reviews
The Black Album - Jay-Z (2003)
Kamala may be Brat, but Barack is forever Dirt Off My Shoulders.
-April 10, 2026
Tomorrow The Green Grass - The Jayhawks (1995)
Pretty solid, from Blue through to Ten Little Kids.
-April 10, 2026
Hollywood Town Hall - The Jayhawks (1992)
Minnesotan alt-country at its early 90s peak.
-April 10, 2026
Dry - Demos - PJ Harvey (2020)
Similar to the album Dry, but, these are demos. Still very good!
-April 10, 2026
Greatest Hits - Tommy James & The Shondells (1980)
Not so dissimilar from the best of, but Draggin’ The Line makes it worth it.
-April 10, 2026
The Best of Tommy James & The Shondells - Tommy James & The Shondells (1970)
Everything here is good.
-April 10, 2026
This Is…Icona Pop - Icona Pop (2013)
Charli XCX was a good get for this.
-March 31, 2026
Weaponry Listens To Love - Huggy Bear (1994)
Friends of Bikini Kill I think, this album does a decent job of being loud and saying the F word.
-March 31, 2026
Cracked Rear View - Hootie & The Blowfish (1994)
Should’ve listened to this more in 1994, at least in 1995, there was just too much going on.
-March 30, 2026
Greatest Hits - Buddy Holly (2012)
Lots of good songs in a small bit of time.
-March 30, 2026
Live Through This - Hole (1994)
Goes toe to toe with all the other giants of 1994.
-March 30, 2026
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (1998)
What more could you ask for?
-March 30, 2026
Live Highwaymen - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson (2018)
Well it’s live, and those are the Highwaymen, but “Live Highwaymen” manages to be a stretch nonetheless. Good songs though.
-March 30, 2026
Highwayman - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson (1985)
A few good ones, a few take or leave, and a minimum top 10 all time title track.
-March 30, 2026
Experience Hendrix - The Best of Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix (1997)
Never the wrong thing to listen to.
-March 30, 2026
Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Original Cast Recording) - Hedwig And The Angry Inch (1999)
This is a pretty great album throughout.
-March 29, 2026
Rid Of Me - PJ Harvey (1993)
Not a terrible way to follow Dry.
-March 29, 2026
Dry - PJ Harvey (1992)
As good as anything in 1992, and better than most everything. Except Automatic, but still.
-March 29, 2026
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (1970)
Exactly what an album should be.
-March 29, 2026
His Epic Hits The First 11 - To Be Continued - Merle Haggard (1984)
As handsome an album cover as you’re likely to find.
-March 29, 2026
Pancho & Lefty - Merle Haggard / Willie Nelson (1983)
Save a few for Lefty too.
-March 29, 2026
Spirit In The Sky - Norm Greenbaum (1969)
Best possible year to put out Spirit In The Sky, give him that.
-March 29, 2026
Brat - Charli XCX (2024)
I wouldn’t have associated it quite so heavily with Harris, but, worth a go I guess.
-March 22, 2026
Moping In Style: A Tribute To Adam Green - Various (2023)
Good cuts, though I would’ve put Jeffrey Lewis on the A side.
-March 22, 2026
Garfield - Adam Green (2002)
This is a good album and a good contributor to the anti-folk tradition, though it tastes a little bit like George W. Bush.
-March 22, 2026
Weird Tales - Golden Smog (1998)
Good follow up, though it also sounds like the late 90s.
-March 22, 2026
Down By The Old Mainstream - Golden Smog (1996)
This is great mid 90s alt-country.
-March 22, 2026
Omaha - Golden Palominos (1985)
Classic mid-80s Michael Stipe.
-March 22, 2026
Forgiveness - Girlpool (2022)
Bit of a departure from early Girlpool, but solid enough after a few listens.
-March 22, 2026
Before The World Was Big - Girlpool (2015)
Nice enough, esp. the title track.
-March 22, 2026
Girlpool - Girlpool (2014)
Slutmouth is as good a way as any to anchor a debut EP.
-March 22, 2026
Holy Soul & Jelly Roll - Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan & Friends (1987)
Voted Album of the Year in 2024, holds up just fine in 2026.
-March 15, 2026
New Miserable Experience - Gin Blossoms (1992)
Just right.
-March 15, 2026
Getting Killed - Geese (2025)
Ok this one’s pretty good.
