Top Picks of 2025: Dave Nowels Self-Indulgence
What a roller coaster year 2025 was for music. It was a year that saw music fans processing an immeasurable amount of grief over so many of our fallen musical heroes. From Americana and roots icons to pure rock stars, we lost some big ones this year including: Todd Snider, Joe Ely, Peter Yarrow, Garth Hudson, Marianne Faithful, Roberta Flack, Jill Sobule, Johnny Rodriguez, Sly Stone, Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Flaco Jiménez, Ace Frehley, D’Angelo, Jimmy Cliff, Raul Malo and so many more. Still, as far as musical releases go, there was plenty of joy working to even things out. I was surprised by how many albums I really deeply connected with this year, and how many times I kept repeatedly listening to them. Glancing through some of my listening piles and files as well as my fellow contributor’s year-end lists, I realize that, like most years this was likely to the detriment of some other pretty deserving releases. Albums from the likes of Tyler Childers, Samantha Crain, James McMurtry, Patterson Hood and so many more all rightfully deserve mention, but for a variety of reasons I just wasn’t able to dive into them as much as I wish I could have. Anyway, I hope you found enough joy to counter the loss this year. I think I did and hope we can all manage to do the same in 2026 as well. Here’s my favorites of 2025:
My Politic – Signs of Life (Self Released)
I listened to this album more than any other over the course of the year, and regardless of what else I was listening to, this was still always in rotation. That doesn’t happen all that frequently. Modern day troubadours, Kaston Guffey and Nick Pankey’s songs capture relatable musings on time, exploration and discovery as well as societal issues all with a big heart. I discovered these guys at WoodyFest a few years back, and they’ve been a favorite ever since. Clever lyrics, stunning harmonies and tasty picking, elevated Signs of Life to my favorite album of 2025.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/05/21/review-my-politic-signs-of-life/
moe. – Circle of Giants (Fat Boy/Ato Records)
Moe. had a pretty epic 2025. The beloved New York band celebrated their 35th anniversary with one of the year’s best albums, Circle of Giants, as well as a year-long tour excursion across the country. The album introduces us to newest member, Nate Wilson on vocals, keys and more, and his impact is both subtle and distinct. By that, I mean he sounds like he’s always been there, but has also managed to rejuvenate with his addition. After all these years and a few health scares, moe. still sound fresh, bold and absolutely relevant.
Avett Brothers & Mike Patton – Avtt/Pttn (Ramseur Records)
I have no idea where this one came from, and releasing in November nearly kept it off my radar. I love this record. I’ve never really connected with the Avetts before, and honestly might have passed this one by completely if not for the absurdity of Mike Patton’s name on the cover. Faith No More/Mr. Bungle and the Avett Brothers? My initial thought was, no way. Can’t be the same Mike Patton. It is, and it’s absolutely one of my favorite records of the year.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/11/13/review-avt-pttn-is-unexpected-alchemy-from-the-avett-brothers-and-mike-patton/
Redd & The Paper Flowers – Appalachian Bell Jar (Self Released)
A chance discovery initiated by a social media algorithm led to one of my favorite musical discoveries of the year. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee and comprised of Redd Daugherty, Katie Adams, Colleen d’Alelio and Gavin Gregg, Appalachian Bell Jar is their debut record and absolutely became one of my most listened too albums of the year, and their OKC performance was among the year’s best too. Their sophomore follow up, Dead Little Thing will release in early 2026, and I can’t wait.
Orcutt Shelley Miller – S/T (Silver Current Records)
Earlier this year, I discovered Bill Orcutt. I instantly connected with his music, guitar tone and playing style. Unfortunately, I also discovered him five days after he played an intimate performance in OKC, so I’ve yet to see him live. That said, I did see two thirds of this new band, Steve Shelley and Ethan Miller perform two sets of Dylan songs with an all star cast in Tulsa in July, and still have my fingers crossed that I’ll get to see the trio sometime in 2026. I love everything about this record. Recorded live, one take, with audience at Zebulon in Los Angeles in April and released through Miller’s Silver Current Records, the album is a masterclass in avant/noise rock improvisation. It’s an angular, raw journey that I love to play on loop.
