Scotch Sampler

scotchandcigar said:
Getting back to my list, I think I can get a little further into some of the "Honorable Mentions":
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I know most of these.
scotchandcigar said:
A party song if there ever was one
The Bug Club – Lonsdale Slipons
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I like this one. It's quirky and a lot of fun.
scotchandcigar said:
This is a little like the 2024 version of Trench Coat Museum
IDLES/LCD Soundsystem - Dancer
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I like this one too. The LCD quality is really strong.
scotchandcigar said:
A.K.A. Robert Pattinson's baby-mama
Suki Waterhouse - Supersad
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Not too bad.
scotchandcigar said:
If you like dream-rock, this is for you
DIIV - Raining On Your Pillow
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I like the dreamy stuff, but this one doesn't seem to develop to me. Not bad, but doesn't grab me either.
scotchandcigar said:
The talented artist on her own
Blondshell - What's Fair
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I like this one better than the previous Blondshell.
 
scotchandcigar said:
That reminds me that I planned to post the video of Mannequin Pu$$y from my phone. And I found this live version of Sometimes that's not only good, but done with a harder edge than on the album.
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Not too bad, but it doesn't leave me wanting more.
scotchandcigar said:
Also, the bass player has quite a look.
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:roflmao:
I guess when you're the only guy on stage, you don't have to worry about competing with the other guys.
He may still have a lot of competition thought......NTTAWWT.
 
Boys and girls, it's that time of year again! I'm posting my favorite songs of the year, based on the SiriusXMU top 41 of 2025 list. And while I do like some other music I've heard this year, such as Black Keys, Brandi Carlile, and Jack White, none of those were strong enough to break through this list of indie tunes. So here we go.

We'll start at the 41 spot, with a solo effort from Morgan Nagler. (Keep in mind that the rankings are from XMU; they're not my ranking) Here's some background about this artist:

Whispertown is an American indie music project from Los Angeles, California, fronted by singer-songwriter Morgan Nagler. Nagler worked as a child actor, appearing on the TV series Punky Brewster and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as in the film American Pie 2 (2001) as the band camp friend of Michelle Flaherty (played by Alyson Hannigan).

And here's a slow-burn grunge tune from her

Morgan Nagler – Cradle the Pain



Deep Sea Diver is a Seattle band, whose stuff I've posted before. This is a new song from them, which got a lot of airplay, but it's not the song they picked for the top 41 (that one's called Billboard Heart at #34). I'm posting 2 videos; the official one is kind-of cute, while the live studio performance is so good, it deserves to be posted as well.

Deep Sea Diver – What Do I Know (official video)



Deep Sea Diver – What Do I Know (live on KEXP)



I thought it was neat when they showed a glimpse of her foot board.
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Momma is one of my favorite bands from recent years, and here's this year's #29 pick.

Momma – I Want You (Fever)



Sharon Van Etten has been an indie staple for many years. This is a popular, well-crafted song with her current band. (A different song, Idiot Box, ranked #27)

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Afterlife
 
She's one of my favorite artists, and this is the awesomely groovy #24 lead single from her upcoming album.

Courtney Barnett – Stay in Your Lane



I would listen to XMU, and wonder why they kept playing a song from the old band Pulp; until I realized they got back together and put out a new album. This live performance of the #23 song is really strong.

Pulp – Spike Island (live on Later with Jools Holland)



Here's a rocking live performance of the #21 song from the British band Wunderhorse.

Wunderhorse – The Rope (live on Later with Jools Holland)



Chicago band Horsegirl has made my previous lists. Their #20 tune reminds me a little of REM's Stand.

Horsegirl – Switch Over



The song Crystals from Seattle artist Sea Lemon, featuring Ben Gibbard (from Death Cab for Cutie), made #16, but I posted the video last year. Here's another new Sea Lemon song featured this year.

Sea Lemon – Stay
 
Stereolab is a veteran French/English synth band. They put out a new album this year, and while Aerial Troubles made #14, this was the most played song. It has a cool, retro 60s vibe.

Stereolab – Transmuted Matter



Another strong song from breakout stars Fontaines D.C. This one reached #12.

Fontaines D.C. – It’s Amazing to be Young



A long-time favorite of mine, Spoon has a new album out, with this rockin' tune on it at #10.

Spoon – Chateau Blues



Asheville NC band Wednesday has been one of my favorites lately. It's one of several projects involving MJ Lenderman. While Elderberry Wine reached #6, this tune was also popular on XMU.

Wednesday – Townies



The annoyingly named Nation of Language is a cool Brooklyn synth band that has released a few albums. Their song Inept Apollo made #5, but this was their most played new track.

Nation of Language – I’m Not Ready for the Change
 
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Veteran indie band Tame Impala, which is basically Kevin Parker, put out this discotheque favorite this past summer. The 9-minute video also comes in a 7 minute version, which ranked at #3 on the list.

Tame Impala – End of Summer



TV on the Radio front-man Tunde Adebimpe has the #2 tune with Magnetic, which I posted at the end of last year.

And as predicted, #1 belongs to the wildly free-spirited, provocative British rockers Wet Leg. This was the song they picked for the top spot, but they had 3 or 4 tracks from their current album that got airplay.

I picked the "Live in the KEXP studio" version, because A) they're great live and B) the official video is quite stupid.

Wet Leg – catch these fists (live on KEXP)



I'll post some honorable mentions shortly.
 
Before I get to the honorable mentions, I just want to say that anyone who claims "rock and roll is dead" (or something equivalent) should check out the Wet Leg track, or really any number of videos I posted above, and then go fuck-off, because they are idiots.

Honorable mentions are for songs I liked, that didn't quite rise to "favorites" status.

The Last Dinner Party continued making hits with "This is the Killer Speaking", ranking at #40.

The artist Jay Som collaborated with Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World to make "Float", which reached #37.

Freak Slug put out a fun album of catchy songs, with "Liquorice" ranking at #30.

Witch Post is an interesting new band, whose song "The Wolf" reached #28.

Geese (not to be confused with Goose) is a wildly popular band fronted by Cameron Winter. People think they're the 2nd coming of Christ. Their song "Taxes" ranked at #7.

The Beths is a likeable band that I've featured before. This year, the song "Metal" reached #4.
 
Haven't listened to the honorables, just the main batch. Aside from Horsegirl, Stereolab, Tame Impala and Wednesday, I like the rest (in varying degrees). Much better than 99% the mainstream 2025 songs I've heard, for sure! I added Wunderhorse to one of my playlists.
 
It's surprising how much these songs rock, especially the ones you picked. And most of them can perform live effortlessly. It's much more encouraging than the Billboard Hot 100 swill.
 
It's going to take me a while to get to listen to all of these.
I know a decent number of them from SXM, but I like to listen to your selections in context.

Several good bands for sure.
 
scotchandcigar said:
Honorable mentions are for songs I liked, that didn't quite rise to "favorites" status.

The artist Jay Som collaborated with Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World to make "Float", which reached #37.

The Beths is a likeable band that I've featured before. This year, the song "Metal" reached #4.
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Two of my honorable mentions made this list

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So here they are

Jay Som ft. Jim Adkins - Float



The Beths - Metal



OK, so I've got this figured out. Someone on Obama's payroll (a media consultant?) is tasked with putting together this list each year. And clearly, they're looking at the messages in the music, not the music. The songs with the right messages - to align with Barack's image - get the nod.

For "Float", there's this chorus

Float, don’t fight

It sounds suspiciously like "When they go low, we go high".


And for "Metal", there's this amazing, naturalist viewpoint on life

So you need the metal in your blood to keep you alive
And you read the compass in your eyes so you can stay right
So you surf the earth's magnetic core to keep you aligned

So you turn the water into steam to push up the track
So you burn the furnace in your chest to anticipate that
So you wear the colour in your cheek, the proof of the strive

And I know I'm a collaboration
Bacteria, carbon and light
A florid orchestration
A recipe of fortune and time
 
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