Lux by Rosalía is the most acclaimed album of the year.
The ADM Report 2025
Now everyone's had their say with the Best Albums of 2025 roundups, it's time to take stock of the cold hard facts of what really were the most critically-acclaimed albums over the past 12 months.
The AnyDecentMusic top 10 of 2025 is the most reliable guide to what earned the most extensive overall praise from reviewers.
We have excluded from the rankings any albums with fewer than ten reviews from our list of sources and the formula we apply to arrive at the ADM rating takes the number of reviews into account.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9.19
Rosalía
Lux
"Pop’s most provocative chaos agent delivers a transcendent album that sounds like nothing else in music right now"
Rolling Stone
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.95
Hayley Williams
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
"The Paramore vocalist’s new set of solo songs is a bold, epic direction for the best rock frontwoman of the millennium"
Paste Magazine
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.75
Geese
Getting Killed
"There’s a lot going on across the five-piece’s erratic but original third album, yet it never feels like they’re losing control of the chaos"
NME
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.72
CMAT
EURO-COUNTRY
"Absolutely masterful stuff"
Hot Press
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.61
Dove Ellis
Blizzard
"With shades of Jeff and Tim Buckley, the Galway-born artist writes tunes so strong they seem as familiar as old friends"
The Guardian
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.60
Anna Von Hausswolff
ICONOCLASTS
"For newcomers, this album presents a near perfect, accessible entry into her recordings"
All Music
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.52
billy woods
GOLLIWOG
"He spotlights the absurdity and nightmare of human existence while lauding the magical properties of art"
Beats Per Minute
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.50
Little Simz
Lotus
"The personal, the political, the celebratory and the confrontational all flow together"
The Arts Desk
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.42
Heartworms
Glutton For Punishment
"An extraordinary debut that proves Heartworms is a force to be reckoned with"
DIY
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
8.40
Deftones
Private Music
"A welcome reminder that Deftones are still more than capable of delivering the goods while showing us something new and vital"
Clash
More reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And the next 10
11. Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown Reviews
12. Hurray For The Riff Raff - The Past Is Still Alive Reviews
13. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future Reviews
14. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us Reviews
15. Arooj Aftab - Night Reign Reviews
16. Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven Reviews
17. Charli XCX - Brat and it's completely different... Reviews
18. Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter Reviews
19. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft Reviews
20. Sprints - Letter To Self Reviews
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ADM Report 2024
ADM Report 2023
ADM Report 2022
ADM Report 2021
ADM Report 2020
ADM Report 2019
ADM Report 2018
ADM Report 2017
ADM Report 2016
ADM Report 2015
ADM Report 2014
ADM Report 2013
ADM Report 2012
ADM Report 2011
ADM Report 2010
ADM Report 2009