-March 14, 2026
3D Country - Geese (2023)
Park Slope rock.
-March 14, 2026
Garbage - Garbage (1995)
In 1995, you could listen to the Foo Fighters, and then, you could listen to Garbage.
-March 14, 2026
Virgin Fugs - The Fugs (1967)
The Fugs knew what was up.
-March 14, 2026
Carryin’ On The Family Names - David Frizzell and Shelly West (1997)
You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma is a perfect duet.
-March 14, 2026
The Colour And The Shape - Foo Fighters (1997)
I should’ve bought this in 1997 rather than 2023, that’s on me.
-March 14, 2026
Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters (1995)
Is there anything the mid 90s couldn’t do?
-March 14, 2026
Live In London - Flight Of The Conchords (2019)
Good new songs, a bit banter-heavy for repeat listens.
-March 14, 2026
I Told You I Was Freaky - Flight Of The Conchords (2009)
Still one of the best Electronic/Hip Hop/Funk/Soul/Pop/Folk/World/Country albums.
-March 14, 2026
Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords (2008)
Business Time comes close, but nothing tops Robots.
-March 10, 2026
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Making some of their best music.
-March 10, 2026
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
The perfect album for when you’re looking at the results of the Puerto Rico primary between Clinton and Obama.
-March 10, 2026
Discovery - Electric Light Orchestra (1979)
Good showing for Otis - the Daft Punk reimagining of this album 22 years later is almost unrecognizable.
-March 10, 2026
Too True - Dum Dum Girls (2014)
Without doubt, the third official Dum Dum Girls album.
-March 10, 2026
I Will Be - Dum Dum Girls (2010)
A good album that ends well, and very believable that it came out during Obama’s first term.
-March 10, 2026
The Wanderer - 20 Greatest Hits - Dion (2015)
Good songs. Not just for old people!
-March 10, 2026
Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (1958)
Every rock album after this is more or less just a collection of Bo Diddley covers.
-March 10, 2026
I’ll Be Your Girl - The Decemberists (2018)
Everything Is Awful should hear what’s happened in the eight years since.
-March 8, 2026
Picaresque - The Decemberists (2005)
Mariner’s Revenge will always be a top tier road trip song.
-March 8, 2026
Nobody Loves You More - Kim Deal (2024)
A 2024 Album Of The Year contender, it still holds up in early 2026.
-March 8, 2026
Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys (1980)
Nostalgic for a time where Jerry Brown seemed like the worst case scenario.
-March 8, 2026
The Grey Album - Danger Mouse (2004)
This was a good thing to do.
-March 8, 2026
Discovery - Daft Punk (2001)
So this is what that LCD Soundsystem song is about.
-March 8, 2026
Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw (1982)
This is actually pretty good throughout, not just Cynical Girl, though that’s great. I didn’t realize this was happening in 1982.
-March 1, 2026
Chronicle - The 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1975)
Exactly right.
-March 1, 2026
At The Royal Albert Hall (April 14, 1970) - Creedence Clearwater Revival (2022)
Definitely a proper set of CCR songs.
-March 1, 2026
Strange Brew - The Very Best Of Cream - Cream (1983)
When you’re in the mood to listen to Cream, this is a good album to listen to.
-March 1, 2026
Best Before…1984 - Crass (1986)
Poetry, though my vibe is more towards the Jeffrey Lewis covers.
-March 1, 2026
Kerosene Hat - Cracker (1993)
Peak Cracker, probably. Back in the day of CD hidden tracks, harder to pull off on vinyl.
-February 28, 2026
Cracker - Cracker (1992)
Counterpoint to Elvis Costello, also valid. This is a pretty great 1992 album.
-February 28, 2026
Armed Forces - Elvis Costello (1979)
Good album. Smart for US version to add (WSFB)PLAU.
-February 28, 2026
The Best Of - Leonard Cohen (1975)
This one makes that Jeffrey Lewis song make sense.
-February 24, 2026
I Love Country - David Allen Coe (1986)
Good listen, but really we’re here for You Don’t Even Call Me By My Name.
-February 24, 2026
Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits - Patsy Cline (1967)
A bunch of all-timers here.
-February 23, 2026
The Clash - The Clash (1977)
Loud, if you turn it up enough.
-February 23, 2026
Greatest Hits - Petula Clark (1982)
Just like the song.
-February 22, 2026
Women’s Rights - Childbirth (2015)
There should be more like this.
