December 27, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #787)

5:59am Margo Price Red Eye Flight Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista)

6:02am Michael Carpenter What Makes You Think (That I Want You?) The Start of Being (Big Radio/RTC)

6:06am Dessa That Call single (Tinderbox)

6:13am The Hives The Hives Forever Forever The Hives The Hives Forever Forever The Hives (PIAS)

My top albums of 2025

In a year like this, with so much turmoil coming from the current presidential administration, and so much other stuff going on in my life, music was more of a comfort than ever. As is my wont, I listened to hundreds of full albums this year. I did my usually fussing over this list, making one big decision near my self-imposed deadline. I was going to rank Fancy That by Pinkpantheress pretty highly. But I eventually dropped it entirely. It’s a nine-track mix tape that last only 20 minutes, and as great as it is, that really can’t be considered an album. The other thing to deal with is albums that were released on streaming this year, but won’t have physical editions until next year. For the most part, I won’t rank a record without a physical edition, but sometimes I will burn a digital copy to CD. I did that with Silvana Estrada, but not with Snocaps, I guess because the former impressed me more (not that the Snocaps was bad – I liked it). Finally, the usual caveats: 1) as you go down the list, the rankings are pretty incremental, and once you get into the thirties, the albums are fairly equal in quality, 2) there are at least a few dozen albums not listed that are on par with the bottom 25 or so, and, 3) even with all I listen to, I can’t listen to everything, so I don’t have, for example, Geese on here because I never got around to listening to it. 

December 20, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #786)

8:59am Ezra Collective Joy to the World Joy to the World (Partisan)

9:05am Oasis Merry Xmas Everybody NME Presents 1 Love (b-unique)

9:09am hemlock In That Number (featuring Babehoven) Orange Streak Glow (self-released)

9:15am The Futureheads Wonderful Christmastime Christmas (Nul)

December 13, 2025 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #785)

9:00am Nora O'Connor Follow Me My Heart (Pravda)

9:03am Hot Chocolate Man to Man Man to Man (RAK)

9:08am runo plum Gathering the Pieces patching (Winspear)

9:14am This Is Lorelei I Can't Fall Holo Boy (Double Double Whammy)

December 6, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #784)

9:01 AM Booker T. & The MGs • Something • McLemore Avenue • Stax

9:05 AM Thao Nguyen • Chivalry • like the linen • Trust Me Corporation

9:09 AM Navy Blue • God's Kingdom • The Sword & The Soaring • Freedom Sounds

9:15 AM Dawn Richard • A Flex • single • Merge

November 29, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #783)

8:59 AM Jimmy Cliff • Wild World • Wild World • Island

9:05 AM KeiyaA • this time (feat. Rahrah Gabor) • hooke's law • XL

9:08 AM Liz Phair • Soap Star Joe • Exile in Guyville • Matador

9:13 AM Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover • Red River Dry • What of Our Nature • Fat Possum

November 15, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #782)

9:00 AM The Congos • La La Bam-Bam • Heart of The Congos • Black Art

9:04 AM Kacey Musgraves • Merry Go 'Round • Same Trailer Different Park • Mercury

9:07 AM Whitney • Back to the Wind • Small Talk • AWAL

9:14 AM FKA twigs • Touch a Girl • EUSEXUA Afterglow • Young

November 8, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #781)

9:01 AM Rickie Lee Jones • Coolsville • Rickie Lee Jones • Warner Bros.

9:05 AM Moses Sumney • In Bloom • græ • Jagjaguwar

9:08 AM GECKØS • Black Diamond • GECKØS • ORG

9:15 AM Mavis Staples • Satisfied Mind • Sad and Beautiful World • Anti-

November 1, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #780)

8:59 AM boygenius • Letter to an Old Poet • the record • Interscope

9:02 AM Tavares • Check It Out • Check It Out • Capitol

9:05 AM Hannah Frances • Falling From and Further • Nested in Tangles • Fire Talk

9:14 AM Miguel • Angel's Song • CAOS • ByStorm/RCA

October 25, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #779)

8:59 AM Snoh Aalegra • Lucky You • Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies • ARTium

9:03 AM Joe Cocker • Do I Still Figure in Your Life • With a Little Help From My Friends • A & M

9:07 AM Prathloons • Patiently • Breadbox • self-released

9:13 AM Just Mustard • Dandelion • We Were Just Here • Partisan

October 18, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #778)

9:00 AM D'Angelo • Unshaken • Red Dead Redemption 2 • RCA

9:04 AM Marianne Faithfull • Deep Water • Give My Love To London • Easy Sound Recording Co.

