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.

October 2020 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Galatea Ranzi in Zoroaster, Io, Giacomo Casanova.

Top Five Albums

1. Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano

My review.

2. Sturgill Simpson- Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 (The Butcher Shoppe Sessions)

The first trustworthy album from the stylistic chameleon.

3. Marilyn Crispell and Angelica Sanchez- How to Turn the Moon

My review.

4. Blackstarkids- Whatever, Man

My review.

5. Sa-Roc- The Sharecropper’s Daughter

Old-school raps and throwback R&B.

Top Five Songs

1. Bruce Springsteen- “Janey Needs a Shooter”

Tramps like us.

2. Channel Tres- "Skate Depot"

Before I let go.

3. Blackpink- "Pretty Savage"

Green light.

4. Charlie Wilson featuring Smokey Robinson- "All of My Love"

Cruisin’.

5. Metz- "Pulse"

My review.

Top Five Livestreams

1. Bang on a Can Marathon #4 (George Crumb, Tyshawn Sorey, Anna Webber, etc.)

2. Danny Embrey, Bob Bowman and Brian Steever- Black Dolphin

3. James Francies, Matt Brewer, Jeremy Dutton and Ben Heim- Yamaha Artist Services

4. Veronica Swift with Emmet Cohen, Javier Nero, Julius Rodriguez, Philip Norris and Kush Abadey- Smalls

5. Beethoven 250th Anniversary Celebration- UMKC Conservatory

I conducted the same exercise in September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February and January.

Album Review: Anja Lechner and François Couturier- Lontano

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

I wondered if I was on my deathbed four hours after receiving a seasonal flu shot three days ago.  Thankfully, the alarming diminishment of my lifeblood quickly dissipated.  The tone of Lontano, the new album by German cellist Anja Lechner and French pianist François Couturier, matches the weary sense of resignation I experienced.  Fluttering between planes of existence, I was overcome by bittersweet reflections of my time on Earth.  A recent 82-minute concert by the duo exudes a similar otherworldliness even without the signature ethereal ECM Records ambiance enhancing Lontano.