Pickled Priest 2025 New Music Mixtape #1: "Ready or Not"

Here we go again, Whitesnake reference intended. We're going to do some new things in 2025 if all goes according to plan, but one thing that isn't going away is our New Music Mixtape series. Every time we find 26 songs we dig (the average length of the mixtapes we made back in our youth on Maxell 100s), we'll make you a mixtape containing those songs. All we ask for in return is sexual favors. That's how it works. Here's our first of 2025, and it's a real hodge-podge, which is typical of the normally barren landscape that is January and February. Each song may not be a classic, but each has its own reason for being included.

SIDE A

Intro: Marshall Allen | "Are You Ready"

Marshall Allen gets to kick off our first mix of 2025 because he just released his debut solo album, New Dawn, at the ripe old age of 100, surely a Guinness World Record that won't be broken for a long time. In truth, Marshall's been kicking around for decades, mostly skronking away alongside Sun Ra, but this record proves he's still got plenty of air circulating through his windbags. "Are You Ready" (no question mark, likely because he knows it no longer matters is he is or not) sounds like one of those numbers the band plays to warm up right before the star of the show comes out to join them. But this time, nobody else is coming out. The star is already onstage.

01 Horsegirl | "2468"

I am in love with what, on paper, amounts to a pretty insubstantial song from Chicago's Horsegirl. It's three-and-a-quarter minutes in length with a 48-second lead-in and contains only seven different words in its "lyrics" (four of them numbers: two, four, six, & eight), not counting " da da das" which are not technically words. I don't know what it's about—Noah's Ark perhaps?—but that doesn't matter. It's a minimalist pop ditty produced by one of the queens of the craft, Cate LeBon, and it makes my heart feel a little lighter every time I hear it.

02 Lilly Hiatt | "Hidden Day"

You know you may be getting old when you start buying records by the children of your favorite artists. This time it's Lilly Hiatt who ably carries on the songwriting prowess of her proud father John—a lot to live up to, to say the least. Actually, this is my second record from Lilly, but Forever is even better than her debut, 2020's Walking Proof, which is saying something. "Hidden Day" and "Shouldn't Be" open the album with some gas, both packing the punch of a rock band ripping it up at a dive bar in East Nashville. I like that she's taxing her amplifiers a bit this outing, it suits her well.

03 Maribou State | "Blackoak"

English electronic duo Maribou State (not a university in Canada) have created a safe harbor with "Blackoak," one that protects and binds all on the dancefloor with its pulsating hook, insistent chill groove, and repetitive mantra. Its message of unconditional support surely will sound all-enveloping when the summer festival circuit hits, but even now in the dead of winter its uplift capacity acts like a warm blanket for those suffering with seasonal depression. You are not alone.

04 Franz Ferdinand | "The Doctor"

I'm not in love with the new Franz record to be honest, but this is a song list not an album list and I do love a song with unusual subject matter and this is one of them. "The Doctor" is about a guy (inspired by Alex Kapranos' youth, at least partly) who doesn't want to leave the hospital because he likes it there. He gets attention, has nice chats with nurses, and the bed is comfy. Delaying the lonely alternative of going home is enough for him to put up with some routine poking and prodding on the daily, catheter inclusive. If I didn't know better, I might assume this is an old Kinks song. Side note: kudos to new drummer Audrey Tait, who double-handedly provides the song's healthy heartbeat throughout. Time to discharge this patient.

05 Sunny War | "One Way Train"

Sunny War's new record, Armageddon in a Summer Dress, objectively a great title, is evidence that Sunny War has come a long way since being discovered busking around Venice Beach just over a decade ago. It also tells us that Sunny War means business. She has released a string of increasingly impressive records over the years which have shown an artist not afraid to push her own boundaries. "One Way Train" is an invitation to a different way of thinking, asking an odd yet strangely appealing question as its premise, Won't you meet me on the outskirts of my left brain? The song encourages a life dialed into a fresh perspective, stretching your common-sense receptors to their maximum limits in the process. 'Cause the world′s not a game, you don't have to win it / And there′s really no shame claiming every minute.

