#20-Folk Bitch Trio-Now Would Be A Good Time-Debut album by this trio, made up of Gracie Sinclair, Heide Peverelle and Jeanie Pilkington from Melbourne. Call it folk, call it medicine….call it music.
“That’s it: the music is the sex!”-Jeanie Pilkington
#19-Dope Lemon-Golden Wolf-More of the same trippy, northern beaches, surf groove. Some may call it hang out bong music, if that is a genre. Angus Stoned. Hammock Grooves.
‘Golden Wolf,’ as a whole, is about going to the other side—what it is that’ll take you there at the end of all of this, moving into the next life, and how you’ll live it. There’s a beauty to be found in that journey and that process of moving through life. There’s no final destination, and I think that’s something that I’ve felt connected to in my own life. I hope people can also find meaning in that.-Angus Stone
#18-Warren Haynes-The Whisper Sessions-“We didn’t plan to release stripped-down versions of the songs from Million Voices Whisper, it just kind of happened organically,” says Haynes. “We were combing through these performances and realized that they offer a unique perspective into the songs themselves, so we thought it would be cool to make them available.”-WH
So very glad they did.
#17-Paul Kelly-Seventy-Paul Kelly reflects on aging…and life…and hey, it’s a fabulous PK record.
But 70, you know, 70 does feel to me like a real marker. It’s not like, I wouldn’t call it an, achievement ’cause you know, it’s not really up to you. You have a lot of luck if you live. as long as 70.. But you know, it used to be, I mean, it’s, it was supposed to be the sort of the, the average lifespan of a person… 70 is what, you know, is a biblical number. That’s, you know, that’s the span of our years If we, if we get that far. So In case you get there, it’s like, okay, well, you know, if, if I die tomorrow, I can’t say I’ve been cheated. You know? From here on in, everything else is gravy.-Paul Kelly
#16-Hayes Carl-We’re Only Human-Hard to believe I have been listening to this Texas troubadour for over 2 decades. Carl said about these tracks: “The sadness and frustration of being stuck. I’ve been running into the same walls for years. Fear, self-doubt, self-sabotage, disconnection—those have been my lifelong companions. I finally got sick enough of them to try and do some real work. The thought of being in the same place with the same struggles 20 years from now was unbearable to me. That personal exploration influenced my writing.” We truly are only…..human.
#15-The Pink Stones=Thank The Lord…It’s The Pink Stones-They may have changed the line-up of the band a bit, but Hunter Pinkston is still out front with his high lonesome vocals. They sound a little bit more laid back here. They HAVE NOT found religion. Fabulous country record.
“I’ve never been religious,” says Pinkston, “but I’ve always been fascinated with those early country guys who sang gospel tunes and wore suits with crosses on them even while they were getting into some pretty immoral stuff. I wanted this album to touch on both sides of that coin.”
#14-The Cruel Sea-Straight Into The Sun- This is a no-nonsense Cruel Sea groove. That particular texture, that certain smell. Turn it up as you lounge on the patio with your margarita, just don’t wake the neighbours.
#13-North Mississippi Allstars-Still Shakin’-They have been bringing us World Boogie for 25 years, and this is a new record celebrating that milestone. It’s an excellent record that deserves your attention. Boogie.
https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/50021029 Here is the Qobuz link….if you are still using Spotify….the playlist is above.
#12-Valerie June-Owls, Omens, and Oracles-‘How do we see light and joy and love and positivity in times that are so challenging?’” she said in a recent interview. “Not everybody agrees with everyone else, and that’s life, but how do we disagree in a way that is peaceful? I think the owl was sending me messages in that form.”
Ms June is a one-off. She plays music that goes from psychedelic to bluegrass and all roots and dirt in between. This is an uplifting and joyful album. We need more of this. Get into Valerie’s headspace for a while, you might like it there.
#11-Garret T. Capps-Life Is Strange-This Texan continues his meandering down the road of life and cosmic country. This is one dude who more people should know about. I like his take on life.
Even the song “Happy Birthday” from Life Is Strange features the refrain “Happy birthday … we’re all gonna die.”-Capps
#10-Charlie Musselwhite-Lookout Highway-At 81, Charlie is still making some of the best blues records today. Delta and Chicago blues wrapped up with some mussel!
“I kind of think of it as I’m just a working stiff,” he said the first time I asked. “What’s the fuss about, you know? But I do appreciate that people like what I do. I just keep plugging away at it. Looks like I’ve had a career over all these years. It’s been paying off.’-Charlie
#9-Don Was-Groove In The Face Of Adversity-The debut album of Don Was and the Pan Detroit Ensemble. Kicking off with a cover of Fat Freddy’s Drop song Midnight Marauders blows my mind. Love when someone picks a song you just don’t expect anyone to cover.
But this is Don Was, and his ears are always listening. This album is a tribute to Detroit’s sound, and it makes me feel good. I hope you get the same vibration because Don would want it that way. Positivity in the face of adversity, baby. It’s how we move these days….keep smiling.
#8-Greyhounds-Austin To Tulsa (Live)-Greyhounds and The King Cabbage Brass Band hit up some JJ Cale, Freddie King, Leon Russell and some re-jigged ‘hounds tunes. Line this one up with Waiting For Columbus by Little Feat and get the party started. Groove!
“Greyhounds make music real music, the right way, for all the right reasons.” - Derek Trucks
#7-St.Paul And The Broken Bones-St. Paul and The Broken Bones-Back to their roots after some experimentation, Paul Janeway and the Bones are back in their groove. This album will have you engaged, grooving and dancing from beginning to end. As Janeway said, “What are we doing? What is the band now?’ You go through that kind of identity-crisis stuff. What is the band, and is this still creatively satisfying?”
“Making this record was a long journey, but I think it’s one of those rare times where it felt really worth it,” Janeway says. “It feels very much like a renewed energy. And who knows? We might make our death metal record next.”
#6-Madeline Edwards-Fruit-I discovered Ms Edwards watching Farm Aid as a duo this year. She toured with Willie and Dylan this year. This album was born of grief, but there is hope and quite a bit of beauty in these tracks. This is her sophomore record, and you should listen to this and keep your eye on her.
#5-Tedeschi Trucks Band And Leon Russell Present: Mad Dogs and Englishmen (live at Lockn’2015) If you were lucky enough to see the film of this ‘reunion’ starring the TTB, Leon, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, and more on YouTube, you know how joyful it was. Here you get the entire enchilada, and it’s a beautiful recording filled with love. RIP Leon.
If you are ever anywhere near where the TTB plays….do not hesitate.
#4-Early James-Medium Raw-Not taking anything away from Alabama songwriter and player James, but this is another record Dan Auerbach has sprinkled his magic on. Recorded live in a run-down 100-year-old house, drop the needle into the groove and find yourself poking around the dusty nooks and crannies of Fredrick James Mullis Jr’s soul. Stripped back rock, blues, and Americana with a voice you think you’ve heard before. But it’s quite a voice. Highly recommend.
#3-Rose City Band-Sol Y Sambra-This may be my record of the year on any given day. The top 3 records are rotated constantly. I can get lost in this cosmic country like a wall in the woods on mushrooms. It washes over me…sometimes the lyrics become apparent, but mostly I’m digging the feeling. No thorns, all petals.
#2-Mavis Staples-Sad And Beautiful World-Released in November, this record is hovering just below the #1 record as I write this. I only got to it for the first time on 9 December… and I keep playing it.
She covers Tom Waits, Mark Linkous, Welch/Rawlings, Leonard Cohen and more. Joined by Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks, Jeff Tweedy and others, Mavis makes each song her own. The stellar cast is a bonus, but as always, it’s all about her delivery.
Staples is 86. She is a treasure. She is an Icon. She is Mavis.
#1-The Wood Brothers-Heart Is A Hero-These 3 ‘brothers’ have a mantra. It is B.L.T.
Not the sandwich. Breathe-Listen-Trust.
Trust me this is one of their best records. I don’t believe they have put out anything bad in 20 years.
“So all this energy we put into stressing out about the future is kind of worthless. It’s good to be practical and try to make good decisions the best you can — but you really don’t know how things are going to turn out. All we have is now, ultimately. If we can just enjoy ourselves even in the most stressful moments or boring moments. Like, we’re doing the dishes, and we hate it. But, is it possible to enjoy it and then play with it? I think it just comes down to that — can you be playful in any moment you’re in and find some joy in it?”-Chris Wood
You will find some joy here. Get it out before it is gone…like a puff of smoke.
Some others bubbling under the Top 50:
Rodney Crowell-Airline Heaven
Mohinder Kaur Bhamra-Punjabi Disco
Jake Bugg-It’s A Modern Day Distraction
Hanna Cohen-Earthstar MOuntain
That’s it for 2025. Entire list below….or go to www.outsidemyinside.com for all the reading and music.
You can find the other Top 30 here:
https://www.outsidemyinside.com/s/music-reviews-from-the-past
Enjoy the end of 2025 and may 2026 be filled with music and nature and love and community. xx