Hollie Cook's most recent album Shy Girl was one of my favorite new releases of 2025. It was followed by Shy Girl In Dub, which is equally wonderful. She is back on the Mr. Bongo record label (where she started her solo career with her self-titled 2011 album.)
Hollie is in demand as a vocalist, and not just in the world of reggae and dub. It doesn't hurt that her parents are both professionals in the music world, but her success is entirely the result of her own talent and hard work. Among the artists from her parents' generation, she has sung with The Slits, Vic Godard, Glen Matlock, Keith Levene, and Jah Wobble. She recently appeared on Don Letts' first solo album and Mark Stewart's final album.
I was also really pleased to see her name among the guest vocalists featured on the 2025 album by West Coast soul and reggae band The Night Owls. Here's hoping that Hollie's career continues to grow, so that we can feature her music here again in the near future!
ELSEWHERE ON THE BLOG: The first volume of Hollie's Cookbook.
Hollie's Cook Book vol. 2: https://pixeldrain.com/u/AeqGv2xQ
ReplyDeleteWhat were some of your favorite releases of 2025? I really enjoyed Valerie June's album "Owls, Omens, and Oracles" (produced by M. Ward) and "The Life You Save", the third album from Flock Of Dimes (side project of Jenn Wasner from the group Wye Oak). Didn't see Jenn, Valerie or Hollie on any of the "Best of 2025" year end lists, but they are all terrific records from immensely talented performers.
One of my favorites from 2025 is by a band I'm working on compiling a best of on:
ReplyDelete20/20 - Back To California!
https://www.discogs.com/master/3769158-2020-Back-To-California-
Nice one! I listened to that album several times while compiling my "2025 Comeback Special". It was hard to choose which song I liked best. I finally settled on "Laurel Canyon". Steve Allen and Ron Flynt's first album as 20/20 in over 20 years, with Ron's son on drums!
Deletehttps://jonderblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Comeback%20Specials
This is a pearler Jonder - many thanks. I rather enjoyed Keren Ann's Paris Amour last year, although it's hard to beat 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxKwP6EFneE
ReplyDeleteHal ; Here it is , i upload my cd Paris Amour / 2025 : Keren Ann
Deletehttps://pixeldrain.com/u/6P6fY2GK
Et pour moi un des meilleurs albums de 2025 est celui ci
Melanie Pain / 2025 : How And Why
https://pixeldrain.com/u/Q15dwzpN
Keren Ann is new to me -- thanks! That song reminds me a bit of Anika (who also released a new album in 2025):
Deletehttps://youtu.be/fqv5zf5MZJM?si=yNsPH9t3tgHiCmD1
And thank you Sorgual for both Keren Ann and Melanie Pain. I look forward to listening to both albums!
DeleteI have Keren Ann's i-Tunes Session, so I may as well share it here:
Deletehttps://pixeldrain.com/u/rjQbRies
Love this one, thanks Jonder!
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