06 Bonnie "Prince" Billy | "Boise, Idaho"

As much as I try, I just can't keep up with some prolific artists and BPB is one of them. Not that I don't check in with him from time to time for one reason or another. This time, it was because of "Tonight with the Dogs I'm Sleeping" which I discovered as I was working out the kinks in my back caused by a 69-pound pittie mix who insistently wedges his anvil-like body against mine all night long as I sleep, leaving me with virtually no personal space in the process. The repercussions on my aging body profound, I must admit to kinda liking it in a way. If it makes him feel connected and safe, I'm willing to suffer for him. For that reason, I really wanted to pick the song and move on, but then I let his new album, The Purple Bird, roll on and I then fell in love with "Boise, Idaho," the next track on the record. Recently, singer/songwriter Will Oldham, the man behind the moniker, has been leaning more into country music, although he'll never make it all the way thanks to his unique voice and songwriting style. That said, "Boise, Idaho" is a killer country song that starts with a great opening line I suppose I'm lucky that I didn't have to hear her cry / Nothing breaks you down like the sound of your girl's goodbye. From there, he hems and haws on the meaning of life, his own frailties, and a burning desire to right past wrongs. It sounds like a textbook country song, but somehow it still ain't.

07 Lumineers | "Automatic"

I am neither an adamant Lumineers supporter or detractor. I can see why their songs resonate with the general public, but they remain a song-by-song concern for me. Yes, the masses are often asses, but not everything that catches fire needs to be doused with a firehose of critical snobbery. That said, a quick spin of the band's new record, Automatic, didn't do much for me, but this title-track did. There's nothing substantial about it, in fact the lyrics are nominal at best, but the whole is more than the sum of its parts. It really struck a nerve with me and I'm not sure why.

08 Rusty Williams | "Knocking (At Your Door)"

If you would've told me the grandfather of Paramore's Hayley Williams' would make one of our new music mixtapes in 2025, I'm not sure how I would've reacted. Thankfully, anything is possible in this strange world so here is Rusty Williams with a lost song from a long lost and unreleased album recorded back in the early-70s. It never hurts to have a famous grandchild with a little creative capital to burn. Apparently, Rusty had spoken of the album often over the years but nobody knew if it really existed. But thankfully lost records sometimes turn into found records, so here we have Grand Man finally released just after Rusty's 78th birthday. The whole thing gets a little cheesy 70's country-light for me at times, but there are also some real gems to be found that wouldn't sound out of place on a 70's AM radio station playlist, none better than album opener, "Knocking (At Your Door)," a real charmer of a track that's 100% pure vanilla, yet a perfectly refreshing way to beat the heat.

09 Jim Ghedi | "Sheaf & Feld"

If I've learned one thing from reading British music magazines, it's to not give too much credence to their folk music reviews. British folk music is rooted in a long, rich history—much longer than that of the US—and while these artists may strike a chord with the locals, much of the time the music doesn't translate to the common listener in the US of A. Brits don't care a lick about that irrefutable fact. They're not making music for us anyway. Which is not to say this traditional brand of music doesn't resonate with me at times. It most certainly does, just not to the tune of ten folk records a month rated four stars or more. That said, I do love a strolling minstrel in my gallery, with an acoustic guitar, fiddle, flute, pennywhistle or a set of bagpipes in accompaniment. It's the perfect way to commune with the past and learn some local lore in the process. Jim Ghedi is a folk artist from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, but he's not so in the traditional sense. He combines the tenets of folk with a more modern sensibility (plugged-in guitars, innovative production, other electronic accents) without losing the grounding in history so essential to the craft. His new album, Wasteland, is an amazing creation, one of my favorite records of 2025 so far (60 days in!) albeit a wholly different listen than anything I've heard in a while. That's what makes it so appealing. One listen to the devastating "Sheaf & Feld" (an English folk title if there ever was one) will be all you need to see where you stand. I think this is pure folk for now people, and it's pretty fucking awesome to behold at that.

10 Heartworms | "Mad Catch"

Heartworms, the vehicle for queen of darkness JoJo Orme, return in 2025 with her first full-length LP, Glutton for Punishment, which builds and expands on the promise of their superb debut EP, A Comforting Notion from 2023 (our #8 EP that year). With a voice that attracts with the irresistible pull of a sultry dominatrix, she's carved a niche for herself within the dungeon walls of your banal existence. Of course, this is just what you want and need whether you realize it or not. Don't expect total goth doom, however, for some of these songs hit with an alluring dark-pop edge, like "Mad Catch" which requires you to "Draw your mental illustration of the world's inspirational hell" and she actually makes that idea sound kind of appealing. And if you're not open-minded enough to go along for the ride, "What's the magic in that?"

11 Zzzahara | "It Didn't Mean Nothing"

Zahara Jaime, aka Zzzahara (not a sleep-aid), is an LA singer/songwriter with a Mexican/Filipino heritage who writes big, buzzing indie-rock pop songs with just the right combination of fizz, fuzz and reverb. Rarely does she miss the opportunity for a perfect chorus either, the kind that are almost therapeutic to sing along with. "It Didn't Mean Nothing" is a kiss-off undermined by a double-negative that makes me wonder what exactly she's really trying to say. From her new album, Spiral Your Way Out, which is basically 30-minutes of this exact same feeling. A nice find from the fiery hellscape that is LA.

12 Fantastic Twins | "Labyrinth(s)"

The shit gets weird(er) with "Labyrinth(s)," a song from French sound artist Julienne Dessagne, who goes by the pseudonym Fantastic Twins. She's since moved to Berlin, which seems like a smart move, because her new record, Suite of Rooms, couldn't sound more like a Berlin dance club if it tried. This song will positively devastate vulnerable speaker cones in such an environment. It may not be the most representative song on the record, but the Pickled Priest invariably locks onto the most percussive song on any album as a rule and this one delivers a tribal groove from the get-go that may make you a little claustrophobic as you navigate your way through it. The rest of the record offers more of the same.

13 Mogwai | "Lion Rumpus"

While we're feeling disoriented, let's end Side A with Mogwai's "Lion Rumpus," yet another gargantuan instrumental epic from the Scottish band that sounds like it could be perfect addition to a sci-fi soundtrack to be named later.

SIDE B

14 Brooke Combe | "L.M.T.F.A."

As we ended Side A with a Scottish band, we start Side B with a Scottish soul singer, and a good one. Brooke Combe is the name and Dancing at the Edge of the World is her debut record. I haven't been this excited about a soul singer in a minute and there's not a moment on the album that drops the quality level. "L.M.T.F.A" (Leave Me The Fuck Alone) is one jewel from an embarrassment of riches, with Brooke in all her glory, grooving effortlessly over a fast-paced, string-accented production packed with la la la's and killer background vocals. I suppose if you're going to get the big kiss-off, it may as well come from a great voice like hers.

15 Julien Baker and Torres | "Sugar in the Tank"

Two notables from the new breed of women singer/songwriters hook up for this stellar single from their new country record, Send a Prayer My Way, and it couldn't be much more promising. I love how understated it is, letting the simple love song play out at its own relaxed pace. It's still got a catchy chorus and a concept tailored perfectly for the genre. The trend of outsiders getting into the country game continues to be a good one and this is one more positive example. Let's not all jump on the bandwagon now, though. Can we agree on that?

16 Ex-Vöid | "Strange Insinuation"

Well, the Tubs (who made our #1 album of 2023) are set to release a new album soon (Cotton Crown comes out in April) and they're going to tour the US with it, too, I'm pleased to report. I'll be at the Empty Bottle show in Chicago to witness it. Say hello if you see me. Not to be outdone, their sister band, Ex-Vöid (gratuitous umlaut appreciated), also has a pretty darn good new album out as well. Not surprising, because both bands were hatched when Joanna Gruesome sadly broke up a few years ago. They also share personnel, Lan McArdle and Owen Williams sing in both outfits. Sometimes I wonder why they don't just officially join forces full-time, but thankfully there are enough great songs to go around. "Strange Insinuation" is one of several possible examples of what makes the Ex-Vöidoids special in their own right.

17 The Delines | "Left Hook Like Frazier"

You know the type of woman who always seems to pick the wrong guy for the wrong reasons? Here's a song about her. Although it can be sad, even harsh, at times (the "left hook" referenced in the title comes courtesy of an abusive boyfriend), there's a buoyancy to the song, a lightness in its muted horns, that implies she's finally about to realize the error of her past ways and make a substantive change. The singer, helping her along the way, seems just the sympathetic friend she needs, too. Hope it all works out.

18 Marinero | "Taquero"

Who doesn't love a spicy song about a taco stand/sting operation with an amusing spy video to match?

19 Delivery | "Operating at a Loss"

Any time I find a song about corporate ennui I delight in it. I will not go into specifics. In just the right hands, such songs are a form of audio revenge on our oppressors, and I'll leave it at that. If you know you know. Apparently, Melbourne's Delivery have been there at some point in their past. Fittingly, they add just the right of snarl to their lyrics and well, delivery, which is what makes Australia one of the last bastions on Earth for real rock & roll. It's been that way for a long time, too.

20 Miya Folick | "Erotica"

We're no longer short on songs about girls kissing girls, but this is perhaps my favorite since "I Kissed a Girl" by Jill Sobule from 1995 (not to be confused with the Katy Perry rip-off of the same title years later) because it captures the awkwardness of intimacy with just the right amount of subtlety. The opener to Folick's new LP, Erotica Veronica, which should send nerdy readers of Archies comic books into a rapturous fantasyland, has nothing to do with the comic book band in any way. It's just a well-crafted pop song about two girls falling in love—or trying to, at least.

