5 songs - January 2025

Written on 01/26/2025
Aaron James

1. "Farewell" - Fionn Regan

Not a lot of people know about Fionn, but those who are aware of the Irish singer/songwriter know how much of a beast he is. An incredible poet, and an even more inspiring acoustic guitar player, he recently released a new album entitled "O, Avalanche" that I only just got around to listening to despite it being out for a few months now....but it's been on repeat. Several songs I really enjoy but this one is standing out to me the most at the moment. I'll probably have a different favorite off the album this time next week but this is the current jam.


2. "Walmart" - Jesse Welles

Kid Maestro only just put me on to Jesse very recently so I'm very late to his music, but he writes what Kid called "accountability music", which I think is an amazing description. From what I've heard so far he just talks about the world, all of the problems, and all of the people who either enable the problems are fall victim to them, calling everybody out, inlcuding himself sometimes, for not being better. I haven't listened to a ton of his stuff but this song makes me smile and also tear up every time I hear it.


3. "Loose Ends" - Half Moon Run

Half Moon Run has always been one of my favorite bands ever since discovering their "Dark Eyes" album while in college. But they are one of those bands/artists that for some reason, I like legitamently EVERYTHING that they release. I feel oddly connected to their art and they are pretty unknown in America which is interesting. There aren't many artists I connect with as I do them...but even a decade after the album that made me fall in love with them, they are still releasing music that my heart gravitates towards. This is their most recent single and it's been in heavy rotation for me all month.


4. "The Shadows" - Laura Marling

I only discovered Laura over COVID, where her "Song for our Daughter" album was heavily played for me in those lonely months. Ever since them I've kept up with her even though she hasn't been doing much. (artistically I mean....she definitley had a child which is a pretty big deal haha) But she'd been teasing a new album for quite some time and it finally released late last year. Several really amazing songs and she's such an amazing writer, but this track has been a standout to me. There was a live performance of this song around COVID times that I adored but the song was nowhere to be found. Now it's out and providing me with all of the "moodiness" I could ever need.


5. "Awards Season" - Bon Iver

It was almost too cliche to start this list with Bon Iver since any time I talk about music they are pretty much always in the conversation. They have been my favorite band/group/entity/creative machine for quite some time now, though I do go through phases with them...and their most recent EP "Sable" is no exception. Only 3 songs but similarly to Half Moon Run...EVERY song they release I enjoy. There is not a single song of theirs that I don't like. It's really strange. Anyway, these three new songs are all great, but at the moment, "Awards Season" is probably my favorite. Its been a mainstay throughout the fall and winter months for me, and probably will be every year these seasons come around.

Thanks for reading and hope you find something new here that you enjoy!