Damon Locks

February 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for La Monnaie’s production of Richard Wagner’s Götterdämmerung by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of February 2025
1. James Brandon Lewis- Apple Cores
Golden delicious.

2. John Glacier- Like a Ribbon
Knotty.

3. Maruja- Tír na nÓg
My review.

4. Kelela- In The Blue Light
Radiant.

5. Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist- Life Is Beautiful
It’s also quite funny.

6. María Dueñas- 24 Caprices by Paganini
Fiddle.

7. Frieder Bernius und the Kammerchor Stuttgart- Louis Spohr: Des Heilands letzte Stunden, Passionsoratorium
A post-Bach Passion.

8. Oren Ambarchi and Eric Thielemans- Kind Regards
A farewell trip.

9. Horsegirl- Phonetics On and On
My review.

10. Damon Locks- List of Demands
Urgent.


The Top Three Reissues, Repackagings and Reimaginings of February 2025
1. Strata-East: The Legacy Begins
A pivotal digital holdout relents.

2. Joe Ely- Love and Freedom
Previously unreleased gems.

3. Ella Fitzgerald- The Moment of Truth: Ella at the Coliseum
Energetic 1967 concert.


The Top Ten Songs of February 2025
1. Mekons- "War Economy"
Moral deficit.

2. Mackenzie Carpenter featuring Midland- "I Wish You Would"
Back to the barrooms.

3. Natti Natasha featuring Ozuna- “Ya No Comparto”
Not sharing.

4. J Noa and Lowlight- "Traficando Rap"
Atención!

5. The Popper featuring Tech N9ne, KStylis and Zaytoven- "Dumb Booty"
Landmark that!

6. Terrace Martin featuring Ogi- "Not Sharing"
Sound of Crenshaw.

7. Gucci Mane- "Preference"
Choice.

8. Saya Gray- “Thus Is Why (I Don’t Spring 4 Love)”
Perfect pop (4 2025).

9. Lonnie Holley- "That's Not Art, That's Not Music"
People tell me this all too often.

10. Okanski- "October"
Bewitching.


The Top Ten Performances of February 2025
1. The Gesualdo Six at Village Presbyterian Church
My Instagram clip.

2. Nikolai Lugansky at the Folly Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

3. Isaiah Collier at the Old Church (Portland)
My review.

4. Deborah Brown and George Colligan at Upcycle Piano Craft
My Instagram clip.

5. David Finckel and Wu Han at the Old Church (Portland)
My Instagram snapshot.

6. Sarah Ghazal Ali at Arrupe Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

7. Aaron Sizemore, Forest Stewart and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram clip.

8. Made in France at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

9. Josiah Austin at the Portland International Airport
My Instagram clip.

10. Cesar Rosas and the Chi-Town Playboys at the Folly Theater
My review.



The previous monthly recap is here.

January 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer of Houston Opera’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of January 2025
1. Bad Bunny- Debí Tirar Más Fotos
My review.

2. Ambrose Akinmusire- honey from a winter stone
Bittersweet.

3. Carl Allen- Tippin'
My review.

4. Mike- Showbiz!
Like no business I know.

5. Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad- JID022
Highlife.

6. James McVinnie- Dreamcatcher
My review.

7. François Couturier and Dominique Pifarély- Preludes & Songs
Duo français.

8. Ethel Cain- Perverts
Pop star drones.

9. William Basinsky and Richard Charter- Aurora Terminalis
Drone star drones.

10. The Weeknd- Hurry Up Tomorrow
Thriller.


The Top Three Reissues, Repackagings and Reimaginings of January 2025
1. Mary Halvorson Quartet- The Bagatelles, Vol. 1
Zorn-y.

2. Mac Miller- Balloonerism
Wavy highs and lows.

3. Iggy Pop- Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023
Still your dog.


The Top Ten Songs of January 2025
1. Marshall Allen featuring Neneh Cherry- “New Dawn”
Sunshine.

