DL Open Thread Sunday Magazine: December 21, 2025
The Best Wildlife Photos Of 2025–Be sure to check out the giant Japanese mantis.
10 Fave Books Of 2025: I chose this list because ‘The Antidote’ by Karen Russell was my favorite fiction of the year. Although–for sheer gruesome pleasure, it’s hard to go wrong with S.A. Cosby’s ‘King Of Ashes’.
I’d link to a ‘Best Music Of 2025’ list, but they’d clearly be inferior to my 50 Fave Tunes list coming your way right here between December 26-30.
Which reminds me. I’ve got a (rare) bone to pick with WXPN, the best indie station in the country. Here is a roundup of their hosts’ fave album lists. You will note that by far the most-praised album is ‘Getting Killed’ by Geese. There is no doubt that Cameron Winter and his bandmates are exceedingly talented, and that they craft music on another plane from most. I’ve listened to most of the songs on it. Perhaps it’s just me, but I have no desire to listen to it on anything close to ‘repeat’. I don’t inhabit the same plane as the band. It reminds me a lot of Fiona Apple’s ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’. I have tremendous respect for the album’s concept and execution, yet have no desire to listen to it again. Bouquets? Brickbats? Which reminds me, are ‘brickbats’ bats made out of bricks? Let’s do some research…disappointing. ‘Brickbats’ are simply bricks, usually being hurled at somebody. Dress ’em up in cowls, have them attack Batman, and you might really have something.
Yes, I’m vamping. While putting the finishing touches on our ‘DL MVP’s Of 2025’ list, appearing tomorrow if I finish it on time.
Anyway, I know that Al would have included this on his ‘Song Of The Day’ feature were he not deep into his annual Christmas Songs project. But one of my favorite roots performers died this week. He fit well under the Americana banner, as he not only provided his uniquely Texas take on roots rock, but also embraced the marriage of Tex and Mex with the super-group ‘Los Super Seven’. Here’s a tribute to Joe Ely:
I used this song in a one-act play that I directed:
Here he is happily taking a background role with Los Super Seven:
Here he is with his Flatlanders brethren, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and songwriter-supreme Butch Hancock:
Finally, here’s what I consider his signature song. Recorded live while opening for The Clash:
I think the high praise for the Geese album is yet another case of critics jumping on the cool album bandwagon. I believe they do this partly because some of it’s deliberately kind of hard to listen to. Some critics think it’s impressive that they like it so much. I think it’s OK but no more than that. I prefer the band that people sometimes confuse it with, Goose.
I didn’t know Joe Ely died. Very sorry to hear it.
The problem with the Geese album?:
“There’s not a tune you can hummm.”