This year in music saw viral highs meet very public flops, from surprise drops to painfully long album rollouts, and the internet had an opinion on absolutely everything. Pop girls dominated, indie got weirder, and dance floors doubled as confession booths. From glossy, hyper-online pop to deeply personal records and surprising debuts, these are the BRICKS team’s favourite albums of the year.
Djo – The Crux
Released: 4th April
Best Track: Back On You
Djo’s The Crux expands his indie-pop/rock palette with a confident, self-produced set blending sharp songwriting and buoyant hooks. Built around reflective lyricism and layered instrumentation, the album reveals Joe Keery’s evolving voice as a solo artist while maintaining his knack for accessible melodies and off-kilter charm.
The deluxe edition of The Crux adds new songs that feel more expansive and emotionally open. Joe Keery leans into classic songwriting instincts while sharpening his pop edge, turning the record into a fuller statement about restlessness, ambition and self-definition.
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Released: 9th May
Best track: Stateside remix feat. Zara Larsson
Fancy That is a compact yet impactful statement from PinkPantheress, fusing UK garage, pop sensibilities and introspective writing across its brief format. With earworm rhythms and personal lyric frames, the mixtape refines her signature sound while spotlighting emotional immediacy and production growth.
The Fancy That remix added even more spectacle to the mixtape, pairing her soft-focus club pop with a sharp set of collaborators – including Zara Larsson, whose bubblegum pop take on “Stateside” stands out among many noteworthy features.
Addison Rae – Addison
Released: 6th June
Best track: Fame is a Gun
Addison Rae’s self-titled debut Addison commits fully to high-gloss pop fantasy, blending Y2K-flecked synths, club-ready beats and a deliberate sense of self-mythology. Anchored by popular singles “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine,” the album leans into hyper-polished hooks and playful excess, reframing Rae’s cultural narrative with confidence. It’s a knowing, pleasure-first record that asserts her pop ambitions with clarity, control and undeniable star power.
Lorde – Virgin
Released: 27th June
Best track: David
After a four-year hiatus, Lorde returned this year with her highly anticipated fourth studio album. On Virgin, Lorde channels synth-pop and dance energy into a candid, self-reflective record shaped by big life changes. Its sleek production and emotionally raw lyrics trace vulnerability, identity and reinvention, underpinned by her distinctive voice and dance-floor sensibilities.
Wet Leg – Moisturiser
Released: 11th July
Best track: davina mccall
Moisturiser sharpens Wet Leg’s irreverent edge while pushing their sound into bolder, more muscular territory. The Isle of Wight duo lean into distorted guitars, dry wit and left-field pop instincts, balancing caustic humour with moments of surprising emotional clarity and confidence.
Dijon – Baby
Released: 15th August
Best track: Kindalove
Dijon offers an intimate, experimental R&B-soul fusion rooted in themes of new parenthood and personal introspection on Baby. The album’s lush textures and thoughtful arrangements underscore his evolving artistic voice, blending heartfelt lyricism with adventurous production.
Hayley Williams – Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party
Released: 28th August
Best dressed: Good Ol’ Days
Hayley Williams graced fans with a slew of singles this year, culminating in her best solo album to date. Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party embraces creative unpredictability, delivering a pop-leaning, candid record that chronicles emotional turbulence and self-exploration, rich with confessional lyricism and lush melodies.
Blood Orange – Essex Honey
Released: 29th August
Best track: Mind Loaded (featuring Caroline Polacheck, Lorde & Mustafa)
Dev Hynes’ Essex Honey is a deeply reflective Blood Orange project shaped by grief and memory. The album’s blend of post-punk, funk, soul and experimental touches creates an immersive emotional journey, marked by rich collaborations and evocative storytelling.
Parcels – Loved
Released: 12th September
Best Track: Safeandsound
On Loved, Parcels refine their polished disco-pop sound into a warm and reflective record. Glossy grooves, soft melodies and their signature live-band chemistry drive an album that balances joy with introspection, reaffirming their ability to make emotionally resonant music that still feels light, effortless and timeless.
CMAT – Euro-Country
Released: 13th September
Best track: Running/Planning
BRICKS VOICES digital cover star CMAT’s Euro-Country pushes beyond her earlier sound into bold stylistic territory, integrating alt-rock, jazz-kissed pop and country-inflected elements. The result is a dynamic, vibrant set that captures humour, heartbreak and self-assertion with fearless songwriting and contagious energy.
Wednesday – Bleeds
Released: 19th September
Best track: Elderberry Wine
Bleeds sees Wednesday honing their unique mix of Southern-tinged rock and indie grit with narrative-rich songwriting. Frontwoman and BRICKS VOICES digital cover star Karly Hartzman delivers vivid tales of heartbreak and resilience, supported by textured arrangements that balance grit and melody across a compelling, cohesive album.
Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
Released: 26th September
Best track: So Easy (To Fall In Love)
Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving synthesises pop and R&B influences into a warm, intimate record about love’s nuances. With lush production and strong vocal performances, the album charts emotional landscapes with clarity and sophistication, earning acclaim for its melodic depth and lyrical honesty.
Geese – Getting Killed
Released: 26th September
Best track: Au pays du cocaine
Geese’s Getting Killed sees the band pushing their experimental rock edge into bold, unpredictable terrain. With jagged rhythms and visceral energy, the album balances intensity and nuance, reaffirming their status as forward-thinking innovators in contemporary rock.
Lily Allen – West End Girl
Released: 24th October
Best track: Dallas Major
Lily Allen’s West End Girl marks a powerful return after several years, combining unfiltered storytelling with sharp pop craftsmanship. The album’s frank explorations of relationship upheaval and personal resilience are delivered with wit and emotional depth across bright, catchy production.
Rosalía – Lux
Released: 7th November
Best track: Divinize
Rosalía’s Lux is a sweeping artistic statement blending avant-pop, orchestral grandeur and genre-fluid innovation. Grounded in expressive lyricism and multilingual vocal performances alongside orchestral arrangements and high-profile collaborators, the album pushes creative boundaries and expands her sonic identity.
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Released: 5th December
Best track: Pale Song
Dove Ellis’s debut album Blizzard is a strikingly intimate record shaped by fragility, restraint and emotional precision. Sparse arrangements leave space for raw vocal performances and confessional writing, creating an atmosphere that feels vulnerable without melodrama or excess.
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