9:07 AM Elena Vazquez • Sadness • Island • Self-Released

9:14 AM Skullcrusher • Red Car • And Your Song Is Like a Circle • Dirty Hit

October 11, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #777)

9:00 AM Bev Lee Harling • Every Little Thing She Does is Magic • Barefoot in Your Kitchen • Wah Wah 45s

9:03 AM The Marias • ...Baby One More Time • single • New Life/Atlantic

9:05 AM Chance the Rapper • No More Old Men (featuring Jamila Woods) • Star Line • self-released

9:14 AM Madi Diaz • If Time Does What It's Supposed To • Fatal Optimist • Anti-

October 4, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #776)

9:01 AM Steve Earle • I'm Looking Through You • Train a Comin' • Warner Bros.

9:03 AM  Weyes Blood • Shilo • Good American Family • 20th Television

9:08 AM Jeff Tweedy • Throwaway • Twilight Override • dBpm

9:15 AM Say She She • Disco Life • Cut & Rewind • drink sum wtr

September 27, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #775)

9:01 AM Kara Jackson • I Will Survive • single • self-released

9:05 AM Justin Hayward with Mike Batt • Life in a Northern Town • single • Universal

9:08 AM Fruit Bats • Stuck in My Head Again • Baby Man • Merge

9:14 AM Olivia Dean • A Couple Minutes • The Art of Loving • Capitol

September 20, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #774)

9:00 AM Glen Campbell • (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay • Wichita Lineman • Capitol

9:03 AM Rotary Connection • The Weight • Songs • Cadet

9:06 AM Seth Beck • I'll Be Looking Out for You • Soft Heaven • self-released

9:14 AM Joan Shelley • For When You Can't Sleep • Real Warmth • No Quarter

September 13, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #773)

9:00 AM Frisbie • Blowin' Up and Tellin' Lies • period. • Hear Diagonally

9:05 AM Jamila Woods • Blk Girl Soldier • HEAVN • Closed Sessions

9:08 AM Sick Day • Another Day • Olivia's Dead End Solo Career • self-released

9:15 AM Baxter Dury • Mr W4 • Allbarone • Heavenly

September 6, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #772)

9:00 AM The Psychedelic Furs • Sleep Comes Down • Forever Now • Columbia

9:03 AM Kara Jackson • Mary • A Song for Every Chamber of the Heart • self-released

9:06 AM Braxton Cook • Bad • Not Everyone Can Go • Nettwerk

9:14 AM Saint Etienne • Sweet Melodies • International • Heavenly/[PIAS]

August 30, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #771)

9:00 AM Rosalía • Reniego (Cap V: Lamento) • El mal querer • Columbia

9:04 AM The Verve • On Your Own • A Northern Soul • Hut/Vernon Yard

9:08 AM Millie Jackson • Don't Send Nobody Else • It Hurts So Good • Ace

9:15 AM Blood Orange • Life (feat. Tirzah and Charlotte Dos Santos) • Essex Honey • RCA

August 23, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #770)

9:00 AM The Clientele • Claire's Not Real • I Am Not There Anymore • Merge

9:02 AM Asha Puthli • Let Me in Your Life • Asha Puthli • CBS

9:05 AM Marissa Nadler • Smoke Screen Selene • New Radiations • Sacred Bones

9:13 AM Hand Habits • Blue Reminder • Blue Reminder • Fat Possum

August 16, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #769)

