When the calendar flips, music fans wake up to a whole new world of possibilities. There’s always that familiar buzz in the air, wondering which albums will define the months ahead.
Some releases feel inevitable, like they’ve been whispered about for years. Others seem to spring from nowhere, catching everyone off guard. Either way, anticipation builds slowly, then suddenly, reaching fever pitch as the date approaches.
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey announced her album, initially titled The Right Person Will Stay, for a May 21, 2025 release on Instagram in late November 2024. The project features 13 tracks with work from producers including Jack Antonoff, Zach Dawes, Drew Erickson, and country producer Luke Laird. Let’s be real, though, Lana doesn’t have the best track record with deadlines. The album was originally scheduled for May 21 but both the release date and the title were ultimately changed. In April 2025, Del Rey announced the album’s title was now Stove, aiming for a release around the end of January 2026.
FKA twigs – EUSEXUA
FKA twigs returns with EUSEXUA, her first full album in five years, released on Jan. 24. This highly anticipated third LP marks a new chapter in her eccentric artistry, following her acclaimed 2019 album, Magdalene, and the 2022 mixtape Caprisongs. The sonic departure promises something immersive and deeply personal. Honestly, few artists manage to combine avant-garde with accessibility quite like twigs does, making this one of the year’s most intriguing releases for anyone looking beyond mainstream pop.
Ethel Cain – Perverts
Indie-alt artist Ethel Cain opened 2025 with her second studio album, Perverts, released Jan. 8, exploring drone, noise, slowcore, and ambient sonic territory. The nine-track collection spans 90 minutes and is anchored by lead single “Punish”. This isn’t music to play casually in the background while doing laundry. Perverts follows her 2022 critically acclaimed debut, Preacher’s Daughter. It’s hard to say for sure, but this could be the album that solidifies Cain as one of the most important voices in alternative music right now.
Perfume Genius – Glory
Perfume Genius released Glory on March 28, 2025, featuring the single “It’s A Mirror”. Mike Hadreas has built a career on vulnerability transformed into artistic power, and this album continues that trajectory with stunning emotional clarity. Glory is among NPR’s most anticipated albums of the year. The project arrives at a moment when introspective art feels particularly necessary, offering contemplation without pretense or performative angst.
Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling
Lucy Dacus released Forever Is A Feeling on March 28, 2025, with the single “Ankles”. Dacus has a gift for making the specific feel universal, examining personal history through a lens that somehow manages to reflect everyone’s experiences back at them. After her work with boygenius captured massive attention, expectations for this solo effort ran high. The album appears on NPR’s list of most anticipated releases. Here’s the thing: Dacus rarely disappoints when the stakes are raised.
Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow arrived March 7, 2025, featuring the track “Bury Me”. Isbell represents a rare breed of songwriter who can make heartbreak sound both devastating and oddly comforting at once. His technical guitar work combined with narrative storytelling creates albums that feel literary rather than simply musical. Every release from Isbell gets dissected by critics and fans alike, searching for meaning in every line and chord progression.
Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis Act III: The Father of Make Believe
Coheed and Cambria delivered their 10th full-length, Vaxis Act III: The Father of Make Believe, on March 14 with singles “Blind Side Sonny” and “Searching for Tomorrow”. The album follows 2022’s Vaxis Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind and builds on the sci-fi lore of the band’s broader Amory Wars/Vaxis narrative. Progressive rock fans have been tracking this conceptual saga for years, and the third act in this chapter promises to deliver both musical complexity and story resolution. Prog can be polarizing, yet roughly two decades into their career, Coheed keeps finding new listeners willing to dive into their elaborate universe.
serpentwithfeet – GRIP Sequel
serpentwithfeet released GRIP Sequel on Feb. 28, featuring the single “Writhing In The Wind”. The Baltimore-born artist continues pushing R&B into experimental gospel-influenced territory that feels both ancient and futuristic. His voice carries weight that transcends genre boundaries, making each project feel like an event rather than just another release. The anticipation stems from his ability to surprise, to take familiar emotions and render them completely unfamiliar through his unique sonic palette.
The Lumineers – Automatic
The Lumineers released Automatic on Feb. 14, 2025. After achieving massive mainstream success with anthemic folk-rock, the band faces the challenge of evolving without alienating their core audience. They’ve proven capable of balancing commercial appeal with artistic integrity before. Automatic arrives at a moment when listeners seem hungry for music that feels human and organic rather than overly polished or algorithm-designed.
