The end of the year is upon us, and it's time to reflect on your favorite music of 2025! Here are Nilufer Arsala's favorite songs and albums of the year. Once you've made your own list, vote in The Current's Top 89 poll by Sunday, Dec. 14, and we'll count down your Top 89 of 2025 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Top 10 Songs of 2025

Kendrick Lamar- Peekaboo

I know the GNX album came out in late 2024, BUT “Peekaboo” was released as a single in 2025, so it still counts. (I think.) Like most of the songs on the album, this is a total jam that continued the Kendrick mania and made multiple rounds on social media. GNX is the album that keeps on giving.

Deep Sea Diver - Tiny Threads

This is such a romantic song, and a definite standout track on the Billboard Heart album.

Hayley Williams - Good Ol’ Days

This one is a perfect mix of upbeat R&B and the alt-rock that Hayley is known for.

Lily Allen - Nonmonogamummy

An upbeat jam from Lily Allen’s new record West End Girl that’s about trying to be open to the changing boundaries in a relationship - even if it’s not working that well.

Kid Cudi - Grave

You can feel the grit and determination in “Grave.” This one will get stuck in your head.

Jean Dawson - Rock A Bye Baby

You can hear the influence of the Minneapolis sound in this one. A total dance jam.

The Beaches - Last Girls at the Party

If there was ever a song that sounds like my 20s… this is it.

CMAT - When a Good Man Cries

This song feels like home from the first fiddle and is at its best when the layers of harmony take over like dancers in the round.

Leon Thomas - MUTT

The title track from Leon Thomas’ Grammy-nominated album nods to the throwback sounds of R&B yesterday but still manages to sound super fresh.

Bartees Strange - Backseat Banton

A song that alludes to the feeling of standing in between your past and your future that’s paired with Bartees’ powerful musical ability.

Top 10 Albums of 2025

Nur-D - Chunkadelic

Local…and a total joy of a listen!

Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party

Such emotion on this one… including the title track which made me actually laugh out loud.

Lily Allen - West End Girl

If I could go back in time, then I would record myself reacting to listening to this for the first time. Listen to it. Now.

Deep Sea Diver - Billboard Heart

This album came out last February and it was the first one of 2025 that I listened to on repeat. So good!

Curtis Harding - Departures and Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt

Another concept album that’s so good you want to listen all the way through. AND IT’S A SPACE OPERA!

David Byrne - Who is the Sky?

A master at work here.

The Beaches - No Hard Feelings

A good record to sing really loud to while driving fast down the highway.

Jensen McRae - I Don’t Know How, But They Found Me

A beautiful album about navigating relationships. McRae’s beautiful voice + clever lyrics = no skips.

Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco - I Said I Loved You First

This one surprised me in the best way. Standout tracks are “Ojos Tristes” (with the Marias), and the dance number “Bluest Flame.”

Bartees Strange - Horror

I love the way Bartees Strange tells stories in his songwriting, and he stays true to form on his latest full-length release.