Best Albums of December 2025
The highest-rated albums released in December 2025, ranked by critical consensus from professional music critics.
December 2025 delivered a surprisingly rich close to the year, and our Best Albums of December 2025 roundup captures the month’s most compelling new music. Critics found a balance between intimate folk and bold reinventions, making December's album releases feel both reflective and adventurous.
Standout releases included Dove Ellis's Blizzard, which led the pack with an 86.43 consensus score from 7 professional reviews, and Ólöf Arnalds's Spíra, close behind at 86.0 from 4 reviews. Veteran voices also left their mark: Depeche Mode's Memento Mori: Mexico City and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds's Live God each registered solid 83.33 averages, signaling that established artists remained central to critics' attention even as newer experimental palettes emerged.
The critical consensus December 2025 suggests a month defined by atmospheric production and lyrical depth, from the introspective textures of Unclouded by Melody's Echo Chamber to the adventurous pop-rock of Holo Boy by This Is Lorelei. Below, our ranked list of top albums of the month highlights these releases and the scores and review counts that shaped the verdicts.
