With each passing year it gets harder and harder to find new artists that fire me up and are actually worth a second listen. Your year end list has kept me busy for about a month and , other than those such as the Feat and Mavis, I found Mike Farris to be a home run that slipped past me. as always, your work is appreciated!
thanks for tossing me into the backseat of your time machine and taking me back to '76, one of the favorite years of my 72 years of existence. As anticipated, you succinctly captured the essence of all forms of pop culture rolling full steam during that time. Music, film, even the politics and promise of the Carter (rock n roll president) presidency were recaptured. Thanks again Michael...
You may have missed a couple genius albums: Benmont Tench's The Melancholy Season, Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill's Long After the Fire, and John Howie Jr.'s The Return of... All of them are stunning. (I put out a solo record too, btw.) Enjoy your 2026 listening!
Man, I heard and loved John Howie's album, and, to be honest, it was an oversight not to include it in the list. (It was more enjoyable than Isbell's, in fact.) I briefly dipped into Tench's, but not enough to fully form an opinion, and yours is definitely at the top of my to-listen list for the new year. Thanks for checking in!
As always, incisive and powerful without being a jackass about it. Each time you write, I learn something, reconsider something and / or find something cool. Thanks! (PS: your mixtapes are gold. Would ever make them for Tidal, too? “I have life, dude,” is an acceptable answer.)
Happy New Year as John said "Let's hope it's a good one." I cooked Gumbo for Clifton C. and Billy F. @ Moma's Money next to next door to Antones Summer of 78 so I get (and got) that CD in 25. Also finished my first book: Lostinaustinbook.substack.com
I saw Lilly in NC in 23. Very good but yeah all the others are so much Geese and Goose even the good ones. We need better songs. Samara Joy hits it good. Loved OCMS Christmas songs very inspiring NC Folks who have grown from their Wagon Wheel days.
It's been a long cold winter so far.
Thanks for the list.
Always insightful stuff.
My sleeper hit is an old one but it's got legs. Old is newer than the new now.
England Dan & John Ford Coley's "New Jersey" where I'm from. Their music has more going on it seems than Jason, James, Amanda and Sharon put together maybe they should form a super group JJA&S they need something else. But what? Hippie romanticism? That's my tip.
You're exactly right - we do need better songs. I'd like to think we're slowly getting back to crafting memorable melodies and compelling lyrics, but it's been a whole lot of style with very little substance for quite a while now. Not just in pop, where one would expect it, but also in what they call "Americana."
Since the "boom-clap-hey" craptastic overload that hit us in the 2010s, coupled with the Civil War general-looking hipsters with banjos and fiddles that invaded the roots music world at that time, it sounded like they were more concerned with aural soundscaping than giving us memorable songs. A pox on the lot of 'em.
Checking out the chapters you've posted on your book...something to keep me busy over the rest of the holidays. Nice!
Great wrap-up. I’m completely with you on Van. When I first heard “Down to Joy” I looked up from what I was doing and stared at the wall. He doesn’t sound like he’s 80.
One of the best top 25 album list I've read so far. Mainly because we're in complete agreement on a number of these albums; James McMurtry, Jason Isbell and Van Morrison. They were all on my top 10 album list.
Fascinating that McMurtry drops in a lyric about opening for Isbell in his song Saling Away. I spent a lot of time listening to McMurtry's The Horses and the Hounds this year as well. Another excellent album.
With Snipe Hunter, it didn't capture my attention as much as his earlier work. There are two songs that I feel are exceptional (Oneida and Nose on the Grindstone). Oneida being as close to a perfect song as possible.
Big fan of Little Feat since the late 70's but they're release this year didn't grab me. I'll have to listen again.
"Sailing Away" is probably my favorite off the album, but it's a tough call. I saw him on the tour opening for Isbell, so that line was an unexpected bonus.
The two Childers songs you mentioned, coupled with the audacity of the approach, boosted that album's stature for sure.
The trick with Little Feat's latest is not to listen from ears trained on 'Waiting for Columbus,' but from the 'Let it Roll' and 'Representing the Mambo' era. While I think curbing expectations is necessary, once you have, it stands pretty strong on its own.
With each passing year it gets harder and harder to find new artists that fire me up and are actually worth a second listen. Your year end list has kept me busy for about a month and , other than those such as the Feat and Mavis, I found Mike Farris to be a home run that slipped past me. as always, your work is appreciated!
thanks for tossing me into the backseat of your time machine and taking me back to '76, one of the favorite years of my 72 years of existence. As anticipated, you succinctly captured the essence of all forms of pop culture rolling full steam during that time. Music, film, even the politics and promise of the Carter (rock n roll president) presidency were recaptured. Thanks again Michael...
