I Came Home and Put The Record On - July 2025

This Month's Playlist and Blurbs About People We've Lost

Playlist

Huge number of strong contenders for my favorite record of the year hit my radar since assembling last month’s playlist. Kicking off with the one-two punch of “Breathe,” a highlight from Kae Tempest’s astonishing self-titled record and Margo Price’s sly flipping of the classic Kris Kristofferson advice into a new original “Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down,” we cover James McMurtry’s new one with the kind of perspective-shifting wistfulness no one does as well, US Girls’ most fully realized record, two lessons in the emotional power of a tenor saxophone from astonishing records by Nicole Glover and Joshua Redman, Amina Claudine Myers’ breathtaking “Hymn for John Lee Hooker,” killer local work from Dana’s best yet record, Clint Carter’s silky read on one of my favorite Sondheims, and Milly May, a tantalizing Saul Williams remix from a new Tortoise song, my favorite Charlie Hunter project in a minute, featuring Ella Feingold, Karol G, Ryan Keberle’s Collectiv do Brasil, and Burna Boy with quintessential late summer records, a sample of the gorgeous and smoother Kokoroko featuring Lulu, surging rock from Split System and Wet Leg, selections from probably the best records yet (need to live with them more as both artists are huge favorites of mine) from Tyler Childers and Patty Griffin, and so much more. I hope you find something to love and let me know what I missed. As we started last time, just Tidal, if you want to convert it to your streaming, there are plenty of options.

https://tidal.com/playlist/67407cfa-5ad5-4da6-bc1a-3b121b1b404c

Parting Gifts

Hal Galper - Jazz pianist par excellence, Galper made a huge impression on me with his ‘70s Cannonball Adderley records and what felt like a million records as a leader, all of them good. Ethan Iverson provided some personal memories that highlight both his playing and the important pedagogical tradition of passing down jazz technique through direct exposure in his vital Substack Transitional Technology.

Chuck Mangione - Family friend of dear friend and inspiration for this newsletter, Andrew Patton. I’ve always loved Mangione’s tone but hadn’t exactly gone deep, so I got enormous pleasure out of revisiting his catalogue through Patton’s excellent Bluesky presence - if you’re not already reading Funky D you should be. This was one track he turned me onto recently.

Tom Lehrer - Of course Tom Lehrer was an inspiration to me, the minute he hit my radar as a snarky pre-teen. I wore out those CDs and despite not having listened in years, could sing whole verses when this news came out. This slice of biting, hilarious nihilism carved a path for a combination of the trenchant and the intricate that’s rarely been equaled and never bettered.

Tommy McLain - Swamp pop is one of my favorite genres, and Tommy McLain, despite a couple of big Billboard hits and writing even bigger hits for artists like Freddy Fender, remained less acclaimed than he should have been. That ‘70s Best Of is essential.