Here we go again! A little later than usual, today will be the start of my EOY countdown where I revisit all of the music and TV that I loved over the past year. Here's what to expect, in order:

- Top 10 EPs

- Top 40 albums

- Favourite TV shows of the year (sorted by genre)

- A brief look at my favourite movies of the year

- Hit 300 Awards: acknowledging a select few aspects of my music listening this year that aren't covered by my song and album countdowns, including Artist of the Year

- Top 300 songs

A reminder of the EOY Hall of Fame. Last year, Benson Boone achieved his first EOY chart-topper in both the singles and albums fields. Who will be joining this year?

Singles

2012 Girls Aloud - Something New

2013 Ulrik Munther - Heroes in Defeat (Change Your Mind)

2014 Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX - Fancy

2015 Conrad Sewell - Hold Me Up

2016 Frans - If I Were Sorry

2017 Harry Styles - Sign of the Times

2018 Why Don't We - Hooked

2019 Oscar Enestad - I Love It

2020 The Kid LAROI - NEED YOU MOST (So Sick)

2021 The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber - STAY

2022 Ruel - YOU AGAINST YOURSELF

2023 S Club - These Are the Days

2024 Benson Boone - Beautiful Things

Albums

2012 Justin Bieber - Believe

2013 Ulrik Munther - Rooftop

2014 The Vamps - Meet The Vamps

2015 Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood

2016 Benjamin - Fingerprints

2017 Declan McKenna - What Do You Think About the Car?

2018 Why Don't We - 8 Letters

2019 Greyson Chance - portraits

2020 The Kid LAROI - F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE)

2021 The Kid LAROI - F*CK LOVE 3: OVER YOU

2022 Harry Styles - Harry's House

2023 The Kid LAROI - THE FIRST TIME

2024 Benson Boone - Fireworks & Rollerblades

A good place to look to see what's contending for #1 this year is, of course, my #1s list for 2025. My most recent chart is the final one that will be counting to 2025, so this is a comprehensive list! Worth noting that Girls Aloud's Singapore won't be in contention as it's a song that I've known for a long time, despite its updated mix. Every other song below is in contention, including The DJ by Knox, which was this year's longest runner, with 4 weeks at #1, and was one of Knox's four chart-toppers this year. The Kid LAROI achieved six #1s, Benson Boone achieved four, and Michael Aldag had three. The longest running #1 came courtesy of Knox too, with The DJ, but will it come out on top?

467 | 28/12/2024 | 03 | Artemas - fancy

468 | 18/01/2025 | 01 | Marcus & Martinus - Wonder

469 | 25/01/2025 | 01 | Bradley Simpson - Carpet Burn

470 | 01/02/2025 | 01 | Tate McRae - Sports car

471 | 08/02/2025 | 01 | Michael Aldag - Fantasia

472 | 15/02/2025 | 01 | Nomi Tales - Funniest Thing

473 | 22/02/2025 | 01 | Anne-Marie - I Don't Like Your Boyfriend

474 | 01/03/2025 | 01 | dearALICE - Ariana

475 | 08/03/2025 | 01 | Benson Boone - Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else

476 | 15/03/2025 | 01 | Michael Aldag - Happy

477 | 22/03/2025 | 01 | Sugababes - Jungle

000 | 29/03/2025 | 01 | dearALICE - Ariana [2 weeks total]

478 | 05/04/2025 | 04 | Knox - The DJ

479 | 03/05/2025 | 02 | Benson Boone - Mystical Magical

480 | 17/05/2025 | 01 | Knox - Going, Going, Gone

481 | 24/05/2025 | 01 | Kyle Alessandro - Lighter

482 | 31/05/2025 | 01 | Benson Boone - Momma Song

483 | 07/06/2025 | 01 | Conan Gray - This Song

484 | 14/06/2025 | 02 | The Kid LAROI - ALL I WANT IS YOU

485 | 28/06/2025 | 01 | Benson Boone - Mr Electric Blue

486 | 05/07/2025 | 01 | Jack Avery - PLEASE DON'T GO

487 | 12/07/2025 | 02 | The Kid LAROI - HOW DOES IT FEEL?

488 | 26/07/2025 | 01 | Ruel - I Can Die Now

489 | 02/08/2025 | 01 | The Kid LAROI - HOT GIRL PROBLEMS

490 | 09/08/2025 | 02 | Demi Lovato - Fast

491 | 23/08/2025 | 01 | Girls Aloud - Singapore

492 | 30/08/2025 | 01 | Doja Cat - Jealous Type

493 | 06/09/2025 | 01 | The Kid LAROI - SHE DON'T NEED TO KNOW

494 | 13/09/2025 | 01 | The Kid LAROI - A COLD PLAY

495 | 20/09/2025 | 02 | Knox - D.N.A

496 | 04/10/2025 | 01 | Rita Ora - All Natural

497 | 11/10/2025 | 03 | glaive - We Don't Leave the House

498 | 01/11/2025 | 01 | Lily Allen - Beg for Me

499 | 08/11/2025 | 01 | Said the Sky and Knox - Dance in the Rain

500 | 15/11/2025 | 02 | Michael Aldag - Hell

501 | 29/11/2025 | 02 | The Kid LAROI - A PERFECT WORLD

502 | 13/12/2025 | 03 | Ruel - Destroyer

2024 Recap

Listen

(click on songs below for a 30 second preview, and open in Spotify for all 300 songs)

