2025 Playlist

 Have I become one of those people who doesn't listen to albums? The answer here is yes and no. 

Do I listen to albums cover to cover? Yes.
Did I listen to new albums in full that were released last year to constitute a favorite album of the year list for 2025? No I did not.

Do I have an album of the year? Yes but it was not released this year.

The album that I kept revisiting, the album that resonated with me, with all of the trials and trimbulations that 2025 brought and that will most likely carry on was Idles' Ultra Mono from 2020. 2020 was of course, the final full year of the first Trump administration while 2025 was the year that the second Trump administration started.

In the absence of a favorite album of the year list for 2025, I've put together a playlist of songs that were released over the course of the year. There is no rhyme nor reason to the placement of the songs which is to say that the first song isn't my number one favorite song of the year, so on and so forth. 

1. Wavves "Busy Sleeping": San Diego's Wavves released their 9th studio album Spun last June. "Busy Sleeping" caught my ear with a sound reministent of 2010's King Of The Beach.

2. Lambrini Girls "Big Dick Energy":  If there's an album that comes close to being my number one album of last year this is it. Lambrini Girls struck big with their debut album Who Let The Dogs Out in 2025. It's the girl power movement we all need as the world around us grows even more overtly misogynistic.

3. Steve Lacy "Nice Shoes": This song is more like a spoken word poem with every nonchalant word ringing true therefore widely relateable. Steve Lacy is yet another artist from the R&B relm blending genres and taking the plunge into a more interspective and mature psyche.  

4 . King Princess "Cry Cry Cry" : The name of the 5th song "Cry Cry Cry" on King Princess's 3rd album Girl Violence caught my eye so I gave it a listen. It's indie-pop flare and bratty, blunt chorus tickeled my fancy. 

5. Drama "On The Way": I sure do love me some music from Drama. The duo from Chicago didn't drop an album but they did give us a few songs and "On They Way" was one of them. It's a little deep, a little cool, calm and dancey. It's a whole lot of Drama and I can't get enough of it. 

6. Turnstile "SUNSHOWER":  Their highly anticipated follow up to 2021's Glow On, 2025's Never Enough dropped last June. You can find Turnstile at Coachella this year which will be a real life sunshower indeed. It would be fun, and fitting, to see them play this song live at any Spring time or Summer time music festival.  

7. Idles "Doom": Thanks to the 2025 movie Caught Stealing we got a new underlying, politically charged single from Idles. Best listened to loud, "Doom" came just in time for when we the people need it most.  

8. Arooj Aftab (Khruangbin remix) "raat ki rani": The fact that this is a Khruangbin remix drew me to give this song a listen because, Khruangbin. It's seductivly romantic. Seducing with it's ethereal, cathartic sound that's difficult to describe in words but easy to understand when listened to.   

9. Andre 3000 "i spend all day waiting for the night": Andre 3000's outfit at the Met Gala last year makes so much sense after seeing the album cover art for last year's 7 Piano Sketches. This song starts with a kinda creepy intro which I am totally into. The song itself is melodramatic with pounding keys accentuated by drums. This track stuck out to me because of it's name because I use to spend all day waiting for the night. Now, I can't wait to go to bed to wake up to a new day everyday. See ya later flutes, this man said it's piano time. Where will this experimental musician take us next?

10. Nine Inch Nails (TRON Ares) "As Alive As You Need Me To Be": Thanks to yet another TRON re-boot and the ceaseless EDM boom, industrial electro-rockers, Nine Inch Nails, might have never come out of  movie score hiding. With another tour up their sleeve this year and an appearance with Boys Noize at Coachella this Spring, I for one couldn't be more excited for the return of and more from NIN. 

11. Alabama Shakes "Another Life": The last time we got an ablum from Alabama Shakes was 2015. Ten years later they gave us the single, "Another Life".  

12. Miley Cyrus "Something Beautiful": The title track off her last studio album won me over with it's soulful twang and gritty drop curveball. 

                        13. Brooke Candy "POGO": Sometimes you just need a raunchy, thrashy, hyper sexualized dance romp from Brooke Candy and she gave it to us in 2025.

14. Princess Nokia "Drop Dead Gorgeous": Off the beaten path of her usual hip-hop driven tracks as we hear Princess Nokia veering more pop on this one and I'm here for it. 

15. Die Spitz "RIDING WITH MY GIRLS": When I found out that Die Spitz is on Jack White's Third Man Records label I had to give them a listen and "RIDING WITH MY GIRLS" sold me. 

16. Choke Cherry "Secrets":

I really wanted SF's Choke Cherry to be another grungy garage rock girl band, however they're a little on the softer side. "Secrets" is my pick off of their debut album Ripe Fruit Rots and Falls which dropped last November. 

17. Mac DeMarco "Knockin": There's something about the slow tempo strumming and singing heard on side B track 4, "Knockin" from Mac DeMarco's sixth studio album, Guitar that struck a cord with me. The Canadian singer/songwriter released the album on his own record label, Mac's Label in Aguust 2025.  

