The best albums of 2025 so far

From projects by billy woods to YHWH Nailgun, these are the records we can’t stop spinning.

Around June is when we start to get a good sense of what this year in music will look like. So far, 2025 has been monumental for debuts and rebirths: the decisive first records from new indie rock prince Cameron Winter, U.K. rapper Feng, and dissonant rockers YHWH Nailgun; and career-defining moments from Lady Gaga, Erika de Casier, and FKA twigs. But, the vast majority of projects on this list are just great records from great artists who are just getting better year after year. Ahead, see all the records that have stuck out to us this year so far, setting the bar for the months to come.