2025 Favorite Musics

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It’s that time of year again.

2025 was a great year for music. We started with a list of 114 albums that caught my ear this year. From there, I whittled it down to my favorite 50 of the year. I’ve spent more time with some of these albums than others, but these are my favorites of the year.




The Holiday at the Sea 50 Favorite Musics of 2025 BIG PICTURE:

The Holiday at the Sea 50 Favorite Musics of 2025 BREAKDOWN:

  • Black Hole Superette by Aesop Rock

  • Anónimo by Juana Aguirre

  • The Omniverse Oriki by Marshall Allen

  • L'amour à la folie by Amadou & Mariam

  • Mulatu Plays Mulatu by Mulatu Astatke

Draw Near by Aux Meadows

Hillbilly Ragas by Sir Richard Bishop

Inland See by Bitchin Bajas

VII by Budos Band

Neon Grey Midnight Green by Neko Case

Hyperglyph by Chicago Underground Duo

Vol III: Ancestros Futuros by Cochemea

New Threats From The Soul by Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band

Disiniblud by Disiniblud (Rachika Nayar & Nina Keith)

Under Tangled Silence by Djrum

Horizons by Daniel Donato

Sasquatch Landslide by the Dwarfs of East Agouza

41 Longfield Street Late '80s by Four Tet And William Tyler

Getting Killed by Geese

QUIK-MELT by m. geddes gengras

Patterner by Golden Brown

Planting by the Signs by S.G. Goodman

Daylight Daylight by Steve Gunn

Noor-e Vojood by Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian

Phonetics On and On by Horsegirl

Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) by Seun Kuti

Alone III (EP) by Lambert

Africanism by the Last Poets and Tony Allen ft. Egypt 80

Lotus by Little Simz

Techno Logic, The People's Mixtape, Hidden Out!, PopUp Shop by Makaya McCraven

The Heat Warps by Modern Nature

Totality by Natural Information Society / Bitchin Bajas

Another Place by Pachyman

Sinister Grift by Panda Bear

Made Through Ritual by Plunky & Oneness of Juju

Songs For Workers Tian Qiyi & Jah Wobble

Slow Pain: Live and Solo from Drop of Sun by Rosali

Sol Y Sombra by Rose City Band

Sametou Sawtan by SANAM

The Collapse Of Everything by Adrian Sherwood

How You Been by SML

Snocaps by Snocaps

Other Worlds and Habitats by the Sorcerers

Live 2024 by Soul Coughing

With Trampled By Turtles by Alan Sparhawk

TAKAAT - Is Noise, Vol. 1 by TAKAAT

Jazz is Dead 22: Ebo Taylor by Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Touch by Tortoise

Cotton Crown by the Tubs

SOGOLO by Witch

Shakti NPR Tiny Desk Concert (2023)

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Here is Hussain reuniting with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin for their project Shakti at NPR’s Tiny Desk.

NPR’s Felix Contreras says:

“It's hard to get past the significance of this performance by the Indian jazz fusion band, Shakti. Initially formed in 1973 by jazz guitarist John McLaughlin with virtuoso traditional Indian musicians, the band opened the doors for others to expand their musical appreciation beyond Western music. 50 years later, as guitarist McLaughlin reunites with tabla player Zakir Hussain to take Shakti on another world tour, the group stopped by for a magically inspiring performance behind the Tiny Desk.”

Setlist:

  1. "Shrini's Dream"

  2. "Lotus Feet"

  3. "Bending the Rules"

Players:

  • John McLaughlin: guitar

  • Zakir Hussain: tabla

  • Selvaganesh Vinayakaram: kanjira, ghatam

  • Shankar Mahadevan: vocals

  • Ganesh Rajagopalan: violin

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert (2010)

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As we continue to mourn Zakir Hussain, we also celebrate his life and legacy through the wonderful music he left us. Wildly innovative and a master of his craft Hussain often collaborated with unlikely partners, blending musical styles.

One of his better known cross-genre projects was with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. The trio stopped by the NPR studios for a Tiny Desk performance in 2010.

Setlist:

  1. "Bubbles"

  2. "Bahar"

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

Zakir Hussain and Dave Holland Live as Crosscurrents

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Remembering Zakir Hussain, here he is with Dave Holland on bass, a jazz band including Chris Potter on saxophone, Bollywood vocal star Shankar Mahadevan, and Mumbai-based jazz guitarist Sanjay Divecha among others.

Setlist:

  1. "Radhe Rani"

  2. "Hope"

  3. "Shadows"

  4. "Rama Rama"

  5. "Doors"

  6. "Solace"

  7. "Finding The Light"

  8. "Encounter / Breathless"

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Live At KEXP (2017)

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KEXP presents King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded October 11, 2017.