2. Damon Locks- "Holding the Dawn in Place (Beyond pt. 2)"
Ra.

3. Khadija Al Hanafi- "Let It Bump"
Right here.

4. Larry June featuring 2 Chainz and the Alchemist- “Bad Choices”
Decisions, decisions.

5. Celeste- "Everyday"
All day.

6. Ledisi- "Love You Too"
Always.

7. Skiifall featuring Jorja Smith- "Her World"
Gregory Isaacs lives.

8. TheBabeGabe and the Human- "PSA"
My review.

9. Zach Bryan- “Blue Jean Baby”
Out in the street.

10. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- “Turned to Dust (Rolling On)”
This too shall pass.


The Top Ten Performances of January2025
1. Traxman and Dewey at miniBar
My review.

2. Garibaldi Quartet at the 1900 Building
My review.

3. Carl Phillips at Arrupe Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

4. Kristina Reiko Cooper with the Kinnor Philharmonic at White Theatre
My review.

5. Emmanuel Pahud’s masterclass at Helzberg Hall
My review.

6. Made in France at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

7. Matt Hopper and Gerald Spaits at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.

8. Rich Wheeler, Jackie Myers and Sebastian Arias at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Marvin Gruenbaum Quartet at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

10. Cynthia van Roden at the Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram snapshot.



The previous monthly recap is here.

April 2021 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for King of Jazz by There Stands the Glass.

Screenshot of the trailer for King of Jazz by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums (released in April, excluding April 30 titles)

1. Damon Locks and Black Monument Ensemble- Now

Another urgent missive from Chicago.

2. Dopolarians- The Bond

My review.

3. Brockhampton- Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine 

The worst album by the world’s best boy band.

4. Max Richter- Voices 2

My review.

5. John Pizzarelli- Better Days Ahead: Solo Guitar Takes on Pat Metheny

My review.

6. Bryce Dessner and the Australian String Quartet- Impermanence/Disintegration

Street hassle.

7. Toumani Diabaté and the London Symphony Orchestra- Kôrôlén

Stunning 2008 concert.

8. Arooj Aftab- Vulture Prince

Secular adhan.

9. Florian Arbenz, Hermon Mehari and Nelson Veras-  Conversation #1: Condensed

My review.

10. Field Music- Flat White Moon

My review.


Top Ten Songs (released in April, excluding April 30 titles)

1. Cupcakke- "Mosh Pit"

Watch your step.

2. Georgia Anne Muldrow- "Unforgettable"

That’s what she is.

3. Trineice Robinson and Cyrus Chestnut- "Come Sunday"

Blessed balm.

4. Cello Octet Amsterdam- "8"

Circular strings.

5. Bree Runway- “Hot Hot”

Sizzling.

6. Tierra Whack- "Link"

Connected.

7. Rubén Blades and the Roberto Delgado Orchestra- "Paula C."

Swing-infused salsa.

8. Sons of Kemet with Kojey Radical- “Hustle”

Show you something.

9. Sonder featuring Jorja Smith- “Nobody But You”

Quiet storm.

10. Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles- "Truth"

Gimme some.


Top Ten Movies (viewed for the first time in April, in lieu of live music)

1. Journal d'un curé de campagne/Diary of a Country Priest (1951)

Tristesse existentielle.

2. Captain Salvation (1927)

Gospel ship.

3. Agnes of God (1985)

Montréal miracle denied.

4. Bianco, rosso e…/Red, White and... (1972)

Sophia Loren plays an emancipated nun.

5. Imitation of Life (1959)

Annie isn’t okay.

6. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Que sera, sera.

7. Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Let’s go to war!

8. King of Jazz (1930)

My review.

9. Castle in the Air (1952)

Cheerio.

10. Honeysuckle Rose (1980)

Righteous music. Wretched movie.


March’s recap and links to previous monthly surveys are here.