rocky mountain music – Chris K's Colorado Playlist

#COMUSIC TOP 30 DECEMBER 2025

In December 2025, Lettuce’s “Cook LP” topped the Colorado music charts, showcasing local artists from various stations. Notable entries include “NoCO Sings the Holidays” and upcoming albums from Clay Street Unit and The Tammy Shine. The Colorado Playlist continues its mission to promote Colorado music, relying on listener support for sustainability.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The last look back at what happened in 2025 – DECEMBER’s TOP 30 ..

HOW THE CHART IS PUT TOGETHER

Every week I survey more than a dozen Colorado community/public and college stations, including Colorado Playlist spins on respective stations. The weekly survey period runs from midnight Sunday through the next Saturday.

The monthly survey period starts from the first week, ending with a Saturday. It continues through the last week, which also ends on a Saturday. Titles are linked to its respective YouTube page.

Titles are tracked from the date of release of the first single from an LP/EP, for twelve months. Example: DOR = DEC 2023. I stopped tracking it in NOV 2024 (twelve months).

KAFM, KBUT, KCSU, KDNK, KDUR, KFFR, KLZR, KOTO, KSJD, KSUT, KRFC, KRZA and KVNF are surveyed via Spinitron, offering search functions for artists to track airplay on over three hundred stations and programs around the country.

LP = album (5 or more songs)
EP = extended play (3-5 songs)
SP = single play (1-2 songs)

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#CO MUSIC TOP 30 NOV 28-DEC 28 2025

Lettuce – Cook LP jumped from (16) in September to (1) in December, based on spins from 88.9 KRFC and some of the mountain stations. Lettuce formed in Boston. Over the years three of the six members moved to Colorado. They have since become deeply ingrained in the scene. So, they get counted as a band based, at least in part, in our state. Tracks from their most recent album “Cook” started dropping in July. The final full length release dropped DEC 3, 2025. (Spotify, YouTube)

NoCO Sings the Holidays is the season’s holiday release, featuring mostly Fort Collins based artists. The album received copious spins at KRFC with a few added on the Colorado Playlist. The holiday album debuts at #2. (Spotify, YouTube)

Debuting at #4 in the monthly TOP 30 is the upcoming album Sin & Squalor from Clay Street Unit, due out February 13th. Tracks began to appear in the spring of 2025. One track broke out in the statewide HOT SPINS in September. The band sold out Denver’s Ogden Theater (1500 cap) in December. You can catch them at Red Rocks in support of the String Cheese Incident on Friday, July 17. (Spotify, YouTube)

The Tammy Shine Ok Shine Ok, debuting at #6 is the solo debut from Dressy Bessy founder, guitarist and lead singer, Tammy Ealom. The album release show is Feb 21 at the Hi-Dive in Denver. The single, Junk Mail, dropped in December and was debuted by 105.5 The Colorado Sound. (Spotify, YouTube)
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(R) 1. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 2. VARIOUS – NoCO Sings the Holidays LP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 3. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 4. CLAY STREET UNIT – Sin and Squalor LP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(6) 5. LIZ BARNEZ – Wholehearted LP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 6. THE TAMMY SHINE – Ok Shine Ok LP Dec-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 7. DOGTAGS – Roseworld LP Apr-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 8. MYSTEE – bold and bright SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 9. EDITH – Salt SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(8) 9. GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – XXV LP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 10. CITRA – The Light In Your Eyes SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 10. THE DIRTY TURKEYS – Soul Sugar SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 11. MYSTEE – Forget Me Not EP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(14) 12. A.J. FULLERTON – Magnetic Light LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 12. BALLPARK –Loose Screw SP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 13. EDITH – Sounds of Scenery SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 14. CITRA – Long Way Around SP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 14. VIVIAN OBLIVION – Animals SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(18) 15. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Growing Pains LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(1) 15. GASOLINE LOLLIPOPS – Kill the Architect LP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(7) 15. GRAVEYARD CHOIR – The Wake LP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 15. SOUR MAGIC – The Hive LP May-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(11) 16. PACKAGING – Packaging LP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 17. MARFA – Daisy SP Nov-24 (Spotify, YouTube)
(15) 18. A.J. FULLERTON & LAUREN FRIHAUF – Slow Killer / Bitter Song / Expectations / I Don’t Wanna Grow Up SP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 19. DRUNKEN HEARTS – The Other Side SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 19. EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON – Dirt Bag Saloon SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 20. KING CARDINAL – Reviver Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 21. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Tumbleweed feat. JJ Grey SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 21. DAVID LAWRENCE & THE SPOONFUL – My House is Burning SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(5) 21. LEFTOVER SALMON – Let’s Party About It LP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 21. TENNIS – Face Down in The Garden LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)