9:01 AM Yello • The Rhythm Divine (feat. Shirley Bassey) • One Second • Vertigo

9:05 AM Courtney Barnett • Here's The Thing • Things Take Time, Take Time • Mom+Pop/Milk

9:09 AM YFEE • La Perla • single • Yfee

9:14 AM Cass McCombs • Home at Last • Interior Live Oak • Domino

August 9, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #768)

8:59 AM Donna Summer • Be Myself Again • Crayons • Burgundy

9:03 AM Glenn Tilbrook • Tempted • The Past Has Been Bottled/East Side Story Demos • Quixotic

9:07 AM Buscabulla • Se Amaba Así • Se Amaba Así • Domino

9:14 AM Ethel Cain • Janie • Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You • Daughters of Cain

August 2, 2025 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #767)

8:59 AM Horsegirl • In Twos • Phonetics On and On • Matador

9:04 AM Johnny Taylor • Steal Away • Chronicle 20 Greatest Hits • Stax

9:08 AM Jamie Lidell • Return of the Repressed • Places of Unknowing • TODO

9:15 AM Patty Griffin • The End • Crown of Roses • PGM/Thirty Tigers

July 19, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #766)

9:00 AM Rose Royce • Love Don't Live Here Anymore • Strikes Again • Whitfield 

9:03 AM Madness • Grey Day • Seven • Stiff

9:08 AM Mina Tindle • Heaven Thunder (feat. Sufjan Stevens) • single • S76/Beggars France

9:14 AM Chris Stamey • Once, on a Summer's Day • Anything is Possible • Label 51

July 12, 2025 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #765)

9:00 AM Ravyn Lenae • M.I.A. • Hypnos • Atlantic

9:04 AM John Prine • The Great Compromise • Diamonds in the Rough • Atlantic

9:09 AM Tyler Ballgame • Help Me Out • single • Rough Trade

9:15 AM Gwenno • The Devil • Utopia • Heavenly

July 5, 2025 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #764)

9:00 AM Judee Sill • There's a Rugged Road • Heart Food • Elektra

9:03 AM Lee Fields • Honey Dove • Problems • Truth & Soul

9:07 AM Samuel Aaron • Aphasia • Rambler • self-released

9:14 AM Naima Bock • Rolling • single • Sub Pop

2025 Mid-year Top 20 (and more)

I ranked 20, without lots of thought, and then listed a bunch of other records that I've really like so far this year. Another terrific year for music.

1. Horsegirl - Phonetics On and On (Matador)

2. SPELLLING - Portrait of My Heart (Sacred Bones)

3. Nadia Reid - Enter Now Brightness (Chrysalis)

4. Bartees Strange - Horror (4AD)

5. Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film (Warp)

June 29, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #763)

Here's the playlist for my tribute to the late Clarence Ewing, who will be sorely missed by all of us at CHIRP. He was a wonderful person and we were privileged to know him.

2:00 PM Circuit Des Yeux • Dogma • -io • Matador

2:04 PM Tinariwen • Toumast Tincha • Emmaar • ANTI-

2:08 PM Otterlymusic & narsichris • Magician • single • self-released

2:15 PM Iggy Pop • Nightclubbing • Trainspotting • Miramax/EMI Premier

June 28, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #762)

9:02 AM Waxahatchee • 8 Ball • Out in the Storm • Merge

9:04 AM Allen Touissant • Soul Sister • Life, Love and Faith • Warner Bros.

9:07 AM Judson Claiborne • Panther in Michigan • Live Active Culture, Vol. 2 • self-released

9:14 AM Erykah Badu and The Alchemist • Next to You • single • Control Freaq/EMPIRE

June 21, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #761)

8:59 AM The Isley Brothers • Summer Breeze (Part 1) • 3 + 3 • T-Neck

9:03 AM Kathleen Edwards • Human Touch • Covers • Dualtone

9:06 AM Moontype • Long Country • I Let The Wind Push Down On Me • Orindal

9:14 AM Michael Penn and Jackshit • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? • We Can Help • Sweet Relief Musician's Fund/Flatiron

