Is 2025 a year of music as medicine? Maybe so, and really … there’s nothing wrong with that when the medicine is this good. This list is a pretty upbeat one, with some psychedelic vibes around the edges — but hard times call for furious dancing, and this year’s been a banner one for albums that make you want to kick off your shoes and get down in the kitchen with the people who mean the most.
| Artist | Album | Label | |
| 1 | Tune-Yards | Better Dreaming | 4AD |
| 2 | Project Gemini & Wendy Martinez | Time Stands Still / Le temps s’arrête | Mr Bongo |
| 3 | Kendra Morris | Next | Karma Chief |
| 4 | Kerala Dust | An Echo of Love |
Play It Again Sam
|
| 5 | Tunde Adebimpe | Thee Black Boltz | Sub Pop |
| 6 | Sons of Sevilla | Street Light Moon | Ubiquity |
| 7 | Ora the Molecule | Dance Therapy | Mute |
| 8 | Gelli Haha | Switcheroo |
Innovative Leisure
|
| 9 | Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek | Yarın Yoksa | Big Crown |
| 10 | The Bug Club | Very Human Features | Sub Pop |
