June 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Glyndebourne’s production of Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of June 2026
1. SML- Spontaneous Music Live
One of my favorite bands doing a few of my favorite things.

2. Ambrose Akinmusire and Mary Halvorson- Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings
Interspatial.

3. Patricia Brennan and Sylvie Courvoisier- Talamanti
Crystal silences.

4. Zoh Amba- Eyes Full
My review.

5. James Brandon Lewis- Omni
With Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones and Chad Taylor.

6. Alden Hellmuth- Tether
With Logan Kane, Miller Wrenn and Justin Brown.

7. Tierra Whack- Whack’s Museum
Whack-a-Mole.

8. Converge- Hum of Heart
My preferred form of rock.

9. BCMC- Stash
My review.

10. Vince Staples- Cry Baby
Undermined by unfortunate production choices.

The Top Ten Reissues and Reimaginings of June 2026
1. Peggy Lee- Too Marvelous for Words
Swinging in 1955.

2. Heiner Goebbels- Walden
A bonkers Thoreau-themed song cycle recorded in 1998.

3. Mekons- Horrorble: Mekons vs. Tony Maimone in Dub Conference 
Remix of the 2025 album Horror.

The Top Ten Songs of June 2026
1. Al Xapo and Benzoo- “Fosta Fosta”
Party in South Africa.

2. Rapsody- "God Gotta Afro"
Natural.

3. Rico Nasty- “Rituals”
Transgressive sacraments.

4. Maxo Kream- “6 Months Clean”
Relapse.

5. Ye featuring Don Toliver- "OK"
KO.

6. horsegiirL- "that's my beach"
Quicksand.

7. Charli xcx- “Wink Wink”
Ha ha.

8. 1010benja- “The Whole Damn World (Ain’t Dry Enough…)"
Soaked.

9. Tinishe- “Too Easy”
Simple.

10. Joyce and Tutty Moreno- “Is This Love?”
What the world needs now.

The Top Ten Performances of June 2026
1. By Storm and Lerado Khalil at the Encore Room
My review.

2. Cimafunk at FIFA Fan Festival KC
My review.

3. Christian Death, Gene Loves Jezebel and Descartes a Kant at recordBar
My review.

4. American Wild Ensemble at White Recital Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

5. Paul Simon at Starlight Theatre
My review.

6. Ensemble Ibérica at Polsky Theatre
My Instagram snapshot.

7. Miles Swaminathan at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Elisha Israel and Az-One at Thompson Park
My Instagram clip.

9. Made in France at Market at Meadowbrook
My Instagram clip.

10. The Vincents at Meadowbrook Park Festival
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

What Does Blue Mean to You?: The Top Songs of 2025

I’m baffled by the spiteful allegations of cynics regarding malevolent algorithms. I intentionally select everything I hear on streaming services. The playlist of my fifty favorite songs of the year is the result of deliberate exploration. Mainstream country, spiritual jazz, regional Mexican music, party anthems, alternative gospel and political screeds are unruffled bedfellows on my bespoke sound system. I’ve ordered the tracks to attain a semblance of continuity, but I tend to love the songs at the top a bit more than the selections near the end. Salvant’s indispensable Toni Morrison-inspired composition, however, is in first place for a reason. As always, none of the lead artists featured here appear on the ranking of my favorite albums of 2025.

1. Cécile McLorin Salvant- “What does blue mean to you?”

2. Sault- “L.U.”

3. BadBadNotGood featuring V.C.R- “Found a Light (Beale Street)”

4. Nathy Peluso featuring Rawayana- “Malportada”

5. Carin León, Diego El Cigala and Chanela Clicka- “Te Quiero Y Me Miento”

6. Charlie Hunter and Ella Feingold- “Shirley Chisholm”

7. Gabriel Jacoby- “Be Careful”

8. Okonski- “October”

9. Damon Locks- “Holding the Dawn in Place (Beyond, Pt. 2)”

10. SML- “Chicago Four”

11. DJ Koze- “Aruna”

12. Emma-Jean Thackray- “Thank You For the Day”

13. Sherelle- “Don’t Want U”

14. Danny Brown featuring Quadeca- “Book of Daniel”

15. Horsegirl- “Where’d You Go?”

16. Kali Uchis- “Sugar! Honey! Love!”

17. Saya Gray- “...Thus Is Why (I Don’t Spring 4 Love)”

18. Alfa Mist- “Avoid the Drones”

19. Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist- “Bad Choices”