-February 22, 2026
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)
Start to close, great album.
-February 22, 2026
The Essential Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash (2001)
28 songs, every one great.
-February 22, 2026
American III: Solitary Man - Johnny Cash (2000)
One of the best of the Rubin years.
-February 22, 2026
Greatest Hits Volume 1 - Johnny Cash (1967)
What you’d expect - 11 good ones.
-February 21, 2026
The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash (1964)
Good songs, though did Sun put this out to distract from Bitter Tears?
-February 21, 2026
Bitter Tears - Ballads Of The American Indian - Johnny Cash (1964)
The Johnny Cash album that a bunch of Johnny Cash fans don’t want to listen to. Ira Hayes the most well known, but As Long As The Grass Shall Grow is great too.
-February 21, 2026
New Roman Times - Camper Van Beethoven (2004)
Christian!
-February 21, 2026
Key Lime Pie - Camper Van Beethoven (1989)
A little dark somehow. But not many better intros than Pictures Of Matchstick Men.
-February 21, 2026
Eye Of Fatima / Turquoise Jewelry - Camper Van Beethoven (1988)
Definitely Camper Van Beethoven songs, each one.
-February 21, 2026
Drink The Sea - Le Poisson Rouge (20.2.2026)
Thus completes my own R.E.M. tour of 2025-26. And The One I Love! Good show.
-February 20, 2026
Tosca (Highlights) - Puccini, Maria Callas, Carlo Bergonzi, Tito Gobbi, Georges Prêtre (1966)
Like an old-timey rock opera, no real rock music though.
-February 16, 2026
Prolonging The Magic - Cake (1998)
Strong enough album to ease into post-Fashion Nugget Cake.
-February 16, 2026
Fashion Nugget - Cake (1996)
Excellent follow up. RIP Greg Brown.
-February 16, 2026
Rare Single Collection - Weezer
These are the good ones.
-February 16, 2026
Goat Punishment & Rare Tracks - Weezer
Not many Goat Punishment tracks committed to vinyl, afaik.
-February 16, 2026
SZNZ: Winter - Weezer (2022)
Unlike Songs From The Black Hole, a completed concept.
-February 16, 2026
SZNZ: Autumn - Weezer (2022)
What you’d figure.
-February 16, 2026
SZNZ: Summer - Weezer (2022)
Blue Like Jazz the standout here.
-February 16, 2026
SZNZ: Spring - Weezer (2022)
This one’s actually pretty delightful.
-February 15, 2026
Alone II: The Home Recordings Of Rivers Cuomo - Rivers Cuomo (2008)
A mournful, preferable Can’t Stop Partying.
-February 15, 2026
Alone: The Home Recordings Of Rivers Cuomo - Rivers Cuomo (2007)
Longtime Sunshine, and several other songs, but mostly Longtime Sunshine.
-February 15, 2026
Van Weezer - Weezer (2021)
Should pull in more Homie songs, like Autumn Jane, but Sheila’s pretty good too.
-February 15, 2026
OK Human - Weezer (2021)
4th decade Weezer.
-February 15, 2026
The Black Album - Weezer (2019)
Workmanlike Weezer album.
-February 15, 2026
The Teal Album - Weezer (2019)
Similar to other Weezer albums, this is another Weezer album.
-February 14, 2026
Pacific Daydream - Weezer (2017)
All of these albums should have come out in 2007.
-February 14, 2026
The White Album - Weezer (2016)
Fine, fine.
-February 14, 2026
Everything Will Be Alright In The End - Weezer (2014)
Back To The Shack starts getting us back to where we need to be.
-February 14, 2026
Death To False Metal - Weezer (2010)
I like I’m a Robot.
-February 14, 2026
Raditude - Weezer (2009)
By all accounts, another weezer album.
-February 14, 2026
The Red Album - Weezer (2008)
Powering through the aughts as best they could.
-February 14, 2026
Make Believe - Weezer (2005)
Make Believe is the apartment on 8th and 4th, which is worth it for that alone.
-February 14, 2026
Maladroit - Weezer (2002)
Green was transitional, but once you get to Maladroit, there’s no doubt you are in Aughts Weezer.
-February 14, 2026
The Green Album - Weezer (2001)
The longest 5 year wait in rock, then comes in at a tight 28m30s.
-February 14, 2026
Pinkerton - Weezer (1996)
It took some of us a minute, but, perfect follow up, supported by a perfect tour.
