Can you believe I started this blog twenty years ago?! Spiked Candy began in June 2005, with a post sharing a song by – naturally – France Gall.
To mark this slightly mind-blowing anniversary, I've compiled a list of my favourite albums from 2005 to 2025.
Spiked Candy's Favourite Albums of 2005-2025 – Spotify playlist
The playlist above features one song from every album on the list that I could find on Spotify. The full list can be found at the bottom of this post. It comes in at 262 albums – basically an indecisive attempt at 250 albums. I didn't start out with any particular figure in mind, but going through my collection, these were the albums that stood out, and that I wanted to share with all of you.
So much has changed in the online musical landscape since I started my blog. There was no Youtube or Spotify back then, and mp3 blogs were an exciting way to get to share lesser-known music.
I want to share some more reflections on all of this, and I also had some more features planned for this post. But holy cow, this post was much more work than I anticipated, involving making a huge playlist, grabbing album art for over 250 albums, finding links for them, and so on. I'm scrambling to get this up whiile it's still officially 2025!
Check this post again in the near future, as I'll be adding a few things, including links for my song picks from albums that aren't on Spotify. Also, I may have lost my mind working on this and if I later find this is rambling nonsense, and all the links don't work and such, I'll come back and fix stuff.
The album list is mostly not in any particular order, but the first ten are my top ten. The first fifty are roughly my top fifty, but there may be a few stray albums that I forgot to move into those slots. Overall, these are incredible albums, and I can't really say any are better than the others. This is the great thing about having my own blog – I can just do what I want here, and not torture my selections into some supposed definitive list!
It's really been a pleasure to revisit these incredible albums. A huge thank you to all the amazingly talented artists who make such beautiful music that opens up my world and brings such solace when needed.
A note on the playlist: Coming in at 244 songs and over fifteen hours, this is obviously not digestible in one sitting! If you're keen to hear the whole thing, I'd suggest saving it and playing a portion at a time, whenever it suits. I'll even understand if you play this one on shuffle! I joke, because I'm such a stickler for playing my playlists in order, since I put a fair bit of effort into sequencing them in a way I feel enhances the listening experience. But this works either way – while I think the sequence is really nice here and I still recommend playing this in order, if you're so inclined, shuffle could work for random song discovery, if playing the whole thing seems too much.
Please let me know if you do discover any new favourites here! I'd also love to hear what your favourite albums are from the last twenty years.
Without further ado, here is the list! I've added links to Bandcamp or artists' sites to buy the albums, where available. Also, let me know in the comments if any of these albums aren't available in your region on Spotify, and I'll add song links as requested to the post.
Spiked Candy's Favourite Albums 2005-2025:
- Broadcast - Tender Buttons (2005)
- Big Smoke - Time Is Golden (2016)
- Tristen - Sneaker Waves (2017)
- Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted (2007)
- Jane Weaver - The Silver Globe (2014)
- Susanna Hoffs - Someday (2012)
- Jenny Lewis - The Voyager (2014)
- Cat's Eyes - The Duke of Burgundy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2015)
- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Ballad Of The Broken Seas (2006)