20. MC Yallah- “Tunyedde”

21. PremRock featuring Cavalier and Eludid-  "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

22. Speed- “Peace”

23. Charli xcx featuring John Cale- “House”

24. Lorde- “What Was That”

25. Mackenzie Carpenter featuring Midland- “I Wish You Would”

26. Morgan Wallen- “I’m the Problem”

27. Evan Bartels- “Montana”

28. Jordan Davis- “Bar None”

29. Lorna Kay- “I’m Never Drinking Again (Again)”

30. Black Country, New Road- “Happy Birthday”

31. Marshall Allen featuring Neneh Cherry- “New Dawn”

32. Lonnie Holley- "That's Not Art, That's Not Music"

33. Chance the Rapper featuring Jamila Woods- “No More Old Men”

34. Key Glock- “Watch Da Throne”

35. TheBabeGabe featuring Monogram- “1999”

36. Burna Boy- “Sweet Love”

37. Little Simz- “Free”

38. Gabito Ballesteros and Fuerza Regida- “Chrome Hearts”

39. Mekons- “Before the Ice Age”

40. СОЮЗ featuring Tim Bernardes- “Lingua Do Mundo”

41. Lil Wayne- “Welcome to Tha Carter

42. Mobb Deep- "Against the World"

43. Viagra Boys- “You N33d Me”

44. Sam Gendel and James McAlister- “Stair 1”

45. Brandee Younger- “Gadabout Season”

46. Bon Iver featuring Dijon and Flock of Dimes- “Day One”

47. Margo Price and Tyler Childers- “Love Me Like You Used Do”

48. Lana Del Rey- “Henry, come on”

49. Colter Wall- “Memories and Empties”

50. Bonnie “Prince” Billy- “Turned To Dust (Rolling On)”

See also: The Top Performances of 2025, The Top Albums of 2025, The Top EPs of 2025, The Top Reissues and Reimaginings of 2025

and

The Top Albums, EPs and Reissues of 2024, The Top Songs of 2024, The Top Performances of 2024

April 2025 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Houston Grand Opera’s production of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of April 2025

1. Sumac and Moor Mother- The Film
End times.

2. Sherelle- With a Vengeance
British footwork.

3. Leif Ove Andsnes and the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir- Liszt: Via Crucis & Solo Piano Works
Sometimes it causes me to tremble.