Songs

 

1 Benson Boone - Beautiful Things

2 The Kid LAROI - GIRLS

3 Benson Boone - Slow It Down

4 Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

5 The Kid LAROI - NIGHTS LIKE THIS

6 dearALICE - Vibes

7 Alec Benjamin - Sacrifice Tomorrow

8 The Kid LAROI - BABY I'M BACK

9 Jimin - Who

10 Bradley Simpson - Picasso

11 The Kid LAROI - APEROL SPRITZ

12 Djo - End of Beginning

13 The Kid LAROI - HEAVEN

14 Jacqline - Effortless

15 Charli xcx & Troye Sivan - Talk talk

16 Daniel Seavey - The Older You Get

17 Charli xcx & Lorde - Girl, so confusing

18 Lady Gaga - Disease

19 The Kid LAROI - NIGHTS LIKE THIS PT 2

20 Perrie - Forget About Us

21 Benson Boone - Pretty Slowly

22 The Kid LAROI - Still Yours

23 Michael Aldag - promenade

24 ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

25 The Kid LAROI & Quavo - SLOW IT DOWN

26 Tom Odell - Loving You Will Be the Death of Me

27 Ariana Grande - yes, and?

28 Adam Woods - Supernatural

29 Gabriela Bee & Powfu - BLUE

30 Alec Benjamin - King Size Bed

31 Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday Girls

32 Knox - Here's to Us

33 Powfu & Daniel Saint - death bed, Pt. 2

34 Boy In Space - Atom Bomb

35 Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

36 Fred Roberts - Get It Over With

37 Ruel - Made It Awkward

38 Ulrik Munther & Free Will - This Right Here

39 Benson Boone - Death Wish Love

40 Troye Sivan - Honey

41 ROSÉ - toxic till the end

42 Marcus & Martinus - Love Flow

43 Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

44 Powfu, Ouse & Ryan Librada - digital crush

45 Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

46 Majestic, The Jammin Kid & Céline Dion - Set My Heart On Fire (I'm Alive x And the Beat Goes On)

47 Rita Ora - Ask & You Shall Receive

48 Charli xcx & Billie Eilish - Guess

49 Dasha - Austin (Boots Stop Workin')

50 Porter Robinson - Cheerleader

51 Benson Boone - Cry

52 Alec Benjamin - In a Little

53 Lay Bankz - Tell Ur Girlfriend

54 glaive - For God and Country

55 Chance Peña - Blackbird

56 Kygo & Ava Max - Whatever

57 Michael Aldag - olivia

58 Boy In Space - Too Much to Lose

59 JADE - Angel of My Dreams

60 Knox - Treadmill

61 Mark Ambor - Belong Together

62 Annie - The Sky Is Blue

63 Maria Sur - When I'm Gone

64 Knox - Invisible

65 Kesha - JOYRIDE

66 Croixx - Higher

67 Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)

68 Mason vs Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder)

69 Alyssa Reid - Never Going Home

70 Kylie Minogue - Lights Camera Action

71 Metteson - Last Resort

72 Jonah Marais feat. Ryan Lewis - Slow Motion

73 Ruel - Hollywood

74 Boy In Space - The Last Time

75 Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)

