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The Best Albums of 2025 (So Far)
Variety critics pick albums by Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, FKA Twigs, Addison Rae, Lucy Dacus, PinkPantheress, Jason Isbell and others as the mid-year best.
We might not have our “ Song of the Summer ” crowned just yet, but at the very least, you’ll find some strong contenders in the handful of new albums from artists that have defined 2025 so far: Lady Gaga, Bon Iver, Bad Bunny, FKA Twigs and Elton John and Brandi Carlile released some of the most anticipated — and were easily worth the wait. Image Credit: Interscope Lady Gaga went back to basics for her seventh album “Mayhem,” pulling off a feat that only an enduring artist of her stature can: harnessing the thrill and spark of her earlier work without coming off as a retread (or even worse, a concerted attempt to capture past glory). Image Credit: Forever Living Originals Anonymity and stealth have always been part of the U.K. R&B collective Sault’s methodology and mystique, but they’ve outdone themselves with this album, which simply arrived on streaming services (on a Saturday) with no notice beyond a couple of teaser song snippets on social media.
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