2025: Recognizing Great Music Outside of an Orange haze

Many of us are caught up either worrying about the world, or just juggling our world.



See? Well, ok my juggling is a bucket list work in progress 


Though there was lots of good stuff for '25 in Lipshultz-ville, I'm just not feelin' it to write about anything other than music. I'm always down to really catch up, though. Here's a link to get us time if you want


For now, let's just take a minute to appreciate when music has just the right trajectory to lift us up. Let's just get to


My Favorite Music I Listened To in 2025

Even if it didn't all come out in '25 (see below for more detail)




Favorite Albums


13 - Miya Frolik - Erotica Veronica


Saw her at the Bottle Rock Festival in Napa and was shocked how much she sounded like Natalie Merchant live as her studio stuff - while amazing - does not


12 - HAIM - I quit


11 - Rainbow Kitten Surprise - bones


10 - Bon Iver - SABLE, fABLE


9 -  Ethel Cain - Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You


8 - PeteyUSA - The Yips


If you can ever see Petey live, DO IT! Caught him again - this time w/oldest Zack - and WHOA


7 - Wet Leg - Moisturizer


6 - Della XOZ - Permanent Retrograde (EP)


5 -  Briston Maroney - Jimmy


What a great live show too. Zack took me earlier this year :)


4 - Peter McPoland - Friend (from 2024) and a couple songs off 2025's Big Lucky


3 - Lowswimmer - Godspeed, Fantasy


2 - Bad Nerves -  Still Nervous 


From '24 but I discovered this retro low-fi punk-ish gem of a group at '25's Bottle Rock Fest)


1 - Majuro - Loops


I think I can be objective, but this was not my #1 because he used to live down the street from us and went to school with my kids and his mother is someone we keep in touch with. It was because ANY time one of the tracks from this instrumental wow (for lack of better way to describe it) comes on I never skip it. 


But, with each track name just essentially a number - e.g. Loop 8 - I never remember which one is which. 


Now, where I can't be objective is my kids music, which I purposely keep out of the rankings (but not out of my playlist, you have to check 'em out) as they are always my #1 favorite every year and there may be cries of nepotism :)


Best Single

"Molly" - 209 Northwood, Atticus Walker 


Discovery

Dijon's "Many Times" from 2021. Dug him for a while but hadn't caught this one before


Annual "Mmmbop" Guilty Pleasure

DAISES - Bieber…but Mk.gee and Dijon were some of the producers, so does that count as a guilty pleasure?


Closing Time

I have tried to evaluate the/my world and what I can change (short and long term), what I cannot, what to do about either of those. THEN, thought about what will I actually prioritize to do and what I will have to live with myself for not doing


I do my share of volunteering, protesting, donating and yes I know there is a hell of a lot more I can do


For now I’ll just use the power of manifesting and as we bring this year end wrap up to a close, I’ll tempt fate by referencing my Best Cover of The Year and dedicating it to both the negatives in our lives and to ‘someone special’ (often one in the same)





Here's hoping for better times to come around in 2026

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