Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2025 New Music: World

Notes

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Rosalía: Lux (Columbia) {100}: 45:2, Al:5, BPM:2, Cl:2*, CS:*, D:7*, DS:9, DW:*, Em:1*, EW:1, EWi:10, Ex:9*, G:*, GQ:++, GTV:29, HP:3, I:*, IT:*, NME:*, P:17, Pf:16*, PO:*, PW:44, Ri:2, RS:3*, RSUK:*, Sl:*, STi:2, TO:13; atl:3, bb6:+, cos:+, dc:4, g_e:10, n_ap:4, ny_c:4, so_k:4, v_ja:5, v_sh:5, v_tg:3, vew:2 -- A:93/13, TH:*
  2. Bad Bunny: Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Rimas Entertainment) {66}: AV:+, BB:+, BPM:31, Cl:39*, CS:+, DW:*, Em:5, EW:2, EWi:33, Ex:27, G:+, HP:42, HV:+, LAT:6, Ne:36*, NME:*+, P:37, Pf:5*, PO:8*, PM:*, RS:1*, S:+, Sl:+, TO:5, XJD:15; am:*, cos:+, ny_c:9, ny_z:4, v_tg:1, vew:3, vu:3 -- A:90/7, TH:***
  3. Ichiko Aoba: Luminiscent Creatures (Hermine) {24}: 45:41, BPM:14*, Cl:*, Fa:+, GTV:5, O:*, P:*+, Pf:33*, PO:*, RC:*, RT:69, SC:*, Sk:*, SLi:*, U:*; am:* -- A:81/14, TH:*
  4. Mahotella Queens: Buya Buya (Umsakazo) {18}: EWi:2, PO:*, XCI:**; xde:6, xjdc:* -- RX:A, TH:A-
  5. Ale Hop & Titi Bakorta: Mapambazuko (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {16}: DW:*+, EWi:+, G:*, Pf:*, PO:17*, TN:*, U:* -- A:72/5, RX:A-, TH:***
  6. The Kasambwe Brothers: The Kasambwe Brothers (MASS MoCA) {16}: DW:**, EWi:30, PO:*, SpL:**; xjdc:* -- RX:A, TH:A-
  7. Karol G: Tropicoqueta (Bichota/Interscope) {15}: EWi:+, Pf:*, PO:6*, RS:34*; v_ja:8, v_tg:5 -- A:77/3, TH:A-
  8. Mdou Moctar: Tears of Injustice (Matador) {15}: ClR:*, Mj:*, MO:*, PM:*+, RS:*, ST:+, TN:*, U:*; am:* -- A:82/8, RX:**, TH:***
  9. Mulatu Astatke: Mulatu Plays Mulatu (Strut) {11}: AD:*, JC:+, PM:*, PO:*, RC:*, U:68*; am:* -- A:85/6, TH:***
  10. Salif Keita: So Kono (No Format) {11}: Mj:49*, MO:*, O:*, PM:*, U:* -- A:82/5, RX:***, TH:**
  11. Songhoy Blues: Héritage (Transgressive) {11}: FO:*, Mj:*, MO:*, O:*, RC:*, U:62*; am:* -- A:80/7, TH:***
  12. DJ K: Radio Libertadora! (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {7}: DJM:+, G:*, SpL:**; vce:9 -- A:73/2, TH:**
  13. Jupiter & Okwess: Ekoya (Airfono) {7}: EWi:+, PM:*+; xjdc:*, xpb:5 -- A:80/1, TH:*
  14. Mon Laferte: Femme Fatale (Sony Music Latin) {6}: Ne:14*; am:* -- A:82/3, TH:**
  15. Nakibemebe Embaire Group & Naoyuki Uchida: Phantom Keys (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {6}: -- RX:A-, TH:**
  16. Nazar: Demilitarize (Hyperdub) {6}: Cl:15, DJM:+, Pf:*, Sk:* -- A:81/2, TH:*
  17. Noura Mint Seymali: Yenbett (Glitterbeat) {6}: PO:*, SpL:** -- TH:***
  18. Diala Thukzin: 031 Studio Camp 2.0 (Dlala) {6}: EWi:+; xjdc:*, xpb:9 -- TH:***
  19. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek: Yarin Yoksa = If There Is No Tomorrow (Big Crown) {6}: FO:*, G:*, PM:*+ -- A:87/3, TH:**
  20. Ammar 808: Club Tounsi (Glitterbeat) {5}: AD:*, FO:*, MO:* -- A:80/3, TH:**
  21. Hollie Cook: Shy Girl (Mr Bongo) {5}: LW:*, Mj:*, PO:* -- A:75/4, TH:**
  22. Mark Ernestus' Ndagga Rhythm Force: Khadim (Ndagga) {5}: DW:*, PO:*, W:43 -- TH:**
  23. Jazzwrld & Thukuthela: The Most Wanted (Waltz Music Group/Empire) {5}: EWi:29, SpL:** -- TH:**
  24. Kokoroko: Tuff Times Never Last (Brownswood) {5}: AD:*, Cl:*, LBF:*, Mj:*; am:* -- A:75/9, TH:B
  25. Natalia Lafourcade: Cancionera (Sony [Mexico]) {5}: BB:+, Ne:24*, P:+; am:* -- A:85/2
  26. Poor Creature: All Smiles Tonight (River Lea) {5}: FO:*, G:*, IT:*, Mj:*, U:* -- A:84/5
  27. Ata Kak: Batakari (Awesome Tapes From Africa) {4}: DW:* -- TH:***
  28. DJ Dadaman & Moscow Dollar: Ka Gaza (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {4}: PO:* -- TH:***
  29. Nadah El Shazly: Laini Tani (One Little Independent) {4}: Cl:*, DJM:+, U:*, W:46 -- A:70/4
  30. Lagon Nwar: Lagon Nwar (AirFono) {4}: JC:+ -- TH:***
  31. Lolo [Mamah Diabate/Jabel Kanuteh/Stefano Pilia/Marco Zanotti]: Lolo (Black Sweat) {4}: PO:* -- TH:***
