TELEVISED MAGAZINE’S ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
BY YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC FREAKS
2025 proved to be an unforgettable year for music across all genres. With so many artists dropping bold, creative, and emotionally charged projects, narrowing it down wasn’t easy. A few albums, however, stood out for their impact, replay value, and cultural moment. These are the releases our team couldn’t stop talking about, our 2025 Albums of the Year.
BURNOUT DAYS BY FLIPTURN
Flipturn’s second full-length LP, Burnout Days, shows a beautiful progression from 2022’s Shadowglow. More mellow than Shadowglow, it shows the band’s growth from aspirational highs to reflection & growth. The record covers the band’s feelings of burnout due to frequent touring, allowing the party vibes of their debut to give way and show a band with rugged edges & battle scars from a life on tour, while managing to remain grounded in relationships with family & friends. All of the feelings of this record are only amplified in a live setting, a privilege I was lucky enough to have back in March, when the band passed through Kansas City on the first leg of the Burnout Days tour.
With a live album, Live From Orlando, set to release on December 12th, I can’t wait to re-live one of the best albums and live experiences I had in 2025.
ORDER CHAOS ORDER BY CALUM HOOD
Calum Hood’s debut solo album ORDER chaos ORDER is a deeply introspective journey that blends raw emotion with sophisticated dream-pop/new wave textures. Stepping away from the familiar sound of his band 5 Seconds of Summer, Hood explores a sonic landscape that mixes indie-electronic, new wave, shoegaze and dream pop influences, creating a genre-bending collection that’s both nostalgic and forward-facing. The album’s sequencing, moving from disarray to clarity, echoes its thematic journey from inner turmoil to a sense of peace. Moving between moody, atmospheric tracks like “Sunsetter” and “All My Affection,” and high-energy anthems such as “Call Me When You Know Better”, each offering moments of catharsis and emotional release.
ORDER chaos ORDER showcases Hood’s ability to craft layered, textured soundscapes that highlight his sonorous baritone. It’s not just a personal statement but a sonic exploration that invites listeners into Hood’s emotional world, making it a compelling and deeply resonant experience.
NEVER ENOUGH BY TURNSTILE
I need to be honest - I did not know who Turnstile was at the beginning of the year. Little did I know that their Grammy-nominated album, NEVER ENOUGH, would completely change my life upon first listen. NEVER ENOUGH was released on June 6th, 2025, and has a variation of genres, ranging from punk with fast drums and heavy guitars, to indie with a relaxed beat and softer vocals. I also love an album with good transitions; every song leads into the next perfectly, telling a cohesive story as you listen more and more. I also got the opportunity to hear (most of) this album live when I saw Turnstile back in September; I briefly had barricade but eventually left it to join the mosh pit. Everybody was super welcoming, super nice, constantly checking in on each other - even though a lot of the crowd didn’t know each other, the crowd felt like a family for a night. This album has had a massive impact on Turnstiles’ fans, as well as the punk community as a whole. Turnstile is currently nominated for five Grammy awards, including “Best Rock Album.” I highly recommend giving this album a chance, even if you’ve never heard of the band prior - it may change your life like it did mine.
EARWORM BY LAUNDRY DAY
On October 10, pop-rock band Laundry Day released what is arguably their strongest album yet. EARWORM is packed with sharp lyrics, layered instrumentals, and a tracklist that feels perfectly built for a live show.
The album opens with “R U READY?”, an energetic introduction that immediately sets the tone: “Everybody gather round, this is how it’s going down tonight.” The song even inspired the band’s Time of Your Life Tour, and hearing it live made it clear, fans were more than ready. My favorite track is “BENT,” a song that feels like it could lift you off the ground if played loud enough. The blend of lead singer Jude’s vocals with drummer Sawyer’s voice creates a perfect balance between powerful delivery and emotional vulnerability. Even without focusing on the lyrics, the vocals alone communicate the song’s intensity.“APEROL SPRITZ,” the final single released before the album, is just as addictive. With a catchy guitar riff and a smooth rap sequence, the song explores anger and longing toward a past partner who’s moved on. Its structure flows effortlessly, making it impossible to forget once it’s stuck in your head.
The album ends with “SEE YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE” which also wraps up the live show with a fast paced punchy track that has the whole room jumping. Towards the end of the song the track slows down with Jude singing “no more to say I have to go, no more to say and no more to show” which beautifully ends the album and a night on tour.
Overall, EARWORM reveals a new side of Laundry Day through bold lyricism, fresh sounds, and an energy that can fill any room. I was lucky enough to listen to it in New York on release day, which feels exactly how this album should be experienced. If you haven’t listened yet, throw on a hoodie, grab your headphones, and take a walk through a cold city, EARWORM will do the rest.
RIP MY HEART OUT BY CENSUS
Rip My Heart Out by Census feels like an album of the year contender because it delivers nonstop energy and emotion from start to finish. Every song is catchy, powerful, and exciting, making it easy to stay fully engaged the whole time. The band blends strong guitars with killer vocals in a way that feels fresh but still familiar to those who listen. With only six tracks, the EP never slows down or feels repetitive, the band has been nominated many times for a Crash Cast Award, which proves they know exactly what they are doing. Songs like “Nightwaves” (which is my personal favorite) push the EP to another level and show why Census stands out in the alternative scene. The song is emotional, loud, and built for singing along, while tracks like “Overthink It” add depth without losing energy. In my opinion, because of its consistency, emotion, and impact, Rip My Heart Out easily earns its place as album of the year.
THERE’S A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE BY ARM’S LENGTH
While this may be a bold claim, Arm’s Length might have created one of the best emo albums of all time with their sophomore effort There’s A Whole World Out There. This record captures the heavy weight of nostalgia, insecurity and self-reflection over the course of 12 phenomenal tracks. It’s an exceptional follow-up to their 2022 debut Never Before Seen, Never Again Found that sees the Canadian emo band at their most authentic and personal. With emotional standouts like “Palinopsia,” “Morning Person” and “Halley,” it’s a beautifully devastating album that cuts deeper with every note. Even six months after its initial release, I still find myself unable to get through a full listen of There’s A Whole World Out There without tears threatening to fall.
MY APOLOGIES TO THE CHEF BY WINONA FIGHTER
If anyone knows anything about me, it’s that I will take every opportunity to rave about Winona Fighter. The Nashville punk trio’s debut album, My Apologies To The Chef, is a five-star michelin effort that’s as explosive, in-your-face and honest as they come. Winona Fighter bottles up all the angst, rage and frustration towards the world and themselves they can muster across the 14 intensely catchy tracks. It’s almost impossible to choose a favorite, but “I’M IN THE MARKET TO PLEASE NO ONE,” “HAMMS IN A GLASS” and “Wlbrn St Tvrn” are some of the strongest songs on My Apologies To The Chef that keep me coming back for seconds. Forget the chef. I’d like to give my apologies to anyone who’s spent 2025 without this record in their life.