76 44phantom - perfect feeling

77 The Kid LAROI - Goodbye

78 Shawn Mendes - Why Why Why

79 dearALICE - Life is a Movie

80 Alec Benjamin - Pick Me

81 dearALICE - Classic

82 glaive - tijuana freestyle

83 Maria Sur - Dance Alone

84 Taylor Swift - I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

85 Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

86 Conan Gray - Lonely Dancers

87 Cazzi Opeia - Give My Heart a Break

88 Boy In Space - Dancing on Dynamite

89 ..villa? - 5555

90 Griff - last night's mascara

91 Will Linley - Just Because I Called You

92 honestav feat. Z - I’d Rather Overdose

93 Lisa Ajax - Awful Liar

94 Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

95 Rita Ora feat. Keith Urban - Shape of Me

96 Nemo - The Code

97 Madison Beer - Make You Mine

98 Charlie Puth - Hero

99 Albin Tingwall - Done Getting Over You

100 Ouse & Promoting Sounds - stay for a while

101 Fred Roberts - Sound of My Youth

102 Ruel - Cats on the Ceiling

103 Griff - Anything

104 Knox - Change Your Mind

105 Jordan Suaste - love who you want to

106 Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica - the boy is mine

107 Daniel Seavey - Gateway Drug

108 Timothée Chalamet & The Cast of Wonka - A World of Your Own

109 Dasha - Didn't I?

110 Daniel Seavey - Other People

111 Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti - I LUV IT

112 Alex Sampson - Pretty Baby

113 Shaznay Lewis - Miracle

114 Benson Boone - Be Someone

115 Dasha - Bye Bye Bye

116 David Kushner - Darkerside

117 Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile

118 Tom Odell - The End

119 NOTD & Corbyn Besson - Panic

120 Charli xcx & Ariana Grande - Sympathy is a knife

121 Lost Frequencies & Tom Odell - Black Friday (pretty like the sun)

122 Katy Perry feat. Doechii - I'M HIS, HE'S MINE

123 Skye Riley & Naomi Scott - Blood on White Satin

124 A Little Sound & Sugababes - Situation

125 Tate McRae - It's ok I'm ok

126 David Kushner - Skin and Bones

127 Michael Aldag - cubicles

128 Boy In Space - Finally Fine Without You

129 Kate Nash - Ray

130 Camila Cabello - Chanel No.5

131 Averagekidluke feat. Turisti - Rich Man

132 Alex Spencer - Nightmares

133 Alec Benjamin - AI

134 Sabrina Carpenter - Bed Chem

135 Adam Woods - Weekend

136 Anson Seabra - Fine

137 Charli xcx - Apple

138 dearALICE - Best Day of Our Lives

139 Zach Herron - caroline

140 Shy Smith - Soaked

141 Marcus & Martinus & VIZE - Another Life

142 GUS - Taller Than the Trees

143 Powfu feat. Ouse - cinnamon hearts

144 Bradley Simpson - Daisies

145 Miles Wesley - Travis Has a Gun

146 Jutes - Born to Lose

147 Mimi Webb - Mistake

148 Olivia Rodrigo - obsessed

149 Artemas - how could u love somebody like me?

150 Clean Bandit, Anne-Marie & David Guetta - Cry Baby

151 Perrie - You Go Your Way

152 The Kid LAROI - PICK SIDES

153 Michael Aldag - pretty

154 The Kid LAROI - STICK WITH ME

155 Artemas - i always kinda knew you’d be the death of me

156 Chance Peña - Is What It Is

157 Dotter - It's Not Easy to Write a Love Song

158 JENNIE - Mantra

159 Miles Wesley - Space

160 glaive - huh

161 Tate McRae - 2 hands

162 Kesha - DELUSIONAL

163 Knox - Me, Myself & Your Eyes

164 Kate Nash - Millions of Heartbeats

165 Artemas - if u think i'm pretty

166 Alec Benjamin - Found You First

167 Miles Wesley - Shadows

168 Michael Schulte & Norma Jean Martine - If you love me

169 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Freedom of the Night

170 Ruel & DMA'S - What a Life

171 Kaleen - We Will Rave

172 Will Linley - Blame

173 Alyssa Reid - Put Your Phone Down

174 Daniel Seavey - If I Ever Get to Heaven

175 CYRIL with Dean Lewis - Fall At Your Feet

176 Kate Nash - Space Odyssey 2001

177 Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone - Fortnight

178 ROSÉ - number one girl

179 Alesha Dixon - Ransom

180 Meghan Trainor - Whoops

181 Jonah Marais - TWISTED LULLABY

182 Corbyn Besson - Don't Run

183 Angelina Mango - la noia

184 Kate Nash - Vampyre

185 Powfu feat. YNR Nervy - pocket healer

186 David Guetta & OneRepublic - I Don't Wanna Wait

187 Natasha Hamilton - Edge of Us

188 Alfie Templeman - Eyes Wide Shut

189 Powfu feat. Jomie - blindside

190 Jennifer Lopez feat. Latto - Can't Get Enough

191 Charli xcx - Von dutch

192 Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo - My Oh My

193 Artemas - dirty little secret

194 Purple Disco Machine & Benjamin Ingrosso feat. Nile Rodgers & Shenseea - Honey Boy

195 Perrie - Christmas Magic

196 Bebe Rexha - Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)

197 Will Linley - miss me (when you're gone)

198 Sigala, Trevor Daniel & 24kGoldn - It's a Feeling

199 SOAP - SOS

200 Ariana Grande & Troye Sivan - supernatural

201 Delta Goodrem - Hearts on the Run

202 Jax Jones, Zoe Wees & Cascada - Never Be Lonely

203 Zara Larsson - You Love Who You Love

204 Metteson - Put It to Sleep

205 Benjamin Ingrosso - Kite

206 The Kid LAROI & Lil Yachty - HATRED

207 Selena Gomez - Love On

208 Charli xcx - 360

