Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Completely Conspicuous 670: Stacking the Deck

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").

Show notes:

  • Counting down the rest of our favorite albums of the year
  • Kumar's #8: Indie rock godfather Bob Mould is still pissed off and rocking
  • Mould has also reunited his '90s band Sugar
  • Kumar's #7: Triumphant return for Mclusky
  • Falco and crew having fun ripping on various targets
  • Breitling's #6: Superchunk keeps going with new drummer
  • If you thought they were angry in 2018...
  • Chock full of "banglociraptors"
  • Kumar's #6: Straight outta Asheville with Wednesday's killer combo of alt-country, shoegaze and heavy guitar rippers 
  • Band features MJ Lenderman but it's Karly Hartzman's show
  • Breitling's #5: Debut from Slumberland act The Cords
  • Scottish indie jangle-pop banglociraptors
  • Kumar's #5: Thrilling post punk from South London act Shame
  • Returning to harder rocking sound of first few albums
  • More albums are shorter nowadays
  • Breitling's #4: Prolific Chicago psych-pop act Sharp Pins keeps bringing it
  • Flashes of GBV and early Kinks
  • Breitling's #3: Crutchfield sisters (Waxahatchee, Swearin') drop surprise release as Snocaps
  • Again with the Lenderman, on drums this time
  • Kumar's #3: PUP applies newfound maturity to pop-punk bangers
  • Singing about adult stuff 
  • Breitling's #2: Mini-album from Peel Dream Magazine
  • Autumnal-sounding leftovers from previous album recording session
  • Kumar's #2: Sloan keeps bringing the heat with 14th release of diverse and rewarding power pop
  • Four singer-songwriters keep the offerings varied and on point
  • Breitling's #1 and Kumar's #4: Monumental four-album conceptual triumph from Hallelujah the Hills
  • Lot of guest stars including Ezra Furman, Clint Conley, Sadie Dupuis, Patrick Stickles
  • Staggering amount of excellence 
  • Kumar's #1 and Breitling's #7: NYC's Geese blows up with wide-ranging collection that grabs your attention
  • Their club tour sold out immediately
  • Frontman Cameron Winter leads a sound that ranges from Pavement to soul
  • Looking forward to 2026 releases from: Notwist, Kiwi Jr., Courtney Barnett, Sleaford Mods, Crooked Fingers, Strange Pains
  • Reunion shows next year from Silkworm, Superdrag

    Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.

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