18. Madi Diaz "Feel Something": Touched by the song off her 7th studio album, Fatal Optimism, "Feel Something" as an ode to everyone who's ever found themselves in a relationship with a narcasist or an emotionally avoidant person. Stripped down to her voice and guitar amplifies it's overall rawness, playing into the rawness of awakening to the realization that your own emotions have been eroded.  Being breadcrumbed along the way before finding your way back to what makes you you by allowing feeling to flow and workign through why you feel the way you do. It's a song to listen to alone, perhaps on a walk through the woods or while having your morning coffee or afternoon tea. 

19. Fred Again + Amyl & The Sniffers "You're A Star": I didn't jump on the Fred Again bandwagon when he burst onto the scene a couple years ago but I'm on it for this one. I love me some Amyl & The Sniffers and dig this punk, dance fusion. It's a PDM collab, if you will. 

20. Earth to Eve "THREAT LEVEL ORANGE":  Unlike the subject at hand, "THREAT LEVEL ORANGE" it's clever, it's smart and it's factually accurate. Lyrically delivered in more of a rapping style while the over all vibe is punk, there's so many things to love about this track from Earth to Eve.  It doesn't pretend that our democracy and basic human decency in this country is disappearing before our eyes. This isn't the only politically powered single she released last year and hopefully it won't be the last because shared like minded thinking and awareness seems to be the only sense of hope we have these days. 

21. Cardi B "Check Please":  This is the only track I've heard from Cardi B's 2025 album, Am I the Drama?.  "Check Please" is the energy I'll be carrying throughout 2026. #teamcardi #feelinglikeabadbitchallgoddamnday

22. Couch "Window": My favorite track off of Couch's debut album. A dreamy sound thanks to layered horns and melodic harmonies. It's uplifting indie song reminding listeners to be thankful for what we have. 

23. Wolf Alice "Bloom Baby Bloom": Wolf Alice returned with vigor last year with their 4th studio album, The Clearing. Frontwoman Ellie Roswell sounds stronger than ever on "Bloom Baby Boom". With vocals that are reministant of an early 2000's Kimbra, an intense build up and powerful drop to round out this solid rock n roll song. Welcome back, Wolf Alice.  

24. Wet Leg "Catch These Fists": We all fell for Wet Leg's first single "Chaise Longue" when it dropped in 2022. Three years later, their new found confidence shines on their sophomore album as they've clearly found themselves, in more ways than one, and we love to hear it. Understandably so, the feisty independent woman anthem, "Catch These Fists" is the first single off their new album.  

25. Modern Nature "Zoology": Heard about Modern Nature by chance late last year. "Zoology" is like a modern day lullaby for indie kids.

 

26. Mt. Joy "More More More": Easily one of my favorite songs of last year. With it's sutble build up and crashing beat drop, Mt. Joy's "More More More" sparks an unassuming joy.

27. Ecca Vandal "MOLLY": Straight from South Africa, Ecca Vandal's 2025 single "MOLLY" is fun, it's punky and if you've ever had bad news broken to you while under any type of influence, it's relateable. Plus, I love her style. Aside from her appearance at Coachella this year, I'm looking forward to more from her.  

28. Girl Tones "Again": Yet another girl group giving us their take on grungy, punky girl power. "Again" is enjoyable again and again and leaves us wanting more from Kentucky's Girl Tones. 

29. Khruangbin "Little Joe and Mary ii": I think it's safe to say I am a big fan of everything Khruangbin does. For instance, surprising us with a new album in 2025 after giving us one in 2024. I could listen to the first track, "Little Joe and Mary ii" off of their sixth studio album, The Universe Smiles Upon You ii everyday for the forseable future.   

30. Olivia Dean "Man I Need": 2025 was Olivia Dean's year partly due to this hit single of hers and for good reason. It's catchy, her voice is solid and she's not the only one searching for the man she quote unquote needs (wants). 

31. Madonna "Drowned World/Substitute For Love": I almost forgot that Madonna released a remix album of songs from her 7th studio album, 1998's Ray of Light called Veronica Electronica until my Dad gifted me the album on CD for Christmas. The first track brought me back and made me remember how much I love the original. Now I love the remix, too.  This is the other album that would be on my favorite albums of 2025 list if I had one.   

As if paying artists mere cents wasn't reason enough to cancel Spotify, up until early 2026 the platform not only supported MAGA's ICE movement but ran recruitment ads for it. Paying for premium therefore paying to hear zero ads doesn't mean they're not there. It's shocking, to say the least, to see how many people still subscribe this streaming platform.

Because of all of Spotify's fascist support and lack there of for musicians, along with Apple's MAGA investments, this playlist can be found on the new streaming platform, Qobuz. Every song might not be available yet on this new platform but it is super easy to transfer playlists from other platforms to this one. We do love conveience, right? And yes, there is monthly payment due but it's a small price to pay for music we love. 

No More Sprinkles Cupcakes

 On December 31st, 2025 I happened to hear on the radio that Sprinkles Cupcakes was closing. I quickly tried to figure out how much time I had to get in one last Sprinkles cupcake review only to learn that as of that very same day, all Sprinkles locations were closed. That was it, no more Sprinkles. 

Apparently customers weren't the only ones shocked by this news. It turns out that Sprinkles employees were given a day or less notice of the closure. They also got no severance pay. Happy New Year. 

In 2005 Sprinkles founder, Candance Nelson, opened the first Sprinkles Cupcakes location in Beverly Hills. She subsequently pioneered the gourmet cupcake trend. By 2008 Sprinkles was all the rage, easily the front runner of the cupcake craze and opened it's first Northern California location at The Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto. 

In Februaury 2012 I lost a boss, a friend, a mentor. Robin Rockwell was and is a radio legend who rocked the promotions department at alternative rock radio stations in San Diego then San Francisco. Robin loved a big rock show. She had a special way of lifting people up to make them realize their full potential and she loved to laugh. Oh brother that infectious laugh of hers! She also loved cupcakes. When I left radio, I started this blog reviewing music and cupcakes. My cupcake reviews are a dedication to Robin and her infinity for the handheld, single serving cakes. She's the one who introduced me to Sprinkles Cupcakes and she's the first person I thought of when I found out about the closure. 

Sprinkles Cupcakes in Palo Alto 2012 
photo by unknown

Not long after her passing, a former co-worker and I took a trip down to Sprinkles in Palo Alto and had cupcakes in Robin's honor. I got what would become one of my favorite Sprinkles' flavors, the Black & White: Belgian Dark Chocolate cake with vanilla frosting topped with chocolate paillettes. The chocolatey-est chocolate cake that isn't chocolate flourless cake that I've come across. August 4th, 2012 was the first time I reviewed a Sprinkles cupcake, the Chocolate Marshmellow. 

That same year, the first Sprinkles Cupcake ATM opened at the same store where it all started in Beverly Hills. This revolutionized the cupcake industry, making Sprinkles Cupcakes available 24/7. 2012 was also the year that founder Candance Nelson sold her hugely successful cupcakery to the private equity firm, KarpReilly. 

It took me six years but in 2018 I finally made it to that cupcake ATM, got a cupcake from it and reviewed it. It was a spin on what was probably their most popular flavor, a Red Velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting but this one had crushed red hot candies in the frosting making it a Red Hot Velvet cupcake. I remember it being good and I was stoked about finally getting a cupcake from a cupcake ATM. 

Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM in Beverly Hills 2018 
photo by Curtis DeMartini

In the 13 years that I've been reviewing music and cupcakes for my blog, 

I only reviewed Sprinkles Cupcakes a handful of times. I've eaten plenty of Sprinkles Cupcakes over the years and reviewing every single one would have been too easy. There's a lot of cupcakes out there and I have to review as many different ones from different places as I can to know which cupcakes are better than the rest. Sprinkles was up there with their perfectly manicured frosting and signature fondant button on top of almost all of their cupcakes. I did always wish that the cup part of their cupcake was a tad girthier though. 

In the Summer of 2024 I reviewed what would, unbeknownced to me, be my last Sprinkles Cupcakes cupcake reveiw, the Pride Sprinkle cupcake. It was the flavor of the month for June, which is Pride month, and the cupcake was filled with rainbow sprinkles, my fave on, in, or off cupcakes. 

The cupcake craze faded considerably since the early to mid 2000s but cupcakeries and cupcakes are still all around. Sprinkles was always on top when it came to cupcakes which compounds the confusion and has enthusiasts wondering, what happened? 

What else does KarpReilly own?

Why did they do Sprinkles Cupcakes employees so dirty? 

How much money did Nelson get when she sold Sprinkles?

If you're looking for answers on-line the Sprinkles website offers no information, it doesn't even state that they've gone out of business. The Sprinkles Cupcakes social media pages have been deleted, deactivated, wiped clean, as if  Sprinkles never existed. 

The only conclusion I could think of is that sales had to be down, way down. Did inflation costs which all of us feel, make matters worse? Baking ingredients aren't cheap and they're not getting any cheaper. Did rising costs leave those in charge feeling hopeless about cashing in big moving forward? 

Pride Sprinkle cupcake from Sprinkles Cupcakes 2024 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

A private equity firm is an investmate company that pools money from wealthy individuals and institutions to buy, improve and sell companies not listed in the public stock exchange. They aim to produce high profits by growing the business or restructuring the business over several years. 

KarpReilly owns stakes in small to mid sized consumer growth companies which is quite unsettling of you think about it. How many Sprinkles Cupcakes lovers thought they were supporting a woman owned business that started small only to have the rug pulled out from under them, exposing the man behind the curtain. KarpReilly also owns Salt & Straw Ice Creamery, Spindrift Sparkling Water and Koia Protein Shakes. 

In the age of gross consumerism where everyone is inudated with information that's more often than not taken at face value with little to no research done before drawing a conclusion, what we witnessed with Sprinkles Cupcakes comes as a reminder to slow down. Know where your dollars are going. Are you supporting small, local businesses or are you feeding the gluttonous man?

Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Spend wisely.