Waylon Jennings – Songbird (Thirty Tigers)
A new Waylon album wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card, and certainly not a really good new Waylon album. It’s an album of cover songs, comprised of studio recordings dating from 1973-1984 and features Jennings and band’s versions of songs from Christine McVie/Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash, Jesse Winchester, JJ Cale and more. Even better, there’s at least two more albums to be released from these sessions. Tip of the hat to Shooter for sharing this labor of love with us.
John Calvin Abney – Transparent Towns (Tin Can Records)
A road diary of sorts, Transparent Towns was also Abney’s return from a vocal cord injury, and quite possibly his best album to date. Seemingly well recovered from his vocal cord surgery, his voice here sounds rejuvenated, matured and resonant, full of a warmth and clarity that grounds these existential musings. Abney is currently wrapping up a tour of Japan, and I for one look forward to whatever inspiration comes from that trip.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/09/16/review-john-calvin-abney-returns-with-transparent-towns/
Swell Season – Forward (Masterkey Sounds)
I was fortunate to catch Glen Hansard several years back and was just mesmerized by how good that performance was. Since then, I’ve back-tracked through the majority of his catalog of work feeling a need to absorb as much as I could. I’d always found his Swell Season albums with Markéta Irglová particularly captivating, and consider Strict Joy among my favorites. Forward captures a lot of that albums essence, but not all. There are plenty of glimpses of that collaboration magic, but at times it’s too distant. It’s still an album that I played often and enjoyed quite a bit.
Scott ‘Wino’ Weinrich – Create or Die (Ripple Records)
Wino’s fourth solo release was another genre bending excursion into acoustic introspection powered with an electric grit. From a production standpoint, it was also one of the best sounding albums I heard this year. In addition to his current band, The Obsessed, Wino, his wife SharLee LuckyFree (Moth) and Oakly Munson (The Black Lips) formed Ritual Arcana this year, and have a debut album releasing on January 23rd. Wino stays busy, so who knows what else he’s got up his sleeves for 2026.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/10/21/review-scott-wino-weinrich-create-or-die/
Archival:
The Grateful Dead – Dave’s Picks Vol. 56: 3/20 & 21/1981 (Rhino Records)
Grateful Dead Archivist David Lemiux’s picks for the Rhino Records’ 2025 Series of Dave’s Picks jumped about a bit this year. The first release of the year was Vol. 53: 10/2/76 Ohio, the second release was Vol. 54: 3/26/73 Baltimore (with the subscriber bonus disc of 3/31/73 Buffalo) and the third, Vol. 55: 10/28/90 Paris. But I was most excited about Vol. 56 which was the final quarterly release of 2025 and featured two back to back shows (March 20 & 21) from the Dead’s performances at London’s Rainbow Theatre in 1981. The March run was the first of two trips across the pond that the Dead made in ’81, with the second, larger tour through Europe in October. I’ve always hoped Lemiux and team might be compelled someday to release the fall tour in a larger boxed set, and this two show release still has me hoping it just might happen.
Miles Davis – Live at The Plugged Nickel December 23, 1965 Second Set RSD Release (Sony/Legacy)
The Record Store Day LP release served as an opening salvo, heralding in the Miles Davis Centennial celebrations scheduled for 2026 from Sony/Legacy. The RSD two LP set previews the upcoming full re-release of Davis’ (again with the Second Great Quintet) complete legendary Plugged Nickel sets in Chicago in 1965 that’s scheduled for release on January 30th of next year. These ’65 sets document Davis’ “anti-music” phase, a precursor to his later fusion direction. These performances have been long out of print, and last issued by Mosaic Records as an LP set in 1995. These are pivotal performances from Davis and the Second Great Quintet and as excited as I am for this release, I can’t wait for what else might be in store for the Miles Davis Centennial.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/11/25/review-miles-davis-live-at-the-plugged-nickel-december-23-1965-second-set/
Buckingham Nicks – S/T (Rhino Records)
Originally released in 1974 via Polydor, this often overlooked gem was a prelude to Rumours and to be honest, I actually never thought it would ever get re-issued. Years ago, on Fleetwood Mac’s The Dance Tour, I was able to venture backstage for the meet & greet and one of the things I brought with me was my original LP. Lindsey graciously signed it for me, but didn’t seem all that excited about it, and kind of hemmed and hawed when I asked about it getting re-released. Stevie on the other hand, was quite excited about it, though indicated it being re-issued was completely up to Buckingham. However it came about, I wish there had been a few more extras associated with the release, some more bonus material or cleaned up live material. Regardless, the reissue is a beauty.
