GL.25.08: SCOTT LAWSON
GL.25.09: Erik Kristjanson
GL.25.10: Curt Trnka
GL.25.11: Marisa Plaice
GL.25.12: Max Einstein
GL.25.13: Dillon North
GL.25.14: Darcey Lachtman
***
Scott Lawson’s Best-of Playlist for 2025
“Borderline” by Lucius: It was so nice to hear Lucius come out with one of the best albums of the year after so many years tossing magic dust over other artists’ songs.
“That’s Gonna Leave a Mark” by Molly Tuttle: I’m a sucker for bluegrass artists who put out a pop song. Here, Palo Alto High School’s finest does her best impression of a lab-grown hybrid of Taylor Swift and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
“Ankles” by Lucy Dacus: It’s easy to be torn. Do we want boygenius to stick to boygenius albums or do we want to revel in each of the extraordinary members separately putting out beautiful songs? How about this and “Sugar in the Tank” by Julien Baker (and TORRES) in the same year. Umm. Yup.
“My Love for You Is a Straight Line” by Ken Yates: Yates’s Total Cinema is probably my favorite album of the year. It has a bunch of great songs, each one simply crafted, softspoken, and utterly heartfelt.
“What’s Fair” by Blondshell: Ever since Jen Trynin’s debut album 31 years ago, I’ve been searching for the next Jen Trynin—something rocking but melodic, anthemic but intimate. Blondshell is pretty close.
“I Remember When I Used to Love You” by Paul Zinnard: This sad sad song reminds me so much of those great Stax ballads of the 60s. Gorgeous.
“Zelda” by TOLEDO: Something about this song reminds me of the long-disbanded San Francisco band, The Court and Spark—even more than the band that Scott Hirsch and MC Taylor are now in, Hiss Golden Messenger. “When He Comes Around” is another good song by this band this year.
“Sugar in the Tank” by Julien Baker (and TORRES): As intimate as a bedtime prayer, as sweeping as a Technicolor epic.
“Armies of the Lord” by The Mountain Goats: I feel so fortunate that John Darnielle and company apparently followed me to Durham, NC, where I’ve been able to see them at the small venue, Cat’s Cradle. This song is everything you expect and want from them.
“People Watching” by Sam Fender: What can I say? This song makes me feel good.
“May I Never” by Hayes Carll: This is a remarkable country gospel number. It could have been written by Stephen Foster.
“Last Night I Held Your Hand” by Somebody’s Child: OK, this guy has definitely listened to a couple of The National records, but he’s taken most of the best parts and made them his own. Good record.
“Keep to Me” by Julia Barfield: Beautiful, personal, quiet song. Also check out her song, “Altavista, VA.”
“Astronaut in a Submarine” by The Whiskey Talking: This song is the new single by my band, from our album, Little Questions, which comes out in March 2026. It features Jeff Franca, from Thievery Corporation, on drums, Frank Orrall, from Poi Dog Pondering, on percussion, my daughter, Bryn, on backing vocals, and was produced by multi-Grammy-nominee, Mikael “Count” Eldridge.
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