If I may be so bold, the following 11 songs may make for a festive New Year's Eve playlist. Hope you enjoy them!
1. Spangled by Fust.
"They tore down the hospital
Out on route 11.
I'm not sure what happened
Seems like repossession.
And I'm not one to try to get
All the way to Heaven.
But I can't even mention
The last place it was relevant.
Now I can't even mention
The last room I may have been in it, so
Give my love to Amy
Give my love to Kevin.
They tore down the hospital
And I'm left floating
In room 305."
Since I first heard "Spangled" and then many of Fust's other songs from the excellent "Big Ugly" album it was destined for the top of this year's List. And, no, not because of the Kevin reference above. Fust frontman Aaron Dowdy is a Ph.D. candidate in literature at Duke. His father's family has deep roots in Southern West Virginia (hence both Big Ugly, which references an area in Lincoln County, WV and many of the songs on the album which contain West-by-God themes). He's originally from Appalachian Virginia having lived in Bristol, VA. And Fust's alt-country sound seems to be where I lean (although not exclusively) these days. Also check out "Gateleg" (with perhaps my favorite lyrics of the year: "I still remember you walking down the mountain with that gateleg you built her; 'Cause you remembered that the car was propped up on cinders at Jerry's lot; He can't put it back together but, boy, he can take it apart"), "Goat House Blues," "Jody," and "Mountain Language" from Big Ugly.
2. Little Acts Of Violence by Ray Bull.
"I'm in a theater
Your voice is coming through the speakers
I always knew you were a singer
I never stopped to ask you nicely
Do you like me?
Do you like it when I talk back baby?"
Doesn't sound like the happiest of family lives for Ray Bull (Aaron Graham and Tucker Elkins). But there's something about this song, as divorced from my life as the lyrics may be, that both attracted me to it in the first place and had me listening all 2025 long.
3. Nothing I Need by Lord Huron.
"I fell asleep, and when I woke up, she was there
With her long black hair and her ice-cold stare.
She made me wish that I had never let her go
I threw away our love on the g**damn road
But I see her face everywhere I go."
Once again falling just short of the top spot, Lord Huron are back on The List with this tale of regretted love lost. "Nothing I Need," however, is their ninth song on one version or another of The List. Also recommended as worth a listen from "The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1" are "Watch Me Go" and "Used to Know." Yes, the Lord's name is used in vain therein. Repeatedly.
4. Dancing in the Club by This Is Lorelei - MJ Lenderman Version.
"I lay down in that street
My favorite city's artery
And I stared into the moon
Like it was staring back at me."
Yet another lost love/hangdog loser song. But this one featuring This Is Lorelei and MJ Lenderman (whom we saw in April with Jeff and Deborah). You can listen to the original version (without Lenderman or his voice) here, but I much prefer this one. Language warning for this one, kiddos.
5. Bury Me by Jason Isbell.
"Well, I ain't no cowboy, but I can ride.
And I ain't no outlaw, but I've been inside.
And there were bars of steel, boys, and there were bars to sing
And there were bars with swingin' doors for all the time between."
About as pure country as any song that's ever appeared here. I was surprised to find that Isbell has actually bested Lord Huron's List frequency with ten appearances, including his (with the 400 Unit's) most excellent cover of Metallica's "Sad But True."
6. The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man) by Car Seat Headrest.
"Signs point in every direction
Advertising a one-night heaven
Got no clue what's driving us
Blind as hell and burning up with your love."
Back after a long (eight year) break, Car Seat Headrest reappear with "The Catastrophe," a song from their concept album/rock opera "The Scholars." Welcome back boys (and, no, I have no idea why Will Toledo is wearing a mask while singing in the video). Bonus lyrics: "Is my love true? Are you still afraid of me? Can you make it work? Is this kind of dumb? Does it put the ram in the ramalamadingdong?
7. Red by Jesse Welles.
"There's a deep swamp and I'll drain it
For my people are in danger
Who would've ever thought the Deep State
Were the National Park rangers?"
I try to avoid most things political these days. But this one is just too on-point to ignore.
8. Royal by Goose.
"Dancin' on a two top singing
Heart beating in his hand
Twisted up bad
Like a wet bar rag
Back on the road again."
I was somewhat incredulous when Goose, essentially a jam band, made The List in 2023 because of my long held loathing of ... well, basically any jam band. Yet here they are back with "Royal" a song about a road-weary musician. I suspect Rick Mitarotonda's voice has a lot to do with that.
9. Pablo Picasso by Matt Nathanson.
"You strung a wire, higher across the sky
Made me forget my name and my fear of heights
Didn't have to ask me when I ran that thing twice
Like I was born with wings."
Yes! An actual love song. And from an artist who generally seems to prefer reminisces of love lost. Good on you, Mr. Nathanson. And if you are for some reason in need of an(other) example of disillusionment (in love and more broadly) check out "Whitney Houston's National Anthem" recorded with the Indigo Girls (featuring this great couplet: "Your brother used to come around the house; He knows better than to pull that bullsh!t now"). Language warning for both, as you might have guessed at least for the latter.
10. Well I Know You're Shy by Horsegirl.
"What happened out there?
I wish it was me
What happened out there?
Well, I know you're shy
If you listen to me, you'll know
I wanna say, 'Hi,' in your window."
Just a fun, catchy, bouncy song from Chicago's own Horsegirl. "La-di, da-di, di, di."
11. Stone Cold Killer by Proton Pool Party.
"All of the roads lead to home
Where you lay I will
Show you the song I was working on.
The weeks go on.
We don’t talk as much because
You got off on the wrong stop."
Probably the most obscure song on this year's List, with 162 views on YouTube as I compose. Another Irish band, another song about ... not love lost but clearly teetering on the brink.
Hope you enjoyed this year's (timely!) effort. Stayed tuned for more new music in 2026.
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