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Staff Picks: Albums of the Year

Staff Picks: Albums of the Year

Our favorites from the last 19 years.
December 18, 2025 (December 16, 2025) // Riot Fest

See what we couldn’t stop listening to in 2025.


HANNAH

HAYLEY WILLIAMS – EGO DEATH AT A BACHELORETTE PARTY

TURNSTILE – NEVER ENOUGH

LILY ALLEN – WEST END GIRL

POOL KIDS – EASIER SAID THAN DONE

JUSTIN BIEBER – SWAG


MO

TURNSTILE – NEVER ENOUGH

AMINÉ – 13 MONTHS OF SUNSHINE

RICO NASTY – LETHAL

JAY SOM – BELONG

HAYLEY WILLIAMS – EGO DEATH AT A BACHELORETTE PARTY

SPECIAL MENTION: AIN’T NO DAMN WAY! by KAYTRANADA

DAN

TURNSTILE – NEVER ENOUGH

HAYLEY WILLIAMS – EGO DEATH AT A BACHELORETTE PARTY

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK – THE SAME OLD WASTED WONDERFUL WORLD

LIQUID MIKE – HELL IS AN AIRPORT

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – THE FATHER OF MAKE BELIEVE

SABRINA CARPENTER – MAN’S BEST FRIEND

JAY SOM – BELONG

WHITE REAPER – ONLY SLIGHTLY EMPTY

THE DIRTY NIL – THE LASH

BEACH BUNNY – TUNNEL VISION


JEN

HAIM – I QUIT

LILY ALLEN – WEST END GIRL

WET LEG – MOISTURIZER

LUCY DACUS – FOREVER IS A FEELING

AUDREY HOBERT – WHO’S THE CLOWN?


JAKE

POOL KIDS – EASIER SAID THAN DONE

FISH NARC – FROG SONG

ADA LEA – WHEN I PAINT MY MASTERPIECE

THE HELLP – RIVIERA

THIS IS LORELI – HOLO BOY


MARC

AFI – SILVER BEADS IN THE BLACK SUN

NATION OF LANGUAGE – DANCE CALLED MEMORY

THE LAST DINNER PARTY – FROM THE PYRE

ETHEL CAIN – WILLOUGHBY TUCKER, I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

TAYLOR SWIFT – THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

SPECIAL MENTION: I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU IN HEAVEN BY THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS

RIOT FEST TWITTER PERSON

TAYLOR SWIFT – THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

TAYLOR SWIFT – THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

TAYLOR SWIFT – THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

TAYLOR SWIFT – THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL

BAD BUNNY – DEBÍ TIRAR MÁS FOTOS


[yarpp]
About The Author
Riot Fest

Punk Rock (& more) Music Fest | I'm sorry we didn't book the exact bands you wanted, in the exact order you wanted, in the exact location you wanted, for free. September 18-20, 2026.

Posted in Music, Staff PicksTagged album of the year, best album, riot fest staff, Staff Picks

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