A very eclectic mix! Love the Weather Station record and have also enjoyed the Anna B Savage album. Was disappointed with FKA Twigs personally. Not familiar with the others but will check them out.
Thanks for reading Mark! Not sure I like the Weather Station and Anna B. Savage albums quite as much as I did their last releases but I haven’t listened to them near as much. FKA Twigs has been hit and miss for me over the years but I like this new one
Yes, I'm particularly enjoying the latest from Franz Ferdinand, The Human Fear. While released late in 2024, I also really like the latest from A Flock of Seagulls, Some Dreams. I've got a new weekly post I'm doing called New Music, New Adventures where I discuss what's going on in my life as well as the latest new music I've been into. Check it out if you haven't: https://danpal.substack.com/
What a diverse and bountiful “pool” of new music! I really do admire the open mindedness and enthusiasm. And here I am, making sure I complete my B.B. King and Sam Cooke collections! 😅 I was made for different times, way before my own time, no question. Still, it’s refreshing to see that new music can still conquer music lovers’ ears and hearts.
Definitely a bunch of great new releases in January! I probably could’ve added another half dozen to the list but had to cut off somewhere.
I think it’s great that you know what music you like and are looking to fill in your collections I sometimes wonder whether casting my musical net so widely means I get less enjoyment from some of my old favorites because I don’t listen to them enough. Your musical tastes allow you to go deep and I think there’s just as much pleasure in that.
Thank you! I see what you mean. I sometimes feel a bit “jealous” (in the best possible sense) when I see others enjoy such a large amount of new music so much. For me, it’s the opposite. Nothing moves me until something blows me away. There’s no in-between for me. When I hear something I really like, I need to drop everything and Shazam the track in question. More often than not, it’s an artist I already know 🤣🤣 (and sometimes from a record I already own but don’t listen to very often).
I haven't listened to much, if any, new music in 2025 yet. I listened to this playlist without reading any of your opinions on them first. I was familiar with the first three, The Weather Station, FKA Twigs, and Anna B Savage. All the rest are new to me. I only listened once, so keep that in mind. What stood out for me? Prism Shores "Tourniquet" reminded me of late-era Replacements, in a good way. Dusqk was very intriguing to me, with the meditative, bloopy keyboard sounds and chimes blending with the frenetic electronic percussion. The contrast sucked me in. Circa Waves made me immediately think of Peter, Bjorn, and John. Are they Swedish? I will look that up after I hit "post." Really dug "Let's Leave Together." I apparently already had that Laughing Chimes song in my downloads for some reason, but it didn't sound familiar. It's very late '80s, but I can't place who they remind me of exactly. I like it, but it's not sounding unique enough for me on first listen.
Oh, I'll back up.... I did not like the FKA Twigs song. I have played it like 4 times and it just feels like it's trying too hard to be something. I liked The Weather Station song okay, I could see it growing on me. I loved their last album (or was it two albums ago?) so much that anything new has a lot to live up to. I felt similar with Anna B Savage. I really liked her last album and the couple of songs I've heard of the new one, neither feels as good as that one to me.
Okay, back to the playlist. Brooke Combe, decent soulful voice. Nothing that makes her stand out from the pack to me. It feels a bit soul throwback by-the-numbers. That's a bit harsher than I really feel.
I do love some groovy Brazilian music, so immediately latched onto this....until the male voice with too much effects on it came in. And then it was over! It felt like an interlude, not a song.
Decius....I'm gonna need more time with this one. I think I really dig it. It's super my thing, the LCD Soundsystem meets French raveup sound. I don't know if they are French. But it feels like the music of a bunch of artsy ironic-mustachioed Frenchmen.
Had never heard of Central Cee, but apparently he's headlining near me at a huge venue. He's got nice flow, but I don't feel like I need to hear this again. It needs more dynamics or at least a pause from the non-stop rap-a-tap.
In terms of what is new that has grabbed me? Everyone Says Hi's debut album is super slick, but the songs are strong. And I did really like the first play of the new David Gray album. The Jupiter & Okwess 'Ekoya' album is really rocking my world. And the new album from Tunng grabbed me on first listen. Not the whole thing, but I'm gonna have to listen to it more. I know Dan Pal loved the new Franz Ferdinand so I want to listen to that one.
A very eclectic mix! Love the Weather Station record and have also enjoyed the Anna B Savage album. Was disappointed with FKA Twigs personally. Not familiar with the others but will check them out.