209 Alec Benjamin - The Plan

210 Albin Tingwall - Mercy

211 Miles Wesley - Always

212 Johnny Orlando - if he wanted to he would

213 Dua Lipa - Illusion

214 Conan Gray - Alley Rose

215 Will Linley - Nothing But Love

216 Isac Elliot - Emily

217 GUS - Heat Island Effect

218 Charlie Puth - December 25th

219 Ava Max - Spot a Fake

220 Boy In Space - Mayflowers

221 Ruel - Kiss Me

222 Alex Sampson - If You Were My Girl

223 Michael Aldag - balayage

224 Addison Rae - Diet Pepsi

225 Kate Nash - Change

226 Benson Boone - Hello Love

227 Conan Gray - Bourgeoisieses

228 Bradley Simpson - Always Like This

229 Ruel & DMA'S - We're a Pair of Diamonds

230 Addison Rae - Aquamarine

231 Corbyn Besson - Love Me Better

232 dearALICE - Solar

233 Powfu - facing the giants

234 Benson Boone - My Greatest Fear

235 Ella Henderson feat. Rudimental - Alibi

236 Chance Peña - Feel It All

237 Max Parker - Right Back Where We Started

238 Artemas - you've been a bad girl

239 dearALICE - Time With You

240 Porter Robinson - Knock Yourself Out XD

241 Powfu, Jomie & Zaini feat. Skinny Atlas - milk in the morning

242 Muni Long & Mariah Carey - Made for Me

243 Alec Benjamin - The Arsonist

244 Frans - Wasn't Meant to Be

245 Benson Boone - What Do You Want

246 Galantis, David Guetta & 5 Seconds of Summer - Lighter

247 FRÖKEN SNUSK - UNGA & FRIA

248 Alfie Templeman & Nile Rodgers - Just a Dance

249 Felix Jaehn feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Ready for Your Love

250 Alec Benjamin - If Shakespeare Were Here

251 Frans - Don't Miss the Beat

252 Benjamin Ingrosso - Look Who's Laughing Now

253 Omar Rudberg - Talk

254 Olly Alexander - Dizzy

255 glaive - even when the sun is dead, will you tell them how hard i tried

256 Bradley Simpson - Holy Grail

257 Benson Boone - Friend

258 GUS - Party

259 Bradley Simpson - Cry at the Moon

260 Griff - Miss Me Too

261 BL3SS & CamrinWatsin feat. bbyclose - Kisses

262 ROLE MODEL - Oh, Gemini

263 Silvester Belt - Luktelk

264 Max Parker - Fly Away (Feel Good)

265 Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help

266 Lola Young - Messy

267 Lady Gaga - The Joker

268 Chance Peña - i am not who i was

269 Croixx - How I’m feeling now...

270 Hozier - Too Sweet

271 Paul Russell - Lil Boo Thang

272 Jutes - Carry Me

273 Anson Seabra - Snow Angel

274 Alex Spencer - Waiting for the Change

275 Chelsea Muco - Controlla

276 Declan McKenna - Mulholland's Dinner and Wine

277 Alfie Templeman - Dirty Laundry

278 Austin Mahone - Sooner or Later

279 Tinashe - Nasty

280 Katy Perry - LIFETIMES

281 Cheat Codes & Regard - Stay Another Night

282 Isac Elliot feat. Miriam Bryant - Otan Kii

283 Greyson Chance - Meet Me Outside

284 Slimane - Mon amour

285 Alex Spencer - There's Gotta Be More

286 The Blessed Madonna & Kylie Minogue - Edge of Saturday Night

287 Camila Cabello - GODSPEED

288 Frank Walker & Alexander Stewart - Crossfire

289 Gracie Abrams - I Love You, I'm Sorry

290 Dasha - Heartbreaker from Tennessee

291 Miles Wesley - Asterik

292 Conan Gray - Holidays

293 TuralTuranX - Reasons to Get High

294 Katy Perry - WOMAN'S WORLD

295 Jonah Marais - HEAVEN

296 Isac Elliot feat. Cledos, william, Jore & Zpoppa & WILLEM - Weak

297 Alok & Bebe Rexha - Deep in Your Love

298 Winona Oak & Boy In Space - Inside Out

299 Natasha Hamilton - You Don't Know Me

300 Joy Anonymous & Sugababes - JOY (Push the Button)

Albums

1 Benson Boone - Fireworks & Rollerblades

2 Conan Gray - Found Heaven

3 Artemas - yustyna

4 Michael Aldag - sorry for everything

5 Alec Benjamin - 12 Notes

6 Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

7 Kate Nash - 9 Sad Symphonies

8 Ariana Grande - eternal sunshine

9 Tom Odell - Black Friday

10 Charli xcx - BRAT

11 Camila Cabello - C,XOXO

12 glaive - May It Never Falter

13 Metteson - Look to a Star

14 Powfu - Mafia & Mugs Rootbeer

15 Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

16 Chance Peña - Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming

17 Zara Larsson - VENUS

18 Powfu - the fleeting life of a fool

19 Taylor Swift - THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

20 Alfie Templeman - Radiosoul

21 Shawn Mendes - Shawn

22 Paloma Faith - The Glorification of Sadness

23 Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

24 Kylie Minogue - Tension II

25 Benjamin Ingrosso - Pink Velvet Theatre

26 David Kushner - The Dichotomy

27 Katy Perry - 143

28 Griff - Vertigo

29 ROSÉ - rosie

30 Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER

31 Shaznay Lewis - Pages

32 Jennifer Lopez - This Is Me…Now

33 ROLE MODEL - Kansas Anymore

34 Caity Baser - Still Learning

35 Declan McKenna - What Happened to the Beach?

36 Shakira - Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

37 James Bay - Changes All the Time

38 Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D

39 RHODES - (un-finished)

40 Max Parker - 17

EPs

1 dearALICE - Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience (Original TV Soundtrack)