4. Gerald Clayton- Ones & Twos
My review.

5. Salif Keita- So Kono
Hushed beauty.

6. Black Country, New Road- Forever Howlong
My review.

7. Marilyn Crispell, Thommy Andersson and Michala Østergaard-Nielsen- The Cave
Improvisation worthy of Plato.

8. Willie Nelson- Oh What a Beautiful World
Willie on Rodney.

9. The Mars Volta- Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio
My review.

10. Tucker Wetmore- What Not To
My review.

The Top Three Reissues, Repackagings and Reimaginings of April 2025

1. John Hicks- Steadfast
Forty-year-old solo piano.

2. Sun Ra- Nuits de la Fondation Maeght
The space bop motherlode.

3. Stanley Cowell- Musa: Ancestral Streams
A 1974 classic reemerges.

The Top Ten Songs of April 2025

1. Emma-Jean Thackray- "Thank You for the Day"
Blessings abound.

2. Sault- “L.U.”
Gospel truth.

3. Bon Iver featuring Dijon and Flock of Dimes- "Day One"
We miss the old Kanye.

4. Lorde- "What Was That"
Royal.

5. Carin León, Diego El Cigala and Chanela Clicka- "Te Quiero Y Me Miento"
Intercontinental fusion.

6. Christian Nodal- "Amé"
Love.

7. Mark Morton featuring Nikki Lane- “Down No More”
Straight and narrow.

8. Viagra Boys- "You N33d Me"
Needy.

9. Jane Remover featuring Danny Brown- "Psychoboost"
Hyperpop fantasia.

10. Mekons- "Before the Ice Age"
Warmth.

The Top Ten Performances of April 2025

1. Jake Heggie’s master class at Grant Recital Hall
My review.

2. Joseph Genualdi and Sean Chen at White Recital Hall
My review.

3. Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte at the Folly Theater
My Instagram clip.

4. Lauren Auge and Jacob Hofeling at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
My Instagram clip.

5. Electronic Music Midwest Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College
My Instagram clips: day one and day two.

6. Helen Sung with Bach Aria Soloists at the Folly Theater
My review.

7. Opus 76 at Shawnee Mission South High School
My Instagram clip.

8. The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society’s “3 Expressions of Light and Sound” at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram clip.

9. Bob Bowman at Westport Coffee House
My Instagram clip.

10. Aaron Sizemore, Craig Akin and Taylor Babb at the Music House
My Instagram clip.

The previous monthly recap is here.

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.

November 2024 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Garsington Opera’s production of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Platée by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of November

1. Willie Nelson- Last Leaf on the Tree
Take my mind.

2. Rogê- Curyman II
MPB.

3. 070 Shake- Petrichor
Rarified pop.

4. Žibuoklė Martinaitytė- Alethia
Crucial choral music.

5. Maxo Kream- Personification
Tall tales from Texas.

6. Kendrick Lamar- GNX
Trying to recover the plot.

7. Johnny Coles- Mister Sweet Whisper
Jazz poetry.

8. Dorinda Clark-Cole- Determined
Abundance.

9. The Body- The Crying Out of Things
My review.

10. Black Dog- Sleep Deprivation
Dark ambiance.

The Top Ten Songs of November

1. The Weeknd featuring Anitta- "São Paulo"
Jet set.

2. Tyler The Creator, GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne- “Sticky”
Gumming up the works.

3. Traxman- “I Want U to Ghost”
Spectral footwork.

4. Trap Dickey featuring BigXthaPlug- “No Love”
Cold.

5. Clipping- "Keep Pushing"
Open the door.

6. Kim Deal- "Disobedience"
Uncivil.

7. Grupo Frontera featuring Oscar Maydon- "¿Qué Te Parece?"
Sos grande.

8. Girls of the Internet featuring Allysha Joy- "The Middle"
House.

9. Horsegirl- "2468"
Got me in my Feelies.

10. Mekons- “You’re Not Singing Anymore”
Cursed.

The Top Ten Performances of November

1. Peter Schlamb, Matt Otto, Matt Villinger, Sebastian Arias and Zach Morrow at the Ship
My Instagram clip.

2. UMKC Opera’s production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” at White Theater
My Instagram snapshot.

3. Dunedin Consort’s “J.S. Bach: St. John Passion” at Atonement Lutheran Church
My Instagram snapshot.

4. Ernest Melton, Parker Woolworth, Jordan Faught and Jalen Ward at In the Lowest Ferns
My Instagram clip.

5. Paul Rudy, Thomas Rosenkranz, Seth Andrew Davis and Dan DiPiero and three student ensembles at the Diastole Scholars’ Center
My Instagram clip.

6. Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s “Opera to Go” at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City
My Instagram clip.

7. Tomoko Iguchi and Karen Savage at Yardley Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

8. Charles Perkins, Roger Wilder, Gerald Spaits and Brian Steever at Yardley Hall
My Instagram snapshot.

9. Extra Large Experimental Big Band at Charlotte Street Foundation
My Instagram clip.

10. Stan Kessler, Aaron Sizemore, Forest Stewart and Mike Warren at the Music House
My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.