Now I’m starting @ambersparks.bsky.social debut novel. Love her collections, and well, just started reading this today, and am 60 pages in and don’t want to stop. I’m completely enamored with the world and characters, the off-beat humor, and wonderful sadness running through it.

Man oh man, this new one by Brandon Hobson is fantastic. Really special book, so full of wonder and anguish. Maybe my favorite of his yet?

maybe i am going insane

Oh, life is bigger It’s bigger than you and you are not me The lengths that I would go to The distance in your eyes Oh no, I’ve said too much I set it up

Flew to NYC to see Patti Smith play Horses. Incredible show. Top 5 all-time concert experience, practically holy. Also, @michaelstipe.bsky.social was there.

“Bleed in your own light/Dream of your own life/I miss me/I miss everything I’ll never be”

I should be in bed, but I can’t get enough of this record. One more spin for the latest from GBV… (And a happy birthday to Bob Pollard!)

Circus Devils tonight: Laughs Last (2017) Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up) (2017) Squeeze the Needle (2023) *wouldnt normally include a best of, but since it was supposed to be the end of Circus Devils, seemed like a nice way to bridge the gap to StN.

The most unbelievable thing about Task is how much Richard and Linda Thompson they’re jamming out to at that biker bar.

My ranking of current era of GBV albums. This run is crazy good. Even my least favorite is a pretty good album. Bob is the best:

Getting close to the end of this Ictober Circus Devils journey. Tonight: Escape (2014) Stomping Grounds (2015)

Grand opening of the White House Ballroom (2028)

October Circus Devils-athon continues: Mother Skinny (2010) Capsized (2011) When Machines Attack (2013) (All by Circus Devils)

Was gonna let the new Pynchon cut in my “to read” pile line, but my buddy Brandon convinced me to go with this one that had been patiently waiting its turn for months and goddam am I glad. Metallic Realms is fantastic, so funny, so sad—so everything I hoped for and more, @thelincoln.bsky.social

Can he do Creed next?

God is in the guitar tone of all three of the singles released from the forthcoming Guided By Voices album, “Thick, Rich, and Delicious.” tidal.com/browse/album...

Gonna just start being really awful at everything I do and anytime someone calls me out on it respond by saying: “Well, you just have James Brubaker derangement syndrome.”

More Circus Devils October Circus Devils - Ataxia (2008) Circus Devils - Gringo (2009)

Is Wink Martindale this bad at his job or are these kids just still developing?

Man, if any politician ever managed to fix the Saucony Jazz shortage you'd probably lock up the aging hipster vote no problem.

Connections catering to a very particular kind of person today

Most people don’t know, but it’s actually pronounced RRIFs

Fantastic piece. Forgot The Mastermind was out soon, but now quite interested in it if it’s being discussed alongside these other films.

More Circus Devils October Pinball Mars - Circus Devils (2003) Five - Circus Devils (2005) Sgt. Disco - Circus Devils (2007)

Gwen is awesome. Help her out if you can! www.gofundme.com/f/y7n5z3-hel...

Haven’t done a Circus Devils listen in a minute. Not my favorite Pollard project, but plenty of great stuff. Some of them are kind of creepy/unsettling at times. It’s October, so…might as well? Pictured: Ringworm Interior - Circus Devils (2001) The Harold Pig Memorial - Circus Devils (2002)

That’s my Reds—way to back into the postseason, boys. Very on brand. But I’m excited to have a couple more games to care about .

It’s like these assholes grew up watching Bond films but always wanted to be the villains?

Stephen Miller sez:

Constantly back and forth between wanting to listen to heartbroken/haunted/sad songs and angry/defiant/political songs, and so basically just end up returning over and over again to last year’s Mount Eerie masterpiece Night Palace because it’s all of the above.

Man, leave it to these Reds—get into a playoff spot and probably gonna lose some games to the Pirates. At least the Cubs are helping out tonight.

Well shit…well done Reds. Didn’t think you had it in you. Can’t believe this team is in playoff position. Let’s see if they can hang on. (Man, just imagine if they’d won just a single game against the A’s last week).

Tonto, Tarzan, & Frankenstein

Looking forward to the rapture on Tuesday youtu.be/fH-JQ6wWCYY?...

Kash Patel House Testimony (2025)

Bought two albums today, Wednesday’s Bleeds and the Rhino HiFi Buckingham Nicks reissue. Kinda weird synchronicity there I wasn’t thinking about at the moment if purchase.

Made it up to a Reds game in STIL today.

This Reds team, man—I don’t know. Every time they get close to that last wild card spot they find new, spectacular ways to fall apart.

Weird moment when you finish listening to the new Sabrina Carpenter album and switch to Neil Young’s Ragged Glory and your car can’t quite keep up…

The marketing for the next Naked Gun movie is unreal.

Slightly diminish a book: U

Sinister is always going to be my favorite, but this one somehow feels like their best… Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Belle and Sebastian (2003)

SPOCK: you are being.. highly illogical ME (WATCHING TV): ok he's got you there kirk KIRK: but mr spock, mankind did not, endeavor to, reach out and, touch the stars, armed only with, cold hard logic, but driven, by our passionate impulsive, illogical humanity ME: hey yeah fuck you spock

Truly ready to fuck up some robots.

Is this a scene from a forthcoming sci-fi flick?

When I wake up and check the news

Man, Emilio Pagán is not it.

I’ve seen this one, the twist is he’s actually cake.