My Top 25 of 2025 #5

Happy Christmas!

Here's The My Top Ten Traditional Christmas Song...

And here are some more of my favourite records of 2025, to listen to while you cook your turkey.

I wouldn't normally do this on Christmas Day, but I'm worried if I don't, I won't get them all in before next Thursday.

11. The Mountain Goats - Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan

Another concept album, knocking on the door of the Top Ten, this one involving a dream that novelist / songwriter John Darnielle had, involving a shipwreck and a desperate ordeal for three survivors (including the titular Peter Balkan).

The Mountain Goats - Peru

I’m only just beginning to scrape the surface of this one – the latest Mountain Goats album was released in early November – and its position so high in the countdown is perhaps more reflective of my growing fascination with the work of Mr. Darnielle and a lot of time spent listening to the Goats’ back catalogue this year (I’m even thinking of putting together an ICA for JC… if I ever get the time).

10. Jonathan Richman – Only Frozen Sky Anyway

It’s a while since I’ve listened to any new releases from Jonathan Richman – in fact, I don’t think I’m familiar with any of the albums he’s put out this century, only the stuff from his prime in the late 70s early 80s, and the classic 1990 release Jonathan Goes Country.

Jonathan Richman - Night Fever

I was suckered into falling for this one through his cover / reinvention / Jonathanisation of the Bee Gees’ Night Fever, but there’s much more joy to be found here. The critics tell me the album dwells on death and mortality – but isn’t that to be expected from an artist with six decades in the music business? I can’t say I noticed it anyway, I was more taken with his customary wit and wisdom (making me wonder why I haven’t paid more attention to his more recent output), deep philosophical insight (which you can take or leave, it never feels like he’s pontificating) and splashes of Spanish, as on Se Va Pa'Volver and Little Black Bat.

 

9. Divine Comedy – Rainy Sunday Afternoon

Another late entry to the countdown, released at the end of September, yet already confirming itself as a glorious addition to the Neil Hannon songbook. It’s a deeper and more personal record than his rather frivolous last recording, Office Politics – incredibly, that was six years ago, but Neil kept himself busy writing the soundtrack to Wonka in the meantime.

The Divine Comedy - Invisible Thread

Unlike the Jonathan Richman record, I could definitely spot mortality as a major theme here – understandably, as it turns out Neil lost both his father and his favourite dog while working on these songs. Yet it’s never a depressing record – there’s a lightness, a joy to be found in even the most contemplative of tracks. Just none of the pure comedy moments Neil often throws in to satisfy his Noel Coward urges.

The Divine Comedy - The Last Time I Saw the Old Man

It always amazes me that The Divine Comedy came to fame at the height of Britpop, since Hannon’s songwriting belongs to another era entirely. Coward yes, but Cole Porter too.

You can go back to your brussel sprouts now.