Gotham leads the way
watch a reverse domino
play out: eyes of hope
when winter sun shines
all becomes right with the world
hope for tomorrow
For all of you audio (and video) loving peeps out there, you know how much music you listen to across genres, times, places, you know it can be difficult to distinguish between music that is new and music new to your ears and eyes. It would take me too long to sort them all out. What I did was look through my playlists and try to nab just the 2025 ones, but at least one of these will be from another year. They are not ranked. Each one dinged the ineffable bell of quality and soulbits that put them on this by no means complete list.
The first song is one I just listened to a couple of days ago. Kieran West is the son of blogger, Steve, at Song of the Day for Today. Back in 2023, Steve covered Kieran’s album, “Dark Little Ones,” song by song. “Grenadier” is the last cut on the album. Important to note is that the song is about Kieran’s Grandfather.
Mavis Staples needs no introduction. She is a musical icon and a national treasure. “Human Mind,” from her new album, “Sad and Beautiful World” touches me with its beauty, both in music and in lyrics.
I’ve heard a couple of songs from Julianna Riolino’s new album, “Echo in the Dust” and liked both of them. “The Less I Know” is a trajectory of feelings one may feel for people, places, and things. We are not meant to be fixed statues. Philosophical daoists from ancient times talk about the teacup needing to be emptied enough on an ongoing basis in order for fresh hot tea to fit into the cup.
Robert Loud, aka Robbie Connolly, has been a sideman for The Killers since 2017, on keyboards, rhythm guitar, and backing vocals. Loud’s song, “Congratulations,” is from his album, “Bitter Optimist.” Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers, sings with Loud/Connolly on today’s selection. Looking a little deeper, Connolly is also lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Fictionist.
“A Certain Girl,” (featuring Chrissie Hynde) is the 4th track on Ronnie Wood‘s 4-track EP, “Fearless,” released in September of this year. The author/composer is Naomi Neville. There is something so delicious about this song, I was instantly hooked by it. While at YouTube, I also saw Ronnie just released a “Fearless Anthology: 1965 – 2025” that includes the 4 songs from the EP.
“Tiempo Violentos” by St. Vincent, featuring Mon Laferte, was released as a single this year. I love the lush, Phil Spector-like production on it. The horns always do it for me.
“With My Swagger,” by NoTrace and Kendra Dantes is a song that I pay attention to every time it comes up in my playlist. There is something about the timing of the song and the goodness of the singing that lifts me up. With My Swagger was released as a single, but 2 versions, one with vocals and one an instrumental.
“Staff Party” is the opening cut of Big Wreck’s album “The Rest of the Story.” From wiki:
Big Wreck are a Canadian-American rock band formed by Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1992. The band was rounded out with David Henning and Forrest Williams. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley pursued a solo career with his own band Thornley. In 2010, Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty reunited for a cross-Canada tour, playing both Big Wreck and Thornley songs. In 2012, under the name Big Wreck, the band released their third studio album, Albatross. The band has since released the albums Ghosts in 2014, Grace Street in 2017, …But for the Sun in 2019, 7 in 2023, and The Rest of the Story in 2025.
The more I listen to this song and this album, the more I love what I’m hearing. The guitars, the bass, the drum, and oh my word, singer Ian Thornley. Do others hear Chris Cornell and Soundgarden?
I have already posted about Lucius’ “Gold Rush” off of their self-titled album HERE. I could dance to this song all night long.
And now we have come to my favorite 2025 song, IDLES’ “Rabbit Run,” from the “Caught Stealing” movie. Looking for it at Spotify I see there are multiple remixes of it but I didn’t listen to them. There’s a whole soundtrack out on Spotify. Joe Talbot & Crew, you are GODS to me.
Tao Talk 
Lisa, it was nice to hear Steve’s son Kieran here. I just started following Steve’s blog recently. Most of these are new to me. I have not caught Caught Stealing yet, but that was a very cool song and video from that soundtrack. When Winter sun shines, I do think all is right with the world. Could not agree more.
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Bruce, glad you’re following Steve’s blog. He has quality stuff on there as you’ve probably noticed by now. Caught Stealing is … intense … and difficult to watch at times. Pure adrenalin rush. Perfect casting. And of course, the music. The sun was shining almost all day today, the first time in weeks.
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I liked the Kieran West song….that is some good stuff. I love Mavis Staples…just incredible. When I heard her she was in her 70s and her voice was as strong as ever.
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I agree on Kieran West song. Mavis’ voice empowered by holy spirit.
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That is a great way of putting it! I truly love that woman! If you ever get a chance of seeing her…don’t miss it! The stories she old and the energy she had was special. I still felt for her though because of the rest of her family is gone now I believe.
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This one by her shook every cell in my body:
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I am going to write that one up! I hope you don’t mind!
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Please do, Max.
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I will! Probably next weekend.
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Thank you for the music, Lisa. Your verses are lovely too
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:) It’s amazing what a little sunshine can do after weeks of cloudiness. Thank goodness snow brightens things up also.
