European Sun - School Report

What better way to send off 2025 than with a 17-minute single from European Sun's upcoming new album "When Britain Was Great". You can get this epic track as a bonus CD if you order a physical copy of the album! FUN!
The track follows a day in the life as he discovers former school reports from his childhood. Listening to his teachers' remarks certainly makes me glad I didn't go to school in England! The chorus makes me shimmy every time it hits!
"When Britain Was Great" will be released on Jan 23rd!

My Album of the Year 2025: Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires - Sounds Made by Humans

Of course I knew The Catenary Wires (the ever prolific duo of Amelia Fletcher & Rob Pursey), but had no idea who poet Brian Bilston was when this collaboration was announced.  Well now I do, and I love him too!  The three came together to create "Sounds Made by Humans", a collection of song poems that has won the most prestigious title of the 16h "Ooberus Oblivious Album of the Year"!!

When it was announced, I had a feeling I was going to quite enjoy the album. I used to write a lot of poetry years ago; performed in a couple poetry slams and even won one! And what are your standard song lyrics but poetry w/ a chorus! There's plenty to relate to on this album as well, as a middle-aged human. Tons that makes me chuckle and a few moments of deep emotion.

Favorite tracks include opener & lead single "Alexa, What Is There to Know About Love?" featuring AI's answers to a few of life's most philosophical questions. The jangly pop perfection of "Might Have, Might Not Have". My favorite track "To Do List", with it's most infectious doo-doo-doo chorus lead-up makes me wiggle with joy every time! "Compilation Cassette", the extremely relatable tale for any music lover who has labored so much over the perfect compilation of tunes only to never know how the receiving party felt about, or if they even listened to, your labor of love! "31 Rules of Midlife Rebellion" is a song about lists that tell you not to listen to songs about lists, but there are quite a few great rules to follow like "ignoring your Fitbit" and "listen to the radio while eating TV dinners" and especially "never wear Ramones t-shirts"! Love it! "She'd Dance" is an absolute stunner of a track, bringing a bit of melancholy to the mix.

 
The Catenary Wires are the perfect backing band for such a project. Their music and melodies blend seamlessly with Bilston's poems and each lift the other to greatness. I'm hoping there may be more collaborating between these folks in the future! And even if they don't, we'll always have this album to cherish.

My Favorite Albums of 2025 - Part 3

2. Saint Etienne - International

3. Ora the Molecule - Dance Therapy

4. MARINA - Princess of Power

5. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop

My Favorite Albums of 2025 - Part 2

6. Sally Shapiro - Ready to Live a Lie

7. The Hidden Cameras - Bronto

8. Alison Goldfrapp - Flux

9. Celeste - Woman of Faces

10. Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film

11. Jens Lekman - Songs for Other People's Weddings

12. Jenny Hval - Iris Silver Mist

13. Ivy - Traces of You

14. Lightheaded - Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming!

15. The Tear Garden - Astral Elevator

My Favorite Albums of 2025 - Part 1

16. Charlie Hilton - River of Valentines

17. Lake Ruth - Hawking Radiation

 

18. Pulp - More

19. Suede - Antidepressants

20. Miki Berenyi Trio - Tripla

21. Allie X - Happiness Is Going to Get You

 

22. The Dears - Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!

 

23. Austra - Chin Up Buttercup

 

24. Brideshead - You Are the Light

25. Lily Allen - West End Girl

Ladytron - Caught in the Blink of an Eye

Ladytron is dropping a post-Xmas gift with their latest single from upcoming "Paradises", out March 20th!

Chilly Gonzales - Xmas Kiss (feat. Jarvis Cocker)

Jarvis on a track from the Japanese CD edition of Chilly Gonzales' festive 2000 album "A Very Chilly Christmas"! Happy Holidays, if you celebrate! And if not, Happy Any Other Ol' Day!!

The Sound Veil Society - OK

I just discovered The Sound Veil Society scouring through other folks' year-end lists. They only have two tracks out, this being the 2nd and both are lovely slices of synthpop!

Celeste - Keep Smiling

From Celeste's latest, "Woman of Faces", here's a new video!

2025 Song of the Year: Graveyard Club - Ur Baby

Graveyard Club released this song at the end of January and I have loved it upon first listen. Sweeping chorus, beautiful lyrics and a heartfelt delivery is the perfect recipe for a perfect POP! song!
The song was written as an accompanying piece to the short film "Video Barn" by Bianca Poletti which I still need to watch!

