2025 YEAR IN REVIEW: Pickled Priest's 25 Favorite Things - Our Annual List
- Pickled Priest
- Dec 26, 2025
- 16 min read
This list is not limited to records. It can be anything from 2025 that we enjoyed, saw, heard, bought, found, or lost. Which, in a nutshell, is everything. But within everything, often it is the little things that make our day.
PICKLED PRIEST'S ANNUAL LIST OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS
25 for 2025 Edition
1 Ace Frehley (April 27, 1951 - October 16, 2025)
I always add a tribute section to my year-end “favorite things” list to memorialize the musical deaths that impacted me the most during the year and that is included later in this section.
But this one is different. Ace merits his own entry.
As I have written many times before, Kiss was my first love, the band I first obsessed over when I was a pre-teen. You can listen to all the bands you want for the rest of your life, but that first one is special. It doesn’t matter if they were good or bad in retrospect, that first love is bulletproof. And, for the record, Kiss was not just good, they were amazing. I’ll stand on that claim until I die. Ace Frehley is the first original member of Kiss to pass away and when I found out my reaction was different than other deaths I’ve heard about this year. This news hit me like I was still that young kid with Kiss pictures on every wall of his bedroom. The kid who went trick or treating in 1977 (and 1978) dressed as Peter, my friend as Ace. The kid who pretended to be in the band high atop a pool table in that same friend’s basement, much to his mom’s chagrin. The kid who went to see Kiss for his first concert on January 15, 1978, the night my whole world expanded for the better. The night Ace Frehley took his smoking guitar solo mid-set that ended with his axe being hoisted into the rafters of Chicago stadium, still smoking away. If this sounds overly dramatic to you, that’s because it is. That’s how you are when you’re young. And, as it turns out, when you’re old.
2 Kiss Snow Globe
Kiss Favorite Thing #2: This snazzy "snow" globe celebrates the impending 50th anniversary of Destroyer, the album that cemented the band's status as the hottest band in the world. It comes complete with "Rock and Roll All Nite" worthy confetti instead of the usual snow. Whoever thought of that idea, please take a bow. The base looks like the rubble of a destroyed city much like the album cover itself. A satisfying attention to detail is appreciated and its weight is enough to knock someone out cold with a single strike. I wonder how many people have been killed with snow globes as the murder weapon? Bottom line: Nobody merchandises quite like Kiss and this fine effort would've destroyed all competition, if they had any.
3 Kiss enamel pins
Kiss Favorite Thing #3: Two more sets of enamel pins for my collection; one commemorating the release of Dressed to Kill (one of my favorite Kiss covers ever) and one for Destroyer. Sadly, the look of the Alive! anniversary pins were a bit of a disappointment, but these do not. I hope that Love Gun comes next.
4 Fela Kuti: Fear No Man podcast
Easily the most informative and enlightening music podcast of 2025 that I heard, this pod tells the story of Africa’s most revered musician from front-to-back and from multiple unique angles, warts and all. Yes, he had some concerning personality traits, but there’s no denying the man was a musical genius who knew exactly how to fuck with the establishment (declaring his home and Shrine nightclub a sovereign territory, for one, was sheer genius). This well-written and researched podcast takes us into his world, his community, his family, his 26 wives (yup), his politics, his music, and everything else that made him the giant he was. The total sum adds up to a larger than life figure who remains as relevant now almost thirty years after his death as he was when he was alive.
5 BOOM - A Sonics documentary
The story is the stuff of urban legend. Find out all the unlikely details within this enjoyable documentary I saw for the first time earlier this year. Of course, they didn’t for a second assume their music would be heard outside of their garage walls, let alone 60+ years later in a professionally-made documentary. But when you pick up some guitars and bash out some songs, that's always a possibility. The doc highlights the beauty of starting a rock band—you just never know what will happen next. The movie's centering element is the build up to some reunion shows 50+ years after calling it quits and it provides a great foundation for their backstory. That their reunion album and shows still sounded fierce defies conventional thinking. The power of rock and roll isn't just reserved for the young. But that's where it starts.
