In Episode 25, Zach and Jeff lock in their Best Albums of 2025, talking through the records that mattered most this year — the ones that held up, rewarded repeat listens, and stayed in rotation long after the hype faded.

Jeff runs through his albums of the year, spotlighting releases from Fust, Bill Fox, SG Goodman, Kyle M, and billy woods, and why each one rose above the rest in 2025. Zach counters with his own favorites, including Geese, Cameron Winter, Japanese Breakfast, Jeff Tweedy, and Wednesday — artists whose records defined his listening year.

The guys are also joined by their friend and old college pal Ryan Ward, who brings his own perspective and favorites to the conversation, including standout releases from Ty Segall and US Girls.

Along the way, the episode drifts into books that didn’t make the cut — including Demon Copperhead and The Horse — and a broader conversation about quitting books, trusting your taste, and letting go of cultural “shoulds.” As always, there’s plenty of meandering about what they’ve been watching and listening to, and what actually earns your time as the year winds down.

A year-end episode about attention, commitment, and the records that made 2025 worth remembering.

This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground after their extended hiatus.

This week on Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff cover a lot of ground — including plenty of sports, because that’s just part of the deal.

Zach talks about the return of The Format, Kyle M’s Christmas EP, and Chris DeVille’s Such Great Heights, while also declaring that all food kind of sucks… except what he’s hoping to eat in San Francisco over Christmas. He also recommends the BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me, a reminder that history can be smart, funny, and not homework.

Jeff brings Sharp Pins (filed somewhere between the Beatles, Guided by Voices, and Big Star), dives into N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, and highlights Roadfood.com’s Northwestern Steakhouse. The conversation naturally turns to the NBA, with extended talk on the Spurs and the Thunder — expectations, vibes, and why watching young teams actually matters.

Music, books, food, and sports — all mixed together the way they usually are.

Jeff explores the debut Lucky Cloud – Foreground from Chicago’s Chet Zenor, dives into Elif Batuman’s The Idiot and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, grabs a pupusa burger, and streams Patriot on Amazon Prime. Zach spins Credit Electric and Dean Johnson, eats Mexican hotdogs, and celebrates the return of PTI from summer break.

There's even some Mel Gibson discussion — all in the latest episode of Sonic Midlife.

Zach and Jeff dive into fresh sounds from Ryan Davis & The Road House Band and Greg Freeman before trading book notes on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Wait Till Next Year and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot. Food talk centers on dumpling tomato salad with chili crisp vinaigrette and mussels with pasta, while screens are filled with Chernobyl and the Locked on Sports Today podcast. Special guest Benjamin Martone joins for a wide-ranging college football preview—highlighting unforgettable Key & Peele skit names, the wildest BYU roster, new quarterbacks, shifting conferences, and bold playoff predictions

Jeff starts us off with Bill Callahan’s “The Mackenzies,” a quiet epic that opens wide with repeated listens, and Reporter, Seymour Hersh’s gripping memoir that’s part history lesson, part investigative masterclass. He also reflects on the humble joys of focaccia.

Zach brings Bright Eyes’ “1st World Blues” to the table—a political ska-tinged anthem that feels like Desaparecidos on a beach vacation—and recommends Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green, a deeply personal and wildly informative takedown of global apathy.

We also weigh in on QT’s brisket sandy, Cal Raleigh’s dinger parade, and American Movie. Then we’re joined by our college friend Bryce Woodhouse to rank the Bon Iver discography, celebrate the rise of Mk.gee and Dijon, and learn what goes into his latest culinary experiment: homemade lactofermented hot sauce.

Zach returns from Chicago with a full stomach and fresh takes on Small Cheval, Lou Malnati’s, and The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. Jeff takes us to Ann Arbor for a Zingerman’s run and dives into Kiwi Jr.’s Chopper and Jonathan Franzen’s Crossroads. The guys dig into Paul Westerberg’s underrated Suicaine Gratification, swap thoughts on Ken Burns: Baseball and The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, and Jeff recommends the podcast How Long Gone, featuring guests like Hamilton Leithauser, Panda Bear, Mark Hoppus, Bon Iver, and This Is Lorelei.

The gang is joined by very special guest Myke Olsen. They discuss the novels of Willy Vlautin as well as their favorite doughnuts. They don't think you should leave as they laugh it up about the wonders of Friendship and Tim Robinson. To cap it off, they dive into all things pizza with Myke, being the owner of downtown Mesa, Arizona's Myke's Pizza.

In Episode 18 of Sonic Midlife, Zach and Jeff go deep into Bob Dylan’s late-era classics—from Time Out of Mind to Tempest—arguing they stand tall next to his most revered work. They also spotlight some standout new music, including the dreamy alt-country debut from Echolalia, the fuzzy indie rock of Toronto’s Casper Skulls, and Underneath by Floodlights, a record built for fans of The National and Spanish Love Songs.

On the reading front, Zach brings The Horse by Willy Vlautin and The Bad Guys Won (a deep dive into the wild 1986 Mets), while Jeff reflects on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and On Trails by Robert Moor. The duo also talk summer foods (BLTs and hot dogs), shout out the Never Ending Stories podcast on Dylan bootlegs, and catch up on the NBA Playoffs and The Rehearsal.

It’s an episode that swings from baseball chaos to Radiohead-tinged country—just another week on Sonic Midlife.

This week, Zach and Jeff are joined by their old college friend and resident NBA sage, Ford Thunder Erickson. The three dive into the heart of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, breaking down the best first-round matchups, offering bold predictions, and asking the big question: is OKC right on time or ahead of schedule?

Off the court, Zach reflects on the quiet emotional power of Japanese Breakfast’s music, and Jeff takes us through a whirlwind night of live shows with Bob Dylan, Graham Hunt, and Liquid Mike. On the reading front, the guys discuss Jesus & John Wayne, exploring white evangelical politics, masculinity, and militarism—and Jeff adds Among the Bros to the mix, offering a sharp look at frat culture and privilege in the American South.

Plus: a rice plate from Queen of Pho, a visit to Bravas, and all the stuff Ford’s into these days.

In this episode, Jeff and Zach dive into the lush landscapes of indie rock, starting with Hamilton Leithauser’s This Side of the Island and quick recs featuring Japanese Breakfast, Palmyra, Perfume Genius, and Deafheaven. They discuss Kyle M’s The Real Me and unpack the deeper meanings behind the sound.

On the reading front, Zach explores how history is weaponized in Jason Stanley’s Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, while Jeff ponders the absurdities of modern labor with David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs.

Also up for discussion: Bob Dylan’s enduring weirdness on stage, Parker Posey appreciation, the unsettling brilliance of Severance, The White Lotus, and some comfort food talk—from QuikTrip breakfast croissants to Jeff’s latest sourdough batch.