Sources
30 publications, critics, and curators whose year-end lists shaped our consensus rankings.
Our Annual Review aggregates year-end lists from trusted publications, record shops, and curators. Albums appearing on multiple lists receive higher consensus scores, with consideration for source credibility and ranking position.
Bandcamp-daily
Rough-trade
Top Picks
- Viagra Boys - viagr aboys #1
- Oklou - choke enough #2
- Pulp - More #3
The-quietus
Top Picks
- aya - hexed! #1
- Earth Ball - Outside Over There #2
- Rich Dawson - End of the Middle #3
Boomkat
Manchester-based record shop and label.
Top Picks
- Rat Heart - Dancin' In The Streets #1
- Klein - sleep with a cane #2
- Mark Ernestus' Ndagga Rhythm Force - Khadim #3
Rolling-stone
Top Picks
- Bad Bunny - DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS #1
- Lady Gaga - Mayhem #2
- Rosalia - Lux #3
Wfuv
A-closer-listen
Top Picks
- Lyra Pramuk - Hymnal #1
- Okkyung Lee - just like any other day (어느날): background music for your mundane activities #1
- Concepción Huerta - El Sol de los Muertos #1
Brooklyn-vegan
Top Picks
- Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power #1
- Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out #2
- Geese - Getting Killed #3
Complex
Top Picks
- Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS #1
- Playboi Carti - Music #2
- Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out #3
Consequence
Music and entertainment news site.
Top Picks
- Rosalia - Lux #1
- Geese - Getting Killed #2
- Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out #3
Dj-mag
Exclaim
Top Picks
- Ribbon Skirt - Bite Down #1
- Geese - Getting Killed #2
- PinkPantheress - Fancy That #3
Paste-magazine
Top Picks
- Nourished by Time - The Passionate Ones #1
- Los Thuthanaka - Los Thuthanaka #2
- Geese - Getting Killed #3
Pitchfork
Premier indie music publication since 1995.
Top Picks
- Los Thuthanaka - Los Thuthanaka #1
- Dijon - Baby #2
- Cameron Winter - Heavy Metal #3
Stereogum
Indie and alternative music news and reviews.
Top Picks
- Geese - Getting Killed #1
- Wednesday - Bleeds #2
- Oklou - choke enough #3
The-fader
Top Picks
- Addison Rae - Addison #1
- Rochelle Jordan - Through the Wall #2
- Rosalía - Lux #3
The-wire
Top Picks
- aya - hexed! #1
- Los Thuthanaka - Los Thuthanaka #2
- Tortoise - Touch #3
Treble
Top Picks
- billy woods - Golliwog #1
- Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power #2
- FKA twigs - Eusexua #3
Crack-magazine
Top Picks
- Oklou - choke enough #1
- EsDeeKid - Rebel #2
- Ethel Cain - Perverts #3
NME
British music and culture magazine since 1952.
Top Picks
- Geese - Getting Killed #1
- Addison Rae - Addison #2
- FKA twigs - Eusexua #3
Line-of-best-fit
Top Picks
- Anna von Hausswolff - Iconoclasts #1
- Rosalía - Lux #2
- Geese - Getting Killed #3
Decibel
Top Picks
- Deadguy - Near-Death Travel Services #1
- Messa - The Spin #2
- Paradise Lost - Ascension #3
Gorilla-vs-bear
Top Picks
- Oklou - choke enough #1
- Smerz - Big city life #2
- Nourished by Time - The Passionate Ones #3
Resident-advisor
Kcrw
Rated-rnb
Top Picks
- Durand Bernarr - Bloom #1
- Ledisi - The Crown #2
- KIRBY - Miss Black America #3
Dazed
Top Picks
- Rosalía - Lux #1
- Oklou - choke enough #2
- Jim Legxacy - Black British Music #3
Diy-magazine
Npr-music
Top Picks
- Annie DiRusso - Super Pedestrian #1
- Queralt Lahoz - 9:30 PM #2
- Mary Halvorson - About Ghosts #3
Kexp
Top Picks
- Wet Leg - moisturizer #1
- Deep Sea Diver - Billboard Heart #2
- Geese - Getting Killed #3
Methodology
Consensus Scoring
Albums are scored based on how many sources include them and where they rank. Appearing on more lists increases consensus, while higher rankings contribute more weight.
Source Diversity
We include publications (Pitchfork, NME), independent record shops (Rough Trade, Amoeba), platforms (Bandcamp), and aggregators to balance mainstream and underground perspectives.
Unique Picks
The “unique” percentage shows how many of a source's picks don't appear on other lists. High uniqueness indicates distinctive taste; low uniqueness suggests mainstream alignment.