Setlist:

  • Welcome to an Altered Future

  • Digital Black

  • Han-Tyumi The Confused Cyborg

  • The Lord of Lightning

  • Altered Beast I

  • Alter Me I

  • Altered Beast II

  • Alter Me II

  • Altered Beast III

  • Alter Me III

  • Altered Beast IV

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s website

  • Follow King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Twitter

  • Visit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Facebook

  • Support King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Bandcamp

  • Purchase King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s music at Amazon

Raz Mesinai and Shahzad Ismaily Live

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Today we feature a live duo performance from Raz Mesinai and Shahzad Ismaily.

The Deets:

  • Raz Mesinai - frame drum, effects

  • Shahzad Ismaily - bass

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Dosh, Ismaily, Young

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Yesterday we began a short series of posts highlighting 2023 albums I didn’t get a chance to spend enough time with prior to compiling my year-end list with Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah’s “The Falcon Ate The Flower.”

Next up is the self-titled release from Dosh, Ismaily, Young. Featuring “drummer Marty Dosh (Dosh, Andrew Bird, Fog), bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3, Arooj Aftub), and guitarist Tim Young (Wayne Horvitz’s Zony Mash, David Sylvian, Michael White).”

With Shazad already appearing on the 2023 round up with Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, this marks Ismaily’s second appearance on my favorite albums of 2023.

This is not so much a review as a profile, so I take no shame in quoting the Bandcamp page to help you get a picture of this wild ride: “On their debut self-titled release, these master musicians effortlessly deliver six solid tracks including an 11-minute krautrock mindblower, a meditation on the end of the world, and explorations into Stax-soul, space-rock, and free-jazz.”

If you’ve taken the time and effort to read this far, it’s probably because we share the same music vibes. I highly recommend this release, especially since physical copies are in short supply.

Watch the official video for the opening track, “Blast:”

  • Support Dosh, Ismaily, Young at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Dosh, Ismaily, Young’s music at Amazon

2023 :: Favorite Music

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Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?

the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:

  • Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //

  • Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • New Blue Sun by André 3000 // site // Amzn //

  • My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily // site // Amzn //

  • Black Duck by Black Duck // BC // Amzn //

  • Sun Arcs by Blue Lake // BC // Amzn //

  • Sahel by Bombino // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy // BC // Amzn //

  • Dimanche à Bamako by Bounaly // BC // Amzn //

  • the Record by boygenius // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) by jaimie branch // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Nocturnal Country by Sammy Brue // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Villagers by Califone // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Chitinous Mandible by Chitinous Mandible // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Hostile Environment by Creation Rebel // BC // Amzn //

  • Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan // site // FB // Amzn //

  • & the Charm by Avalon Emerson // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Some Kinda Love Performing The Music Of the Velvet Underground by the Feelies // site // BC // Amzn //

  • A River Running To Your Heart by Fruit Bats // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Let the Moon Be a Planet by Steve Gunn & David Moore // BC // Amzn //

  • Philanthropy by Hauschka // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Days In The Desert by High Pulp // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //

  • Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //

  • New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //

  • No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Since Time Is Gravity by Natural Information Society // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Travel by the Necks // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Jump On It by Bill Orcutt // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Switched-On by Pachyman // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • The Times by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Drag On Girard by Purling Hiss // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Window by Ratboys // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Garden Party by Rose City Band // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Live at Third Man Records by Rich Ruth // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Robed In Rareness by Shabazz Palaces // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Everything Is Alive by Slowdive // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Javelin by Sufjan Stevens // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Music Is Victory Over Time by Sunwatchers // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Secret Stratosphere by William Tyler And The Impossible Truth // BC // FB // Amzn //

Oki Dub Ainu Band Live For KeenStream

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From the Youtube page:

“Festival TV on KEENSTREAM, a YouTube program that started in April 2020, hoping that the day will come when we can enjoy the music and outdoor activities that we love. We welcome over 100 artists in total and liven up the program with MC George Williams.”

  • Visit the official Oki Ainu Dub Band website

  • Follow Oki Dub Ainu Band at Facebook

  • Purchase Oki Dub Ainu Band’s music at Amazon

  • Hear "マナウレラ - Matnaw Rera" by Oki Dub Ainu Band on Episode 06 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow

  • See other Holiday at the Sea Oki Ainu Dub Band posts

jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: Roulette, Brooklyn :: XXIII Vision Festival :: 05.28.18

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As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

So far we’ve visited a solo set, a trio set and a two-part live show. Let’s round out the week with this quartet setup, live from 2018. This one includes a bit more information, including the players, which include branch on Trumpet, Anton Hatwich on Bass ,Lester St. Louis on Cello, Chad Taylor on Drums.

This was at: Roulette Intermedium, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn May 28th 2018

  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon

jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: First St. Green : Arts For Art :: Paris :: 09/29/19

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As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

So far, we/ve visited a solo set and examined two of her songs with lyrics and another one Yesterday we covered a band set, and today is branch in a trio format. As with the other sets, not a lot of information or tracklisting here, but ti’s great nonetheless. This set features Branch on trumpet, Luke Stewart on bass, Mike Pride on drums.

OH, and apparently this was “on Roy Campbell & Steve Dalachinsky's birthday.”

  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon

jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: New Morning :: Paris :: 07/12/21

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As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

Yesterday, we visited a solo set and examined one of her songs with lyrics and another one today. Here is branch with branch on trumpet, Lester St. Louis on cello, Jason Ajemian on bass, and Chad Taylor on drums.

As with the other one, not much information to go by here other than “Jaimie Branch - First Set (New Morning - Paris - July 12th 2021).” No setlist or anything, but you can figure it out if you really want to. I’m just grooving.

Set One:

Set Two:

  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon

jaimie "breezy" branch forever :: Solo Set (2022)

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As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!

We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.

First up is a solo set from “Record Shop - July 2 2022.”

Not much else information about this one, but it’s well worth your time.

  • Visit branch’s website

  • Read Aquarium Drunkar'd’s 2019 interview with branch

  • Support branch at Bandcamp

  • Purchase branch’s music at Amazon

Charles Mingus Sextet, at the Konserthuset Stockholm, Sweden

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Charles Mingus Sextet, at the Konserthuset Stockholm, Sweden, April 13th, 1964 (Colorized).

Setlist:

  1. So Long Eric

  2. Meditations

  3. So Long Eric (Second Version)

Players:

  • Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy

  • Bass – Charles Mingus

  • Drums – Dannie Richmond

  • Piano – Jaki Byard

  • Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

  • Trumpet – Johnny Coles

Sons of Kemet Live at Big Ears Festival (2019)

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“This concert was recorded at The Mill & Mine on March 24, 2019, as part of the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tenn.”

Setlist:

  1. "My Queen is Ada Eastman"

  2. "My Queen is Angela Davis"

  3. "The Itis"

  4. "Breadfruit"

  5. "Mo' Wiser"

  6. "My Queen is Harriet Tubman"

  7. "My Queen is Mamie Phipps Clark"

  8. "Inner Babylon"

  9. "My Queen is Berta Cáceres"

  10. "My Queen is Albertina Sisulu"

  11. "Afrofuturism"

Players:

  • Shabaka Hutchings (saxophone)

  • Theon Cross (tuba)

  • Tom Skinner (drums)

  • Eddie Hicks (drums)

  • Visit the official Shabaka Hutchings website

  • Follow Sons of Kemet at Facebook

  • Support Sons of Kemet at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Sons of Kemet’s music at Amazon

Shabaka and The Ancestors :: Live at the NTS Live at Jazz Cafe (2017)

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Shabaka and The Ancestors :: Live at the NTS Live at Jazz Cafe (2017). Sorry, I don’t know much else about this show. The Youtube page doesn’t include any further information or setlist.

Oh well.

Enjoy.

  • Visit the official Shabaka Hutchings website.

  • Visit Shabaka and the Ancestors’ Bandcamp page.

  • Follow Shabaka and the Ancestors at Facebook.

Thelonious Monk :: Amiens 1966

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Thelonious Monk Quartet, live in Amiens, France, 1966. This show is often referenced as part of the “Gordon Skene Sound Collection.”

Maison de la Culture, Amiens, France, March 23, 1966.

Setlist:

  1. Blue Monk

  2. Crepuscule With Nellie

  3. Rhythm-A-Ning

  4. Hackensack

  5. Epistrophy

  6. Evidence

  7. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

  8. Round Midnight

  9. Epistrophy

Players:

  • Thelonious Monk

  • Charlie Rouse

  • Larry Gales

  • Ben Riley

  • Visit Thelonious Monk’s page at Blue Note Records.

  • Purchase Thelonious Monk’s music at Amazon.

Galactic & Macy Gray Live For KEXP

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Galactic & Macy Gray performing live on KEXP from The Triple Door as part of KEXP's VIP Club Concert series. Recorded July 16, 2015.


Setlist:

  1. Long Live the Borgne

  2. Sugar Doosie

  3. Go Go

  4. Ooh Nah Nay

  5. Into the Deep

  6. Relating to a Psychopath

  7. I Try

  • Important People:

    Audio Engineer: Craig Montgomery

  • Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Shelly Corbett, Scott Holpainen, Luke Knecht, Justin Wilmore

  • Editor: Luke Knecht

The Dave Pike Set (1970)

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If you don’t know, Dave Pike, was a jazz vibraphone and marimba player.

Sorry, I don’t know anything about this one or have the setlist. I think this was on Belgian TV, but what do I know.

It’s worth your time.

Miles Davis Quintet, Live at the 1967 Stockholm Jazz Festival

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Miles Davis Quintet live at the 1967 Stockholm Jazz Festival.

From the Youtube comments: “This is 50 YEARS AGO, and it sounds like tomorrow. How the hell???”

Setlist:

  1. Agitation

  2. Footprints

  3. ‘Round Midnight

  4. Gingerbread Boy

Players:

  • Trumpet: Miles Davis

  • Saxophone: Wayne Shorter

  • Piano: Herbie Hancock

  • Bass: Ron Carter

  • Drums: Tony Williams