MD Committee’s Top Albums of 2025
(a non-exhaustive list in alphabetical order)
Addison by Addison Rae
“It feels very new while also being an amalgamation of different genres. It’s also cool that this is female produced album.” -Sophia
Fav Tracks: High Fashion, Aquamarine, Times Like These
Ain’t No Damn Way by Kaytranada
“Funky, fresh and makes you want to dance.” -Sahana
Fav Tracks: Don’t Worry Babe/I Got U Babe
Baby by Dijon
“This is just a cool af album and there are no flops. His raw and emotional vocals contrast well with melodic switch ups. The sickest part is how every song fades well into each other and everything song placement feels intentional. 10/10” -Sophia
Fav Tracks: Another Baby!, Yamaha, Fire, Rewind
Bleeds by Wednesday
“Absolutely rocking but still grounded and easy to listen to. The Phish diss is begrudgingly great.” -Josie
Fav Tracks: Townies, Elderberry Wine, Phish Pepsi
Cabin in the Sky by De La Soul
“De La Soul continues to do what they do best: executing a fresh concept that is more experience than album while pumping out earworms that also manage to be nuanced and musically excellent.” -Josie
Fav Tracks: Gotta listen to it all the way through
Essex Honey by Blood Orange
“Dev Hynes is just always cool and innovative.” -Sophia
Fav Tracks: Countryside, Look At You, Vivid Light, The Train
From the Pyre by The Last Dinner Party
“A grandiose album with bold vocals, intense storytelling, and a cinematic sound! Very very good album!!” -Jessica
Fav Tracks: This is the Killer Speaking, Count the Ways, Agnus Dei
Headlights by Alex G
“A perfectly corny record--it feels like a satirized version of "God Save the Animals." My favorite tracks layer fun voices.” -Marina
Fav Tracks: Beam Me Up, Oranges
Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter
“Technically a December ‘24 release, but it would feel wrong to exclude such a year-defining work! Cameron Winter proves himself to be a generational talent, carving out a captivatingly raw and unique sound with perfectly strange lyrics.” -Libby
Fav Tracks: Drinking Age, $0, Cancer of the Skull, Love Takes Miles
Poet | Artist by SHINee
“Poet | Artist is 17th year group SHINee's newest single, with the titular song "Poet | Artist" written and composed by late-member Jonghyun, who also features in the song via an 8-year-old demo/guiding vocal track. The reggae-rhythmed electro-pop song encapsulates freedom of artistic expression with word painting, rhythmic and syllabic variation, (korean) alphabetically ordered chorus lyrics, and the original vocal scat bridge from the demo, making it truly a love letter between SHINee and their most shining member.
The single also comes with a second track, "Starlight", a synth-y dance-pop track reminiscent of "Blame it on the Boogie" by The Jacksons and "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars, but with just enough vocal layering, rap-like segments, and a harmonically progressive bridge (with stripped-back instrumentals) to make it a quintessentially SHINee song.” -Vivi
Racing Mount Pleasant by Racing Mount Pleasant
“A wonderful addition to the Black Country New Road genre of post-rock jazz, featuring beautifully orchestrated tracks that range from gentle folk to cinematic opus.” -Libby
Fav Tracks: Call It Easy, Your New Place, Seminary
Straight Line Was a Lie by The Beths
“Their most mature and cohesive album yet, deepening their sound by balancing upbeat, infectious power-pop with lyrics about difficult themes like mental health, fragility, and the messiness of life.” -Jessica
Fav Tracks: Take, Best Laid Plans
The Crux by Djo
“AWESOME album and everyone should listen!” -Kaurvaki
Fav Tracks: Basic Being Basic, Charlie’s Garden, Delete Ya
Vanisher, Horizon Scraper by Quadeca
“Beautiful production and much more conceptual than Quadeca’s last mixtape, this album has some crazy mood switches, but overall is the perfect pick for when you wanna feel like a sailor lost at sea!” -Lenka
Fav Tracks: DANCING WITHOUT MOVING, GODSTAINED, FORGONE
