Favorite Albums of 2025

An early look at my favorite albums of the year.   I haven't got around to some of the big pop albums of the year yet like Addison Rae, Rosalia, and FKA Twigs.  

Out of these artists, I saw Pulp, Japanese Breakfast, Greg Freeman, and Haim in concert this year.  

1.  Pulp- More

2.  Japanese Breakfast- For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women)

3.  Greg Freeman- Burnover

4.  The Sharp Pins- Radio DDR

5.  Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band- New Threats From The Soul

6.  Alex G- Headlights

7.  Neko Case- Neon Grey Midnight Green

8.  Geese- Getting Killed

9.  Cameron Winter- Heavy Metal

10.  Stereolab- Instant Holograms on Metal Film

11.  Bon Iver: Sable, Fable

12.  Destroyer: Dan's Boogie

13.  Haim: I Quit

14. Panda Bear: Sinister Grift

15.  Cass McCombs: Interior Live Oak

16: Lifeguard: Ripped and Torn

 17.  Mac DeMarco: Guitar

18. Big Thief: Double Infinity

19.  Jeff Tweedy: Twilight Override

20.  Nourished By Time: The Passionate Ones

It has been a while since Robyn released new music.

What do you know.  Greg Freeman, who I saw this past weekend, released a new video.  

 Over 20 years ago I bought an album, maybe based on the fact that it looked interesting or something.  I likely was the only kid in my high school and maybe even in my town who listened to this album (sometimes I feel that way with a lot of the stuff I'm into), but I soon became hooked on Grandaddy's Sumday.  I remember sitting in Physics class while popular kids did whatever they did and I just listened to Grandaddy.  

Over twenty years later,  I finally managed to get to see them live.  Upon arriving at the show, I found out that I am not the only one who went solo, and that the community of fans for this band is just stunning, as the show sold out.  We joked about how people just shrug their shoulders when you mention this band, and our only friends that listen to them are someone we haven't talked to for fifteen years or so.  

Not only that, I worked myself through a phobia that I had developed in my thirties that involved driving/going into the city by myself, especially at night.  I drove solo to the venue and went to the event by myself.  Some phobias are just so difficult get past, no matter what you do. I nearly cried on my way home because to somehow work myself though that is really an accomplishment for me because panic attacks and anxiety is often like paralysis for those of us who suffer from that.  .  

That being said, I love this band more than ever.  As an adult, I see where Grandaddy truly stands as amongst the greatest indie rock has to offer, whether people know them or not (they don't seem to care about that and the fans know the truth).  

I got to hear the entirety of "The Sophtware Slump" played through, as well as selections from other albums.  Not to mention up and coming rocker Greg Freeman, who I plan to keep listening to more, opened the show.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/grandaddy/2025/union-transfer-philadelphia-pa-4b466b16.html

 I find it a bit strange that people in my life who are supposed to care about my well-being just don't care. They verbally and emotionally abuse, they ignore, they make you feel stupid, they hang up.  It's strange to say the least.  

Sharp Pins made one of the best albums of 2025, and now they are releasing another.  

I'm a big Bob Mould and Husker Du guy, so I'm excited about the prospect of a new Sugar album.

 Just got back from an incredibly life-affirming David Byrne concert.  My second time seeing him but first since 2009, when I first started as a music journalist for Popmatters back when I was doing that.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/david-byrne/2025/metropolitan-opera-house-philadelphia-pa-6344d67f.html

 https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/my-morning-jacket/2025/metropolitan-opera-house-philadelphia-pa-b5b291a.html

I did, in fact, make it back home from the My Morning Jacket concert in Philadelphia, the second of two nights.  

I've been listening to them for over twenty years, so it was great to finally get to see them.  I was treated to quite a few favorites, including "One Big Holiday," "Off the Record," "Wordless Chorus," "Evil Urges," and "Anytime."

It's Rosh Hashanah.  It's been a joyful holiday most of my life.  These days it is hard to be joyful, as trying to be Jewish, for me, includes a constant fight against anti semitism and misinformation that has spread like wildfire around the world, starting on October 8, 2023.  I can sit back and try to not react to it, but then I feel like I wouldn't be doing my part, or even standing up for myself, my friends, and my family.  

The way much of the world seems to think now is that terrorist attacks are a valid means to country-hood, and that is not only wrong but it is dangerous. 

Hamas's goal, in part, was to turn the world against Israel and jews world-wide, and to use their propaganda machine to paint Israel and their extremely strong army as the aggressors.  The October 7 attacks that started the war did nothing but lead to mass destruction for Palestinians, and derailed so much of the progress towards peaceful solutions for Israelis and Palestinians.  When the world supports the so-called "resistance," it is not just bad for Palestinians, but it is a sign of complete moral bankruptcy.  The same goes for those who decide to shame others for staying neutral or silent about their opinions on Israel's war.  The fact that those who don't speak up are somehow complicit in the so-called genocide is completely wrong.  