-February 14, 2026
The Blue Album - Weezer (1994)
Ten songs that are, and always will be, perfect. Happy Weezer Day.
-February 14, 2026
Singles Going Steady - Buzzcocks (1979)
Good band.
-February 14, 2026
The Bundles - The Bundles (2010)
This turns out to be a band with Jeffrey Lewis and Kimya Dawson, which explains why we have it.
-February 13, 2026
Built to Spill Plays The Songs Of Daniel Johnston - Built to Spill (2020)
One of 2025’s top albums, still good in 2026.
-February 13, 2026
Keep It Like A Secret - Built to Spill (1999)
Smart to have snuck this in before the 90s ended.
-February 13, 2026
Last Splash - The Breeders (1993)
Great albums have a reprise. This one has that, and many good songs.
-February 11, 2026
Pod - The Breeders (1990)
Kim Deal knows what she’s doing.
-February 11, 2026
Super Hits - The Box Tops (1968)
Solid collection, even beyond The Letter and Whiter Shade of Pale.
-February 5, 2026
Under The Covers (The Songs He Didn’t Write) - David Bowie (2020)
A recitation of the Lord’s Prayer stretches the definition of a cover, otherwise, some good ones here.
-February 5, 2026
Legacy - David Bowie (2017)
This album is essentially just a bunch of good David Bowie songs.
-February 5, 2026
Nothing But The Blues - Various Artists (1971)
Exactly as described.
-February 1, 2026
Family Affair - Mary J. Blige (2001)
Peculiar album, starts strong with the title track, though then has three more versions of the same - instrumental, lp version and acappella - and then ends there. Still a banger.
-February 1, 2026
My War - Black Flag (1984)
One of the best albums to listen to when you’re in the mood to listen to Black Flag, and this album in particular.
-February 1, 2026
Homogenic - Bjork (1997)
You can always tell when an album is by Bjork.
-February 1, 2026
Parklife - Blur (1994)
Is there anything that 1994 couldn’t do?
-January 31, 2026
Changes - Ryan Adams (2025)
Everything sounds better, or sometimes worse but still pretty good, when Ryan Adams does it.
-January 31, 2026
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah - Bikini Kill (2014)
Nice enough. They should try an unplugged like Joan Jett did.
-January 31, 2026
The Singles - Bikini Kill (1998)
All nine are great.
-January 31, 2026
Reject All American - Bikini Kill (1996)
R.I.P. is great. Things sounded better in the 90s.
-January 31, 2026
Pussy Whipped - Bikini Kill (1993)
Loud and pretty good.
-January 31, 2026
Bikini Kill - Bikini Kill (1992)
More or less RGSN, but all good.
-January 25, 2026
Revolution Girl Style Now - Bikini Kill (1991)
Pretty good start.
-January 25, 2026
#1 Record - Big Star (1972)
Essential.
-January 25, 2026
Songs About Fucking - Big Black (1987)
Loud.
-January 25, 2026
Emo Night - Brooklyn Paramount (25.1.2026)
A bit less live music than anticipated, but CARR playing tatu was the highlight, and never bad to hear killers or outkast.
-January 25, 2026
Cowboy Carter - Beyonce (2024)
This one’s pretty solid.
-January 23, 2026
Renaissance - Beyonce (2022)
I mean it’s no Lemonade, but god bless if it’s your cup of tea.
-January 23, 2026
Lemonade - Beyonce (2016)
Good album, sounds like her husband’s a real piece of work though.
-January 19, 2026
The Three E.P.’s - The Beta Band (2018)
Never turn down a rec from John Cusack.
-January 19, 2026
The Great Twenty-Eight - Chuck Berry (1984)
I don’t have 28 great anything, and here Chuck Berry has 28 great rock songs.
-January 19, 2026
Chuck Berry’s Golden Decade - Chuck Berry (1967)
Hard to imagine how good this must have felt to the right people at the right time.
-January 19, 2026
Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Belle And Sebastian (2003)
Good post-Sinister album.
-January 19, 2026
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Le Poisson Rouge (18.1.2026)
Good show! A tidal wave.
-January 18, 2026
The Boy With The Arab Strap - Belle And Sebastian (1998)
Somewhere, somebody’s two favorite songs are Seymour Stein and Wendell Gee. Summer Wasting the standout here.