June 14, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #760)

9:00 AM Brian Wilson • Love and Mercy • I Just Wasn't Made for These Times • MCA

9:03 AM Little Sister • Somebody's Watching You • I'm Just Like You Sly Stone's Flower 1969-70 • Light in the Attic

9:06 AM Laura Reznek • Spades • The Sewing Room • Mary Yelling

9:14 AM Mavis Staples • Godspeed • single • Anti-

June 7, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #759)

9:00 AM Rotary Connection • The Salt of the Earth • Songs • Cadet Concept

9:05 AM Richard Thompson • I Misunderstood • Acoustic Classics • Beeswing

9:08 AM Inland Years • Come again • Keep Your Eyes On The Road • self-released

9:14 AM Pulp • A Sunset • More. • Rough Trade

May 31, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #758)

9:00 AM Al Green • Belle • The Belle Album • Hi

9:04 AM Snail Mail • Madonna • Valentine • Matador

9:07 AM Resavoir & Matt Gold • Hazel Canyon • Horizon • International Anthem

9:13 AM Hollie Cook • Night Night (feat. Horseman) • single • Mr. Bongo

May 24, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #757)

9:01 AM The Jam • Ghosts • The Gift • Polydor

9:04 AM SPELLLING • The Future • The Turning Wheel • Sacred Bones

9:07 AM Course • Hue Mirror • Hue Mirror • self-released

9:14 AM Sparks • In Daylight • MAD! • Transgressive

May 10, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #756)

9:00 AM Laura Marling • Only the Strong • Song for Our Daughter • Partisan

9:03 AM Bob Marley & the Wailers • Misty Morning • Kaya • Island

9:07 AM Half Gringa • Wind Was Crossing • Cosmovisión • Teleférico

9:15 AM Kali Uchis • Fell Apart, • Sincerely, • Capitol

May 3, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #755)

9:01 AM Jill Sobule • Loveless Motel • Pink Pearl • Beyond/BMG

9:03 AM Sly & The Family Stone • Runnin' Away • There's A Riot Goin' On • Epic

9:06 AM Discus • It Relates To • To Relate To • SUN-ROM

9:15 AM Suzanne Vega • Last Train to Mariupol • Flying With Angels • Cooking Vinyl

April 26, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #754)

9:00 AM Pere Ubu • The Waltz • Cloudland • Fontana

9:03 AM Jamila Woods • Holy • HEAVN • Closed Sessions

9:06 AM Half Gringa • The Optimist • Cosmovisión • Teleférico

9:14 AM Curtis Harding • There She Goes • single • Anti-

April 19, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #753)

9:01 AM Electric Light Orchestra • Shangri-La • A New World Record • Jet

9:06 AM Mavis Staples • Ain't No Doubt About It (feat. Jeff Tweedy) • If All I Was Was Black • ANTI-

9:09 AM Emma Andersen • Deserve This • I'll Be Alright • self-released

9:15 AM Julien Baker & Torres • Downhill Both Ways • Send a Prayer My Way • Matador

April 12, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #752)

8:59 AM Q Lazzarus • Heaven • Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus • Sacred Bones

9:04 AM Elisapie • Quviasukkuvit (If It Makes You Happy) • single • Bonsound

9:08 AM Lonnie Holley • Strength of A Song (feat. Alabaster Deplume) • Tonky • Jagjaguwar

9:15 AM Bon Iver • From • SABLE, fABLE • Jagjaguwar

April 5, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #751)

8:59 AM Elizabeth Moen • Darkness on the Edge of Town • single • self-released

9:03 AM Robyn Hitchcock • See Emily Play • 1967: Vacations in the Past • Tiny Ghost

9:06 AM Bathe • Hosannas • Inside Voice(s) • MNRK

9:14 AM Mekons • Sanctuary • Horror • Fire

March 22, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #750)

9:00 AM Willie Nelson • Do You Realize • Last Leaf on the Tree • Sony

9:03 AM Connie Constance • English Rose • English Rose • AMF/Virgin EMI

9:05 AM Discus • O My Stars • To Relate To • SUN-ROM

9:14 AM Japanese Breakfast • Winter in L.A. • For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) • Dead Oceans

March 15, 2025 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #749)

9:01 AM Chaka Khan • Got to Be There • Chaka Khan • Warner Bros.

