THE BEST ALBUMS 2025 HAD TO OFFER

This is peak Taylor, taking fans on a transformative journey from romantic tragedy culminating in a celebration of life and love.

- With JAMES CABOOTER

TAYLOR SWIFT

THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

Closer in spirit to Red, she hones her pop skills to perfection on Opalite while Jackson 5-infused Wood must have made other half Travis Kelce blush. This Showgirl deserves many encores.

CMAT

EURO-COUNTRY

Now armed with the songs to match her tatent, this feels like a career-defining moment for Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. Combining musical versatility with heart-on-sleeve authenticity, she lets the beautiful songs do the hard work. There's lyrical adventure at every turn, embracing humour to tackle identity, grief, global economics and even poor Jamie Oliver.

PULP

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Hearing Jarvis Cocker croak about wrestling with coat hangers will give music fans of a certain vintage a fuzzy feeling. Yet Sheffield's heroes are more sorted for Horlicks than wizz these days, Grown Ups eloquently reflecting on the tragedy of adulthood. Tina is cut from the same lyrical cloth as Common People, but backed by huge Ennio Morricone strings.

Pulp's charm once relied on a Poundland Roxy Music aesthetic, but this lavish record glistens with genuine luxury. More please.

LAUFEY

A MATTER OF TIME