2025: Live / Evil
The title comes from the album that closes out this year's collection. At some point, I thought about making this an all-live-recordings year or something like that. But what really matters is that I listened to a tremendous amount of music this year. I even created a website to catalog over 20 years of music listening and commentary.
This year's collection benefited from recommendations and connections both new and old. Special thanks to Dave Nadig, Matt Zeigler, Matt Owen, Neil Donnelly, Jim Fennell, Andrew Moore, Stella & Fiona, and many others. Please keep those recommendations coming.
PIMP
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band | 55
The real star of Anatomy of a Fall wasn't the courtroom tension—it was this song. This mysterious German steel band keeps their identities secret but delivers something unexpected.
Yesterday
Swim Mountain| Swim Mountain
A reliable pick-me-up that's graced several of my playlists over the years.
30 For 30
SZA (featuring Kendrick Lamar) | SOS Deluxe LANA
Fiona and Stella have this on constant rotation. I am mixed on it, there parts I really like and parts I really don’t.
Ferry Lady
Panda Bear | Ferry Lady
From Dave Nadig's playlist, featuring the former Animal Collective member. Dave was one of my main sources for new music, in-depth ETF coverage and tips on how to center yourself in 2025. Thank you.
Hideaway
Mallrat | Light hit my face like a straight right
Direct from Brisbane, Australia, and again courtesy of Dave Nadig's playlist. I have been impressed with everything I have heard from this lady so far.
Documents
Slick Rick, NAS | Victory
This was the definitive song of the summer and for my money the song of the year. Hat tip to Matt Owen for pointing me in this direction.
NA NA Song
The Jon Johns | Road Trip Mixtape
The first two episodes and this song were the best things from the show, The Studio. I really enjoyed episode 2 with Sarah Polly and the messed up one shot.
Sick Dogs
hey nothing | Sick Dogs
Yet another gem from the Dave Nadig playlist, and a link to his info so you can check him out for yourself.
Deck Wine
Marietta | Summer Death
This is Stella’s emo pick of the year, and I have to say I am impressed. We listened to seminal emo band, Indian Summer in the car on the way to school, it was quite a musical bonding moment.
In A Bubble
Chalart58, Matah | Geometric Dub
This song immediately grabbed me and makes for a perfect soundtrack on the Crypto/AI/Stock Market everything bubble. I love all of the in-depth research, “We have to do this, because we have to…”
The City
Dismemberment Plan | Emergency & I
An oldie but goodie, recommended by a late music friend, Andrew Moore, who I miss.
Cosmic Cowboy, Pt. 1
Michael Martin Murphey | Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir
Another Matt recommendation, he discovered this on a THC Beverage store playlist down in Austin. The song has grown on me significantly; I'm sure you'll find yourself belting out the chorus eventually.
Not So Sorry Now Are You?
Yesness | See You at the Solipsist Convention
A collaboration between Don Caballero's Damon Che and El Ten Eleven that blends the familiar Don Cab sound with something fresh. The project name is perfect.
HIGHEST In The Room
Travis Scott | Highest In The Room
A song that Fiona and I blast as we go from place to place. It's also a microcosm of a trend Neil and I laughed about way back in college: codeine-inspired hip-hop from the Houston area, where records are played at half speed (you’d get it if you took lots of codeine). Neil and I have always shared a fascination with niche music scenes. Fast forward a couple of decades and you get Travis Scott. Fiona and I are also big fans of his song FEIN.
Burns Out At Midnight
Waxahatchee | Tiger’s Blood
From the get-go, I was intrigued by this band. Over the course of the year, Tiger's Blood became my most-listened album, and I could have picked three or four songs from it. In addition to being awesome, they have a whole network of artists in their orbit who now populate this list and the Inflatable album. I'll be on the lookout for more in 2026, starting with SnoCaps.
Inference (I)
Fog Lake | Inference 3
One of my atmosphere songs of the year here.
You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In
MJ Lenderman | Manning Fireworks
I discovered Lenderman through Waxahatchee, this one is solid.
Summer Spent
Ricewine | Summer Spent
The second atmosphere song of the year, that almost made the Inflatable album, but between the lyrics and other time considerations it got cut. Maybe you won’t even consider it an atmosphere song at all.
Rides Through The Morning
Michael Nau | Rides Through the Morning
This song is a surprise hit for the whole family and manages to stay on during car rides, etc. I have been impressed by Michael Nau and all of his collaborations, more to come on that front.
Anything Else
Vamonos | Stainless Steele: UNO
The last recording of Andy Moore’s band, Vamonos! Which I found thanks to Jim Fennell. I wish I could get his feedback on what should be here and hear his take on how much reggae is just all the same song. I am glad that he has helped push me to document more of this, it has led to some unexpected positive places.
What I Say
Miles Davis | Live - Evil
Miles experimental phase has always been a musically fascination of mine. The girls have put up with 5 to 6 minutes of this before hitting the next song button on the car.
My seemingly endless fascination with music continues. Hope you enjoy a few tunes. Please send me your own favorite tracks in the new year. Thank you!