- Jenny And Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now (2010)
- Air - Le Voyage dans la Lune (2012)
- Prudence Rees-Lee - Court Music From The Planet of Love (2013)
- Lucky Soul - A Coming Of Age (2010)
- Allie X - Girl With No Face (2024)
- Kylie Minogue - Disco (2020)
- Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid (2010)
- Bat For Lashes - The Bride (2016)
- Lake Ruth - Actual Entity(2016)
- Annie - Dark Hearts (2020)
- The Soundcarriers - Entropicalia (2014)
- Ladytron - Gravity The Seducer (2011)
- Candie Payne - I Wish I Could Have Loved You More (2007)
- Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country (2006)
- Britta Phillips - Luck or Magic (2016)
- Sabrina Carpenter - Man's Best Friend (2025)
- Mono In VCF - Mono In VCF (2007)
- Duffy - Rockferry (2008)
- Pure X - Angel (2014)
- Beautify Junkyards - The Beast Shouted Love (2015)
- The Soundcarriers - Celeste (2010)
- Clairo - Charm (2024)
- Theoretical Girl - Divided (2009)
- Rachel Zeffira - The Deserters (2013)
- White Poppy - Drifters Gold (2013)
- Sexwitch - Sexwitch (2015)
- Jane Weaver - The Fallen By Watch Bird (2010)
- Lucky Soul - Hard Lines (2017)
- Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
- Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (2008)
- Jenny Lewis - On The Line (2019)
- Jenny Lewis - Joy'All (2023)
- Colleen - Les ondes silencieuses (2007)
- The Yearning - Evening Souvenirs (2016)
- Lia Pamina - Love Is Enough (2016)
- Samara Lubelski - Parallel Suns (2007)
- Gamine - Sabotage (2005)
- Adrian Younge Presents Venice Dawn - Something About April (2011)
- Rose Elinor Dougall - Stellular (2017)
- Gwenno - Y Dydd Olaf (2014)
- Maude Audet - Tu ne mourras pas (2019)
- Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight (2007)
- Moodoïd - Le Monde Möö (2014)
- Colleen - The Golden Morning Breaks (2005)
- Olympia - Self Talk (2016)
- John C. Reilly - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2007)
- Gwenno - Le Kov (2018)
- Broadcast And The Focus Group - Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age (2009)
- Broadcast - Berberian Sound Studio (2013)
- The Yearning - Dreamboats & Lemonade (2014)
- Beach House - Bloom (2012)
- Mazzy Star - Seasons Of Your Day (2013)
- The Soundcarriers - Harmonium (2009)
- Glüme - The Internet (2021)
- Sofie Royer - Young-Girl Forever (2024)
- The Advisory Circle - As The Crow Flies (2011)
- Samara Lubelski - Spectacular of Passages (2005)
- Modular - Fuga Al Paraíso (2016)
- Kumisolo - Kabuki femme fatale (2017)
- Keren Ann - Keren Ann (2007)
- Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber (2012)
- Adrian Younge Presents Venice Dawn - Something About April II (2016)
- Pellegrino & Zodyaco - Morphé (2020)
- Kadhja Bonet - The Visitor (2016)
- Isobel Campbell - Milkwhite Sheets (2006)
- Isobel Campbell - Bow to Love (2024)
- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Hawk (2010)
- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday at Devil Dirt (2008)
- Vendredi sur Mer - Premiers émois (2019)
- La Femme - Paris-Hawaï (2023)
- Nina - Synthian (2020)
- Lily Allen - West End Girl (2025)
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007)
- Brijean - Angelo (2022)
- Vanishing Twin - The Age Of Immunology (2019)
- Poom - 2016 (2016)
- Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55 (2006)
- Beverly - The Blue Swell (2016)
- Brasilia - A Life Desired (2006)
- Mark Sparling - A Short Hike (Original Soundtrack) (2019)
- Las Escarlatinas - A Todo Color (2005)
- The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement (2008)
- Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi (2011)
- A Girl Called Eddy - Been Around (2019)
- Lake Ruth - Birds of America (2018)
- The Donnas - Bitchin' (2007)