-January 18, 2026
Tigermilk - Belle And Sebastian (1996)
Like If You’re Feeling Sinister, but slightly different.
-January 18, 2026
Marty Supreme - Josh Safdie (2025)
Largely about ping pong, but good enough otherwise. Enjoyed with a Dream Big at Nitehawk.
-January 18, 2026
If You’re Feeling Sinister - Belle And Sebastian (1996)
Recorded a bit too quiet, like Motorcade of Generosity, but all the songs are very good.
-January 17, 2026
Rock N Roll - Ryan Adams (2003)
One gets the impression that he wrote and recorded it in real time.
-January 17, 2026
Licensed to Ill - Beastie Boys (1986)
Never a mistake to listen to Licensed to Ill.
-January 16, 2026
Odelay - Beck (1996)
This is all you needed in 1996.
-January 17, 2026
One Foot In The Grave - Beck (1994)
A rare find if you can get it, Asshole and Girl Of My Dreams are great.
-January 16, 2026
Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)
What an album, do other people know about this?
-January 12, 2026
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles (1967)
A pretty solid album overall.
-January 12, 2026
Rubber Soul - The Beatles (1965)
A whimsical, jaunty ode to domestic violence, and 13 other songs.
-January 12, 2026
Smile - The Beach Boys (2011)
One of the finest uses of the Electro-Theremin to date.
-January 12, 2026
Feel Flows (The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions • 1969 - 1971) - The Beach Boys (2021)
Some good songs in this, among others.
-January 11, 2026
The Beach Boys Rarities - The Beach Boys (1983)
This has some very good Beach Boys songs, and the Beach Boys covering some very good songs; and, a rendition of The Lord’s Prayer.
-January 11, 2026
20 Grossten Hits - The Beach Boys (1977)
Confirmed, these are the grossten.
-January 11, 2026
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (1966)
Top quality pet sounds, and several good songs.
-January 10, 2026
Brandenburgische Konzerte Nr 1-3 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1959)
Another instrumental album from Bach, all good though.
-January 10, 2026
AM - Arctic Monkeys (2013)
This one comes and goes as it pleases.
-January 10, 2026
Lost Highway - David Lynch (1997)
We’ll need to sit with it, but early contender for 2026 Movie of the Year.
-January 10, 2026
Icky Mettle - Archers of Loaf (1993)
Strange that we missed this in ‘93; we started paying more attention in ‘94.
-January 10, 2026
The Suburbs - Arcade Fire (2010)
Peak Arcade Fire, as far as I know.
-January 10, 2026
Funeral - Arcade Fire (2004)
Simpler, better times.
-January 9, 2026
Pan’s Labyrinth - Guillermo del Toro (2006)
Brilliant, unexpected sequel, creating a new story and setting it in 20th century Spain. Second installment of the Labyrinth Trilogy.
-January 7, 2026
Travellers In Space And Time - The Apples in Stereo (2010)
As much as I’d like another Discovery or Wonder, I’d be happy enough with another Travellers In Space and Time.
-January 5, 2026
Electronic Projects For Musicians - The Apples in Stereo (2008)
All proper bands eventually make a theme song for themselves. See also Wilco (the song), Heartbreaker’s Beach Party, and I guess This is Cracker Soul.
-January 5, 2026
New Magnetic Wonder - The Apples in Stereo (2007)
Tail end of a great aughts-run for the Apples.
-January 5, 2026
The Discovery Of A World Inside The Moone - The Apples in Stereo (2000)
Peak Apples.
-January 4, 2026
Her Wallpaper Reverie - The Apples in Stereo (1999)
Perfectly good Sunday morning album. Best song about Y2K. Benefits of Lying (With Your Friend) has stuck with me 25 years now.
-January 4, 2026
Tone Soul Evolution - The Apples in Stereo (1997)
Starts strong, ends strong, probably strong in the middle too but that part always gets lost in the dream.
-January 4, 2026
Science Faire - The Apples in Stereo (1996)
Compilation of the first two EPs, plenty of good here, though Time For Bed / I Know You’ll Do Well is probably the best.
-January 3, 2026
Tracking the Hits - The Animals (1965)
A good greatest hits collection, which we don’t listen to much because we forget we have it.
-January 3, 2026
Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free - Akron/Family (2009)
Plenty of bright spots, but none more so than River.
-January 3, 2026
1989 - Ryan Adams (2015)
Still one of the best albums called 1989 and featuring songs written by Taylor Swift.
