Rosalía’s ‘LUX’ Tops Critics’ Album of the Year Lists in 2025

The album of the year, according to critics’ averages, shines a spotlight on Rosalía’s groundbreaking sound and artistic vision.

When it comes to the soundtrack of 2025, one name has been echoing loud and clear across nearly every critics’ list: Rosalía. Her dazzling new album, LUX, has emerged as the undeniable album of the year, snagging top spots in an impressive aggregation of nearly 100 music publications, blogs, and magazines.

Rosalía alongside Cameron Winter of Geese and Bad Bunny, the artists dominating the 2025 album charts.

A Crowning Achievement in Critics’ Consensus

The source behind this ranking is albumoftheyear.org, a website that compiles and weighs nearly 100 end-of-year lists from diverse outlets. Rosalía’s fourth studio album, LUX, not only topped ten of these lists but also placed within the top ten on 19 more. This sweeping acclaim built a powerful total of 364 points that crowned her the year’s top artist.

The scoring system behind the scenes is as fascinating as the music itself: a Number One spot on any ranked list yields 10 points, Number Two gets 8 points, and Number Three earns 6 points. Albums that make it into a top ten receive 5 points, a top 25 placement brings 3 points, and any other ranking still grants 1 point. Even unranked lists contribute between 1 and 5 points depending on length, meaning every nod counts.

Close Competition: Geese and Bad Bunny

Hot on Rosalía’s heels is Getting Killed by the American rock band Geese, which raked in 338 points. Interestingly, Geese appeared as the Number One album on more lists overall—eleven versus Rosalía’s ten—but just didn’t accumulate quite as many points through consistent top ten placements.

Coming in third place is Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, a bold and genre-blending work that earned 178 points and topped five lists. The Puerto Rican superstar continues to revolutionize reggaeton and Puerto Rican folk music, blending authenticity with innovation in a way that’s impossible to ignore.

The Critics’ Top Ten Albums of 2025

Here’s the rundown of the albums that critics couldn’t stop raving about this year:

1. LUX – Rosalía (364 points, Number 1 on 10 lists)
2. Getting Killed – Geese (338 points, Number 1 on 11 lists)
3. DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny (178 points, Number 1 on 5 lists)
4. Bleeds – Wednesday (175 points, Number 1 on 1 list)
5. EUSEXUA – FKA Twigs (174 points, Number 1 on 1 list)
6. choke enough – Oklou (158 points, Number 1 on 3 lists)
7. Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse (155 points, Number 1 on 1 list)
8. EURO-COUNTRY – CMAT (148 points, Number 1 on 2 lists)
9. Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party – Hayley Williams (146 points, Number 1 on 3 lists)
10. Baby – Dijon (146 points, Number 1 on 1 list)

Notable Omissions and Mixed Receptions

You might notice a conspicuous absence from the upper echelon: Taylor Swift’s The Life Of A Showgirl lagged behind, earning a modest 20 points and failing to crack the top 50. Despite her massive worldwide following, the album received mixed reviews, including a lukewarm three-star rating from some critics.

Meanwhile, Getting Killed cemented its status as a critical darling by topping some individual outlets’ year-end lists. One review praised Geese as “a band living up to their reputation as exhilaratingly free-spirited, not so much proving they deserve all the accolades and fervent fanaticism bubbling around them but demanding it.”

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS also received glowing commentary, lauded for “revolutionizing Puerto Rico’s folk music and reclaiming his reggaeton throne with game-changing fusions that are authentic to him and what he believes in.”

And let’s not forget LUX, which landed seventh on some lists but was celebrated for its cosmic reach. One reviewer described it as containing “not just whole worlds, but astral planes, bridging the gap between Earth and whatever you believe heaven to be.” The poetic grandeur of that line truly encapsulates the album’s otherworldly vibe.

Why ‘LUX’ Resonates So Deeply

Rosalía has always been a fearless artist, blending flamenco roots with cutting-edge pop, trap, and electronic sounds. With LUX, she has pushed her craft even further, delivering a record that feels cinematic and intimate all at once. The album is a journey—a celestial ride through emotions, culture, and soundscapes that feel both ancient and futuristic.

For fans like me, following Rosalía’s evolution has been a trip. From her early days shaking up traditional Spanish music scenes to now topping global critics’ polls, she’s a testament to how passion fused with innovation can resonate universally.

“‘Lux’ contains not just whole worlds, but astral planes, bridging the gap between Earth and whatever you believe heaven to be.” – Rhian Daly

FAQ

• How is the album of the year decided by critics?
  Critics’ choices are aggregated across hundreds of publications. Each album earns points based on its ranking in these lists, with higher placements receiving more points.
• What makes Rosalía’s ‘LUX’ stand out?
  Its fusion of flamenco, pop, and electronic sounds creates a unique and immersive listening experience that feels both deeply personal and universally cosmic.
• Why was Taylor Swift’s album not ranked higher?
  Despite her fame, The Life Of A Showgirl received mixed reviews, which affected its overall ranking in aggregated critics’ lists.
• Which album came closest to beating ‘LUX’?
  Geese’s Getting Killed was a fierce competitor, topping more individual lists but slightly trailing in total points due to fewer consistent top-ten placements.
• Are these rankings influenced by album sales?
  The rankings are based on critical acclaim and end-of-year lists, not sales figures, highlighting artistic merit over commercial success.

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