Selected by: Tracey M-Z. (El Segundo, CA)
I gave this album a good listen after hearing it was Portugal.The Man’s homage to their homeland Alaska, which I was lucky enough to visit for the first time in 2025. This track is a blend of poetic & political, resonant of life in general these days.
Portugal. The Man - Angoon (Live @ History // Toronto // 11.27.2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfLhu3FH09g&list=RDJfLhu3FH09g&start_radio=1
Selected by: Drew B. (El Segundo, CA)
Irreverent take on modern life
bby - Fuggit (Live on Callum's Roof)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efkzV_eEIM8&list=RDefkzV_eEIM8&start_radio=1
Selected by: Katja T. (El Segundo, CA)
I love the harmonies and all the feathery layering.
oklou - intro + thank you for recording @ The Independent 10/25/25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4mBMXnmK2U&list=RDd4mBMXnmK2U&start_radio=1
Selected by: Brendan G. (El Segundo, CA)
Driving, haunting, grooving, mysterious...these are the things that I love about songs and this has them all in abundance
Bonus Pick: Dove Ellis - "To The Sandals"... another song from 2025 that has all the things I love about songs...
Geese - Islands of men - Live @ BBC Radio 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0wDq4g32qg&list=RDC0wDq4g32qg&start_radio=1
Selected by: Kirstin S. (Portland, OR)
2025. Oooof. A year to endure. A year that stretched me beyond measure for all the reasons, personal and collective. Brandi's new album came this autumn like an oxygen mask. A complete breath of fresh air, a place to escape, a place to be seen, a place to just be. It was hard to pick one song. Human seems like almost the easy choice. If you haven't gotten lost in an album yet, I highly recommend this one. Put it on repeat. Old school style. You will hear it differently by the 4th time. By the 10th it will completely change you. A nod to the 80s and 90s divine femininity, sounds of twang and rock, pulling on decades of female legends Pat, Bonnie, Sinead, Alison, Patti, Sarah, Jewel, Amy & Emily - the storytellers of soulful melodies and power ballads.
Bonus Pick: always so many... this year - new tunes from - The Beths, Mt. Joy, Bon Iver, Tame Impala, Head & the Heart...
Brandi Carlile - Human (Live on SNL)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qsHu-wUw4U&list=RD_qsHu-wUw4U&start_radio=1
Selected by: Megan G. (San Diego, CA)
When your heart starts beating faster and you belt out every word out loud…you know it’s a good one!
Mumford & Sons with Hozier - Rubber Band Man (Live on The Graham Norton Show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThEKMSRXgdA&list=RDThEKMSRXgdA&start_radio=1