2025 was a fantastic year for music. From controversial flops of iconic artists to surprising and unexpected masterpieces, this year kept Aliso Niguel High School students listening, arguing and forming very dramatic opinions of music. Whether it was praising risky experimentation or calling out disappointing releases, students were vocal about albums they loved (and albums that they did not).
Below, we break down a couple of the most popular (and boldest) albums that defined this year, along with some thoughts on whether they were worth the hype or were totally overrated.
- Man’s Best Friend: Sabrina Carpenter
Released Aug. 29 of this year, this pop and soft rock album became Carpenter’s second record to hit number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Co-produced by Carpenter and Jack Antonoff, the project blends retro-inspired music with witty lyrics, exploring the dynamics of a relationship. Her top hit single “Manchild,” is featured, which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100.
- $ome $exy $ongs 4 U – Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR
Released on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, this collaborative effort with artist, PARTYNEXTDOOR, marked Drake’s first full-length project after his feud with Kendrick Lamar. This 21-track album broke Apple Music streaming records for R&B albums, scoring the second biggest debut in 2025. The album includes fan-favorite tracks such as the energetic, “Nokia” and the Yebba featured song, “Die Trying”.
- Life of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift
While Life of a Showgirl was a massive commercial success, it courted intense controversy. Released on Jun. 20, this project serves as a highly anticipated follow-up to Swift’s record-breaking 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department. Although fans defended the album as a testament for her songwriting genius, a commonly repeated remark over the new album accuses Swift of prioritizing quantity over quality.
As student Eve Meyers (11) put it, “The album really just felt like a cash grab, with, honestly, lazy lyrics.”
- Don’t Tap the Glass: Tyler, the Creator
One album that came up over and over in student interviews was Tyler, The Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, released July 21. The project blended heavy percussion and Tyler’s signature vulnerability disguised by master lyricism. It lacked the chaos he had in previous albums, such as Igor (released May 17, 2019), but it still pushes imaginative boundaries.
Jana Gonswa (12), said of the album, “It felt super polished and like he [Tyler] knew exactly what he was doing and how to do it. Overall, he sounded super self assured.”
- Deadbeat: Tame Impala
After a five-year hiatus, Tame Impala’s Deadbeat album arrived, with people anxiously expecting it. Fans were hopeful for a revival of his consistent psychedelic vibe, but the album was far more introspective and slower. Thanks to his 2025 Deadbeat Tour across the US to celebrate the release of the album, its popularity only increased.
Across the Aliso Niguel campus, these albums sparked numerous debates that were nearly as entertaining as the music itself. Whether these albums were considered masterpieces or total failures, they all shaped the soundtrack of the year and kept conversations vibrant.
In the end, 2025 proved that music tastes are anything but predictable. Each release from this year left its own mark on listeners and helped to define a landscape of the 2025 year.