-January 2, 2026
Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams and The Cardinals (2007)
There’s always new songs to sing - particularly true of mid-aughts Ryan Adams.
-January 2, 2026
Cold Roses - Ryan Adams and The Cardinals (2005)
All the best genres are either alt-something or anti-something else. Anyway, great alt-country album.
-January 2, 2006
Love Is Hell - Ryan Adams (2004)
Hard to find in northern Kazakhstan when it was first released as EPs, fortunately more attainable now, nothing wrong with this album.
-January 2, 2026
Cloverfield - Matt Reeves (2008)
Still one of the best Cloverfields.
-January 1, 2026
Demolition - Ryan Adams (2002)
Solid album even if it’s not Heartbreaker, strong early-aughts run.
-January 1, 2026
Gold - Ryan Adams (2001)
Salad days for Ryan Adams and songs about New York.
-January 1, 2026
Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams (2000)
Sounds like he was going through some stuff, but, good album.
-January 1, 2026
Reviver - Abe Vigoda (2009)
Good, mostly for Wild Heart. 45 RPM though, fyi.
-January 1, 2026
Top Ten Concerts of 2025
10. Modest Mouse / Built to Spill - Brooklyn Paramount (21.10.25)
We should have prepared for this more, but two good bands in a good venue, not much tops that, except for exactly nine other shows.
9. People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith - Carnegie Hall (26.3.25)
Not grimy enough, but good performances from Bruce Springsteen, Karen O, Kim Gordon, Michael Stipe etc etc etc.
8. Howl Owl Howl - Webster Hall (11.11.25)
They seemed like they were having a great time, and was not expecting a live Losing My Religion in 2025.
7. Jeff Tweedy - Brooklyn Steel (22.10.25)
Fully non-Wilco, but fortunately Twilight Override is pretty good so this was a good show.
6. Kim Deal - Brooklyn Paramount (13.3.25)
A hint of Breeders, but mostly her new album, which is great because it’s a good album.
5. Kevin Barnes - Night Club 101 (24.11.25)
Tiny, cramped venue, playing some soon-to-be released Of Montreal songs and some classics, this was great.
4. Nerf Herder - The Meadows (13.4.25)
Delightfully played We Opened For Weezer, along with Nosering Girl, Van Halen, and the theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And Raining Tacos because apparently he does kids’ music too.
3. Outlaw Music Fest - Jones Beach Theatre (1.8.25)
Wilco, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, a decent-enough lineup.
2. Jeffrey Lewis - Union Pool (23.7.25)
This was a pretty perfect little show.
1. Patti Smith - Beacon Theater (22.11.25)
Celebrating the 50th anniversary release of Horses, plus some Television covers and a Michael Stipe guest spot in the encore, plus a My Generation that seemed to surprise everyone, best show of 2025.
-Dec 29, 2025
Top Ten Movies of 2025
10. 28 Years Later - Danny Boyle (2025)
Reasonable enough follow up. Assume we’ll see the bone temple or whatever too next year.
9. Running Man - Edgar Wright (2025)
It’s been 24 years, they should have stuck with the original ending. Still, an endearing coming of age tale set in a dystopia that fortunately feels at least several months away.
8. Naked Gun - Akiva Shaffer (2025)
A 90 minute comedy with theatrical release.
7. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - Rian Johnson (2025)
A good mystery, though no real menu tie in at Nitehawk.
6. Eraserhead - David Lynch (1977)
Pixel perfect depiction of fatherhood, also led to a good Pixies song, easily the 6th best movie of 2025.
5. Pieces of April - Peter Hedges (2003)
The reason why we listen to nothing but the Magnetic Fields over Thanksgiving weekend.
4. Weapons - Zach Cregger (2025)
Fucked up little kids.
3. Eddington - Ari Aster (2025)
Enjoyed with a Gunther’s Pistol Palace at Nitehawk. This is a good movie, a proper movie.
2. One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson (2025)
Similar palette as Eddington, and like Eddington, a good, proper movie.
1. Smokey and the Bandit - Hal Needham (1977)
Far and away the best movie of 2025 is 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit. The boys are thirsty in Atlanta, and there’s beer in Texarkana; as clear and necessary a plot as there’s ever been.