88.9 KRFC (Fort Collins) – 51 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. VARIOUS – NoCO Sings the Holidays LP Nov-25
(1) 2. LIZ BARNEZ – Wholehearted LP Oct-25
(D) 3. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25
(3) 4. A.J. FULLERTON, LAUREN FRIHAUF –Slow Killer / Bitter Song / Expectations / I Don’t Wanna Grow Up SP Sep-25
(D) 5. AUBREY DALE – December SP Nov-25
(4) 5. SUGAR BRITCHES – Terrified And Aroused SP Jul-25

INDIE 102.3 (Denver) – 11 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25
(R) 2. DOGTAGS – Roseworld LP Apr-25
(D) 2. EDITH – Salt SP Oct-25
(D) 3. CITRA – The Light In Your Eyes SP Oct-25
(D) 4. BALLPARK – Loose Screw SP Mar-25
(D) 4. MYSTEE – bold and bright SP Nov-25

105.5 THE COLORADO SOUND (Greeley) – 30 TITLES TRACKED
(1) 1. GRAVEYARD CHOIR – The Wake LP Sep-25
(1) 1. MARFA – Daisy SP Nov-24
(D) 2. THE TAMMY SHINE – Junk Mail SP Dec-25
(D) 3. THE DIRTY TURKEYS –Soul Sugar SP Nov-25
(R) 4. MOONPOOL – Aim SP Jul-25
(D) 5. THE PHOTO ATLAS – Hello Hospital EP Aug-25
(R) 5. SMEAR – Champagne LP Apr-25
(3) 5. VOLORES –the Huntress SP Oct-25

KAFM (Grand Junction), KBUT (Crested Butte), KDNK (Carbondale), KDUR (Durango), KFFR (Winter Park), KLZR (Westcliff), KOTO (Telluride), KRZA (Alamosa), KSJD (Cortez), KSUT (Ignacio/Durango), KVNF (Paonia) – 55 TITLES TRACKED
(7) 1. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25
(1) 2. LEFTOVER SALMON –Let’s Party About It LP Mar-25
(R) 3. REVEREND FREAKCHILD – A Bluesman of Sorts LP May-25
(1) 4. GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – XXV LP Jun-25
(2) 5. A.J. FULLERTON – Magnetic Light LP Feb-25
(R) 5. RAGGED UNION – Pyramid Stairs LP Jun-25

THE COLORADO PLAYLIST NEEDS YOUR HELP PLEASE

The Colorado Playlist is the only show showcasing Colorado music statewide. Your support is essential to keeping it on the air. I offer this show to the stations without charge. As you may know, they are facing their own revenue issues now with the loss of CPB funding. Please make donations via Venmo at chrisk-2 or use the form below. Thank you, sincerely – chrisk

If you represent a business and would like my listeners to know about you, email me at coloradoplaylist@gmail.com for details.

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CP S19 EP43 2025

AIRDATES SAT DEC 06-FRI DEC 12 2025 MMMM = Bo Depena, David Lawrence & the Spoonful, The Dirty Turkeys, The Tammy Shine

HAPPY HOLLY-DAZE. As we wind down the year, I hope you’ll HELP SUPPORT THE COLORADO PLAYLIST in your year end giving.

The Colorado Playlist is the only show showcasing Colorado music statewide. It will turn 20 years old in 2026!

Your support is essential to keeping it on the air.

I make this show available at no cost to public radio stations, which as you may know are facing their own revenue issues now with the loss of CPB funding. Because of those CPB issues, what little money I was making is now $0.

