Best Pop Albums of the Year

JADE - That’s Showbiz Baby! 

On That's Showbiz Baby!, JADE breaks free of Little Mix with a debut solo album that’s razor-sharp, theatrical, and dripping in personality. It’s a gloriously camp pop spectacle, utilizing glittering synths, funky basslines, and cabaret flourishes. JADE doesn’t just strut onto the stage, she tears the curtain down on the music industry and doesn’t hold back on the pyrotechnics. Dealing with themes of industry cynicism, self-worth, fame fatigue and, crucially, resilience with humour and heart in equal measure, it’s grandiose, gaudy, immediately gratifying and packed with more hits than an Olympic target range. JADE has immediately established herself as the most exciting pop star of 2025 at the start of a promising solo career with a future classic already under her belt.

By Connor Crooks, Music Buyer

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Sam Fender - People Watching

With People Watching, Sam Fender delivers a record that feels raw, heartfelt, and larger than life, cementing his place as one of the UK’s most powerful voices. The songs capture everyday heartbreaks, late-night doubts, and flashes of hope, turning small moments into something anthemic and unforgettable. What makes it so special is how he balances grit and tenderness, shifting from driving guitar choruses to quiet reflections that feel almost whispered in your ear. Fender’s honesty and passion shine through every track, making this not just a collection of songs but a deeply human experience. It is one of the year’s absolute highlights.

By Saoirse Heydon, Community Executive

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Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving

Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving feels like one of those albums you don’t just listen to, you settle into it. It is calm, confident, and full of heart without ever trying too hard. The arrangements are lush but never overstuffed, a little brass here, some smooth strings there, just enough groove to make it move. Dean’s voice has that rare warmth that makes even the simplest lines land. Songs like “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” feel like instant classics, while “Close Up” and “Loud” show a softer side that sneaks up on you. Everything feels carefully made but still easygoing, as if it just fell together naturally. The Art of Loving is not in rush or desperate to prove anything; it simply glows quietly and completely.

By Steven Tshiayima, Music Marketing Manager

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Sabrina Carpenter - Man’s Best Friend

Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is a carefully crafted pop album that proves she’s playing the long game. Far from disposable hooks, the songs are layered with witty, sharp lyrics that blend vulnerability with a playful edge, think clever innuendos wrapped in genuine emotion. Sabrina shows she’s not just chasing trends but truly honing her craft. With production led by Jack Antonoff and collaborators, the album is rich in texture, featuring live instruments like clavinet and sitar that nod to classics like ABBA and Fleetwood Mac, pop with a wink and a nod to its roots. Tracks like “Manchild” flaunt unconventional song structures that sneak up on you, growing catchier with each listen. While some lyrics lean into cheeky or explicit territory, the album’s detailed arrangements and smart songwriting make it far more than just another pop record. Man’s Best Friend marks Sabrina Carpenter’s confident step into pop’s big leagues; she’s rewriting the rules, one hook at a time.

By Kitty Lewis, Music Buyer

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Olly Murs - Knees Up

Knees Up is Olly’s 8th album in what has been a glittering career. It has been heralded as Olly Murs 2.0 and delivers an authentic sound, inspired by the music he listened to growing up which have shaped him as an artist. With ska vibes and horns throughout it includes the singles Save Me, Bonkers and Run This Town. 

By Steven Tshiayima, Music Marketing Manager

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Ed Sheeran - Play

Play is an album that yet again proves Ed Sheeran can deliver the kind of pop fans have come to expect from him, blending his signature storytelling with vibrant, global influences. He mixes heartfelt melodies with the textured sound he’s developed over his long career, complementing his staple acoustic style and creating an atmosphere that feels both accessible and adventurous. The production is polished yet playful (pun intended), balancing melodic earworms with subtle experimentation that makes you interested to see where the next track takes you. Throughout, Ed Sheeran’s lyrics remain personal and emotive, giving the album a warm, intimate feel even amid its larger pop-driven arrangements. The record carries a quintessentially British charm while showcasing his global ambitions. It is classic Ed Sheeran pop, instantly familiar, effortlessly enjoyable, and full of emotional depth.

By Steven Tshiayima, Music Marketing Manager

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Taylor Swift - The Life of A Showgirl

Where else is there to go after reaching summits no other artist could hope to reach? Taylor Swift follows up her revered and record-breaking, world-conquering Eras Tour by giving us a peek behind the curtain. What we find an artist is embracing the pure joy of performance. On her most playful, polished, and enjoyable record in years, Swift embraces a full wardrobe of musical styles. We’re treated to the glitzy '80s pop-rock of "Opalite," shimmering Jackson 5 funk "Wood," and the bright, stuttering beats of "Honey." The sparkling pop is polished to a blinding gleam by Swedish production powerhouses Max Martin and Shellback, Swift's first collaboration with the duo since 2017's Reputation. Beneath the sequins, Swift remains a sharp chronicler of fame, femininity, and fatigue. The Shakespeare-referencing "Fate of Ophelia" is a worthy entrée into Swift's canon of literary songwriting. Swift spares herself the fate of poor Ophelia and keeps her head above water by finding solace in her whirlwind romance with Travis Kelce.

By Connor Crooks, Music Buyer

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Benson Boone - American Heart

Benson Boone’s American Heart is huge, emotional and impossible to ignore. His voice has that raw power that pulls you straight in, and the record bounces between big anthemic moments like "Mr Electric Blue" and "I Wanna Be the One You Call" and gut-punch vulnerability with "Momma Song," especially. It feels like Boone’s putting everything he’s got on the table with love, heartbreak, and hope wrapped up in stadium-sized pop rock. It’s bold, heartfelt, and made to be played loud.

By Ben Ashley-Faulkner, Head of Books

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PinkPantheress - Fancy That

PinkPantheress’ sophomore mixtape, Fancy That, sees the producer step into her fun and kitsch-y era. Rooted in British culture, the club ready mixtape showcases her signature vocals and genre-blurring sound.

By Steven Tshiayima, Music Marketing Manager

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Hayley Williams - Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party

Hayley Williams’s Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party is a confident and self assured declaration of independence. The most deeply personal and refined material of her career to date, Hayley weaves together 90s alt-rock, dream pop gloss, shades of trip hop, indie pop and stadium-sized chorus-driven pop. Ego Death arrives just as she steps free from a two-decade record deal, and she uses that freedom to let go of past baggage and re-establish herself as one of the most vital songwriters and performers of her generation.

By Connor Crooks, Music Buyer

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Miley Cyrus - Something Beautiful

Miley Cyrus’s Something Beautiful is big, emotional and full of the raw edge only she can deliver. Her voice moves from husky power to soft vulnerability and every track feels like it’s pulling you deeper in. Songs like "End of the World", "Easy Lover" and the title track stand out, mixing dreamy pop with pure honesty. It’s bold, heartfelt and shows Miley at her most fearless.

By Ben Ashley-Faulkner, Head of Books

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Addison Rae - Addison 

Addison Rae’s Addison is a confident pop debut that blends nostalgic 2000s vibes with fresh energy. The production is sleek, her vocals are polished, and tracks like “Fame is a Gun” showcase a darker, more intriguing edge. Rae balances fun and vulnerability across the album, proving she’s not just a social media personality, but an emerging pop talent. Addison is catchy, stylish, and surprisingly impactful.

By Kitty Lewis, Music Buyer 

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From breakout stars to modern icons, this year’s Best of the Year proves that music never stands still. Here’s to the albums that made us dance, cry, sing, and feel it all. What would you choose? 

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