Completely Conspicuous 670: Stacking the Deck

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Jay Breitling about our favorite music of 2025. Show notes: Counting down the rest of our favorite albums of the year Kumar's #8: Indie rock godfather Bob Mould is still pissed off and rocking Mould has also reunited his '90s band Sugar Kumar's #7: Triumphant return for Mclusky Falco and crew having fun ripping on various targets Breitling's #6: Superchunk keeps going with new drummer If you thought they were angry in 2018... Chock full of "banglociraptors" Kumar's #6: Straight outta Asheville with Wednesday's killer combo of alt-country, shoegaze and heavy guitar rippers Band features MJ Lenderman but it's Karly Hartzman's show Breitling's #5: Debut from Slumberland act The Cords Scottish indie jangle-pop banglociraptors Kumar's #5: Thrilling post punk from South London act Shame Returning to harder rocking sound of first few albums More albums are shorter nowadays Breitling's #4: Prolific Chicago psych-pop act Sharp Pins keeps bringing it Flashes of GBV and early Kinks Breitling's #3: Crutchfield sisters (Waxahatchee, Swearin') drop surprise release as Snocaps Again with the Lenderman, on drums this time Kumar's #3: PUP applies newfound maturity to pop-punk bangers Singing about adult stuff Breitling's #2: Mini-album from Peel Dream Magazine Autumnal-sounding leftovers from previous album recording session Kumar's #2: Sloan keeps bringing the heat with 14th release of diverse and rewarding power pop Four singer-songwriters keep the offerings varied and on point Breitling's #1 and Kumar's #4: Monumental four-album conceptual triumph from Hallelujah the Hills Lot of guest stars including Ezra Furman, Clint Conley, Sadie Dupuis, Patrick Stickles Staggering amount of excellence Kumar's #1 and Breitling's #7: NYC's Geese blows up with wide-ranging collection that grabs your attention Their club tour sold out immediately Frontman Cameron Winter leads a sound that ranges from Pavement to soul Looking forward to 2026 releases from: Notwist, Kiwi Jr., Courtney Barnett, Sleaford Mods, Crooked Fingers, Strange Pains Reunion shows next year from Silkworm, Superdrag Completely Conspicuous is available through Apple Podcasts. Subscribe and write a review! The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.