It's getting harder to stay positive these days yet I continue to try. The internet has monetized bad faith- does anyone actually believe anything they say anymore? With clicks and shares the only goal, for many it seems like honesty, intellectual rigor, and belief itself are outmoded concepts. It's a lot. Thankfully things are great closer to home- our first grandchild was born in March! Sonoma Arts Live, our theater company, had another great season and ALL KINDSA GIRLS, my radio show, is going into its 17th year on KSVY. And 2025, like every year, had its share of stellar movies, TV shows, records, books, and live performances. There is much to be thankful for. So, in a tradition that dates back to 1999, I humbly submit my 2025 Top 5 Lists:
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
2025 Top 5 Lists
TOP 5 MOVIES
Black Bag (marriage Bonds)
Weapons (Aunt Gladys gonna getcha)
Hamnet (art redeems)
28 Years Later (Sir Jimmy's got next)
One Battle After Another (PTA goes genre)
TOP 5-ish STREAMING/DVD MOVIES
Presence / His Three Daughters (haunted families)
Griffin In Summer / Nouvelle Vague (our tortured artists)
Lake George / Train Dreams (nature calls)
Heavy Trip / Splitsville (comedy gold!)
The Sadness / Heretic (horror-ific)
TOP 5 CLASSIC THURSDAY MOVIES
Vivacious Lady (screwball classic)
The House Across The Street (big laughs w/body count)
The Seventh Veil (psychomelodrama)
The More The Merrier (Jean Arthur rules!)
Blast of Silence (brutal noir)
TOP 5 WORKOUT ROCUMENTARIES
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? (think about your troubles)
Devo (through being cool)
Sly Lives! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius) (running away)
The Stones & Brian Jones (2000 light years from home)
The Greatest Night In Pop (we are the world)
TOP 5 ALBUMS
The Genuine Fakes- 3 (Thank you Stockholm)
The Prize- In The Red (Melbourne's answer...)
Death By Unga Bunga- Raw Muscular Power (Norway now)
Sloan- Based On The Best Seller (The Masters return)
WYLDLIFE- sorted. (NYC Baby!)
TOP 5 TV SHOWS
Pluribus (Please Carol!)
Adolescence (parents' nightmare)
The Residence (Watch for it!)
Dying For Sex (sad/funny/sad)
TOP 5 BOOKS
The Known World- Edward P. Jones (what freedom?)
All Fours- Miranda July (metaphorical journey)
Greenwood- Michael Christie (Great Canadian Novel)
Chain-Gang All-Stars- Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Thurwar's war)
Vera, or Faith- Gary Shteyngart (brave/sad new world)
TOP 5 LIVE PERFORMANCES
Brian Posehn 3/8/25 Sebastiani Theater, Sonoma CA (Revenge of the Nerd)
Shucked 9/24/25 "Corn" Theater, San Francisco CA (a-maize-ing)
Shonen Knife 10/21/25 HopMonk Tavern, Novato CA (Let's Knife!)
Suffs 10/30/25 Orpheum Theater San Francisco (keep marching!)
Spike Sikes & His Awesome Hotcakes 10/17/25 Murphy's Irish Pub, Sonoma CA (Soulmen)
If you're curious about what I'm watching/listening to/reading/attending during the year check out the ALL KINDSA GIRLS Twitter (still disavowing the name change) or Bluesky pages. I'd love to hear your 2025 favorites too- as you've no doubt noticed, I've got a huge appetite for quality viewing, listening, and reading material. Perhaps you'll see your picks in next years lists!
Here's hoping for a brighter 2026!
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