"the mandolin riff wrapped around "Afterlife" like a well-worn flannel will inevitably recall R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion." It's a typically self-aware move for our preeminent alt-rock revivalist, who made the jump to a major label this year. But there's a deeper link to the heartbeat of the whole Alex G project, which has always been about breathing new life into old sounds, and at its best pulls off the trick of making indie rock feel ephemeral and eternal."
"This soaring meditation on the impermanence and fragility of life took on a tragic new meaning when its singer, the Irish artist known as Talos, died at the age of 36. Co-written with Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and the Irish folk artists Ye Vagabonds and Niamh Regan, it features a radiant choir of friends who gathered to pay tribute on this posthumous recording. It's a breathtaking and luminous appreciation of life's uncertainty and the anchoring weight of gratitude."
The compilation is unranked and presented alphabetically, offering both a distilled top 25 and a complete list of 125 picks. Listeners can explore either the shortlist or the full collection and can also access related podcast content. Each song entry includes a concise, contextual capsule that connects music, influences, and emotional resonance to guide discovery. Selections range across genres and include tribute-laden tracks, alt-rock revivalists, and genre-defying collaborations, emphasizing authenticity and encouraging deeper listening to cultivate new favorites.
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