Screenshot of the trailer for Festspielhaus Baden-Baden’s production of Richard Strauss’ Elektra by There Stands the Glass.
The Top Ten Albums of May 2025
1. Billy Woods- Golliwog
Darkness.
2. Cosmic Ear- Traces
My review.
3. Barbara Hannigan- Electric Fields
Splendor.
4. Grupo Firme- Evolución
Tijuana’s finest.
5. Arve Henriksen- Arcanum
Tomorrow is (still) the question.
6. Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons- Live in Philadelphia
Traveling turbulent spaceways.
7. Milena Casado- Reflection of Another Self
My review.
8. Morgan Wallen- I’m the Problem
Same.
9. Mike and Tony Selzer- Pinball II
Slurry.
10. James Brandon Lewis- Abstraction is Deliverance
Clearly defined.
The Top Three Reissues, Reimaginings and Broadsides of May 2025
1. Irène Schweizer- Irène’s Hot Four
At Internationales Jazzfestival Zürich in 1981.
2. Pink Floyd- Live at Pompeii MCMLXXII
Steven Wilson’s remix of the 1971 concert.
3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band- Land of Hope & Dreams
Chimes of freedom flashing.
The Top Ten Songs of May 2025
1. Badbadnotgood and V.C.R- “Found a Light (Beale Street)”
Illuminated.
2. Brandee Younger- “Gadabout Season”
Flittering.
3. Kali Uchis- “Sugar! Honey! Love!”
Sweet.
4. Lizzie Berchie- "Happiness"
It’s possible.
5. Karol G- “Milagros”
Yet another minor miracle.
6. HiTech featuring Lovesexy- “Empty Bus Stop”
Decadence.
7. Bruiser Wolf- “Air Fryer”
High comedy.
8. Stereolab- “Vermona F Transistor”
Spare parts.
9. Evan Bartels- "Montana"
My review.
10. Hardy- “Girl with a Gun”
Hands up.
The Top Ten Performances of May 2025
1. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet at the Folly Theater
My Instagram snapshot.
2. Speed, Whispers, Spine and Stakes Is High at the Ship
My Instagram clips here and here.
3. Maria Ioudenitch and Navo Chamber Orchestra at Southminster Presbyterian Church
My Instagram snapshot.
4. Bachathon at Village Presbyterian Church
My Instagram clip.
5. Rod Fleeman, Gerald Spaits and Ray DeMarchi at Green Lady Lounge
My Instagram clip.
6. Stephanie Larsen, Maria Crosby, Duncan Steele and Sunho Kim at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
My Instagram snapshot.
7. Vine Street Rumble at Shawnee Town 1929 Museum
My Instagram snapshot.
8. The Kansas City Symphony’s Mobile Music Box at Meadowbrook Park
My Instagram clip.
9. Aztlan at Guadalupe Center
My Instagram clip.
10. Ken Stringfellow at Knuckleheads
My Instagram snapshot.
The previous monthly recap is here.