TOLEDO, “Amends” (2025)
God, I’m such a sucker for the trumpet-swollen emotional climax.
Lush, “500” (1995)
A subset of the sellout single is the “make it sound like Britpop” sound of the mid 90s. And as with the sellout single, nailing it is an art. Which, obviously, this does.
Perfume Genius, “Me & Angel” (2025)
Stating again for the record that Mike Hadreas has one button in my heart that only he can push. And he does. Like, every time.
My Morning Jacket, “Half a Lifetime” (2025)
I am decidedly not the world’s foremost My Morning Jacket expert, but even I know them nailing their own sound when I hear it.
Lack of Afro, “Heart & Soul” (2025)
I am SO tired of acts with stupid jokey names, but…I can’t deny what I like. Don’t make me deny that! It will kill me!
The Meters, “Live Wire” (1969)
Hey. You. Want to feel good? Want to be happy for a few minutes? No? Oh. Okay. Don’t listen to this, then.
The Suffragettes, “Toxic” (2018)
Did the world need a 60’s surf rock style cover of Toxic by a band with a too-on-the-nose silly name and concept? Maybe not. But a) I still love the 60s surf rock style and they nail it, b) it shows just how great and complex a song “Toxic” is.
Home Counties, “New Best Thing” (2025)
You can take your “just because it has an insanely catchy chorus doesn’t make it a great song” negativity right on out of here.
Elastica, “Nothing Stays The Same” (2000)
Woah woah woah. Hold on. For the last 25 years, I’ve been operating under the memory that the second Elastica album was bad. But this is good! Did they change it? One of those digital switcheroos?
Jon Hopkins, “RITUAL (Nothing Is Lost)” (2025)
How Jon Hopkins can keep conjuring up so much beauty is a wonderful mystery.