GL.25.11: MARISA PLAICE
GL.25.12: Max Einstein
GL.25.13: Dillon North
GL.25.14: Darcey Lachtman
GL.25.15: Caseysimone Ballestas
GL.25.16: Ryan Joyce
GL.25.17: Desa Warner
GL.25.18: Claren Warner
***
For a while now my lists for Aaron have consisted of an intro in which I wax philosophical (whine) about how having children changed my relationship with music - particularly live music. I was going to skip that this year (you’re welcome) and keep this real concise, mostly because I’m getting this to Aaron pretty late.
Then I read what he wrote about Ginger, and that all changed. I have some things to say. (That sounds ominous. It’s not!)
I met Ilana and Aaron over a decade ago (15 years ago? What is time?) via a dog rescue Aaron and I were on the board for, and that I later worked for. During that time they acquired Ginger, and I acquired Ada, a smaller, meaner version of Ginger.
As it happens, Ilana spent her remaining time in the US trying to befriend Ada. It did not work.
In fact, we initially fostered Ada because the first time I volunteered for this rescue she bit a guy that wanted to meet her. I felt bad for being the one that handed her to him, so we took her home for her bite quarantine, and she never left.
That being said - she definitely made me cry when we first adopted her. But she taught me so much about dogs, and dog training, and we got to know each other. We knew what to do to avoid her wrath. It sounds hard, but over the 14 years we had her, it was easy. Second nature. Like any relationship, we knew what made her tick.
She was our sidekick, our travel buddy. She flew with us, she went on road trips, she loved the beach.
On January 9th of this year, Ada died peacefully in my arms at almost 17 years old. The hole it has left is like nothing I’ve experienced, though I’ve lost other beloved pets. I think it was the fact that she was so often with us, in the car, on a vacation - she was a constant. She was my home.
And then in May, Ginger died. And both of our girls were gone.
I got to see Ginger in the summer of 2023 when we were in Amsterdam. I hoped I would see her again, but I am thankful for that visit, and thankful for my friendship with Aaron and Ilana that still persists. And all because we loved dogs - particularly orange, fluffy, and occasionally grumpy ones.
In memory of our beloved girls ❤️
Ok! Now that I’m holding back tears, let’s get this show on the road!
I started 2025 by dropping the ball on two of my most beloved artists: Hamilton Leithauser and Perfume Genius. I have not really redeemed myself as far as Hamilton is concerned (though I listened enough to know that I liked “Ocean Roar”), but I did make up for not paying enough attention to Perfume Genius initially. And thank god, because this album is great! It feels like a marriage between his older, more sparse and emotionally-driven songs, and his later albums. “Clean Heart” was a stand out for me; when I want to cry, and I’m not writing too-long intros about the deaths of beloved dogs, I can always rely on Perfume Genius.
Additionally, in that same month, two other fave artists released albums that I DID spend a more respectable amount of time with: Lucy Dacus and Japanese Breakfast. “For Keeps”, off of Lucy Dacus’s Forever is a Feeling, does not get the love it deserves. “Picture Window” off of Japanese Breakfast’s For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) was a favorite, and incidentally, I saw both ladies live this year!
In April, one of my favorite albums of the year came out: Julien Baker and Torres’ Send a Prayer My Way. I was so excited to see them live. I declared that it would be “Cuntry Summer” (I can’t take credit for that). But sadly their tour was cancelled due to health reasons on JB’s side, and it seems the project has fizzled, which is so disappointing. I hope they revive it one of these days - I’d love to hear “Sugar in the Tank” live someday (but “Sylvia” needs a shout out too, because it’s about - wait for it - Torres’ dog!)
Beach Bunny is a delight and released yet another delightful album - I loved “Chasm”. Pulp released a new album in June - honestly I am always weirdly resistant to new albums by beloved bands that haven’t put something out in a while. I mean - it doesn’t always go well, you know? And Pulp has been a staple since high school. I have danced exuberantly to “Common People” more times than I can count - and I am not a person that dances exuberantly. But this album was pretty great! “Spike Island” is an excellent opener and grabbed me right away. Jarvis does not deserve to be underrated!
And then. Then it happened. The world was forever changed by the release of K-pop Demon Hunters. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have children. You couldn’t escape “Golden”. And why would you want to? The movie is great. The soundtrack is amazing. I allowed it to take over my Spotify (usually I switch over to Apple Music for the kids’ stuff, but not this. And yes I know I need to cancel both of those memberships). It’s Rumi, Mira and Zoe’s world, and we just live in it.
Wet Leg released a respectable sophomore album. I was partial to the opening track, “CPR”. Alex G released a fantastic album - “Real Thing” was a favorite. And on that same day, my very unexpected candidate for album of the year was released: I Want My Loved Ones to Come With Me, by Noah Cyrus. Yes - that Cyrus family. Miley’s little sister. Billy Ray’s daughter. But before you roll your eyes and assume this is another K-pop-esque fluke, hear me out. Noah’s country/americana/indie vibe is quite unlike her sister’s pop music (which I do love). It is not cheesy like her dad’s country top 100 (which I do not love). And it is probably unlike other family members’ music (there seems to be a lot of them). Check out “July”. Check out her work with PJ Harding (yes that is his name), particularly “The Worst of You”. And consider some of the other artists on her album: Fleet Foxes! Bill Callahan! Even the song with Blake Shelton is good (kinda)! My favorite song, however, is “What’s It All For”. I can’t get enough of a melancholy, low-fi country tune. Oh and I saw her live as well this year, and she was fucking amazing. Noah Cyrus is underrated and I will die on this hill, even if no one is particularly interested or even arguing with me!
Hayley Williams released an album in August that I liked, particularly “Mirtazipine”, because it sounds like it could have been released by Veruca Salt circa 1997. Sabrina Carpenter is a perfect queen, her new album is great, and I loved “Tears”. Blood Orange released an album on the same day as those two ladies. I liked “Mind Loaded” but none of his albums can top Cupid Deluxe, in my opinion. I hope that changes someday.
Neko Case - also a beloved artist and human in general - released an album in September. I had high hopes after hearing “Wreck”, but I have to say this was not one of my favorite Neko releases. I love the first three songs on The Life of a Showgirl, especially “Elizabeth Taylor”, but like many people was somewhat underwhelmed by this release. Regardless, I still love T Swift and will never apologize for that. Later in October Jay Som released one of my other favorite albums of this year, Belong. I’ve loved Jay Som for a long time and I must say, this is my favorite release since their first album. It’s hard to choose just one track - “Casino Stars” and the closer, “Want It All”, are favorites. Incidentally their song with Hayley Williams (“Past Lives”) further cements my theory that Williams should start a Veruca Salt-esque band and Melina, of Jay Som, should be the Nina Gordon to Hayley’s Louise Post. PUTTING THIS OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE BECAUSE I DESPERATELY WANT IT TO HAPPEN.
Lily Allen absolutely killed it with her release, West End Girl. My favorite track is “Tennis”. Can we watch the new season of Stranger Things without “Pussy Palace” echoing through our brains? Probably not, but I’ll try!
And then - just in time for the holidays - we got Snocaps, consisting of Katie and Allison Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, and Brad Cook. Their surprise release on Halloween was really needed during this mostly terrible year. They are 2025’s super group and I love “Angel Wings”. A big, big thank you to them.
And there you have it. If you actually read all of that - wow, thank you. Remember when I said this would be concise? It’s never concise! Cheers to 2026 - may it bring better things to the world, and perhaps your soul dog to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment