Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums Part 2 (#10-6)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2025's Favorite Albums Part 2 (Numbers 10-6):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20, so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, AI programming, Spotify mixes or singles for us.

This begins our top ten and we will wrap it up tomorrow. You can also find our list of Honorable Mentions that were just out of our top ten. Consider those 10-24, in no particular order.

Like all of our lists or 'best of' roundups, these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Album Review: Freak Slug - Loose Tooth and a Short Skirt

Freak Slug

Loose Tooth and a Short Skirt

*** out of *****

The Manchester, England based indie-pop artist Freak Slug followed up her debut I Blow Out Big Candles with this quick EP, Loose Tooth and a Short Skirt. 

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Live Shows

The live show is a slippery thing. There are lots of variables at play, most having little to do with the performance itself. Does the venue have enough bathrooms? Is it going to rain? What day of the week is it on? Did I have a shitty day at work before hand? Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this can alter one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason. However, when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be than in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.

Live Music Has No Equal!

Taken By The Fantastic Megan Donohue

While obviously we can't see every show that is out there, we try to get out often to catch live music. Sure there are a few left in the calendar year, but for now, here is a listing of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have caught in 2025.

There are links to show reviews in the titles, also because who doesn't love arbitrary rankings, one show at the bottom took the top prize as RtBE's 2025 Favorite Live Show. 

Album Review: Flagboy Giz - Smoke Signals

Flagboy Giz

Smoke Signals

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest offering, Smoke Signals, form Flagboy Giz continues his string of engaging music, braggadocio rhymes and funky beats. The hybrid mix of hip-hop, funk, and Mardi Gras Indian culture flows strong throughout the New Orleans focused album.  

Dylan Cover #711 Elle & Toni "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Elle & Toni playing "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" 

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:

Arriving just after "Idiot Wind" the breezy "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" acts as a breather on Blood on the Tracks, but on it's own it is a gorgeous little number. A poetic love song that feels fresh every time it slips into the ear as the protagonist is in a world of bliss and doesn't want it to end, but knows it always will. Miles away from "Idiot Wind", but just as vital, showing off Dylan's easy charm and flowing word play/vocal style, I mean how cool is the "I’ll look for you in old Honolulu San Francisco or Ashtabula" run through?   

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:

The Los Angeles based duo Elle and Toni are indie folk musicians who write and cover americana, folk, traditional folk, and folk rock music

Thoughts on Cover:

Another gorgeous live acoustic cover. December has been full of them on RtBE. Top notch vocals, guitar playing, harmonizing, this is a great Dylan cover. Breezy yet still affecting. Very enjoyable. 

 

Live Stream: The Milk Carton Kids - Holiday Live Stream

We are now heading into the new normal with live music. Live shows will need to be flexible and streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE.  We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing/listening pleasure. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today's Stream: The Milk Carton Kids - Holiday Live Stream

The Milk Carton Kids start their holiday tour tomorrow, but are kicking it off with a holiday focused Livestream tonight at 8pm. 

To get in the mood here is the band singing a Christmas classic. 

Happy 50th Anniversary to Parliament's Mothership Connection

Happy 50th Anniversary to Parliament's album Mothership Connection. 

All aboard the Mothership...

New Single/Video from Jessie Kilguss "Fools Fight"

The Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Jessie Kilguss has a new single/video out "Fool's Fight". 

Regarding "Fool's Fight" Kilguss states:

Full Show Friday: Lucinda Williams - Live Austin City Limits 1998

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing). This week...Lucinda Williams!

Heading down to Austin for the famous Austin City Limits and Lucinda Williams back in 1998 which just may be her peak. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Information Below:

Lucinda Williams - Austin City Limits 1998 - Full Performance. 

Lucinda Williams (vocals, guitar), Kenny Vaughan (guitar, backing vocals), John Jackson (guitar), Richard "Hombre" Price (bass), Randy Leago (Hammond B3, Accordion), Fran Breen (drums), and Jim Lauderdale (acoustic guitar, backing vocals). 

1. Pineola (0:19) 2. Metal Firecracker (5:00) 3. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (8:38) 4. Right in Time (13:19) 5. Drunken Angel (17:58) 6. Greenville (21:21) 7. Still I Long for Your Kiss (25:43) 8. Lake Charles (30:13) 9. Changed the Locks (35:42) 10. Disgusted (39:31) 11. Jackson (42:45) 12. Sweet Old World (49:02) 13. Passionate Kisses (54:12) 14. Something About What Happens When We Talk (56:54) 15. Joy (1:00:54) 16. Cant Let Go (1:09:33)

2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Artists Announced

Yesterday we predicted some artists that might play this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. We got a few right, but the full list can be seen here or below.

Below we chat about some artists we are excited to catch down south in a few months.

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions & Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2025's Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE also worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20, so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify, AI curated playlists, or streaming for us.

These are the albums that just missed out on being included in our top ten favorite for the year (coming soon). After some excellent albums, we have a few releases from artists we dig, which we were let down by. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of'', these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Live Review: The Hold Steady - 12/5/25 Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg NYC

The Hold Steady

12/5/25 Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg NYC

It is hard to believe The Hold Steady have been holding their annual Massive Nights celebration at Brooklyn Bowl for ten years now, since RtBE was there for the first one and we haven't missed a year since. 

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Archival Releases

Each year the music industry dips into the past to deliver box sets, live albums, re-masters and outtake collections to sell to the music loving masses (present company included). This look back will round up some of RtBE's favorite archival releases from the past year. 

Usually these releases can fall into the money grab category, not really adding much outside of revenue for the label and (hopefully) the artist. Every now and then though some spectacular collections are unearthed and are worth any price. 

RtBE includes live albums in this category, since they were recorded in the recent or distant past and thus fall into archival release status. 

With the increase in vinyl, and enhanced Record Store Days to help smaller sellers, there are more and more archival releases each year. RtBE are sure to miss a lot of them, but the quality and abundance is exciting. Post your favorites, or any we may have missed, in the comments. 

These were our favorite archival releases of 2025, click the link in the title for full reviews.

Album Review: Maggie Koerner - Upstate

Maggie Koerner

Upstate

***and1/2 out of *****

Maggie Koerner's fourth album, titled Upstate, is a searching travelogue of heartbreak, pain, and abusive relationships, as Koerner is clearly trying hard to come out of it all stronger. 

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Album Art

We kick off our Year in Review section of 2025 with the first feature in the Best of... wrap up: Album Art. 

Just like in years past, we will be choosing our favorite albums of the year, a few that were underwhelming, our favorite live shows, and highlight some fantastic archive releases, all of which will be posted over the next few days. 

Today we are starting out by judging books (records) by their covers (vinyl sleeves, jackets, digital pics, etc) with our Favorite Album Art Work of 2025.

The biggest gripe RtBE has with digital music is not the quality (that has been massively improved) nor the disposal nature of it (still a problem, but whatever), it is the lack of amazing album covers and art work.

Sure there may be great album art out there but seeing it on a screen, on Spotify or elsewhere is nothing compared to holding an LP or even a CD booklet with pages of lyrics, pictures etc. 

Thankfully the rise of vinyl is helping this dilemma but it is still not enough. The hours we spent staring, actually holding, examining tons of covers while listening to music can't be adequately recorded, it added new dimensions to the sounds. You are connected to album in a more physical way; things were deeper, more evocative...Anyways...

Here comes RtBE's Favorite Album Art of 2025. 

Album Review: Dr. John - Live at the Village Gate

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here.

It is of Dr. John's recent archival live album, Live at the Village Gate.

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

2026 New Orleans JazzFest Artist Predictions

The lineup for the 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced soon, but RtBE got the early scoop...

Album Review: Robert Finley - Hallelujah! Don't Let The Devil Fool Ya

Robert Finley

Hallelujah! Don't Let The Devil Fool Ya

***and1/2 out of *****

Never one to do things the 'normal way' Robert Finley approached his first gospel album with no set material, just a sense of the lord speaking through him. What rolled out was, Hallelujah! Don't Let The Devil Fool Ya, a funky good time that has one foot in church, and the other one on the late night dance floor getting down with wild abandon. 

Dylan Cover #710 KneeDeep Band "Everything Is Broken" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by KneeDeep Band playing "Everything is Broken"

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:

If Bob wasn't the Bard "Everything Is Broken" would just be another tossed off song. However, is anything with Dylan just simply tossed off? Well..yeah...this song certainly feels tossed off to me...sorry. Oh Mercy is a hell of an album, one of Dylan's classics, and this song is fine, it just can't even stand close to any of his all-time gems, not remotely close. One of the reasons I started this cover series was to show how amazing The Bard's songs are in just about anyone's hands, but if the original of this tune was written by Joe Schmo would people think it was great, or is it just the Dylan name that gives it clout?  

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:

This is the second time we featured the KneeDeep Band in our Monday Dylan series as the Durham, NC trio are a fun acoustic folk group. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A great spin through the song, both lighthearted and serious. The trio harmonize very well and play great as they put a different spin on the original blues rocker. A touch of The Folksmen from A Mighty Wind, in a good way, as this song strolls out.  

New Single/Video from Black Polish "Yuna's Lullaby"

The Los Angeles based artist Black Polish has released a new video for their single "Yuna's Lullaby"

Check out the track below: