HOLY FUCK, it’s been two years since I’ve done one of these playlists? What the hell. I am super grumpy right now because the weather where I live has been cold and/or rainy the last few weeks. I tend to go through a GOING THROUGH IT during the winter, which has been happening for years now. Nonetheless, every December until March, I am always wondering, “why am I in such a bad mood?” and cannot seem to make the connection that terrible weather = more pain = me being grumpy for a few months out of the year. Maybe I’ll remember this pattern next year and give myself some space to be a huge grouch for a bit.

Anyway, here are some songs I’ve been listening to way too much. A full playlist is located here. If you’d prefer to hear the songs individually, you can click on the titles for YouTube links.

Boards of Canada, “Roygbiv” (1998): This is kind of chill but there is also a weird sample of what sounds like a child’s voice saying wait throughout the song?? I don’t know. Boards of Canada has been around for a while, but Music Has the Right to Children is easily their best album. There is a solid Stereogum anniversary article about it.

Labi Siffre, “I Got The…” (1975): It would not be a playlist made by me without at least one song from the 1970s, right? Underrated funk and folk pioneer Labi Siffre has a new album on the way (his first in 28 years), so it’s a good time to look back on this dude’s legacy because his music is awesome. You might recognize the middle part of this song as having been sampled as part of a more famous song.

Florence & the Machine, “Kraken” (2025): This is just an epic song. The “ah ah ahhhh” part after “do you see me now…” WHY IS IT SO FUCKING GOOD?

Spinal Tap featuring Elton John, “(Listen To) The Flower People” (2025): RIP, Rob Reiner. The Spinal Tap sequel had no right to be as solid as it was, and the Elton John features on two songs (!) were perfect.

Queen, “Princes of the Universe” (1986): Liam and I watched Highlander (the first one, since the second one is AWFUL--just straight up ass) again recently. Highlander is a pretty good and very cheesy movie that has a boss soundtrack. It is a movie that features Sean Connery playing a Spaniard (????). It’s true that the casting was not all there, even if the movie itself is good despite that terrible casting choice. I am VERY GLAD that the entertainment industry is moving past the whole “casting white dudes as dudes of color” thing (the most notorious of which is either John Wayne as Genghis Khan, or Charlton Heston as Ramon Vargas in Touch of Evil).

Antinoe, “The Devil’s Voice” (2025): Pianist and vocalist Antinoe is a new-to-me artist. Her 2025 album The Fold was one of my favorites, even though I listened to it too late to put it on this list. “The Devil’s Voice” is a choral-heavy piano piece that is also metal as fuck. I’m not sure of another way to describe it.

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