2 Fred Roberts - Sound of My Youth

3 Boy In Space - Copium

4 Powfu - tell me your feelings and i won't tell you mine, Pt. 3

5 Ruel - Adaptations

6 glaive - a bit of a mad one

7 GUS - Taller Than the Trees

8 Omar Rudberg - Every Night Fantasy

9 Croixx - How I'm feeling now...

10 Alex Spencer - There's Gotta Be More

Hit 300 Awards

Artist of the Year: Benson Boone

Group of the Year: dearALICE

Live Artist of the Year: Girls Aloud

Breakthrough Artist: Artemas

Best Era: Benson Boone - Fireworks & Rollerblades

Best Music Video: Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

Discovery of the Year: Take That

TV

Returning Drama: Doctor Who

New Drama: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Comedy (Sitcoms / Panel): Big Boys

Discovery: Lost Ollie

Soap: Emmerdale

Quiz Show: The 1% Club

Entertainment: Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience

Competition Show: Big Brother [uS]

TV Star of 2024: Quinn Martin

Ruel and Benson to slay here please Benson to do the double x

Will try and keep up with this as much as possible, excited!!

EPs

01 Michael Aldag - Crying in the Club | 1-3-2-2-6-7-9-8-2-4-3-3-5-...

02 dearALICE - bitterSWEETsummer | 1-3-5-5-7-7-9-9-11-13-15-x-9-x-5-9-14-x

03 Alex Spencer - Where Do We Go from Here? | 1-3-8-8-8-8-9-10-12-13-14-x

04 Boy In Space - The Butterfly Affect | 2-6-9-11-13-14-15-x

05 JoJo - NGL | 1-1-2-5-6-9-10-13-14-x

06 Raffi Maxwell HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN | 2-7-9-x

07 Midnight Til Morning - Afterglow | 4-9-x

08 Luca George - Say hi to Paula | 5-12-x

09 David Kushner - 20 Years from Now | 4-8-x

10 Casey Lowery - Lekkerland | 3-13-x

I'm deliberately holding off on the TV countdown until Stranger Things finishes, so we're starting with EPs this time round! A few new faces make themselves known in this section, with debut projects from Raffi Maxwell and Midnight Til Morning, and a first album chart appearance from Luca George, but it's chart mainstay Michael Aldag who tops the list. Working with Sweden's Eurovision artist from 2013, Robin Stjernberg, Michael's really come into his own with some brooding electro-pop, and this short but sweet EP is a perfect display. dearALICE come a close second, not quite topping the EP chart for the second year in a row, but nonetheless achieving a good showing for their first proper release. Manchester's Alex Spencer achieved his first #1 with third EP Where Do We Go from Here?, which achieves an EOY podium position, and Boy In Space's fourth EP narrowly misses the podium despite him finding his swing with a more country-esque direction. JoJo made a strong return with NGL, her first appearance in my album chart since 2016's Mad Love., while Casey Lowery released his first body of work since 2019 EP Nervous. David Kushner rounds out the list with 20 Years from Now, an EP that arrived less than a year after his #1 album The Dichotomy.

dearALICE missing out on the #1, we have no choice but to stan

Surprised at that chart run for Raffi great to see Midnight Til Morning, Boy In Space and of course Kushner here though

Albums: Top 40

31 Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA? | 4-11-14-x

32 Maren Morris - D R E A M S I C L E | 3-5-8-12-14-x

33 Perrie - Perrie | 5-7-13-15-x

34 Djo - The Crux | 4-9-x

35 Lorde - Virgin | 5-11-13-14-x

36 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop | 5-14-x

37 Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend | 4-9-15-x

38 Christopher - Fools Gold | 3-12-15-x

39 Doja Cat - Vie | 6-8-14-x

40 Mariah Carey - Here for It All | 7-12-15-x

It's rare that an album that misses my top 5 will make my top 40 EOY, but this year we have two, and it's the result of an insanely busy week. Doja Cat and Mariah Carey were both blocked from the top 5 by four other brand new entries, but would have made it in on any other week. It was a return to form for Doja Cat after I wasn't really feeling anything from the Scarlet era, and it was great to have new music from Mariah after so long too. One of the albums that beat them to the top 5 was Perrie's first solo album, which was a bit overly long but had some great material on it. Though not his first album, The Crux was the first charting album for Djo, and it spawned two top 10 singles too.

All other albums come from regulars in my chart. Maren Morris now has four top 3 albums to her name, Christopher has four top 5 albums, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Lorde each have three top 5 albums. None of them match their highest album peaks, but provide strong bodies of work regardless. Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend was a step down from Short n' Sweet, which hit #1 in 2024, but still managed to be her third top 5 release. Cardi B did manage to get a new personal best, though AM I THE DRAMA? didn't quite match the longevity of the #5 peaking Invasion of Privacy.