21 Nadia Reid | "Emmanuelle"

Sublime stuff from Nadia Reid, five years since the New Zealander captivated us with songs like "Oh Canada" (our #40 song of 2020) from her breakout record, Out of My Province. Her voice, natural and pure with just a dusting of grit, makes her lightly adorned songs seep into your consciousness a little more each time you hear them. It's a subtle talent she possesses and there are a bunch of gems strewn throughout her new record, Enter Now Brightness. "Emmanuelle" kicks off the album, written after the birth of her first child, but rest assured you'll be staying for the whole thing. She has a way of luring you into her world and keeping you there.

22 Victoria Canal | "June Baby"

Get out your scorecard. Vicky is a Cuban American, born in Munich, Germany, and raised by the world, counting Amsterdam, Dubai, Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo and Shanghai as her home base at one point or another during her first 26 years of life. She's a great singer and a classically trained pianist as well. Oh, and did I mention she only has one arm? A remarkable story of triumphing over adversity. On top of that, she's also a pretty damn original pop songwriter as well. Her new album, Slowly, It Dawns, caught my ear immediately and didn't let go, especially its lead-off track "June Baby," which sounds both accessible and fresh, something I cherish in a songwriter. In a world of similars she's a person with her own unique color.

23 Joan Armatrading | "25 Kisses"

Still cooking at 74 years, Joan Armatrading's voice has retained all of its unique character and so has her songwriting. One of the great things about growing older is watching artists continue to be vital longer than ever expected. "25 Kisses" could've been on the radio in the 80s or 90s when Joan was dishing out hits like "Love and Affection," "I'm Lucky," "Show Some Emotion," and "(I Love it When You) Call Me Names." How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean stands with her best records. I've chosen the album opener, but there isn't a bum note on the whole record. A truly welcome return of an old favorite that I grew up listening to (thanks to my big sister's record collection).

24 Califone | "Every Amnesia Movie"

Sometimes it can be a little worrisome when a band releases the remnants of a previous album. If the songs were that good, why not put them on the main album to begin with? The short answer here is "because they didn't fit"—somehow or some way. Maybe they weren't quite cooked at the time. In this case, Califone's 2023 album, Villagers, which made #32 in our Top 50 list, is the source album and The Villagers Companion is the spare parts follow-up. I got hooked on the "junk drawer creations" (description from my original write-up) found on Villagers and "Every Amnesia Movie" (a great title) seems like it would've been a great fit for that album. Perhaps it would've pushed it up into the Top 25. Nonetheless, we have it now and it's exactly what we needed—another totally unique Califone song from the curious mind of Tim Rutili.

25 Cymande ft. Celeste | "Only One Way"

When I listed the reissue of Cymande's self-titled 1972 debut album as one of my favorite vinyl acquisitions back in 2023, I had no idea a new album would be in the works just two years later, a full 52 years since that beloved first LP was initially released. They've reunited here and there, but Renascence is nothing short of a late-career triumph, almost sarcastically good—like "this isn't possible" good. With several original members still in tow, it sounds amazingly vital, once again proving that age is a construct, not a limitation (I'm counting on that). Granted, bagging some prominent guests like phenom Brit soul singer Celeste ups the chances of success, particularly on "Only One Way," but check out what the band is laying down behind her and be prepared to listen in amazement.

26 Brown Spirits | "Mind Rocker"

Once again, we find ourselves killing time in Melbourne—and thank Christ for fucking Melbourne!—a city interviewing strongly for the job as rock & roll's new capital city, this time with a wicked slab of Kraut-psyche-funk from Brown Spirits whose new record, Cosmic Seeds, is out now on the virtually infallible Soul Jazz Records. All noise delivered comes from the heavy cream power trio of bass, drums, guitar, and some Fender Rhodes organ beamed in from the early 1970s. It's the perfect record to ride into the outer limits of your mind. Right on cue, then, is "Mind Rocker"—truth in advertising if it ever existed. It'll quite simply rock your mind. 100% guaranteed. Available in fine record stores everywhere (except for the one nearest you).

Outro: Gus Englehorn | "Thyme"

Let's go out on a very odd note with Gus "The Kicking Mule" Englehorn's "Thyme," a bizarre song that seems hopelessly lost in a time-bending wormhole where nuclear fission seamlessly crosses dimensions with the 1966 release of Simon & Garfunkel's "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" without missing a beat. Extra credit for what sounds like a cameo appearance by the Australian seagulls from Finding Nemo as well. We need freaks like this guy to keep us on our toes.

________________________________________________________

Songs are starting to pile up fast so watch this space.

Cheers,

The Priest