albums of the year of 13. The worst part of the year is having to narrow that down to five, but the debate has been lively this year and I think I’ve come to a good conclusion. Interestingly, these five were all listened to in the last couple of months, so things really did pick up in the latter half of 2025.
1. THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! by JADE
“After watching Jade’s set at Glastonbury, I was really excited for this album to come out and it has delivered. In fact, it’s pretty much exactly what we got at Glastonbury, give or take the Little Mix songs and 90s covers. It’s intense, quirky pop music, clearly a lot of trauma to deal with in regards to the music business and how it treats artists, but there are also the heartbreak and love songs in there too. Really good, really listenable, and something Jade can be really proud of.”
2. Perrie by Perrie
“Listening to this album so quickly after Jade’s means it’s impossible not to compare and contrast the two. They’re both brilliant, excellent pop records with impeccable vocals and production. This one is a lot closer to the Little Mix sound, although there are also songs that sound a bit like other people - Pink, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift etc. But it’s great, and fun, and my favourite is Absofuckinglutely.”
3. How to be Human by Cat Burns
“Like so many people, I’ve only become aware of Cat Burns since her incredible stint on Celebrity Traitors, and what a perfect time to have a new album out. I loved it. It’s got a unique style to it, bringing that singer/songwriter energy with layers of gospel, and the occasional Lily Allen talk-singing vibe. But it’s a gorgeous album, great songs on top of difficult subjects - love and grief and the intersection of both - I really think this is a top five contender.”
4. Knees Up by Olly Murs
“Olly Murs has had some proper hits in the past but I’ve been disappointed with more recent work as it’s been quite middle-of-the-road. I didn’t have high expectations for this album but I was blown away. It’s so good and so unexpected. It’s a great mix of pop and ska, kind of like if Madness released a new album, but in the best possible way. It’s fun and scatty and honest and has good highs and lows, I loved it.”
5. West End Girl by Lily Allen
“Before listening to this, I saw a few reviews raving about it so I was expecting good things. First listen through and I liked it but I thought it was a lot - there’s quite a lot of intimate detail in there, this is a breakup album like no other. Second listen through, though, I really loved it. It’s great how it tells a story from the beginning to the end of a relationship, excellent songs from start to finish, and some intense but excellent lyrical work.”
An honourable mention has to go to Lorde, because I just admire that she played that album in full during her Glastonbury set and it was fantastic - to get away with that when people just want to hear the hits is a testament to the quality of the music. And listening to the album was just as good an experience.
Meanwhile, another year has flown by and I haven’t revisited the top ten albums of all time… and now there are another 100 that could be contenders. Still, all the admin is done so it’s just a matter of sitting down and making some tough decisions. I’m really, really, REALLY going to try and get this done in 2026. But meanwhile, I’m really looking forward to listening to the next 100 as well!