I have bought the albums from Cardi B, Perrie, Lorde and Doja Cat. Good stuff!!!

19 hours ago, Calum said:

dearALICE missing out on the #1, we have no choice but to stan

Surprised at that chart run for Raffi great to see Midnight Til Morning, Boy In Space and of course Kushner here though

6 hours ago, DaTilt said:

I have bought the albums from Cardi B, Perrie, Lorde and Doja Cat. Good stuff!!!

Thank you both for the comments!!

Albums: Top 40

21 Anson Seabra - You'll Always Be Mine | 2-5-7-8-10-8-12-...

22 MARINA - PRINCESS OF POWER | 2-7-7-13-14-x

23 Marcus & Martinus - The Room | 2-3-6-9-6-10-...

24 Powfu - the life of a lofi boy | 3-6-6-9-10-11-13-x

25 Daniel Seavey - Second Wind | 3-6-5-7-10-12-14-15-x-5-15-x

26 Addison Rae - Addison | 1-3-6-11-13-14-15-15-x

27 Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun | 3-6-8-13-x

28 Artemas - LOVERCORE | 3-4-10-14-x

29 Selena Gomez & benny blanco - I Said I Love You First | 3-5-9-11-13-14-15-x

30 5 Seconds of Summer - EVERYONE'S A STAR! | 3-8-9-13-14-x

The quality quickly steps up in the album countdown with this batch! 5 Seconds of Summer explored new sounds to varying degrees of success on their latest record, but the overall result is a pretty strong package even if the singles didn't do as much for me as usual. Selena Gomez enlisted her husband benny blanco for a collaborative album that I rather liked, even if it wasn't quite up to previous standards. Artemas' latest mixtape suffers from leaving off the best pre-album singles but it's another solid effort, as were the latest albums from Marcus & Martinus and Powfu, though the former particularly suffered with releasing all of the best songs pre-album.

Zara Larsson's Midnight Sun is probably her most consistent effort yet and is definitely due a revisit. Daniel Seavey's first full-length solo album was great, though I actually do prefer his EP. Anson Seabra is a reliable voice and this album only reinforced that, with its title track in particular being a revelation. MARINA's return was a mixed bag that I mostly enjoyed, but did have a few moments of cringe...! We also lose our first #1 album courtesy of Addison Rae, who really found her groove and an aesthetic to match, though it's not one I've revisited loads.

Albums: Top 40

11 Ruel - Kicking My Feet | 1-4-5-7-7-9-7-6-5-1-...

12 Tom Odell - A Wonderful Life | 1-4-5-10-11-10-11-10-10-11-11-13-14-x

13 Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl | 1-1-3-8-11-12-12-14-15-x

14 JADE - THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! | 2-3-9-10-12-14-x-8-10-13-...

15 Will Linley - Don't Cry Because It's Over | 2-3-2-8-9-9-10-13-8-4-10-12-13-15-13-15-...

16 Demi Lovato - It's Not That Deep | 2-3-6-9-11-10-11-7-9-...

17 Ava Max - Don't Click Play | 2-3-6-10-10-x

18 glaive - Y'all | 2-4-3-4-9-12-13-13-15-x

19 Isac Elliot - Vanhasta Uuteen | 1-2-2-4-4-6-7-9-12-11-11-13-13-x

20 Justin Bieber - SWAG | 1-3-8-9-11-12-15-x

Chart-topping albums become more commonplace as we reach the top 20, and we kick off with Justin Bieber's comeback album. SWAG is a better album than its sister project, but would be even better with a more condensed tracklist. Isac Elliot remains one of the most consistent artists in my chart's history, scoring a fifth #1 album with his second Finnish language release. Taylor Swift returned and topped my album chart for two weeks with The Life of a Showgirl, giving her a record-extending tenth #1 album, while her closest competitor Tom Odell achieved his eighth #1 with A Wonderful Life. Having just returned to the #1 spot for a second week, Ruel narrowly misses out on the top 10 with second album Kicking My Feet, which is a tighter effort than his debut, albeit lacking some of the high highs.

Of those that didn't make the top spot, Will Linley's is the longest runner, with two stints at #2 and unluckily running into Tom Odell's album in its first week. JADE's first solo album almost took her to the #1 spot, while Demi Lovato's latest album gave her a seventh consecutive top 3 album. glaive missed out on a fifth #1 in the busiest week of the year, though Y'all did return him to #1 in the singles chart, and Ava Max also found herself unluckily missing the top spot against an album yet to appear, but Don't Click Play is a much better album that it's given credit for.

I've heard these:

11 Ruel - Kicking My Feet | 1-4-5-7-7-9-7-6-5-1-...

13 Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl | 1-1-3-8-11-12-12-14-15-x

14 JADE - THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! | 2-3-9-10-12-14-x-8-10-13-...

17 Ava Max - Don't Click Play | 2-3-6-10-10-x

22 MARINA - PRINCESS OF POWER | 2-7-7-13-14-x

25 Daniel Seavey - Second Wind | 3-6-5-7-10-12-14-15-x-5-15-x

26 Addison Rae - Addison | 1-3-6-11-13-14-15-15-x

27 Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun | 3-6-8-13-x

29 Selena Gomez & benny blanco - I Said I Love You First | 3-5-9-11-13-14-15-x

31 Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA? | 4-11-14-x

35 Lorde - Virgin | 5-11-13-14-x

37 Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend | 4-9-15-x

39 Doja Cat - Vie | 6-8-14-x

I think Jade is my favourite out of all of those!