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What would we do without music, indeed, Lisa!
Great list. I’m going to check all these out in the morning.
Thank you for the shoutout to my blog; you are truly a valued supporter. And featuring Kieran’s song on your list, wow! That’s awesome. I’m so glad you liked “Staying Home” and “Grenadier.” I know I’m biased, but it’s a fantastic album from start to finish.
I’d like to send you the CD as a token of my gratitude. Please reach out via my contact page, https://songoftheday.ca/contact/ and let me know where to mail it.
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PS: your poem and the photo accompaniment are so perfect for this time. Also, I remember you telling me about the Mavis Staples song a while back. It’s still on the list. What a tune.
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Thanks so much, Steve. I posted her song a month or two ago in one of my release radar Friday posts. When I think of her whole musical family and she’s the last one left…
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You’re welcome, Lisa! Right… that’s where you shared it. Knew it was recent. I don’t think I knew that before, about her family.
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Hoping to hear what you think of them tomorrow. You are very welcome on the shoutout on your blog. And wow thanks so much for your offer of sending me a CD. Will fill out the contact form :)
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I will definitely let you know! 😊 And you’re welcome – my pleasure!
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It’s taken me a while to get through these songs with our oldest lad visiting at the moment, but I had a little time this last night and this morning when no one else was up.
Well, I probably don’t need to let you know what I think of my Kieran’s “Grenadier” having written a post and repost, but it is a most beautiful tribute to his late granddad/my dad. Shivers, tears, the lot.
Hadn’t heard “Human Mind” since the time I referred to earlier. Wow… breathtaking. The guitarist knows it too, clearly. I realize Mavis didn’t write the song but after what you mentioned in a comment yesterday about her being the last living representative of her family, the line, “I miss my family, Daddy” hit like a gut punch.
I was immediately drawn to “The Less I Know.” “Fresh” is what came to mind when listening. It has such an honest, pure and catchy nature to it, and the music is fabulous. Great pick!
I’m normally all over anything I hear by Brandon Flowers so when this didn’t immediately click, I listened again. I love the harmonies though it just didn’t completely land for me.
Ronnie Wood and Chrissie Hynde sure had me bopping around the kitchen while I was doing my part of the Saturday pizza-making. I can only imagine what my sweety would be seeing if she were to have looked through the glass doors from the living room, but then again, she knows me….
I have liked everything I’ve heard by St. Vincent, which isn’t a lot, but each time I’ve been very impressed. This took me down another alley, wow. Amazing. Very ‘60s whispy vibe to her singing. And the instrumentation. Wow. What a song. I might just have been moving to this one, too. This is going on the list.
I like the contrast between the voices in “My Swagger” – quite an interesting song.
“Staff Party” is a solid rocker with a lot of appeal. I’m not that familiar with Chris Cornell and Soundgarden to make the comparison, but I liked this one.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of “Gold Rush.” The vocal harmonies make a nice centrepiece around which the rest of the band congregates and goes in their own directions while being parts of the whole. Great song. Cool look to the band.
The relentless drive and the urgency in the Idles’ song pairs well with the footage in the video. I’ve heard this band before though I can’t recall which songs and couldn’t find them. Not a favourite for me, though I can see the appeal.
Fabulous list, Lisa… thanks for putting it together!
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Steve, I appreciate you listening to the list and commenting on each song! Much appreciated. Had no idea Mavis did not write Human Mind and wondering if Allison Russell and Hozier wrote it with her in mind?
I have IDLES’ discography through TANGK. Give this one a listen and let me know what you think:
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My pleasure, Lisa.
It sure seems like they could have written it for Mavis. Powerful.
I liked the music in “Television,” but I think it’s more Joe Talbot’s vocals that I don’t care for. Sometimes a sound just rubs you the wrong way….
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Ah, OK, on Joe :)
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It was nice to have some speeches celebrating ordinary people rather than calling them names. Happy New Year! (K)
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YES! What took me aback was looking at the comments on YT of the Bernie and Mamdani speeches. I swear the commentors were paid to swoop in and fear monger and ridicule.
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I’m still waiting for all those people who threatened to leave to go already. Florida awaits–have fun.
Jumaane’s speech was also exceptional I thought.
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Agreed on go go go please do do do (paraphrase from Marvin K. Mooney, Will you Please Go Now) I didn’t see Jumaane’s speech but will look for it.
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The perfect quote!
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Such a pleasant fantasy if they just moved to FL … and then FL busted off from the mainland and floated away…
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Or was flattened by a hurricane.
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lol
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I loved the Mavis Staples song and the guitar behind her was perfect! “Tiempos violentos” has that smooth sound of the music of Cape Verde – at least for part of the song. Her Spanish has the silken feel of Portuguese.
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Happy you enjoyed those selection. I loved her backup on the Colbert performance also. I think that St. Vincent song is a single off of an older album or one coming up. I think it an older one and an English version of it also exists.
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thanks for sharing the music, Li I’ll definitely be checking out some of these! <3
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CA :) you are welcome.
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