Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2025 New Music: Blues/Gospel/R&B

Notes

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

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Annie & the Caldwells: Can't Lose My (Soul) (Luaka Bop) {13}: G:*+, Mj:*+, MO:*, O:*, PM:*+; am:* -- A:89/6, TH:A-
  2. Rory Block: Heavy on the Blues (M.C.) {7}: -- RX:A-, TH:***
  3. Andy Fairweather Low: The Invisible Bluesman () {7}: ClR:*, Mj:*, TN:*U:* -- A:75/4, TH:***
  4. Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo': Room on the Porch (Concord Jazz) {6}: Mj:*, PO:*; am:* -- A:73/4, TH:***
  5. Maria Muldaur: One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey (Nola Blue) {6}: PO:* -- TH:A
  6. Robert Finley: Hallelujah! Don't Let the Devil Fool You (Easy Eye) {5}: Mj:* -- A:80/1, TH:A-
  7. Galactic and Irma Thomas: Audience With the Queen (Tchoup-Zilla) {5}: PM:*, PO:* -- A:75/2, TH:***
  8. Larkin Poe: Bloom (Tricki-Woo) {5}: ClR:*, RC:*, Sp:*, TN:*, XSN:* -- A:73/7
  9. The Black Keys: No Rain, No Flowers (Easy Eye/Warner) {4}: ClR:*, Mj:*, RC:*, Sk:* -- A:68/16
  10. Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias: Chip Off the Old Block (Strong Place Music) {4}: PO:* -- RX:**, TH:*
  11. Bobby Rush/Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Young Fashioned Ways (Deep Rush/Thirty Tigers) {3}: PO:* -- A:60/1, TH:**
  12. Carolyn Wonderland: Truth Is (Alligator) {3}: am:* -- A:80/1, TH:**
  13. Tommy Castro & the Painkillers: Closer to the Bone (Alligator) {2}: TN:*; am:* -- A:80/1
  14. Early James: Medium Raw (Easy Eye Sound) {2}: Mj:*, TN:* -- A:75/2, TH:B
  15. Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band: Honeysuckle (Family Owned) {2}: -- TH:**
  16. Robin Trower: Come and Fine Me (Provogue) {2}: ClR:*, RC:* -- A:77/3
  17. Big Freedia: Pressing Onward (Queen Diva Music) {1}: am:* -- A:77/3
  18. Burna Boy: No Sign of Weakness}Spaceshjip/Bad Habit/Atlantic (07-10) {1}: A:66/8
  19. Charlie Musselwhite: Look Out Highway () {1}: am;* -- A:80/1
  20. Big A Sherrod: Torchbearer of the Clarksdale Sound [Listener's Circle Vol. 72] (Music Maker -EP) {1}: PO:*
  21. Candi Staton: Back to My Roots (Beracah) {1}: Mj:* -- A:75/2