As we enter 2026, a new year, vinyl still remains one of the most rewarding ways to take stock of a year in music. Records demand time and attention, encouraging full listens rather than fragments. The albums below weren’t just frequent spins — they defined my listening across the year, capturing trends in pop, indie, and alternative music while still feeling personal and lasting.
Here is my top 10 vinyl recap of 2025, with the tracks that stood out most from each release:
1. Man’s Best Friend — Sabrina Carpenter
Standout tracks: “House Tour,” “Go Go Juice,” “My Man on Willpower”
Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend proved to be one of 2025’s most replayable pop records. Slick, confident, and sharply written, the album balances humour with emotional clarity. “House Tour” sets the tone with self-assured flair, “Go Go Juice” thrives on high-energy immediacy, and “My Man on Willpower” adds depth beneath the polish. On vinyl, the album feels cohesive and deliberate, rewarding front-to-back listening.
2. Forever Is a Feeling — Lucy Dacus
Standout tracks: “Best Guess,” “Ankles,” “Talk”
Lucy Dacus continued her reputation for intimate songwriting with Forever Is a Feeling. The record unfolds slowly, favouring nuance over spectacle. “Best Guess” captures tentative optimism, “Ankles” finds meaning in close observation, and “Talk” lingers in emotional restraint. Its warmth and patience make it especially well-suited to the vinyl format.
3. folklore — Taylor Swift
Standout tracks: “invisible string,” “seven,” “mirrorball”
Though no longer new, folklore remained a constant presence in 2025. Its strength lies in cohesion — a fully realised album built around narrative and mood. “invisible string” offers quiet reassurance, “seven” revisits memory with tenderness, and “mirrorball” reflects vulnerability beneath performance. On vinyl, the album’s storytelling feels uninterrupted and immersive.
4. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess — Chappell Roan
Standout tracks: “Naked in Manhattan,” “After Midnight,” “HOT TO GO!”
Few albums this year felt as immediately iconic as Chappell Roan’s debut. Maximalist and theatrical, it embraces spectacle while remaining emotionally grounded. “Naked in Manhattan” channels freedom, “After Midnight” pulses with momentum, and “HOT TO GO!” continued to be one of 2025’s most undeniable pop moments. The vinyl pressing amplifies the album’s celebratory arc.
5. Punisher — Phoebe Bridgers
Standout tracks: “I Know the End,” “Kyoto,” “Graceland Too”
Punisher continues to resonate years after its release, earning its place among 2025’s most-played records. “Kyoto” balances sharpness with restlessness, “Graceland Too” offers warmth and solidarity, and “I Know the End” remains one of the most cathartic album closers of the decade. On vinyl, its dynamic range feels especially powerful.
6. the record — boygenius
Standout tracks: “Emily I’m Sorry,” “Cool About It,” “Not Strong Enough”
boygenius’ the record stood out in 2025 for its emotional clarity and restraint. The trio’s harmonies sound particularly rich in analogue form, giving added weight to already incisive songwriting. “Emily I’m Sorry” is disarmingly direct, “Cool About It” quietly devastating, and “Not Strong Enough” captures self-doubt with precision.
7. Blurryface — Twenty One Pilots
Standout tracks: “Tear in My Heart,” “Hometown”
Revisiting Blurryface in 2025 highlights its enduring relevance. The album’s themes of identity, fear, and control still resonate, supported by genre-blurring production. “Tear in My Heart” balances vulnerability with brightness, while “Hometown” carries a darker introspection that has aged particularly well.
8. The Whole Story — Kate Bush
Standout tracks: “Wuthering Heights,” “Babooshka,” “Cloudbusting”
Kate Bush’s greatest hits compilation album, The Whole Story, remains a reminder of how timeless great songwriting can be. From the dramatic intensity of “Wuthering Heights” to the playful mystique of “Babooshka” and the emotional sweep of “Cloudbusting,” the compilation feels essential. On vinyl, its historical weight and sonic imagination shine.
9. Snow Angel — Reneé Rapp
Standout tracks: “Talk Too Much,” “Pretty Girls,” “Snow Angel”
Reneé Rapp’s vocal performances drive the album, shifting between confidence and vulnerability with ease. “Talk Too Much” spirals inward, “Pretty Girls” offers pointed commentary, and the title track strips everything back to its core.
10. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? — Oasis
Standout tracks: “She’s Electric,” “Some Might Say,” “Champagne Supernova”
Ending the year with (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? feels fitting, especially after Oasis’ long-awaited reunion tour, as well as the 30th anniversary of the album’s release. “She’s Electric” radiates charm, “Some Might Say” leans into optimism, and “Champagne Supernova” stretches into something immersive and expansive. Few albums demonstrate the lasting appeal of vinyl-era rock as clearly as this one.
Honourable Mentions
Several other records featured heavily throughout 2025, but just outside my top ten:
– Stranger in the Alps — Phoebe Bridgers
– Short n’ Sweet — Sabrina Carpenter
– Home Video — Lucy Dacus
– Rumours — Fleetwood Mac
– OK Computer — Radiohead
– Clancy — Twenty One Pilots
– Definitely Maybe — Oasis
– emails i can’t send — Sabrina Carpenter
Together, these records form a snapshot of 2025 in vinyl — a year defined by emotionally precise pop, introspective songwriting, and albums built to be played all the way through. Here’s to more in 2026!
She/Her
Second Year History and Journalism, Media and Communication student
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