Please make donations via Venmo at chrisk-2 (preferred) or use the form below. Thank you, sincerely – chrisk

To learn about getting your business heard across thirty FM frequencies and on the Colorado Playlist other assets, please email chriskmusic@gmail.com
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MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING

The Monday Morning Music Meeting happens courtesy of Starr’s Guitars in Cedaredge, serving the western slope music community since 1998.

Every year I debut approximately two hundred new current-year songs. Every week I have to make decisions about what to keep to play again and what to archive.

Let me know what you think of the debuts (D) and new songs (N) I shared in the show this week.

Results enter into determining which cuts stay in the library and which cuts might eventually make it to the annual Colorado Playlist Fan & Listener Poll and the “some of the best of the year” show.
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Acoustic Junction – Strange Days – Strange Days (2000)
Dressy Bessy – I Saw Cinnamon – Sound Go Round (2002)
(D) Bo Depena – Half of My Mistakes – Rather Move Up (2026)

Andy Frasco & The U.N. – Try Not to Die – Growing Pains (2025)
Augustus – Kick the Doors Down – Color TV and Tall Tales (2020)
Packaging – In Your Pocket – Packaging (2025)
Paper Bird – To the Light – Paper Bird (2016)
Edie Carey – The Chain – The Veil (2022)
Gasoline Lollipops – The River – Kill the Architect (2025)
(D) David Lawrence & the Spoonful – My House is Burning (2026)

Heavy Diamond Ring – Already Gone – The Brightest Light EP (2021)
The Lumineers – Blue Christmas (2016)
Keith Oxman – I Was Doing All Right (George Gershwin) – Doing All Right (2009)

Otis Taylor – Naggin’ Woman Blues – When Negroes Walked the Earth (2000)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Viceroy Filter King – Always Say Please And Thank You (2000)
(D) The Dirty Turkeys – Soul Sugar (2026)

Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Crush – Her Way Out (2024)
King Cardinal – Christmas List (2019)
Analog Son – This Time Around f. Adryon de Leon – Keep It Coming (2025)
SHEL – You Could Be My Baby – Just Crazy Enough (2016)
The String Cheese Incident – Vertigo (2019)
Clay Street Unit – Rollin‘ – Sin and Squalor (2026)
(D) The Tammy Shine – Junk Mail – Ok Shine Ok (2026)

Planes Mistaken For Stars – Modern Logic – Do You Still Love Me? (2025)
Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene – Crime Scene Christmas – It’s a Crime Scene Christmas! (2015)
Gerald Albright – Taking Control – G (2016)

THIS WEEK ON YOUTUBE (not all titles)

HOT SPINS WEEK DEC 07. 2025

STATIONS TRACKED: KAFM Community Radio (Grand Junction), KBUT Community Radio (Crested Butte), KDNK Carbondale Community Access Radio (Carbondale), KDUR Community Radio (Durango), KFFR 88.3 FM (Winter Park), KLZR (Westcliff), KOTO Community Radio Telluride (Telluride), KRFC 88.9 FM (Fort Collins), KRZA Community Radio (Alamosa), KSJD Radio (Cortez), KSUT (Ignacio), KVNF Mountain Grown Public Radio (Paonia), 105.5 The Colorado Sound and Indie1023 (Denver) …

Spins tracked on Spinitron (except 102.3 and 105.5), designed to benefit community and college radio, and offering search functions to track airplay on over 300 stations around the count.

ALL STATIONS + THE COLORADO PLAYIST = 83 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. DRUNKEN HEARTS – The Other Side SP Nov-25
(D) 2. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Tumbleweed w/JJ Grey SP Nov-25
(D) 2. ELBOW BROTHERS – Trinidad SP Nov-25
(R) 2. TENNIS – Face Down in The Garden LP Feb-25
(D) 3. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25
(D) 3. CLAY STREET UNIT – Where Have You Gone? / Let’s Get Stoned SP Sep-25
(D) 3. DOGTAGS – KNORR EP Apr-25
(R) 3. EVA ROSE KING – After Tale LP Feb-25
(R) 3. THE RIVER ARKANSAS – Tin Years LP Apr-25