9:05 AM Laibach • I Want to Know What Love Is • single • Mute

9:08 AM Alpine Subs • For No One To Hear • Up With The Geese • Subjangle

9:16 AM JENNIE • Seoul City • Ruby • Columbia

March 8, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #748)

9:01 AM Phoebe Bridgers • Punisher • Punisher • Dead Oceans

9:03 AM Isaac Hayes • Never Can Say Goodbye • Black Moses • Enterprise

9:07 AM Ichiko Aoba • pirsomnia • Luminescent Creatures • Psychic Hotline

9:14 AM Jason Isbell • Crimson and Clay • Foxes in the Snow • Southeastern/Thirty Tigers

March 1, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #747)

9:01 AM Bill Fay • The Never Ending Happening • Life is People • Dead Oceans

9:04 AM Santigold • Ushers of The New World • Spirituals • Little Jerk

9:08 AM The Altons • Waiting • Heartache in Room 14 • Daptone

9:14 AM Deep Sea Diver • Loose Change • Billboard Heart • Sub Pop

February 22, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #746)

9:01 AM Jerry Butler • Need to Belong • The Singles • Charly

9:04 AM Chappell Roan • Coffee • The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess • Amusement/Island

9:07 AM Frog • HOUSEBROKEN VAR. IV • 1000 Variations on the Same Song • Audio Antihero

9:14 AM Hurray for the Riff Raff • Pyramid Scheme • single • Nonesuch

February 15, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #745)

9:00 AM Janet Jackson • Every Time • The Velvet Rope • Virgin Records America

9:05 AM Paul Weller • Rockets • On Sunset • Polydor

9:09 AM Allen Stone • Memory Of You • Mystery • ATO

9:17 AM Kelela • 30 Years • In the Blue Light • Warp

February 8, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #744)

9:01 AM Frank Sinatra • What's Now is Now • Watertown • Reprise

9:05 AM Jill Scott • So in Love (feat. Anthony Hamilton) • The Light of the Sun • Blue Babe/Warner Bros.

9:09 AM Shining Glass • Three Died • Yellow & Purple • self-released

9:15 AM Ambrose Akinmusire • Blessed (the ongoing processional of nighas in hoodies) • Honey from a Winter Stone • Nonesuch

January 25, 2025 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #743)

9:00 AM The Who • Tattoo • The Who Sell Out • Track

9:03 AM Neneh Cherry • Synchronised Devotion • Broken Politics • Smalltown Supersound

9:07 AM Kris & Jerry • A Sunny Day • A Sunny Day • Frederiksberg

9:15 AM Self Esteem • Focus is Power • A Complicated Woman • Polydor

January 18, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #742)

9:00 AM Teena Marie • Love Me Down Easy • Emerald City • Epic

9:05 AM Makaya McCraven • So Ubuji • In These Times • International Anthem

9:07 AM hemlock • Full • 444 • self-released

9:13 AM The Weather Station • Lonely • Humanhood • Fat Possum

January 11, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #741)

9:00 AM The Softies • Sigh Sigh Sigh • The Bed I Made • Father/Daughter

9:02 AM Pernice Brothers • Ordinary Goldmine • Who Will You Believe • New West/Ashmont

9:05 AM Drasii • The Voyager • Spirito Celeste • FPE

9:13 AM English Teacher • You Blister My Paint • This Could Be Texas • Island

January 4, 2025 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #740)

9:00 AM Madi Diaz • Everything Almost • Weird Faith • ANTI-

9:03 AM BONZIE • Isn't it Funny • When I Found the Trap Door • Beevine

9:09 AM Glad Rags • Not Like the Movies • single • Sinkhole Sounds

9:14 AM MICHELLE • Noah • Songs About You Specifically • Atlantic