-Dec 27, 2025
Top Ten Albums of 2025
10. Outside Society - Patti Smith (2017)
Still outside, though not alone there at least, especially at the Carnegie Hall tribute concert and the 50th anniversary of Horses shows we saw this year. This album narrowly edges out Marquee Moon for the 10th spot, an album that was also well represented at the Horses show. Absolutely killer Smells Like Teen Spirit on this one.
9. Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston - Built to Spill (2020)
Because someone has to, post-2019. Not the more familiar songs on this album, but solid, and we saw Built to Spill at the Brooklyn Paramount in October, and they didn't play these songs, but they played other songs that were nice enough, which they presumably had written themselves.
8. dBpm 15 - Wilco / Jeff Tweedy / Daniel Johnston (2025)
Daniel Johnston is owning this list so far, the Kim Deal of 2025, though Kim Deal is also on this list later on, so really Kim Deal is the Kim Deal of 2025. Nevertheless, this album suffers a bit from the relative scarcity of Daniel Johnston, only including the one song, but does manage to compensate with Nick Lowe and Sleater-Kinney covers, plus a new addition to the Christmas playlist. dBpm 15 narrowly edged out Twilight Override for the Jeff Tweedy spot on the list; he will, however, show up twice on an end of year ranking of the best shows we saw, because we saw him twice.
7. Collected R.E.M. Fanclub Singles - R.E.M. (1988 - 2011)
Technically less of an album and more of a collection of FLAC and mp3 files we recently found online, this nevertheless managed to overcome that obstacle, along with being between 14 and 37 years old, to be the 7th best album of 2025. The 80s/90s songs are the strongest, with Christmas covers and a few others like I Will Survive and Summertime, and we had at least a few of these, like the Only In America 45, as well as Live for Today, E-bow the Letter on VHS and Country Feedback on CD, though our fan club membership seems to have lapsed after that. Still, along with Weezer, a peak 90s fan club experience. A hard act to catch in 2025, though we saw 2/3 (or, 2/4) of them this year - Mike Mills at Howl Owl Howl, and Michael Stipe both times with Patti Smith. Will look for Drink the Sea next year.
6. Pieces of April - Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack - Stephen Merritt (2003)
Frustratingly unavailable on vinyl, the judges should be commended for overlooking that flaw to correctly give this the 6th best album of 2025 slot, which coincidentally, features two songs from the 6ths. One April Day is the standout. Also a contender for the Best Movies of 2025 list, essentially the Elf of Thanksgiving.
5. Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams (2025)
Another album that was actually released this year, Ego Death make the 5 spot largely on the strength of having many songs that are good. Among those is Discovery Channel, which reminds us of deadlines at The Old Gold and Black, but is not in fact a cover of the Bloodhound Gang song, rather an homage of sorts. We don’t know if she made a video of that song, but if she has, it is likely less ***problematic*** then the Bloodhound Gang’s.
4. At The BBC - Pixies (1998)
Thus not only do the Pixies make the list for the second year in a row, but Kim Deal continues to hold down the 4 spot. This album, strong throughout, was catapulted into the top 5 on the strength of affection for David Lynch, which also makes this the second best album / best movie crossover. But all the other songs are good too. We missed them this year but will likely catch the next tour.
3. Rockingham - Nerf Herder (2016)
Much of this is standard Nerf Herder fare, from The Girl Who Listened to Rush to Ghostbusters III, which in retrospect is less prescient than it likely would have seemed at the time. But We Opened for Weezer, describing in very literal detail their 1997 tour as well as the very Flood Zone show where a kid rushed the stage, which was the fourth show we ever saw, makes this 2016 album a top three album for 2025. And they seemed to be having a fun time when we saw them at a bar in Williamsburg this spring. Nerdcore heaven in ‘97!
2. Pontiac - Lyle Lovett (1988)
Another album that makes the list on the strength of being a very good album with many good songs. As good as non-Highwayman country can be.
1. The Even More Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis - Jeffrey Lewis (2025)
An excellent 2025 album from start to finish, covering fathers dying young, self-medication, girlfriends falling asleep too early and the importance of never being yourself. Jeffrey Lewis has plenty of great songs but this is easily his best album, and he put on a good show this summer in the back room of a bar in Williamsburg. Only downside to this one is my daughter gets angry during Sometimes Life Hits You because we shouldn’t be listening to music with bad words in it, but, Jeffrey Lewis knows what he is doing, so we make the exception.
-Dec 26, 2025