The first half of 2025 is behind us, and it brought a wave of exciting new music. Many artists treated our ears to fresh albums—some becoming chart-topping successes, while others may have performed modestly on the charts but still resonated deeply with fans.
Artists like The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny continued to dominate the scene. Tate McRae extended her unstoppable rise with her third studio album, So Close to What. Morgan Wallen reaffirmed his place as a heavyweight in country music—his new album I’m the Problem is the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard 200 so far this year. BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Jennie released their highly anticipated and critically acclaimed solo debuts, Alter Ego and Ruby, respectively. Meanwhile, Addison Rae completed her transformation from TikTok star to pop sensation with her debut album Addison.
The first six months of the year also delivered some major collaborations—Drake teamed up with PARTYNEXTDOOR for Some Sexy Songs 4 U, and Selena Gomez joined Benny Blanco for I Said I Love You First.
In addition, several notable comebacks took center stage, including Miley Cyrus (Something Beautiful), Lorde (Virgin), Marina (Princess of Power), and Karol G (Tropicoqueta). While global superstars dominated charts and headlines, a new wave of breakout talent emerged, with promising debuts from artists like d4vd and Isabel LaRosa.
With new albums from Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and more on the horizon, we’re taking a moment to look back at the albums that have shaped the first half of 2025. See our ranking below, based on the score we gave each record.
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Sable, Fable – Bon Iver (6.6)
Label: Jagjaguwar Tracks: 13
Just Keke – Keke Palmer (6.6)
Label: Big Bosses Ent Under Exclusive License to The SoNo Recording Group Tracks: 18
Love & Light – Maddie & Tae (6.7)
Label: Mercury Nashville Tracks: 16
Who Believes in Angels? – Elton John & Brandi Carlile (6.8)
Label: Interscope Records Tracks: 10
WHAM – Lil Baby (6.8)
Label: Quality Control Music, Motown, Glass Window Entertainment, Wolfpack Tracks: 15
Why Not More – Coco Jones (6.8)
Label: Def Jam Tracks: 14
Can’t Rush Greatness – Central Cee (6.9)
Label: CC4L, Columbia Records Tracks: 17
Deep Thoughts – Lil Durk (6.9)
Label: Only The Family, Alamo Records, Sony Music Tracks: 17
5ive – Davido (6.9)
Label: Davido Music Worldwide, Columbia Records, Sony Music Tracks: 13
Balloonerism – Mac Miller (6.92)
Label: Warner Records Tracks: 14
Idols – YungBlud (7.0)
Label: Locomotion Recordings, Capitol Records Tracks: 12
At the Beach, In Every Life – Gigi Perez (7.0)
Label: Outtahere, Island Records Tracks: 12
The Crux – Djo (7.0)
Label: AWAL Tracks: 12
Order Chaos Order – Calum Hood (7.0)
Label: Island Records Tracks: 12
I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims (7.0)
Label: Warner Records Tracks: 13
Funny Little Fears – Damiano David (7.0)
Label: Sony Music Italy, Artista Records Tracks: 14
The High Road – Kane Brown (7.04)
Label: RCA Records Nashville Tracks: 18
OMW2 Rexdale – NAV (7.1)
Label: XO, Republic Records Tracks: 14
Pisces – James Arthur (7.1)
Label: Columbia Records Tracks: 12
Dopamine – Lil Tecca (7.1)
Label: Galactic, Republic Records Tracks: 17
Addison – Addison Rae (7.1)
Label: Columbia Records Tracks: 12
Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny (7.1)
Label: Rimas Tracks: 17
Eusexua – FKA Twigs (7.15)
Label: Young, Atlantic Records Tracks: 11
Music For People Who Believe In Love – Joe Jonas (7.2)
Label: Republic Records Tracks: 14
Perverts – Ethel Cain (7.2)
Label: Daughters of Cain Tracks: 9
Sincerely – Kali Uchis (7.2)
Label: Capitol Records Tracks: 14
Raven – Isabel LaRosa (7.2)
Label: RCA Records, Slumbo Labs Tracks: 14
F1 The Album (Soundtrack)
Label: Atlantic Records Tracks: 17
Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus (7.25)
Label: Columbia Records Tracks: 13
People Watching – Sam Fender (7.3)
Label: Polydor Records Tracks: 11
For Melancholy Brunettes (And Sad Women) – Japanese Breakfast (7.3)
Label: Dead Oceans Tracks: 10
Tha Carter VI – Lil Wayne (7.3)
Label: YoungMoney, Republic Records Tracks: 21
Some Sexy Songs 4 U – PartyNextDoor & Drake (7.3)
Label: OVO Sound, Santa Anna, Republic Records Tracks: 21
Withered – d4vd (7.3)
Label: Darkroom, Interscope Records Tracks: 15
TROPICOQUETA – Karol G (7.3)
Label: Bichota Records, Interscope Records Tracks: 20
American Heart – Benson Boone (7.4)
Label: Night Street, Warner Records Tracks: 10
Love & Hyperbole – Alessia Cara (7.4)
Label: Def Jam Tracks: 14
I Said I Love You First – Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco (7.4)
Label: SMG Music LLC, Friends Keep Secrets, Interscope Records Tracks: 14
Dreamsicle – Maren Morris (7.4)
Label: Columbia Records Tracks: 14
I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen (7.5)
Label: Big Loud, Republic Records, Mercury Records Tracks: 37
Music – Playboi Carti (7.5)
Label: AWGE, Interscope Records Tracks: 30
Ruby – JENNIE (7.5)
Label: Odd Atelier, Columbia Records Tracks: 15
Virgin – Lorde (7.6)
Label: Universal Music New Zealand, Republic Records Tracks: 11
Princess of Power – Marina (7.8)
Label: – Tracks: 13
Paid In Memories – Jessie Reyez (7.8)
Label: FMLY, Island Records Tracks: 21
Alter Ego – LISA (7.9)
Label: LLOUD, RCA Records Tracks: 12
So Close to What – Tate McRae (7.9)
Label: RCA Records Tracks: 15
Mayhem – Lady Gaga (8.0)
Label: Streamline, Interscope Records Tracks: 14
Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead – Ariana Grande (8.0)
Label: Republic Records Tracks: 6
Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd (8.2)
Label: XO, Republic Records Tracks: 22
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