Live:
Woody Guthrie Folk Festival 2025 – Okemah, OK
I look forward to this absolute gem of a festival every year, and think it’s one of the best festivals in the country. This year’s WoodyFest was truly a special event, and easily my favorite to date. Things kicked off with a remarkable opening night featuring an Evan Felker and Hayes Carll song swap, and then over the course of the next few days there was a never ending schedule of stunning, intimate performances from the likes of Maestro David Amram, Butch Hancock, John Moreland w/John Calvin Abney, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Adeem the Artist, Matt Axton and more before BJ Barham hit us hard in the feelings with his powerful closing set.
Hayes Carll & Evan Felker –
https://americanahighways.org/2025/07/15/show-review-hayes-carll-evan-felker-at-woody-guthrie-folk-festival-2025/
WoodyFest 2025 Recaps:
https://americanahighways.org/2025/07/16/show-review-woodyfest-2025-day-2/
http: //americanahighways.org/2025/07/17/show-review-woodyfest-2025-day-3/
http ://americanahighways.org/2025/07/18/show-review-woodyfest-2025-day-4/
Bob Dylan – Tulsa, OK
Dylan opened the 2025 leg of his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour in Tulsa, just around the corner from his archival residence, The Bob Dylan Center. I hadn’t seen Dylan in a few years, and got rewarded with the best performance I’ve seen him do. Certainly one of the best setlists, including the “Desolation Row” I’ve chased all these years. I thought I was going to catch him again in the summer as part of the Outlaw Festival Tour with Willie Nelson and The Mavericks, but it canceled last minute. Dylan’s just announced 2026 dates, and I’d absolutely see him again given a show in my vicinity.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/03/27/show-review-bob-dylan-in-tulsa/
Redd & The Paper Flowers – OKC, OK
Found this amazing little band from an algorithm on social media. Their October tour had a stop in OKC, and an ad for the show popped up in my feed, and one thing led to another, and now my wife and I have a new favorite band to obsess over.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/09/13/show-review-redd-the-paper-flowers-at-okcs-blue-note-lounge/
Lyle Lovett & His Large Band – OKC, OK
I’ve seen Lyle many times over the years, but the last time I’d seen him, I was still living in Houston, and I think that was around the time of “Step Inside This House,” or maybe a subsequent Large Band performance. Regardless, it was going thirty years ago. So finally getting a date here in OKC after all those years was like catching up with an old pal. Lovett and his Large Band are exceptional live and this was a great night of music.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/07/19/show-review-lyle-lovett-at-okcs-criterion/
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Tulsa, OK
I’ve long said that on any given night Tedeschi Trucks Band is the best band on the road today. This year was no exception. They just keep getting better and better.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/08/01/show-review-tedeschi-trucks-band-in-tulsa/
Going Electric – The Million Dollar Bashers – Tulsa, OK
From his tour opening date at the Tulsa Theater, to this smoking tribute performance presented by the Bob Dylan Center at Cain’s Ballroom a few months later, this really was a good year to be a Dylan fan in Tulsa. The Million Dollar Bashers, comprised of musical director Lee Ranaldo along with Steve Shelley, Ethan Miller, Mikael Jorgensen and Nels Cline and featuring John Doe, Robyn Hitchcock, Joy Harjo w/ Doug Keith, Dean & Britta, Sunny War, Emma Swift and Chebon Tiger delivered two incredible sets of Dylan tunes circa 1961.
https://americanahighways.org/2025/07/29/show-review-the-million-dollar-bashers-at-cains-ballroom/
Enjoy my top picks of last year here: Top Picks of 2024: Dave Nowels Self-Indulgence
And find some other perspectives here: 45 RPM (Reasons to Purchase Music) for 2025 , here: Editor’s Pick: Favorite Albums of 2025 and here: Editor’s Pick: Roadtrip Earworms 2025
Vote for your own favorite albums of 2025 here: Vote for Your Favorite Albums of 2025
