Since Debí Tirar Más Fotos was released on January 5, I’ve listened to the album by There Stands the Glass' 2020 Artist of the Year several times a week. Bad Bunny’s blend of vintage and futuristic sounds remained fresh, a trait that’s made Debí Tirar Más Fotos my favorite new album throughout the year. Selections two through ten in the following account battled for second place. Notable omissions including Cécile McLorin Salvant, SML and Morgan Wallen are represented in my ranking of the best songs of 2025. As always, there’s no overlap between the two listings.
1. Bad Bunny- Debí Tirar Más Fotos
Shake it like a Polaroid picture.
2. Rosalía- Lux
Her beautiful dark twisted fantasy.
3. Linda May Han Oh- Strange Heavens
My review.
4. Clipse- Let God Sort Em Out
So be it.
5. Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson- Bone Bells
A perfect tandem.
6. Patricia Brennan- Of the Near and Far
Chamber jazz.
7. Billy Woods- Golliwog
Dank.
8. Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos: Expanded Edition
My review.
9. John Glacier- Like a Ribbon
Icy.
10. Clarice Jensen- In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness
Bach-based drones.
11. Charles Lloyd- Figure in Blue
Hushed brilliance.
12. Armand Hammer- Mercy
Gold produced by the Alchemist.
13. Vox Clamantis- Pärt: And I heard a voice
My kind of praise and worship music.
14. Sylvie Courvoisier and Wadada Leo Smith- Angel Falls
Angels flying too close to the ground.
15. Karol G- Tropicoqueta
The rumors are true: I’m in the tank for the Columbian star.
16. Vijay Iyer and Leo Wadada Smith- Defiant Life
Resistance.
17. Mike- Showbiz!
No business.
18. Emily D’Angelo, Ben Bliss, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Metropolitan Opera- Tesori: Grounded
My review.
19. Military Gun- God Save the Gun
Bang! You’re dead.
20. Destroyer- Dan’s Boogie
Luxurious dissipation.
21. Tucker Wetmore- What Not To
My review.
22. Nick Shoulders- Refugia Blues
High and lonesome in the Ozarks.
23. Mister Water Wet- Things Gone and Things Still Here
The best album out of Kansas City in 2025.
24. Kelela- In The Blue Light
Live.
25. Carl Allen- Tippin’
My review.
26. Sō Percussion- 25x25
An eight-hour anniversary celebration.
27. Tyler, The Creator- Don’t Tap the Glass
Golf wang forever.
28. Nels Cline- Consentrik Quartet
My review.
29. Laura Jurd- Rites & Revelations
European folk-jazz fusion.
30. Anouar Brahem- After the Last Sky
ECM-core.
31. Camila Nebbia, Marilyn Crispell and Lesley Mok- A Reflection Distorts Over Water
Free trio.
32. Mike and Tony Selzer- Pinball II
Tilt.
33. Ches Smith- Clone Row
With Mary Halvorson, Liberty Ellman and Nick Dunston.
34. Sumac and Moor Mother- The Film
Horror show.
35. James McVinnie- Dreamcatcher
My review.
36. Olivia Dean- The Art of Loving
Pop life.
37. Salif Keita- So Kono
Transcendent.
38. Young Miko- Do Not Disturb
Ring the alarm.
39. Oren Ambarchi- Ghosted III
Haunting.
40. Juana Molina- DOGA
A lovely comeback.
41. Aruán Ortiz- Créole Renaissance
Solo piano.
42. claire rousay and Gretchen Korsmo- quilted lament
Meaningful ambience.
43. Cosmic Ear- Traces
My review.
44. Trio of Bloom- Trio of Bloom
Innovative power trio.
45. Grupo Firme- Evolución
Instant party.
46. Dijon- Baby
Princely.
47. Atmosphere- Jestures
My review.
48. Tim Berne- Yikes Too
My review.
49. Jeff Tweedy- Twilight Override
So many songs.
50. Al Foster- Live at Smoke
With Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau and Joe Martin.