Thanks for reading Mark! Not sure I like the Weather Station and Anna B. Savage albums quite as much as I did their last releases but I haven’t listened to them near as much. FKA Twigs has been hit and miss for me over the years but I like this new one
Really enjoy the tracks by FKA twigs, Rose City Band, Circa Waves, and Brooke Combe.
Glad you found something you enjoyed Dan! Do you have any new 2025 albums you’d recommend?
Yes, I'm particularly enjoying the latest from Franz Ferdinand, The Human Fear. While released late in 2024, I also really like the latest from A Flock of Seagulls, Some Dreams. I've got a new weekly post I'm doing called New Music, New Adventures where I discuss what's going on in my life as well as the latest new music I've been into. Check it out if you haven't: https://danpal.substack.com/
What a diverse and bountiful “pool” of new music! I really do admire the open mindedness and enthusiasm. And here I am, making sure I complete my B.B. King and Sam Cooke collections! 😅 I was made for different times, way before my own time, no question. Still, it’s refreshing to see that new music can still conquer music lovers’ ears and hearts.
Definitely a bunch of great new releases in January! I probably could’ve added another half dozen to the list but had to cut off somewhere.
I think it’s great that you know what music you like and are looking to fill in your collections I sometimes wonder whether casting my musical net so widely means I get less enjoyment from some of my old favorites because I don’t listen to them enough. Your musical tastes allow you to go deep and I think there’s just as much pleasure in that.
Thank you! I see what you mean. I sometimes feel a bit “jealous” (in the best possible sense) when I see others enjoy such a large amount of new music so much. For me, it’s the opposite. Nothing moves me until something blows me away. There’s no in-between for me. When I hear something I really like, I need to drop everything and Shazam the track in question. More often than not, it’s an artist I already know 🤣🤣 (and sometimes from a record I already own but don’t listen to very often).
Look forward to seeing you later today!
I haven't listened to much, if any, new music in 2025 yet. I listened to this playlist without reading any of your opinions on them first. I was familiar with the first three, The Weather Station, FKA Twigs, and Anna B Savage. All the rest are new to me. I only listened once, so keep that in mind. What stood out for me? Prism Shores "Tourniquet" reminded me of late-era Replacements, in a good way. Dusqk was very intriguing to me, with the meditative, bloopy keyboard sounds and chimes blending with the frenetic electronic percussion. The contrast sucked me in. Circa Waves made me immediately think of Peter, Bjorn, and John. Are they Swedish? I will look that up after I hit "post." Really dug "Let's Leave Together." I apparently already had that Laughing Chimes song in my downloads for some reason, but it didn't sound familiar. It's very late '80s, but I can't place who they remind me of exactly. I like it, but it's not sounding unique enough for me on first listen.
Oh, I'll back up.... I did not like the FKA Twigs song. I have played it like 4 times and it just feels like it's trying too hard to be something. I liked The Weather Station song okay, I could see it growing on me. I loved their last album (or was it two albums ago?) so much that anything new has a lot to live up to. I felt similar with Anna B Savage. I really liked her last album and the couple of songs I've heard of the new one, neither feels as good as that one to me.
Okay, back to the playlist. Brooke Combe, decent soulful voice. Nothing that makes her stand out from the pack to me. It feels a bit soul throwback by-the-numbers. That's a bit harsher than I really feel.
I do love some groovy Brazilian music, so immediately latched onto this....until the male voice with too much effects on it came in. And then it was over! It felt like an interlude, not a song.
Decius....I'm gonna need more time with this one. I think I really dig it. It's super my thing, the LCD Soundsystem meets French raveup sound. I don't know if they are French. But it feels like the music of a bunch of artsy ironic-mustachioed Frenchmen.
Had never heard of Central Cee, but apparently he's headlining near me at a huge venue. He's got nice flow, but I don't feel like I need to hear this again. It needs more dynamics or at least a pause from the non-stop rap-a-tap.
In terms of what is new that has grabbed me? Everyone Says Hi's debut album is super slick, but the songs are strong. And I did really like the first play of the new David Gray album. The Jupiter & Okwess 'Ekoya' album is really rocking my world. And the new album from Tunng grabbed me on first listen. Not the whole thing, but I'm gonna have to listen to it more. I know Dan Pal loved the new Franz Ferdinand so I want to listen to that one.