The top albums from New Music Friday for … all of 2025

Every Friday, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf and Lilliput Records co-owner Tanner Musgrove tell you about the new albums you can’t miss on a new episode of On Vinyl. Check out their top picks and a list of this week’s other releases, and listen to their full conversation using the player on this page or on the 88Nine airwaves at 1 p.m. every Friday.

This Friday, we’re simply doing as one does at the end of a year of musical releases: reflect on the ones whose intrinsic shine caught our eyes and ears, and made us want to take them home with us. There was absolutely no shortage of incredible records this year, so here are our topmost four to check out if you haven’t found your way to them yet.

Happy New Music Friday, and we’ll see you in 2026!

Best albums from 2025

Saya Gray, Saya

Released in February, Saya Gray’s new album finds the Japanese-Canadian indie artist hitting her stride, even though the album is exactly about NOT hitting your stride in relationships. The songs on this record really captivated us production-wise and lyrically, and they show how well Gray can play with the dark and light sides of the musical/emotional coin, so to speak. This is a really unique album, though it feels like her most accessible yet. It’s available on vinyl now, either on clear or plain black, via Dirty Hit Records.

Wednesday, Bleeds

Released in September, Bleeds was one of the most-anticipated records of the year. Luckily, all that anticipation was worth it. This is a great record, through and through, with the band’s trademark dynamic shifts and Karly Hartzman’s funny and sad lyrics. Even the departure of MJ Lenderman from the live touring act didn’t diminish this release in any way.

It’s the band’s sixth record, and they sound just as good as they ever have with Alex Farrar on production again. Hartzman shared that this record represents what the band was “supposed to sound like,” and that feels true. There were a lot of different variants out for this one, (pink, clear black, Fanta yellow and black), but we have to say that Fanta yellow wins the prize. No matter the variety, you can find it on Dead Oceans Records.

Wet Leg, moisturizer

Wet Leg came out of the gates swinging with their debut album in 2022, so it’s safe to say there was a lot of anticipation and high expectations for their sophomore album when it was initially announced. They did not disappoint and, to us, only cemented themselves further within the indie-rock sphere, showing that they have true staying power.

This album is punchier and more playful than their self-titled, and it feels like Wet Leg is truly coming into their own as a band. You can find the album available on indie-exclusive clear vinyl, along with standard black via Domino Records.

Geese, Getting Killed

Geese’s third studio album with Partisan Records became an instant hit when it dropped back in September — so much so, they ran out of their first two vinyl variants within a few days of the album’s release, creating a big push for a second pressing that started trickling into stores in early November.

Led by singer-songwriter Cameron Winter — who put out his debut solo album, Heavy Metal, last December — Geese shows no signs of slowing down after releasing their most raw and compelling record yet that seems to get better with each listen. Getting Killed is available on clear vinyl at any indie shop near you.