Ruel, Tom Odell, Taylor Swift, JADE and Ava Max all great albums!

5 minutes ago, -Jay- said:

I've heard these:

11 Ruel - Kicking My Feet | 1-4-5-7-7-9-7-6-5-1-...

13 Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl | 1-1-3-8-11-12-12-14-15-x

14 JADE - THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! | 2-3-9-10-12-14-x-8-10-13-...

17 Ava Max - Don't Click Play | 2-3-6-10-10-x

22 MARINA - PRINCESS OF POWER | 2-7-7-13-14-x

25 Daniel Seavey - Second Wind | 3-6-5-7-10-12-14-15-x-5-15-x

26 Addison Rae - Addison | 1-3-6-11-13-14-15-15-x

27 Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun | 3-6-8-13-x

29 Selena Gomez & benny blanco - I Said I Love You First | 3-5-9-11-13-14-15-x

31 Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA? | 4-11-14-x

35 Lorde - Virgin | 5-11-13-14-x

37 Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend | 4-9-15-x

39 Doja Cat - Vie | 6-8-14-x

I think Jade is my favourite out of all of those!

2 minutes ago, HarryGarfield said:

Ruel, Tom Odell, Taylor Swift, JADE and Ava Max all great albums!

Thank you both!!

Albums: Top 40

10 sombr - I Barely Know Her | 1-2-5-6-7-13-15-x-11-...

Arriving with a bang in 2025, sombr doesn't have the highest debut album of the year, but he's the only artist in the top 10 I wasn't aware of before the year began. back to friends caught my eye when it was racing up streaming charts, before undressed came in thick and fast after it, and the rest was history. Two concurrent smash hits is an impressive way to kickstart an era, and the rest of the album delivered, too. Its run is somewhat hampered by an extremely busy period that immediately followed its release, but I relistened to the album just the other day and there's lots to enjoy beyond the singles, too - my favourite non-single would have to be dime, that chorus must go off live! My aim is to try to pick up a resale ticket to his sold out tour next year as I must hear these tracks live.

Charting songs from this album

05 12 to 12

06 back to friends

08 undressed

09 we never dated

9 Conan Gray - Wishbone | 1-3-5-7-8-8-15-x-8-...

Conan Gray is a very reliable voice for me. His music is always laced with his own identity, consisting of deeply personal lyrics about relationships gone wrong and situations in life where he often feels like an outsider. Wishbone added an extra layer, as Conan had previously avoided referring to the gender of his love interests, fully committing to being unlabelled. This era, he wasn't hiding that he was talking about a boy, and with that came Wishbone, possibly Conan's most cohesive album yet. In some senses, it's more of a step back to his second album Superache, as the 80s synths of album three Found Heaven were nowhere to be found, but it's undeniably a step forward in confidence. Aside from the singles, I really like Eleven Eleven - I'm a sucker for a track that builds!

Charting songs from this album

01 This Song

08 Vodka Cranberry

16 Actor

20 Caramel

Albums: Top 40

8 Kesha - . | 1-3-4-6-6-8-10-12-14-x-14-...

Returning in 2024 with the boisterous anthem JOYRIDE., I was already really excited for Kesha's new album. The drip-feed of the pre-album singles only strengthened my excitement, with the chaos of BOY CRAZY. and YIPPEE-KI-YAY. alongside the power anthem DELUSIONAL. at the very end of 2024. The album comes together to be Kesha's most consistent effort since 2012's Warrior, for me, with almost no duds across the full project. It's further strengthened by its deluxe edition, adding ATTENTION! with Slayyyter and Rose Gray, which is one of the era's best songs. A really fun album with a personal touch to make it feel entirely genuine and personal to Kesha, who feels like she's got her mojo back.

Charting songs from this album

03 JOYRIDE.

05 ATTENTION! (Kesha, Slayyyter & Rose Gray)

05 DELUSIONAL.

09 YIPPEE-KI-YAY.

12 THE ONE.

19 BOY CRAZY.

7 Louise - Confessions | 1-2-4-6-8-10-10-10-11-12-8-4-5-7-10-11-13-12-x

There's something particularly thrilling about an artist who returns after a lengthy hiatus and throws out some of their best material. For example, All Saints' best album, in my view, is their 2016 comeback release Red Flag - it had a certain confidence running through it, as if it were made without any real commercial expectation, just a love of music. Louise's comeback material feels much the same. I really enjoyed 2020's Heavy Love, but latest album Confessions is Louise at her finest. The album is laced with slick electropop anthems, from the sexy Manifesting, to the playful Love Me More, and then the sublime electro-ballad Only Dancer, strengthened even further by its superb single mix. The whole thing is a very strong listen and feels like an album that could earn cult status alongside something like Rachel Stevens' Come and Get It, though I'm glad this album at the very least finally returned Louise to the UK top 10 after so long.

