• The Ledge #697: Hudson’s Best Albums of 2025

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    Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I pull out all of my records that I’ve acquired over the past twelve months, along with my giant hard drive of files, and I put together a list of the 40 best albums of the year (along with another list of reissues).

    Besides a box set of homemade CD’s I hand to my friends, the results of this endeavor is my year end retrospective show. The following list (and broadcast) are my picks for the 40 greatest albums of the year. Like I say every year, this has been a fabulous year for music. There’s some wonderful sounds that range from punchy power pop to garage rock to more experimental sounds to classic singer/songwriter fare. There’s something here for everyone!

    Personally, it’s been an odd year, full of highs and lows. I became a grandfather, but also suffered a couple of health issues. If you’ve listened to this show, you’re probably aware of all of this. But thanks to not only the bands that contribute tracks to the show, but each and every one of you that listen to The Ledge! I guarantee you that 2026 will be an even greater year for the show!

    To see the rundown of this year’s list, head to https://scotthudson.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-ledge-697-hudsons-best-albums-of.html

     

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  • The Ledge #696: Hudson’s Annual Holiday Extravaganza!

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    It’s that time of year again! Yes, it’s the annual Ledge Christmas episode, and I’m so happy that this year it’s (almost) all brand new material! Even better, there’s a large contingent of friends who have supplied me with proper tunes for this broadcast. In fact, wiht the likes of Numb Surprise, White Rose Motor Oil, Geoff Palmer, Vista Blue, and close to two full sets of Rum Bar artists it’s almost like a typical New Release episode.

    No, this is not your mother’s holiday show…unless mommy is a really cool rocker! But instead of that insipid McCartney or Wham nonsense, you’ve got over two hours of quality tracks for ths festive season!

    What’s your fave track this Christmas?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #695: New Releases Pt. 2

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    I wanted to call this the final new release episode of 2025, but that’s technically not true as next week’s holiday extravaganza will feature almost all new tracks. But it’s the last “real” episode of this sort, and it’s as great as any show of this type we’ve put together all year.

    There’s a ton of veteran acts featured this week – The Wedding Present, Daniel Romano, Superchunk, Juliana Hatfield, and Cheap Trick. There’s also Fast Kids, the new side project by The Mystery Light frontman Mike Brandon, and the second album by Plosivs, one of many John Reis projects. Of course, I can’t forget the latest projects involving Wild Billy Childish – is own Thee Headcoats and the first album since 1999 by Thee Headcoatees!

    Of course, there’s also a Rum Bar Records segment that highights live material from The Dogs, a new supergroup called Speedtwinn, and the latest single by Girl with a Hawk. Plus, lots of the power pop and garage rock that are staples of The Ledge!

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #694: New Releases Pt. 1

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    Here we are in the final month of the year, and we are still able to do a multi-episode new release series. Decades ago, this would have been impossible. With the exception of a title or two, all superstar releases were out by Thanksgiving (not that this fact would effect The Ledge). Not only did the physical media have to be prepared weeks or months in advance, but all publicity (press, videos, TV) had to be scheduled to coincde with the date the material was coming out.

    Obviously, non-superstar releases always had difficulties even getting noticed back then, and this fact was amplified in the run-up to the holiday season. If they were released without a label putting up comparable publicty dollars, they were usually buried. More often than not, records of this sort were just postponed until the new year.

    Because of all that, the record companies basically took December off. It was the month of schmozzing (and I’m sure quite a “pile” of substances). The stores had their stock, radio stations were certainly not adding many new songs during this period, and record stores were just praying that they could restock what they sold.

    Yes, it was a whole different world. Today, I could put a song on bandcamp just minutes after recording it in the privacy of my bedroom. (I wish I had that ability.) Elaborate publicity campaigns no longer work if your surname isn’t among a handful of household moniker. (This is why The Ledge works for those wanting to sell a few copies!)

    So this month is once again a two part series…or could one call it another three-peat? This week and next week are the normal sort of new release shows, although there are more than the usual amount of double-plays. Then the third Friday of the month (12/19) will be the annual holiday episode of the show! I’ve already come close to filling my folder full of these types of songs, primarily from “friends” of this fine show! (And yes I screwed up a bit and accidentally included one of those songs tonight!) 

    What’s your fave record of this show?

    For more info, including setlists, haed to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #693: Another Tuneless Racket – Boston

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    I have been a huge fan of Steven H. Gardiner’s Another Tuneless Racket series of books documenting the punk and new wave scenes of the 70s. Just a few weeks ago I finished the most recent volume which documents the eastern half of our country. I was especially taken by the marathon length chapter detailing everything that happened in Boston during this time, and I spent hours devouring a ton of bands I’d never heard before.

    Tonight’s show compiles over two hours of bands covered in this section (with the exception of The Modern Lovers and The Real Kids, who were discussed in volume one). There are bands barely remembered from this time next to groups that are revered to this day. We start with the monumental recording Jonathan Richman made at the beginning of the decade with his band The Modern Lovers, and we conclude with Mission of Burma, a revolutionary band that carried on into the 80s.  

    What’s your favorite Boston band from this time period?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #692: New Releases (Pt. 3)

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    The unprecedented third show of new releases this month ends the series not with a whimper but with triumph. These aren’t extras or third-rate fillers. The tracks aired tonight proudly stand next to those played in the first two shows. In fact, this episode is not only the longest but most varied of the trio.