6 A Few Words in Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman by Robert Hilburn
I read music books all the time, but there is a short list of music bios that I wish I could will into existence. For me, Randy Newman was one of those artists. Until now, that is. Most rock books don't promise much more than the usual rags to riches to alcohol/drug addiction to an overly long denouement during which they claim to still be interesting and relevant. This is not that book. We do get a fascinating tale of a musical genius trying to find his place in the world and the world trying to figure out just what to do with him and his voluminous talent. It's not always an easy process. Here, that scene plays out in acts that most readers will be generally familiar with, but then fills in the cracks, too. I don't know if we'll ever get a truly definitive Randy Newman book (written by him), so this is the next best thing.
7 Nick Cave's The Wild God Tour of North America
The concert of the year for 2025. That's also the case whenever he tours. In my mind, he's the best live performer on the planet right now. The last four times I've seen him, every show has been completely different—Bad Seeds, Grinderman, solo, Bad Seeds again—but equally galvanizing. Also, I refer you to Live God for the audio, although there is no substitute for being there in person.
8 Sound & Gravity Festival, Chicago
The event of the year for 2025 was Chicago's 1st Annual Sound & Gravity Festival. Over a series of nights, a diverse roster of mostly experimental artists were booked, with more modular synths than usual in evidence. To ensure everyone's tastes were catered to, there were performers and bands of all shapes and sounds as you can see by the poster above. My highlights: Mdou Moctar and his fiery guitar blowing out eardrums on opening night in blistering support of his great album, Funeral for Justice; a double-bill at the Beat Kitchen featuring Chris Forsyth's band BASIC locking into grooves that never needed to end, followed by a set by the Messthetics with James Brandon Lewis on sax that threatened to blow the roof off the small venue (my #2 show of 2025 by a hair); and then a bunch of "smaller" acts at which you could just stare, stand quietly, and marvel at the interesting sounds washing over you (Mute Duo particularly fascinated with a pedal steel/percussion combination that impressed). The only downsides, as with any festival worth its salt, is a constant FOMO feeling at any given moment. The planning is often just as challenging as the music itself. File under: good problems.
9 Camp Cope Live at the Sydney Opera House (Final Concert Recording)
Australia's Camp Cope was a great band, albeit short-lived. I say "was" because this live recording was released to document their "final" show as a band. Considering they are still relatively young, I have a feeling some occasion will arise where they might regroup again, but for now I choose to believe them. If it is, is there a better way to go out than playing a live gig for your most rabid fans (and by the sound of the crowd, rabid is the right word) at the legendary Sydney Opera House. Georgia "Maq" McDonald, the band's lead singer and songwriter, has written enough gems to fuel a power set of new classics on their final night. She kicks off by saying “The world needs more annoying women” to wild cheers and in “Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams” she introduces it as "a song about dumb cunts.” Her ability to remain a fierce feminist and keep her sense of humor is one of the qualities I've loved about her songs. Ironically, the set ends with “The Opener (10 Minute Version)” (a nod to Taylor Swift, an artist with a few die-hard fans herself) and you can feel the whole crowd shouting her defiant lyrics in unison.
It's another man telling us we can't fill up the room
It's another man telling us to book a smaller venue
Ending with the last laugh—a big fuck you to all those concert promoters and club owners that thought a female band couldn't hold their own against other male bands—at the country's most revered performance space, is the perfect way to end the show and their time together (if it has to end). For the band's fans, you can feel that it's a bittersweet moment to witness.
10 Creem Magazine + "Support Rock and Roll' Hoodie
I have thoroughly enjoyed having Creem magazine back as a regular print publication over the last couple years. I wasn't old enough to enjoy it in its prime the first time around (the Lester Bangs era), but I have read old issues now and then and I'm happy to report the humor and irreverence so crucial to the mag's vibe has not been lost over time. I guess when you're writing for Creem, you kind of get to go back in time to the reckless, unbridled, dangerous years of rock and roll. That passion and enthusiasm for the music that launched it back in 1969 Detroit. You can find lots of ripping rock bands in its pages, many of them even worth the print space! I know I've found some great unknown bands along the way. Oh, and they also have great t-shirts and merch in case you desire to show your love of rock and roll. I got this hoodie a couple months ago and it fits right in with Pickled Priest's goal of supporting the artists we love with our wallets, not a monthly streaming fee.
11 Social Distortion / Plague Vendor Live Concert
While in Grand Rapids, MI, we knew our old friends in Social Distortion were playing a venue a few blocks away and couldn't miss the opportunity. I was thrilled to hear Mike Ness in fine form, his rebellious snarl very much intact. As usual, he took no shit from anyone, particularly when he lamented the state of the country. Opening up was fellow Southern Cali punk band (and Epitaph Records signee) Plague Vendor, who impressed with a fierce, unhinged, and spontaneous-feeling opening set that oozed their passion for rock and roll. I've always appreciated a band that plays every show like they've got to earn the next one and they more than earned their place on any stage this night.
12 Ha Ha Tonka Live @ Fitzgerald's + concert poster
Speaking of bands doing it for the love of playing live music, Missouri's Ha Ha Tonka, a wildly underrated Midwestern band with dozens of well-written songs to their credit, played a gig on their annual Tonksgiving mini-tour at legendary Chicago area roadhouse, Fitzgeralds, in the middle of a snowstorm, no less. They had to drive several treacherous hours to make the gig (which they could've canceled easily considering), but when they arrived they found a club packed with loyalists, ready to welcome them for an extended "We've got nowhere else to go" set that leaned heavily on audience requests. I'm pleased to report I got two of mine into the setlist after a between set chat with lead singer Brian Roberts, including a raging, ten-minute set closer, "12-inch, 3-speed, Oscillating Fan." On top of that, they had an absolutely beautiful concert poster for sale, which now proudly hangs in the Pickled Priest's offices, a reminder of a great rock show under tough conditions with good friends and even better music. Thanks to my buddy Mal for buying me the poster, too. That sure was a sweet gesture.
13 Nanci Faust At the Game (CD) + 1972 Topps baseball card replica
I was born into being a White Sox fan as a kid and one of my favorite photos from my youth is me wearing a replica Dick Allen jersey t-shirt, which I would kill to still own. My early years were spent in old Comiskey Park, where they did things Bill Veeck-style during my early days. Even the organist at the park, Nancy Faust, was a local legend (who got some national attention, as well). She rolled out the barrel like nobody else, knowing which song to play at just the right time. This was long before every stadium played the same fucking songs like "Seven Nation Army," "Crazy Train," and the godforsaken "Living on a Prayer" every single game. Instead, we got classic ballpark organ music instead. My beloved friend and music mentor Paul, bless his generous heart, gifted me this (autographed!) collection of Nancy Faust recordings (some from White Sox games, some for the Chicago Bulls where she also played) and it's like going back in time to a better era, one where baseball wasn't so overtly the big business it is now. You get some classics in the package ("Take Me Out to the Ball Game" "Tie a Yellow Ribbon"), some period hits ("You Light Up My Life" "Love Will Keep Us Together"), and, of course, the almighty "Na-Na, Hey-Hey, Goodbye" which became Sox fans' musical sayonara to vanquished opposing pitchers from that point forward (and made the band that wrote it some significant royalty money, too). It gives me goosebumps hearing it again now. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the cornerstones of not just my record collection, but my life.
Oh, and included in the CD is a Nancy Faust baseball card; a less ornate replica of the Topps 1973 series, but still a nice touch. I think every ballpark organist should have their own bubblegum card. They are often the most entertaining part of the game, especially when times are tough and White Sox fans know this all too well (long version).
14 Jeff Tweedy on The Late Show
Jeff Tweedy is a pretty low-key guy, but an amusing interview subject. When asked by host Stephen Colbert about the meaning behind the song "Lou Reed Was My Babysitter," from his new album Twilight Override, his answer pretty much explained the connection I (and many others) have felt with music throughout my life. I'll let him explain: watch the whole video or FF to the moment I reference at the 6:14 mark to about 7:12. Exactly...
15 Pavement Documentaries (both)
I watched two Pavement "documentaries" this year. The first, the more high-profile Pavements, was about as far from a traditional documentary as you can get, complete with fictional scripted scenes to confuse you, but somehow it was way more enjoyable that way. You really don't expect the usual tropes from a band that was pretty inscrutable throughout their entire existence and this delightfully weird experience was a welcome rethink of a band you loved or underrated at the time. To me, their music sounds even better to my ears now than it did then. One the other side of the coin, my Mubi subscription led me to Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, which tells you more about Pavement than Pavements ever will. It focuses on the band's origin story through the eyes of their eccentric and demented original drummer, Gary Young, and his impact on the formation and initial success of the band, which was substantial. If any of these two documentaries seems false, albeit it in a very Spinal Tap-esque way, it's this one. That said, it is also the one that offers the most revelatory information. I sat in disbelief as I watched it and you will too, even if you are well-versed in Pavement's back story. Two of the most bizarre and fascinating creations in the rockumentary canon, both about the same band. Slanted and enchanted just about sums them up.
16 The Most Hipster Man in the World (commercial)
He listens to bands that broke up before they formed; he once ghosted someone for not knowing what a modular synth is; he once got into a bar fight over a Fleet Foxes lyric; he moved to Berlin to make techno and ended up making sourdough instead...
17 Fred Armisen’s 100 Sound Effects record
Leave it to Fred Armisen to deliver an album of sound effects that you'll want to listen to from front-to back! A sampling of what's in store:
"Drum Sound Check at Medium Sized Venue"
"Romanian Crowd at Rock Club Asking for an Encore"
"Music Store Around Christmas"
"Walking Into a Video Room at an Art Museum and Walking Out Quickly"
"Camping Pack-Up Conversation"
"First Time Homeowners Switching Circuit breakers"
And these were only chosen at random. Explore the rest on your own time. It's all in good fun from a master of understated humor.
18 GUIDED BY VOICES Yes t-shirt
If you read our Top Band Logos post, you'll already know I ranked the Yes logo at #1. So imagine my delight in finding this Guided By Voices homage to that very logo in their merch store, and well-executed to boot. Two favorite bands, one iconic logo. Purchased immediately.
19 Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly
As depressing as music writing gets, but that's not Liz Pelly's fault—it's her subject matter that's the problem. The people who treat music as just another commodity, much like hog futures or a bag of potato chips. These aren't people who really care about the music itself. Yes, sinister dealings have been going on forever, but not quite as pervasive and soulless as this. Every page oozes a lack of real artistic appreciation. That said, if you love music, you need to know how the musicians are getting played and paid, so read this out of obligation at the very least. You'll find her book fascinating and frustrating at the same time. It might even make you rethink your relationship with musical artists.
20 OwenCutts "Old Music Friday" Instagram posts
Just shut up! Are you stupid? Are you dumb?
Every once in a while social media is responsible for something good. In this case, the Instagram posts of OwenCutts, who is as passionate about music as we are, but his passion has a hilarious and endearing way of manifesting itself. Through default exclamations like those above, he is often beside himself in the presence of a great track, usually sourced from the soul music genre, particularly on "Old Music Fridays" where he presents a single old song for review (my favorite is his take on "Stay With Me" by Lorraine Ellison). And this is not your typical analysis either, rather a gut-level "How can you do this to me?" plea, as if the song is deliberately trying to cause him to have an emotional overload in the face of such audio beauty. One more reason to look forward to Friday! Maybe he should change to Mondays when we really need such a spirited infusion of joy.
21 26 Little Deaths | Carla Kihlstedt and Present Music
Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies has been referenced in this blog before, so one more time won't kill you. Or will it? The illustrated book we so love contains an A to Z of unfortunate child deaths (N is for Neville who died of ennui). In other words, right up our alley! The book has long been a great part of my life and I even have all the panes from it on a poster at home. I pass it several times every day. But what if we put each fatal incidents to music? Wouldn't that make it even better? The answer, thanks to musician Carla Kihlstedt, is yes! Yes it would!
