Ann Powers Reveals 2025’s Top 10 Albums on NPR

Ann Powers, a notable music critic, has unveiled her top ten albums for 2025 on NPR, showcasing a diverse range of talents and genres. This year’s selections highlight artists who are deeply connected to their communities, reflecting themes of protest, identity, and resilience through music.

Highlights from the Top 10 Albums of 2025

• Wednesday – Bleeds: Karly Hartzman captures the spirit of the South with a blend of tenderness and rage, offering a unique perspective on protest music.
• Ken Pomeroy – Cruel Joke: The 23-year-old Cherokee artist conveys a soulful message, combining regional sounds with a universal call for awareness.
• Cleo Reed – Cuntry: This New York-based artist explores the roots of Black music, interweaving folk, rap, and soul to challenge norms and highlight labor’s complexities.
• Oracle Sisters – Divinations: Formed by a collective of musicians from Denmark, Ireland, and Finland, this band infuses vintage power pop and psychedelia into a captivating sound.
• Zeyne – AWDA: The artist combines Arabic pop with hip-hop and electronic influences, addressing themes of heartbreak and exile in her debut album.
• CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY: Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s work challenges cultural expectations, bringing humor and depth to pop music.
• William Tyler – Time Indefinite: This guitarist merges soft soundscapes with found recordings to explore historical narratives, presenting a universal Southern experience.
• Jacob Alon – In Limerence: Alon’s music captures the complexities of identity and trauma, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and mythology.
• Anna Von Hausswolf – Iconoclasts: The Swedish artist collaborates with notable musicians to create a powerful album focused on breaking free from constraints.
• Yazz Ahmed – A Paradise in the Hold: Ahmed’s work reflects her Bahraini heritage and emphasizes reconciliation through music, incorporating traditional elements with contemporary urgency.

Exploring Themes of Connection and Identity

Powers’ list celebrates artists who give voice to the unheard, emphasizing music’s role as a tool for connection and expression. This selection not only showcases genre diversity but also illuminates the personal and societal struggles that shape these musicians’ creations.

This year, the albums demonstrate a powerful response to global challenges and a commitment to storytelling through sound. From exploring cultural roots to addressing social issues, each artist contributes to a rich tapestry of music that resonates on multiple levels.

Through this year’s selections, listeners are invited to engage with profound narratives, each reflecting the unique experiences of the artists and their communities. El-Balad encourages readers to dive into these remarkable albums and discover the transformative power of music.