It's still true.  If Israel put down their weapons, there is no more Israel.  If Hamas disbands and ends, there is no more war.  

 I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I witnessed Bob Dylan play a show last night.

Willie Nelson also came across as the sweetest man I have ever witnessed, other than my grandpa, possibly.  

Not to mention Sheryl Crow and Waxahatchee also fit into the whole aesthetic of the Outlaw Music Festival.

The whole vibe of the event was actually great, strangely not over-congested and very mellow.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bob-dylan/2025/freedom-mortgage-pavilion-camden-nj-435adf5b.html

I just got back from seeing Pulp.  What a privilege to see them reunited and touring for the first time in twenty four years.  It was epic as expected and maybe a top 20-25 ever concert for me.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/pulp/2025/metropolitan-opera-house-philadelphia-pa-5346a329.html

https://xpn.org/2025/09/11/pulp-the-met-philly/

 

 I managed to get out to something pretty much for the first time since a pinched nerve on my left side derailed the majority of my summer.  I went to the Haim concert at the Mann Center.  They were touring behind their new album, "I Quit," and the stage set up and everything going on in the background reflected that theme with lists of goofy and serious things that they quit.  It was particularly saucy of them to have their sign flash "I QUIT CLOTHES" during the song "All Over Me."  I think it is likely that they enjoy being the subject of many a man's fantasies, though they did announce that Este got engaged.  

A lot has been talked about regarding how an all Jewish-girl band has with an Israeli dad has remained silent on Israel/Palestine.  Glad it stayed that way last night.  They were just there to have fun and play great songs.  

I think they had at least two more songs in them, but it was storming, so they ended the encore a bit short, without playing "Now I'm In It" and "Down to Be Wrong."  Still, I enjoyed the mix of old and new material.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/haim/2025/td-pavilion-at-the-mann-philadelphia-pa-1b46cd1c.html

 I went to another free show, this one featuring a Talking Heads cover band called "Start Making Sense."  it occurred to me that cover bands are underrated.  Where else can you go to hear all your favorite songs from a band that broke up a while ago?

In this case, we got a whole bunch of my favorites!

Setlist

share setlist  

 

1. Psycho Killer
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
2. Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
3. Slippery People
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
4. And She Was
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
5. Making Flippy Floppy
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
6. Wild Wild Life
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
7. Cities
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
8. Life During Wartime
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
9. Swamp
   (Talking Heads cover)
   Play Video
10. Road to Nowhere
    (Talking Heads cover)
    Play Video
11. What a Day That Was
    (David Byrne cover)
    Play Video
12. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
    (Talking Heads cover)
    Play Video
13. Once in a Lifetime
    (Talking Heads cover)
    Play Video
14. Burning Down the House
    (Talking Heads cover)
    Play Video
15. Girlfriend Is Better
    (Talking Heads cover)
    Play Video
16. Take Me to the River
    (Al Green cover)
    Play Video
17. Crosseyed and Painless
    (Talking Heads cover)

 I just got back from a free Low Cut Connie show in Haddon Heights, which featured fellow Cherry Hill East graduate Adam Weiner.  Highlights included covers of the Spinners' "I'll Be Around," and Prince's "Controversy."  The guy is just so agile, somehow playing the piano while doing all kinds of acrobatics and playing the piano with his mic stand.  

Alex G has made a string of great albums, and is readying another.  

Very underrated new my morning jacket album is out right now.  I'm seeing them in October.  

 Rest in peace Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim.  Shot in the name of the free Palestine movement for being Jewish.  If this doesn't convince someone what the "free palestine" movement is all about, I don't know what will.  

 I just got back from Japanese Breakfast's last stop on their tour, in their hometown Philly, the second of two nights.  It exceeded my expectations in that they just sounded bigger, grander, and more textured live.  They didn't do the cover of Donna Lewis's "I Love You Always Forever" that I really hoped for, but it still was a solid show.

setlist

 I made it out to the Herb Alpert and Lani Hall show last night, and it was an absolute delight.  It seems like my dad's generation was happier, most likely because of no social media and music like this.  I was particularly thrilled to hear him do "Mas Que Nada" with Lani Hall, as well as "Rise," which I realized is sampled by Notorious B.I.G. on the song "Hypnotize".

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/herb-alpert-and-the-tijuana-brass/2025/miller-theater-philadelphia-pa-1346b111.html

 

I've been listening to pavement for a while, apparently they're still making late night appearances and there is a movie coming out about them.

 I made the trek by train and foot to see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds last night.  I've spent time in recent years immersing myself in his very large body of music, so I am happy that I got to witness this tour.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds/2025/metropolitan-opera-house-philadelphia-pa-33526cc1.html

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