Thanks for reading, as always! So glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this list, Michael. Now I have some new albums to pour over! I actually just wrote about Jim Croce, given your taste in music, I'd love to hear your thoughts: https://open.substack.com/pub/thomasobrien/p/jim-croce-the-brilliant-songwriter?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
You may have missed a couple genius albums: Benmont Tench's The Melancholy Season, Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill's Long After the Fire, and John Howie Jr.'s The Return of... All of them are stunning. (I put out a solo record too, btw.) Enjoy your 2026 listening!
Man, I heard and loved John Howie's album, and, to be honest, it was an oversight not to include it in the list. (It was more enjoyable than Isbell's, in fact.) I briefly dipped into Tench's, but not enough to fully form an opinion, and yours is definitely at the top of my to-listen list for the new year. Thanks for checking in!
Great playlist, thank you … and best of 2026!
As always, incisive and powerful without being a jackass about it. Each time you write, I learn something, reconsider something and / or find something cool. Thanks! (PS: your mixtapes are gold. Would ever make them for Tidal, too? “I have life, dude,” is an acceptable answer.)
I've used TIDAL a tad (the John Hiatt: Covered Mixtape, for example). I plan to dig into it a little more in the coming year, hopefully.
Thanks for reading and the kind words!
Mavis' best album in years. Amazing.
Man, we lost SO many good 'uns. Hard to see 'em listed like that.
Happy new year from Aotearoa!
Ain't that the truth. It was overwhelming listing them all.
Thanks, and happy new year to you!
Happy New Year as John said "Let's hope it's a good one." I cooked Gumbo for Clifton C. and Billy F. @ Moma's Money next to next door to Antones Summer of 78 so I get (and got) that CD in 25. Also finished my first book: Lostinaustinbook.substack.com
I saw Lilly in NC in 23. Very good but yeah all the others are so much Geese and Goose even the good ones. We need better songs. Samara Joy hits it good. Loved OCMS Christmas songs very inspiring NC Folks who have grown from their Wagon Wheel days.
It's been a long cold winter so far.
Thanks for the list.
Always insightful stuff.
My sleeper hit is an old one but it's got legs. Old is newer than the new now.
England Dan & John Ford Coley's "New Jersey" where I'm from. Their music has more going on it seems than Jason, James, Amanda and Sharon put together maybe they should form a super group JJA&S they need something else. But what? Hippie romanticism? That's my tip.
Too much know it all without answers.
Better luck next year.
Margaret Glaspy breaks through?
I've gone Big Band Jazz. Real Gone!
Sinatra hit number 1 that says it all.
Night and Day You are #1!
You're exactly right - we do need better songs. I'd like to think we're slowly getting back to crafting memorable melodies and compelling lyrics, but it's been a whole lot of style with very little substance for quite a while now. Not just in pop, where one would expect it, but also in what they call "Americana."
Since the "boom-clap-hey" craptastic overload that hit us in the 2010s, coupled with the Civil War general-looking hipsters with banjos and fiddles that invaded the roots music world at that time, it sounded like they were more concerned with aural soundscaping than giving us memorable songs. A pox on the lot of 'em.
Checking out the chapters you've posted on your book...something to keep me busy over the rest of the holidays. Nice!
Great wrap-up. I’m completely with you on Van. When I first heard “Down to Joy” I looked up from what I was doing and stared at the wall. He doesn’t sound like he’s 80.
True!
One of the best top 25 album list I've read so far. Mainly because we're in complete agreement on a number of these albums; James McMurtry, Jason Isbell and Van Morrison. They were all on my top 10 album list.
Fascinating that McMurtry drops in a lyric about opening for Isbell in his song Saling Away. I spent a lot of time listening to McMurtry's The Horses and the Hounds this year as well. Another excellent album.
With Snipe Hunter, it didn't capture my attention as much as his earlier work. There are two songs that I feel are exceptional (Oneida and Nose on the Grindstone). Oneida being as close to a perfect song as possible.
Big fan of Little Feat since the late 70's but they're release this year didn't grab me. I'll have to listen again.
"Sailing Away" is probably my favorite off the album, but it's a tough call. I saw him on the tour opening for Isbell, so that line was an unexpected bonus.
The two Childers songs you mentioned, coupled with the audacity of the approach, boosted that album's stature for sure.
The trick with Little Feat's latest is not to listen from ears trained on 'Waiting for Columbus,' but from the 'Let it Roll' and 'Representing the Mambo' era. While I think curbing expectations is necessary, once you have, it stands pretty strong on its own.
Thanks for reading!
Wilk take your advice on the new Little Feat album. Let It Roll is fantastic. Rad Gumbo as well. I can listen to that all day.
Rooster Rag, in my opinion is a magnificent album and I've held that as the new standard.
"Rad Gumbo" is an all-timer for me, for sure! Love 'Rooster Rag,' too. I saw them on that tour, from what I recall.
I'm also a big fan of 'Ain't Had Enough Fun.' I feel the Shaun Murphy years are maddeningly underrated and overlooked.