Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2025 New Compilations of Old/Various Music

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

Reissues, compilations, vault music, etc. For new records, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Mac Miller: Balloonerism (2014, REMember Music/Warner) {14}: Cl:*, HG:+, I:*, LBF:*, Ne:*, NT:*, O:*, Ov:*, PO:+, SLi:*; am:* -- A:79/13, TH:***
  2. Neil Young: Oceanside Countryside (1977, Reprise) {10}: ClR:*, IT:*, Mj:*, MO:*, T:*, TN:*U:* -- A:75/11, TH:***
  3. Mary Halvorson Quartet: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Volume 1 (2019, Tzadik) {6}: TN:*; am:* -- A:80/1, TH:A-
  4. Spectacular Diagnostics: Raw Game [Ten Year Edition] (2015, Vinyl Digital) {6}: -- RX:***, TH:***
  5. Joe Henderson: Multiple (Craft) {5}: TN:* -- TH:A-
  6. William Hooker: A Time Within: Live at the New York Jazz Museum, January 14, 1977 (Valley of Search) {5}: PO:*, TN:* -- TH:***
  7. Charles Mingus: Mingus in Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts (1977, Resonance -2CD) {4}: -- TH:A-
  8. Art Pepper: Geneva 1980 (Omnivore) {4}: TN:* -- TH:***
  9. Studio: West Coast (2006, Ghostly International) {4}: -- TH:A-
  10. Kenny Dorham: Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live From the Blue Morocco (1957, Resonance) {3}: -- TH:***
  11. Homeboy Sandman: Rich 2.5 (self-released) {3}: -- TH:***
  12. Rob Mazurek: Alternate Moon Cycles [IA11 Edition] (2012, International Anthem) {3}: TN:* -- TH:**
  13. John Surman: Flashpoints and Undercurrents (Cuneiform) {3}: PO:+, TN:*; am:* -- A:80/1
  14. Johnny Bragg: Let Me Dream On (ORG Music) {2}: PO:* -- TH:*
  15. Erik Friedlander and Michael Nicolas: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Vol. 2 (2019, Tzadik) {2}: -- TH:**
  16. Freddie Hubbard: On Fire: Live From the Blue Morocco (1967, Resonance) {2}: -- TH:**
  17. Serengeti: Mixtape 2 (self-released) {2}: PO:* -- TH:*
  18. Trigger: John Zorn's Bagatelles: Vol. 3 (2019, Tzadik) {2}: TN:* -- TH:*
  19. Albert Ayler Trio: Prophecy Live First Visit (1964, Ezz-Thetics) {1}: TN:*
  20. Paul Bley: Open, to Love (1973, ECM) {1}: AAJ:* -- TH:[*]
  21. Paul Bley Trio: Floater & Syndrome: The Upright Piano Sessions Revisited (1962-63, Ezz-Thetics) {1}: TN:*
  22. Bill Evans: Explorations (1961, Craft) {1}: AAJ:*
  23. Grateful Dead: Dick's Picks Volume 53 (1976, Grateful Dead -3CD) {1}: TN:*
  24. Helloween: March of Time (The Best of 40 Years) (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/1
  25. John Lee Hooker: The Standard School Broadcast Recordings (1973, BMG) {1}: TN:*
  26. Michael Gregory Jackson: Frequency Equilibrium Koan (1977, Moved-by-Sound) {1}: PO:+
  27. Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers: African Party [Deluxe Edition] (Innovative Collective/BBE Music) {1}: AAJ:*
  28. JPEGMafia: I Lay Down My Life for You (Director's Cut) (self-released) {1}: PO:+
  29. Steve Lacy Three: Live Lugano 1984 First Visit (Ezz-Thetics) {1}: TN:*
  30. Mazinga: Chinese Democracy Manifest: Greatest Hits, Volume II (Rubber Wolf) {1}: PO:*
  31. Jeannie Piersol: The Nest (High Moon) {1}: TN:*
  32. Small Faces: Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years (Charly) {1}: TN:*
  33. Albert White: The Definitive Albert White (Music Maker) {1}: PO:+
  34. Yo La Tengo: Old Joy (2006, Mississippi -EP) {1}: -- TH:*
  35. Krautrock Eruption: An Introduction to German Electronic Music 1970-1980 (Bureau B) {1}: TN:*
  36. Music Is a Message From Space (Corbett vs. Dempsey) {1}: -- TH:*
  37. Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 3: A Colection of SF Bay Area Salsa and Latin Jazz: Renegade Queens (1991-2025, Patois, 2CD) {1}: -- TH:*