22 The Saints 73-78 tour
The original Saints, or what's left of them, toured this year and it was a great night to appreciate an all-time Pickled Priest favorite that would be a household name worldwide if life was fair. I was too young to rock and roll the first time around, so this is all I can get. Yes, they're much older now, but they've still got the goods, cranking out those familiar riffs (thanks to band co-founder Ed Kuepper) and drum fills (original drummer Ivor Hay) with authority. Singer Chris Bailey (RIP in 2022) is no longer with us, unfortunately, so the band tapped Mudhoney's Mark Arm to handle vocal duties and he filled in with his trademarked ferocity when the songs called for it. You could tell he was honored and probably awestruck to be filling an open role for one of his favorite bands. The setlist, as the years after the band's name indicate, were all early classics, with a full horn section at the ready when the songs called for them ("Know Your Product" was dynamite). They ended with a blistering, extended take on "Nights in Venice" from their debut album from back in 1976. Nirvana for me, to say the least.
Note: If you need further proof the band was in fine form on this tour, check out the EP, Live Nights in Venice,Vol. 1. That should do the trick. I do wish it had more songs, but if there's a Vol.1, that means one or more volumes are to come. For now, I'll take what I can get if it sounds this hot.
23 The Music Deaths from 2025 That Really Hurt (Non-Ace Frehley edition)
It was a rough year for notable musician passings and I don't see that changing any time soon as legends of our youth start to fall regularly. With no slight intended to those not mentioned, there were some that have impacted our lives in special ways. This is but a short tribute to say thanks.
Sam Moore: One-half of our favorite soul duo of all time, Sam & Dave. An amazing singer on his own, too.
David Johansen: Wham, bam, thank you glam.
Bob Rupe: One of the founding members of the Silos, whose departure from the group I never quite got over.
Amadou Bagayoko: One-half of our favorite African duo, Amadou & Mariam. An amazingly talented singer and guitarist, too.
David Thomas: The Pere Ubu frontman was a pioneer of art-pop and a true original. The definition of one-of-a-kind.
Sly Stone: Even more amazing than the fact he actually lived until 2025 is his collection of timeless music.
Brian Wilson: His mind could've been a ride at Disneyland.
Rick Davies: If you grew up when I did, his unique songs with Supertramp were just a part of your life. Everybody loved them.
Todd Snider: A true storyteller who was hilarious as well. They broke the mold after he was born.
Jimmy Cliff: On Reggae's Mt. Rushmore.
Steve Cropper: Gulp. For a Stax addict, this one is especially painful. The guitar of Steve Cropper blended perfectly into the Booker T & the MGs mix, completing one of the greatest instrumental bands ever. He also played with just about every significant artist on the Stax label. Only Booker T remains from the original group. Heavy sigh.
Raul Malo: A Maverick born with a golden throat.
Joe Ely: A true Texas honky tonk hero, no masquerade involved.
24 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues / Rob Reiner
In truth, the This is Spinal Tap sequel was a fool's errand. It could never be as good as the original and director Rob Reiner knew it. All he could hope to do was have one last chance to romp through the world of Tap with his pals and maybe finally get a properly-scaled Stonehenge to descend onto the stage without incident. Even though that didn't go as planned, there were enough good moments to merit the project, even if it wasn't a second masterpiece. We all know how Rob Reiner's year ended, but few people get to leave this earth with as much to remember in their wake. A true tragedy. His life went to 11. Possibly 12.
25 Our readers!
Thanks as always to every reader, whether you loved what we wrote or hated it, we're thankful for your time and hope you've found some new music here or just got reminded of some of your old favorites. Cheers from the Priest!
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We're not done yet. Our final post of 2025 is coming soon. Our 2025 List Wrap-Up arrives before the new year.
I hope your tree had records underneath it this year. If not, burn it to the ground and don't look back.
The Priest