    Part of the reason for the length, though, is the last minute decision to add a set devoted to today’s release of the reissue of my third favorite album of all time, Let It Be by The Replacements. This new box includes a disc of outtakes and other rarities, along with a live album recorded in Chicago on August 17, 1984.

    I also added a couple of songs by a band I saw in Minneapolis last Saturday. Playing with our friends the Daniel James Gang (led by former Indonesia Junk front man Daniel James and accompanied by Geoff Palmer on second guitar) and opener Cheap Glue (oh man, I need them to record ASAP), Smart Shoppers are a performance art/punk band from Green Bay, and Shop Among Us is quite fun.

    There’s also sets devoted to two tribute records this week – Play On: A Raspberries Tribute and Killed By Deaf: A Punk Tribute to Motorhead. There’s also long-awaited returns by Sugar and The Lemonheads, and a maybe not so long-awaited record by Guided By Voices. (I saw that because it was just a few months ago that Robert Pollard announced that GBV was hanging it up.)

    What tracks are you into this week?

    For more info, including setlists head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #691: New Releases (Pt. 2)

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    I’ve been prone to announce on my first set of monthly new release episodes that it’s devoted to “friends of the show”. But that’s not to say that part two doesn’t include my rock and roll pals. No, no, no. In fact, the second episode always involves a lengthy set devoted to my super special friends at Rum Bar Records. Malibu Lou has always been so supportive of The Ledge, and has always ensured that I have copies of everything his wonderful label releases.

    This month’s show is no different, and along with the usual lengthy set of their newest tracks I have a couple of independently-released records by artists affiliated with Rum Bar. Both Brad Marino and The Prozacs have fantastic new tracks out that I’m happy to spin tonight.

    There’s also a plethora of female-led rock and roll this week, starting off with our friends The Silent Treatment and their new track “Repeat Catastrophe”. There’s also the latest “supergroup” Snocaps, led by Katie and Allison Crutchfield, along with The Belair Lip Bombs, The High Frequencies, and many more. Oh yeah, and the long-awaited return of Thee Headcoatees!

    What’s your favorite tune this week?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://realpunkradio.com

     

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  • The Ledge #690: New Releases (Pt. 1)

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    I was going through the motions of selecting songs for the planned two new release episodes for November, and I quickly realized that I had way too many songs! What a problem to have, right? So for the first time, this month’s new release series will be three full episodes! Yes, I know earlier this year I had some leftovers for a third episode, but I’m talking about three full shows of new tunes! 

    Tonight’s episode, like most “part 1’s”, is primarily devoted to friends of the show. These are artists and labels that routinely send me their newest tunes. Like Numb Surprise, who have sent me tracks each and every month this year. Or the latest Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin double cover series, where he and a fellow artist cover each other. There’s also the latest from power pop legend Jim Basnight, a new Big Stir release, and even some baseball-related tracks from our buddies Vista Blue.

    Plus there’s quite a few new power pop faves, and a nice batch of garage, punk, and indie rock. Oh yeah, and a deep dive into that new Husker Du live box set. What tracks did you did?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #689: 1985

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    As a rule I generally don’t go to class reunions. They’re just too weird for me, and I’m not great at the “what are you doing these days” types of conversations. But a few weeks ago was my 40th year college reunion, and a handful of great old friends convinced me to attend some of the festivities.

    Truthfully, I have to thank those old pals, as I ended up having a great time. Sure, my old man memory caused me to not remember some of these folks but I did my best. It also caused me to reminsce on the music of that era. I was the music director of KAUR my senior year, and it was such a great period in my life. Some of my favorite bands were putting out their greatest music, and almost every week there seemed to be potnetial new faves.

    The combo of this sort of reminiscing and the upcoming release of a live Husker Du box set, 1985: The Miracle Year, made the decision to honor that year on a Ledge episode an easy one. Here are quite a few of the great songs from that year. Yes, at times it does get a bit more commercial than a typical Ledge episode, but most of us welcomed the idea of “our” bands making mainstream inroads. Why wouldn’t we want to hear these songs on formats that weren’t “left of the dial”? Honestly, all of my music-oriented projects, whether it’s via podcast, print, or record stores, have been attempts to turn people on to music they may have zero exposure to otherwise. 

    What were your favorite records of 1985?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #688: Halloween

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    I must admit I was of two minds about when to do this year’s special Halloween show. My first thought was that since the actual holiday falls on a Ledge night I’d just save it for that evening. Makes perfect sense, right? But then again, it’s a dated show once it hits November. Isn’t it smarter to do it a full week ahead so fans of ghoulish rock and roll can enjoy my spooky favorites for a full week? That’s what I decided to do.

    Like every special Halloween broadcast, tonight’s episode is full of almost all brand new tunes for the ocassion. Many are special releases for the trick or treaters, such as new singles by Vista Blue, Brad Marino, Lynda Mandolyn, and The Goldstars. Others come from full-blown Halloween albums, such as Big Stir’s Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies and The Halloween EP by The Bacarrudas. Other tunes come from regular releases from the last few months that just happened to fit the horror theme.

    What tracks did you enjoy the most?

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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