Bartees Strange – Horror
Bartees Strange released Horror on Feb. 14. Strange represents a new generation refusing to be confined by genre expectations, blending indie rock, hip-hop, punk, and soul into something distinctly his own. His previous work garnered critical praise for its emotional honesty and sonic adventurousness. Horror promises to continue that trajectory, offering music that challenges and comforts in equal measure. It’s unusual to find an artist who can make vulnerability sound powerful rather than fragile.
Horsegirl – Phonetics On And On
Chicago trio Horsegirl released Phonetics On And On on Feb. 14. The young band has already established themselves as torchbearers for noise rock and post-punk revival, channeling influences from Sonic Youth and Wire while maintaining their own distinct voice. Their debut earned them comparisons to legendary acts, creating immense pressure for the follow-up. Sophomore albums often determine whether a band was a flash-in-the-pan or something more substantial.
Squid – Cowards
UK post-punk band Squid released Cowards on Feb. 7, featuring the single “Building 650”. The Brighton group has become synonymous with angular guitars, polyrhythmic percussion, and lyrics that feel more like dispatches from some parallel reality than traditional songs. They’ve built anticipation by refusing to repeat themselves, constantly pushing into stranger, more challenging territory. Cowards suggests the band isn’t interested in making things easy for listeners, which honestly makes it all the more exciting.
Samia – Bloodless
Samia released Bloodless on April 25, featuring the single “Bovine Excision”. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has cultivated a devoted following through brutally honest lyrics and melodies that lodge themselves in your brain for days. Her previous work demonstrated remarkable emotional range, from devastating vulnerability to righteous anger. Bloodless arrives with expectations that she’ll continue excavating personal experiences and transforming them into something universally relatable.
Florist – Jellywish
Florist released Jellywish on April 4, featuring the single “Have Heaven”. The Brooklyn band creates delicate, nature-inspired indie folk that feels like discovering something secret and sacred. Their music rewards patient, attentive listening rather than passive consumption. Jellywish promises to continue their exploration of interconnectedness between human emotion and the natural world, offering respite from the relentless pace of modern existence.
Playboi Carti – MUSIC
Playboi Carti released MUSIC on Mar. 14, receiving a 67 critic score and 59 user score. Carti’s release strategy has always been chaotic and unpredictable, perfectly matching his aesthetic of controlled chaos. The Atlanta rapper’s influence on contemporary hip-hop cannot be overstated, even when the execution doesn’t always match the ambition. His vampire-era aesthetic and baby-voice delivery have spawned countless imitators, making each new release an industry event regardless of quality.
Tyler, The Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS
Tyler, The Creator released DON’T TAP THE GLASS on Jul 21, receiving a 75 critic score and 77 user score. Tyler’s evolution from provocateur to critically acclaimed auteur represents one of hip-hop’s most compelling arcs. Each album feels like a distinct chapter with its own sonic palette and thematic preoccupations. DON’T TAP THE GLASS continues his pattern of surprising fans and critics alike, refusing to settle into comfortable patterns or repeat past successes.
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
Clipse released Let God Sort Em Out on Jul 11, earning an 81 critic score and 87 user score. The Virginia duo’s return after years of separation felt unlikely, making this reunion all the more significant for hip-hop heads who grew up on their sharp wordplay and Neptunes production. Malice and Pusha T together again represents a specific era of rap excellence that many feared was gone forever. The critical reception suggests they haven’t lost a step, proving some things are worth the wait.
Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper
Quadeca released Vanisher, Horizon Scraper in 2025. The YouTube-turned-serious-artist continues defying expectations with increasingly ambitious and experimental hip-hop projects. His trajectory mirrors a broader shift in how artists can build careers outside traditional industry structures. Vanisher, Horizon Scraper suggests continued growth and refinement, taking risks that more established artists often avoid.
Rihanna – R9
After years of speculation, Rihanna confirmed her ninth studio album is underway, having not released new music for nine years since Anti in 2016. The singer told Harper’s Bazaar she is “really optimistic” about the music and ready to share her work. She stated the album is not commercial or radio-friendly but represents where her artistry deserves to be. Every time Rihanna speaks about new music, the internet collectively holds its breath. Will 2025 finally be the year? Fans have heard promises before, making cautious optimism the default setting.
The War & Treaty – Plus One
The War & Treaty released Plus One on Feb. 14. The husband-wife duo has become one of Americana’s most powerful voices, delivering soul-stirring performances rooted in gospel tradition and personal testimony. Their love story infuses the music with authenticity that can’t be manufactured or faked. Plus One arrives as they transition from beloved underdogs to genuine stars, capturing them at a pivotal moment in their career trajectory.
Did you expect so many fascinating releases this year? What albums are you counting down the days for?