Charting songs from this album

05 Only Dancer

09 Confession

09 Love Me More

09 Manifesting

14 Borderline

Here are the albums I like from your list so far:

10 sombr - I Barely Know Her

13 Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl | 1-1-3-8-11-12-12-14-15-x

14 JADE - THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! | 2-3-9-10-12-14-x-8-10-13-...

17 Ava Max - Don't Click Play | 2-3-6-10-10-x

20 Justin Bieber - SWAG | 1-3-8-9-11-12-15-x

26 Addison Rae - Addison | 1-3-6-11-13-14-15-15-x

27 Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun | 3-6-8-13-x

29 Selena Gomez & benny blanco - I Said I Love You First | 3-5-9-11-13-14-15-x

33 Perrie - Perrie | 5-7-13-15-x

35 Lorde - Virgin | 5-11-13-14-x

36 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop | 5-14-x

37 Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend | 4-9-15-xe

7 hours ago, Sergej said:

Here are the albums I like from your list so far:

10 sombr - I Barely Know Her

13 Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl | 1-1-3-8-11-12-12-14-15-x

14 JADE - THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! | 2-3-9-10-12-14-x-8-10-13-...

17 Ava Max - Don't Click Play | 2-3-6-10-10-x

20 Justin Bieber - SWAG | 1-3-8-9-11-12-15-x

26 Addison Rae - Addison | 1-3-6-11-13-14-15-15-x

27 Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun | 3-6-8-13-x

29 Selena Gomez & benny blanco - I Said I Love You First | 3-5-9-11-13-14-15-x

33 Perrie - Perrie | 5-7-13-15-x

35 Lorde - Virgin | 5-11-13-14-x

36 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop | 5-14-x

37 Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend | 4-9-15-xe

Thanks Sergej!!

Albums: Top 40

6 Bradley Simpson - The Panic Years | 1-2-4-1-4-6-3-3-2-4-4-4-3-3-5-8-9-12-12-11-12-5-5-6-7-9-11-12-14-13-x-15-7-...

The Vamps have long-since cemented themselves as a Joseph favourite act at this stage. They have 14 #1 singles and 5 #1 albums in my chart, and the centre of their career has been the irresistible vocal of lead singer Bradley Simpson. Brimming with charisma and charm in any song, Brad's voice was what pulled me into The Vamps' music in the first place, so I was always going to be really hyped for his solo music. The Panic Years is a varied project, where Brad keeps one eye on pop music while he also delves a little more into some of his rockier influences. Debut single Cry at the Moon only reached #20 last year, but two #1 hits and another significant long-runner in Favourite Band bolster what makes for a strong, consistent project where no song feels out of place.

Charting songs from this album

01 Carpet Burn

01 Picasso

03 Favourite Band

05 Daisies

07 Almost (Bradley Simpson & HONGJOONG)

08 Always Like This

12 Holy Grail

20 Cry at the Moon

5 Tate McRae - So Close to What | 1-2-4-5-6-6-7-5-6-7-7-8-8-11-8-9-9-2-7-7-7-7-4-4-7-8-10-12-14-x-10-11-14-12-6-...

I was a bit disappointed when Tate McRae released her sophomore album THINK LATER at the end of 2023. With superb singles greedy and exes leading into it, the full album didn't capture me much. Therefore, I was sceptical of So Close to What, despite really enjoying the pre-release singles (including Tate's first #1 single Sports car). Thankfully, I had no need to be worried, because this is the album I was desperate for from her. Tate's never sounded more at home with both dance and R&B elements on an album that's firmly rooted in pop music, with hooks aplenty. Collaborations from Flo Milli and The Kid LAROI benefit their respective songs a lot, and the singles aren't where the hit-worthy tracks stop - songs like Signs, Dear god and Purple lace bra could easily have been smash hits too.

Charting songs from this album

01 Sports car

02 I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)

04 NOBODY'S GIRL

05 It's ok I'm ok

07 2 hands

15 TIT FOR TAT

36 Revolving door

Hi Joseph

'D R E A M S I C L E' has been one of my favourite surprises this year. I've never really got into Maren much before but I loved this one.

I seem to be alone on thinking 'Man's Best Friend' is stronger than 'Short n Sweet' My #1 album of the year

I'm glad to see that you liked the Taylor album too. I think it's one of her weaker efforts but the reaction to it online has been well OTT.

'So Close To What' is very deserving of a top 5 position! I thought Tate's first two albums we're all about the singles but this one feels like a proper cohesive and consistently great album.

Loving the Jade Addison Rae & Lorde albums too!

Excited to see what else is to come.

Hi Joseph looking forward to following this!

Quite a few albums I've heard in your list so far but Addison is unsurprisingly my favourite *.* an unexpected highlight of the year was her being announced as my support act for Lana when my stanning was at its peak...!! intrigued to see if any of the singles pop up in your countdown.