  32. Jako Maron: Mahavélouz (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {4}: PO:* -- TH:***
  33. Youssou N'Dour: Éclairer Le Monde - Light the World (self-relesed) {4}: XCI:* -- TH:***
  34. Sessa: Perquena Vertigem de Amor (Mexican Summer) {4}: Mj:*, PM:*, U:79* -- A:80/4
  35. Africa Express: Africa Express Presents . . . Bahidorá (World Circuit) {3}: PO:*; xjdc:* -- TH:*
  36. Gaby Amarantos: Rock Doido (Deck) {3}: Ne:22*, PM:* -- A:85/2
  37. Effie: Pullup to Busan 4 More Hyper Summer It's Gonna Be a Fuckin Movie (Sound Republica -EP) {3}: ny_c:1 -- A:76/1, TH:B
  38. HHY & the Kampala Unit: Turbo Meltdown (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {3}: PO:* -- TH:**
  39. Mádé Kuti: Chapter 1: Where Does Happiness Come From? (LegacyPlus) {3}: Mj:*, PM:*, U:* -- A:75/4
  40. MC BF & DJ Yuzak: Bebeto E Romário (Mandelão -EP) {3}: EWi:+ -- TH:**
  41. NMIXX: Blue Valentine (JYP Entertainment) {3}: SpL:* -- TH:**
  42. Adrian Quesada: Boleros Psicodélicos II (ATO) {3}: KC:27, Mj:*; am:* -- A:85/2
  43. Juana Rozas: Tanya (self-released) {3}: EWi:48 -- TH:**
  44. Florence Adooni: A.O.E.I.U. [An Ordinary Exercise in Unity] () {2}: PM:+; bb6:+ --
  45. Eslabón Armado: Vibras De Noche II () {2}: BB:+; am:* -- A:80/1
  46. Marilina Bertoldi: Para Quien Trabajas Vol. 1 (Sony Music Argentina) {2}: -- TH:**
  47. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso: Papota (5020) {2}: SpL:*; v_tg:9 --
  48. Fuerza Regida: 111Xpantia () {2}: BB:+, RS:50 --
  49. Guitarricadelafuente: Spanish Leather (Sony España) {2}: RS:46; cos:+ --
  50. Yasmine Hamdan: I Remember, I Forget (Hamdanistan) {2}: Mj:*, U:* -- A:73/3
  51. Le Sserafim: Hot (Source Music/HYBE) {2}: NME:*; am:* -- A:80/2
  52. Mark: The Firstfruit (SM Entertainment) {2}: Cl:*, NME:* -- A:80/2
  53. Milo J: La Vida Era Más Corta (Sony Music Latin) {2}: PM:*, RS:72 -- A:80/1
  54. Monsta X: The X (Starship -EP) {2}: Cl:*; am:* -- A:80/2
  55. Twice: This Is For (JYP) {2}: BPM:*; am:* -- A:73/3
  56. Akira Umeda & Metal Preyers: Clube Da Mariposa Mórbida (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {2}: PO:* -- TH:*
  57. Astropical: Astropical (Universal Music Latino) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1
  58. Cazzu: Latinaja () {1}: BB:+ --
  59. Chaeyoung: Lil Fantasy Vol. 1 (JYP/Republic) {1}: RS:86 -- A:70/1
  60. Fanfare Ciocarlia/Adrian Raso: The Devil Rides Again () {1}: XCI:* --
  61. Fola: Catharsis (Dargbana Republik) {1}: RS:88 --
  62. The Good Ones: Rwanda Sings With Strings (Glitterbeat) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1
  63. Nyron Higor: Nyron Higor (Far Out -EP) {1}: -- TH:*
  64. Gao Hong/Baluji Shrivastav: Neelam (ARC Music) {1}: -- TH:*
  65. Zé Ibarra: Afim (Mr. Bongo) {1}: JC:+ --
  66. Illit: Bomb (HYBE/Belift Lab -EP) {1}: NME:* -- A:80/1
  67. Jin: Echo (HYBE/Big Hit -EP) {1}: Cl:* -- A:70/3
  68. Jisoo: Amortage (Blissoo/Warner/Empire -EP) {1}: NME:* -- A:80/1
  69. Katseye: Beautiful Chaos (HYBE/Geffen -EP) {1}: DW:* --
  70. Kingdom Molongi: Kembo (Nyege Nyege Tapes) {1}: PO:* -- TH:B-
  71. Polo & Pan: 22:22 (Hamburger) {1}: KC:13 -- A:70/1
  72. Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali: At the Feet of the Beloved () {1}: Mj:* -- A:80/1
  73. Sarz: Protect Sarz at All Costs (1789 Entertainment) {1}: RS:27 --
  74. Sevdaliza: Heroina (Twisted Elegance) {1}: v_ja:10 --
  75. Anoushka Shankar: Chapter III: We Return to Light (Leiter) {1}: am:* -- A:76/2
  76. Sumni: Heart Maid (Abyss) {1}: SpL:* --
  77. Tomorrow X Together: The Star Chapter: Together (Bit Hit/HYBE) {1}: NME:* -- A:80/1
  78. TripleS: Assemble25 (Modhaus) {1}: Spk:* -- A:80/1
  79. Neton Vega: Mi Vida Mi Muerte () {1}: S:+ --
  80. Zerobaseone: Blue Paradise (Wakeone -EP) {1}: am:* -- A:80/1