- Charli XCX - Brat (2024)
- Butterfly Boucher - Butterfly Boucher (2012)
- Rose Melberg - Cast Away The Clouds (2006)
- WOW - Come La Notte (2019)
- Best Coast - Crazy For You (2010)
- Still Corners - Creatures of an Hour (2011)
- September Girls - Cursing the Sea (2014)
- Sally Shapiro - Disco Romance (2007)
- Bel Divioleta - Espejos (2006)
- Slowgold - Ett ljus från förr (2015)
- The Galaxy Electric - Everything is Light and Sound (2016)
- Exploded View - Exploded View (2016)
- Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold (2007)
- Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks (2010)
- Johnathan Rice - Good Graces (2013)
- Cat Power - The Greatest (2006)
- Sospetto - Il Sonno Eterno (2017)
- The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control (2009)
- Gloria - In Excelsis Stereo (2016)
- Bon Voyage Organisation - Jungle ? Quelle jungle ? (2018)
- Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators - Keep Reachin' Up (2006)
- Watoo Watoo - La Fuite (2007)
- Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of It Again (2005)
- Midnight Movies - Lion the Girl (2007)
- Blanche - Little Amber Bottles (2007)
- Princess Chelsea - The Loneliest Girl (2018)
- The Magic Theatre - The Long Way Home (2013)
- Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering (2006)
- The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (2007)
- The Postmarks - Memoirs At The End Of The World (2009)
- Monade - Monstre Cosmic (2008)
- Pram - The Moving Frontier (2008)
- Cannons - Night Drive (2017)
- Juliana Hatfield - Peace & Love (2010)
- Hello, Blue Roses - The Portrait is finished and I Have Failed to Capture Your Beauty (2008)
- L'Impératrice - Pulsar (2024)
- Bleached - Ride Your Heart (2013)
- Georgia Anne Muldrow - Seeds (2012)
- Maston - Shadows (2013)
- Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet (2024)
- The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home (2006)
- Juana Molina - Son (2010)
- Marissa Nadler - Songs III - Bird On The Water (2007)
- Linda Perhacs - The Soul Of All Natural Things (2014)
- Sunlit - Sunlit (2024)
- Bubble Tea And Cigarettes - There's Nothing But Pleasure (2022)
- Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - Through The Devil Softly (2009)
- Melodie Nelson - To The Dollhouse (2012)
- Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - Until the Hunter (2016)
- Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth (2008)
- Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Voices and Choices (2006)
- She & Him - Volume One (2008)
- The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes (2006)
- White Poppy - White Poppy (2013)
- Rose Elinor Dougall - Without Why (2010)
- Dana Gavanski - Yesterday Is Gone (2020)
- Gamine - You Can Cry (And Other Lullabies) (2010)
- Le Futur Pompiste - Le Futur Pompiste (2010)
- Fitness Forever - Tonight (2017)
- Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglo (2022)
- Les Hay Babies - Boîte aux lettres (2020)
- Iko Chérie - Dreaming On (2015)
- Noël Wells - It's So Nice! (2019)
- The Haiduks - 1968 (2012)
- The New Lines - All That We See And Seem (2011)
- Nana - CMG-NGM-PDE (2017)
- Espers - Espers (2005)
- Harmonic 33 - Music For Film, Television & Radio, Volume 1 (2005?)
- Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes (2011)
- Cate Le Bon - Cyrk (2012)
- Barbara Carlotti - Les Lys brisés (2006)
- Gulp - Season Sun (2014)
- Death and Vanilla - To Where the Wild Things Are (2015)
- Dum Dum Girls - Too True (2014)
- Bat for Lashes - The Dream of Delphi (2024)
- Jacco Gardner - Cabinet Of Curiosities (2013)
- Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (2010)
- The Shacks - Haze (2018)
- Saint Etienne - Home Counties (2017)
- Tremenda Trementina - Sangre Pop (2014)
- Charlie Hilton - Palana (2016)
- Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007)
- Flávia Muniz - Descalços sobre a terra (2012)
- Beautify Junkyards - The Invisible World of Beautify Junkyards (2018)
- Chromatics - Night Drive (2007)
- Altin Gün - Gece (2019)
- Eloïse Decazes & Eric Chenaux - La Bride (2017)
- Art Of The Memory Palace - Voiture Blanche Dans Le Noir (2017)
- Jonathan Personne - Disparitions (2020)
- Gwenno - Tresor (2022)
- Vanille - Soleil '96 (2021)
- AWITW - Dangerous Love (2020)
- Nu Genea - Bar Mediterraneo (2022)
- Carla Morrison - Amor supremo descundo (2017)
- Le SuperHomard - Maple Key (2016)
- Mild High Club - Skiptracing (2016)
- Samara Lubelski - Future Slip (2009)
- Ladytron - Witching Hour (2005)
- Kristin Miltner - Music for Dreaming and Playing (2010)
- The Paradise Motel - Australian Ghost Story (2010)
- Khruangbin - Mordechai (2020)
- Rose Elinor Dougall - A New Illusion (2019)
- Bodies Of Water - Twist Again (2011)
- Lady & Bird - Lady & Bird (2010)
- Marissa Nadler - The Saga Of Mayflower May (2006)
- Cassandra Jenkins - My Light, My Destroyer (2024)
- The Marías - Submarine (2024)
- Sababa 5 & Yurika - Kokoro - こころ (2024)
- Chromatics - Closer To Grey (2019)
- El Michels Affair - Return to the 37th Chamber (2017)
- Gaye Su Akyol - İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir (2018)
- Laure Briard - Un peu plus d'amour s'il vous plaît (2019)
- Catherine Leduc - Un bras de distance avec le soleil (2017)
- Juniore - Ouh là là (2017)
- Wendy Flower - New (2012)
- Hal - Hal (2005)
- Robyn - Robyn (2007)
- Tiger Baby - Noise Around Me (2006)
- Bertrand Burgalat - Portrait-Robot (2005)
- April March & Aquaserge - April March & Aquaserge (2013)
- Listening Center - Cycles/Other Phenomena (2014)
- Forever Pavot - Rhapsode (2014)
- Dumbo Gets Mad - Thank You Neil (2015)
- Fight Bite - Emerald Eyes (2008)
- Electrelane - Axes (2005)
- Julia Jacklin - Don't Let The Kids Win (2016)
- Jarvis Cocker - The Jarvis Cocker Record (2006)
- Altin Gün - Yol (2021)
- Cat's Eyes - Treasure House (2016)
- Bedouine - Bedouine (2017)
- Françoiz Breut - À l'aveuglette (2008)
- Slowgold - Glömska (2015)
- La Preyra - OR | OS (2020)
- Jonathan Bree - Sleepwalking (2018)
- Daprinski - Chorégraphies de l'ordinaire (2017)
- Guitar - Tokyo (2006)
- Noveller - A Pink Sunset For No One (2017)
- 猫 シ Corp. - Palm Mall (2014)
- Prudence Rees-Lee - Growing Closer (2019)
- Modular - Fantasías De Un Robot Psicodélico (2009)
- Bat for Lashes - Lost Girls (2019)
- Pulp - More (2025)
- Young Gun Silver Fox - West End Coast (2015)
- Glass Candy - B/E/A/T/B/O/X (2007)
- Sven Wunder - Natura Morta (2021)
- Cannons - Fever Dream (2022)
- Luna Li - When a Thought Grows Wings (2024)
- COTE - Cote (2018)
- Lauren Mayberry - Vicious Creature (2024)
- Gökçe Kılınçer - Zor Yollar Benim (2022)
- Françoise Hardy - Parenthèses (2006)
- Bridezilla - The First Dance (2009)
- Vanessa Zamora - Tornaluna (2018)
- Drugdealer - Raw Honey (2019)
- Le Futur Pompiste - Le Futur Pompiste (2010)
- Maude Audet - Il faut partir maintenant (2023)
- Cristina Quesada - Dentro Al Tuo Sogno (2022)
- Say Lou Lou - Dust (2024)
- Maude Audet - Comme une odeur de déclin (2017)
- The Divine Comedy - Rainy Sunday Afternoon (2025)
- Clara Luciani - Cœur (2021)
- Nite Jewel - Good Evening (2009)
- Johnathan Rice - The Long Game (2019)
- Quallofill - The Man Who Likes Trouble (2006)
- The Divine Comedy - Victory For The Comic Muse (2006)
- Jane Weaver - Love in Constant Spectacle (2024)
- Tristen - Unpopular Music (2025)
Thank you to those who have been here since the beginning, and have stuck around through my long absences. And welcome to anyone new – I hope you can make some sense of what you see here! Happy New Year to all!
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