Vinyl Castle’s Top 25: The Records That Spun Your 2025
Happy New Year, vinyl lovers!
We have officially landed in 2026. The confetti has been swept up, the headache is (hopefully) fading, and we are ready to drop the needle on another year of spinning black circles. But before we dive headfirst into the crate-digging adventures of the future, we need to take a quick look in the rearview mirror.
2025 was a massive year for us here at Vinyl Castle. We saw record-breaking sales, welcomed thousands of new collectors to the community, and arguably drank too much coffee while packing your orders. But what were you listening to? We crunched the numbers, checked the inventory, and compiled the definitive list of the Top 25 Best Sellers of 2025.
The results? A fascinating cocktail of brand-new bangers, unshakeable classics, and, unsurprisingly, a whole lot of Taylor Swift.
The Sound of 2025: Irish Post-Punk and Modern Masterpieces
If there is one thing 2025 proved, it is that guitar music is alive, kicking, and shouting with a Dublin accent.
One of the standout releases that flew off our shelves this year was Fontaines D.C.’s Skinty Fia. You couldn't get enough of it. Brooding, poetic, and utterly atmospheric, this album captured the mood of the year perfectly. Whether you were spinning "Jackie Down the Line" on a rainy Tuesday or losing yourself in the title track, Skinty Fia cemented itself as a modern classic instantly. It’s rare to see a rock record compete so heavily with pop giants, but the lads from Dublin did it with style.
Speaking of Irish talent, Kneecap’s Fine Art also made a massive dent in the chart. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and politically charged—everything you want from a hip-hop record in the 2020s. Seeing these titles sit alongside jazz legends and pop icons makes us incredibly proud of the diverse taste in the Vinyl Castle community.
The Taylor Swift Supremacy
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the pop star taking up 20% of our entire chart. Taylor Swift continues to be an unstoppable force in the vinyl world.
With five albums in the Top 25 - Evermore, Folklore, Fearless (Platinum Edition), 1989, and Red - it is clear that Swifties are dedicated collectors. What is lovely to see is the appreciation for the "folkmore" era (Folklore and Evermore) sitting right at the top. These albums sound spectacular on wax, with their stripped-back production and warm, acoustic textures. If you don't own at least one Taylor record by now, are you even collecting?
Jazz, Soul, and The Smiths: The Classics That Never Die
While new music is exciting, the backbone of any record collection is the classics. 2025 saw a huge resurgence in jazz appreciation. Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue remains a perennial favourite, cracking the top three. It is the one jazz album everyone must own, and clearly, you agree. We also saw Chet Baker and Etta James (At Last!) charming their way into your living rooms, proving that smooth vocals and trumpet solos are timeless remedies for a stressful year.
On the indie front, The Smiths had a banner year with both Hatful of Hollow and The Queen Is Dead making the cut. Whether it’s the jangle of Johnny Marr’s guitar or Morrissey’s gloomy wit, there is something about these records that keeps new generations discovering them.
And let’s hear it for Lana Del Rey. Born to Die has become this generation’s Rumours—a record that just keeps selling, year after year. It is cinematic, tragic, and sounds absolutely gorgeous on vinyl.
The Vinyl Castle Top 25 of 2025
Without further ado, here are the records you loved the most this year. Did your favourite make the cut?
- Evermore – Taylor Swift
- Folklore – Taylor Swift
- Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
- Hatful of Hollow – The Smiths
- The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths
- The College Dropout – Kanye West
- Born to Die – Lana Del Rey
- OK Computer – Radiohead
- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins
- Fearless: Platinum Edition – Taylor Swift
- Skinty Fia – Fontaines D.C.
- For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
- Fine Art – Kneecap
- 1989 – Taylor Swift
- IGOR – Tyler, the Creator
- At Last! – Etta James
- Chet Baker Sings – Chet Baker
- Only You/Hafi Deo – Steve Monite / Tabu Ley Rochereau
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – Wu-Tang Clan
- Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads
- All Over the World: The Very Best of – ELO
- Greatest Hits – Fleetwood Mac
- The Tarantino Sound – Various Artists
- Red – Taylor Swift
- Pinkerton – Weezer
What Does This List Say About Us?
Looking at this list, one thing is clear: Vinyl Castle customers have impeccable taste. You aren't bound by genre. You are just as likely to spin the raw hip-hop energy of Wu-Tang Clan as you are the dreamy soundscapes of Bon Iver. You appreciate the ambition of Smashing Pumpkins’ double LP epic Mellon Collie and the art-rock genius of Radiohead.
It also shows that the vinyl revival isn't just about nostalgia. Sure, we love our Tarantino Sound soundtracks and Talking Heads grooves, but seeing modern albums like IGOR and Fine Art in the mix proves that the format is the best way to experience music, period.
Ready for 2026?
Thank you for making 2025 such a fantastic year for our store. We can’t wait to see what fills your crates in 2026. Will there be a new champion? Will Taylor Swift take up six spots next time? Only time - and your turntables—will tell.
Shop the full Most Popular 2025 collection now and fill the gaps in your shelf!