"And even if you can't save me
At least I know that I died free
The world's falling apart lately
Tell me that I'm ur baby."

33 Lovers - Free

Heres a track off 33 Lovers' upcoming new album "Am I in a Dream", due out January 16th!

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 7

All four of these songs have rotated through my TOP of the POP! spot all year long.  They are all fantastic!

2. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Stay on Me



3. PinkPantheress - Tonight



4. Evripidis & His Tragedies - Just a Little Wiser



5. Marina - I﹤3 YOU

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 6

6. Lady Gaga - Zombieboy



7. Miki Berenyi Trio - 8th Deadly Sin



8. David Archuleta - Crème Brulée



9. Sam Quealy - Londontown



10. Pulp - Spike Island

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 5

11. Ora the Molecule - Intergalactic Dance



12. Ora the Molecule - Prince of the Rhythm



13. Austra - Fallen Cloud



14. Marina - Cupid's Girl



15. Art d'Ecco - Tree of Life

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 4

16. Lily Allen - Pussy Palace



17. iamamiwhoami - STILL BLUE



18. Ladytron - I Believe in You



19. Jeanines - Coaxed a Storm



20. The WAEVE - Eternal

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 3

21. Jessica Winter - L.O.V.E.



22. Anika - Walk Away



23. NEWMEN - Echo System



24. Haute & Freddy - Freaks



25. Rentboy - Pussy on the Floor

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 2

26. R. Missing - Infinifalls



27. The WAEVE - Love Is All Pain



28. Haute & Freddy - Fashion Over Function



29. Ivy - Say You Will



30. Your Heart Breaks - Love You More

Best Songs of 2025 - Part 1

It's one of my favorite times of year! Year End Music List Magic Time! Here's part 1 of 7 for my favorite tracks from this year!

31. The Burning Hell - Bottle of Chianti, Cheese, and Charcuterie Board

32. The Tear Garden - A Return

33. Miami Horror - We're All Made of Stars (feat. Telenova)

34. Jenny Wilson - Boy (Please Forgive Me)

35. Yukimi - Sad Makeup

Andy Bell - The Chance Won't Come Again (feat. Tim Rice-Oxley)

Getting to see Andy Bell tonight! Here's a bonus track from "The Crown Jewels" new, expanded collector's edition!

Blue Hawaii - holdsomeone

New single from Blue Hawaii!

Sébastien Tellier - Thrill Of The Night (feat. Slayyyter & Nile Rodgers)

New from Sébastien Tellier w/ a couple of friends! His new album "Kiss the Beast" will be out Jan 30th!

Tony & The Kiki - HOLY XTC

Tony & The Kiki released their latest EP "Fornication Under the Consent of Queens" on Halloween. Glad I've just discovered them because this is fabulous!

bis & Art Brut - Opposites Attract

bis & Art Brut have united to give us the "Sorry About That" EP featuring covers of both Paula Abdul & Mama Cass, as well as covers of each other!

TOMORA - Ring the Alarm

Tom Rowlands of Chemical Brothers and AURORA have combined energies and come up with TOMORA and this debut madness! I love it!

Cranes - Wires

Cranes return with a video from the 2008 self-titled album, recently released for the first time on vinyl!

Voxtrot - Fighting Back

Voxtrot are fully back now with news of their new album "Dreamers in Exile" (out Feb 27th) and this great new single!

Swansea Sound - Not My Order

Swansea Sound release "All Is Calm" today, a mini album featuring their old festive holiday music as well 2 brand new songs! Get it HERE!

Melody's Echo Chamber - The House That Doesn't Exist

Melody's Echo Chamber releases their new album "Unclouded" tomorrow!

Sunlit - Beside

New single from Joe Moore's Sunlit!

Sarah Nixey - Winter Solstice

The 2nd single from Sarah Nixey's upcoming new solo album "Sea Fever"! Beauty! The album will be out on February 6th!

Viola Odette Harlow - Little Dream

I had the initial thought of doing another advent calendar this year, but then I got lazy! Instead, I'll just post a sprinkling of festive-ish music throughout the month. First off, here's Viola Odette Harlow with a touching, yet sad ballad. It's beautiful. Happy December!