Heathen Disco Music Reviews #0156 – Year-Ends, Pt. 6 (December 30, 2025)

Top 10s will run this Friday, January 2nd, 2026 with a bit more in the tank than these lists. Still, fun to discover music this way, eh?

Here are a sweet 16 more incredibly great releases from this year. One is archival, who cares. I’ve given you my path from 2025. Last mile infrastructure.

You can send in music for review to PO Box 25717 Chicago IL 60625 USA // [email protected]

Yes, I got your email. Yes, I’m getting to the music!

WEDNESDAY KNUDSEN Atrium 2xLP (Feeding Tube)

MICHAEL BEACH Big Black Plume LP (Goner/Poison City)

SHARP PINS Balloon Balloon Balloon LP (Perennial / K)

DONNA ALLEN Atom-ic Citizen of the Dying Empire LP (Ever/Never)

ANIKA Abyss LP (Sacred Bones)

ROSA BORDALLO Isidro LP (self-released)

PINKPANTHERESS Fancy That 12” EP / mixtape (?) (Warner)

THALIA ZEDEK BAND The Boat Outside Your Window LP (Thrill Jockey)

VIA s/t 12” EP (Dromedary)

MARV Keyboard Suite II LP (Enmossed/Softer Recordings) … also take a listen to the newer releases on this label, in particular the Doris Dana tape

SOFT BAIT Life Advice LP (Flying Nun)

SIX FINGER SATELLITE Ruin Theory 2xLP (Limited Appeal)

CITRIC DUMMIES Split with Turnstile LP (Feel It)

and last but not least, the three 2025 Seeds Gaza Soup Kitchen benefit comps available at https://thedissidents.bandcamp.com – as good a primer of modern punk with a conscience as you’re going to find

I don’t want to dwell on death and loss, but I wanted to note the great works and the lives touched by three people gone too soon:

Keith McIvor (DJ Twitch)

Bill Chamberlain

Rich Jacobs

The outpouring for these three remarkable men and the amount they gave to their respective spheres of music, art, community, and the kind of culture that sustain each cannot be overstated. If you’re unfamiliar with any of them or their contributions, their stories are still with us. Seek them out. We need more people who bring good, inspired people together, and to make sure they know each other as well.

Doug M