Lovely exhibition of 100 Makers in Japan House, London

Had a great time at the #WesAnderson exhibition at London Design Museum

Don't think I've seen this by One Dove in the #5debutalbums9094 posts. It's a lovely little album produced by Andy Weatherall and Stephen Hague. Well worth a nostalgic listen

3 shoegaze contenders for #5debutalbums9094. Moose didn't match the promise of the Cool Breeze and Reprise EPs, imho. Chapterhouse don't quite do it for me. But the Ride album is nothing short of brilliant. Shoegaze was a great scene!

Just finished the David Bowie: The Final Act documentary on Channel 4. Seemed a good day to watch it. Recommended.

Two admittedly obscure selections for #5debutalbums9094 from the UK Christian scene. If you went to Greenbelt in the early 90s or read Cross Rhythms magazine, then you might have come across these: Tribe of Dan: sort of Grebo blues Billy Penn's Brother: acoustic protest with a very sharp edge. Great

Three contenders for #5debutalbums9094 bought on the basis of a good review in Kerrang! or Metal Hammer. Infectious Grooves shows why Robert Trujillo is wasted in Metallica. Features Ozzy, & Steven Perkins from Jane's Addiction. Stevie Salas is decent Glam-lite Warrior Soul: humourless but angry!

Next up for #5debutalbums9094 are these two. Michael Franti leaves the industrial sound of the Disposable Heroes for a gentler vibe (apart from Vernon Reid's guitar solo on the last track) with Spearhead. Arrested Development rap about homelessness, social justice and peace.

Two more contenders for #5debutalbums9094. Both solo projects from established singers & both quite frighteningly beautiful. Mark Lanegan ropes in mates from Nirvana & Dinosaur Jr, while Kristin Hersh pulls in Michael Stipe. Hard to choose between these two.

These two 4AD albums by Belly and The Breeders are both brilliant. For my money, Star is a more fully formed debut than Pod and is likely to nudge in to my #5debutalbums9094 list.

A great run of three #5debutalbums9094 from Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament on just two years. Mother Love Bone's Apple was good, but Ten and Temple of the Dog are faultless. For my money, TOTD is a shade ahead of PJ. Such a fertile period!

First up for #5debutalbums9094 is this from Hole. Fierce, furious and better than so much else

My number 1 fiction & non-fiction books read in 202: Fiction Rumer Godden - In This House of Brede A successful business woman enters a convent. Sounds dull but isn't; this treasure of a novel is wonderfully illuminating and reorienting. #booksky

I sat next to Massive Attack's Daddy G in a juice bar. I walked past Henry Rollins when I was going to the loo. He's really quite short

Top 7 reads of 2025 Non-Fiction, numbers 4 to 2 4 Robert Farrar Capon - The Supper of the Lamb Theology, cooking & knife care 3 John Lewis-Stempel - England: A Natural History Beautiful British landscape 2 @chloedalton.bsky.social - Raising Hare Moving memoir of wildness, love & hope #booksky

OK #booksky, my year in reading: 82 books read. The top 7 fiction & non-fiction books read in 2025: Fiction 7. Richard Ayoade - The Unfinished Harauld Hughes Clever, funny, original 6. Daniel Kehlmann - Fame A tiny bit more so... 5. Barbara Kingsolver - Demon Copperhead Brilliant

You know it's Christmas when your boiler develops a leak! 😡🎄💧

#5albums25 Released way back in January, this Veils album finds Finn Andrews in reflective, piano-driven mood

Pleased that my copy of @jmayward.bsky.social's book arrived today. A Christmas present to myself

Today has mostly been playing with silicone sealant and rehanging shower doors

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen: Jeff Buckley Iron Maiden Hole The Young Gods Kristin Hersh

One for @joncoutts.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...

Thanks, cat

Excited for my colleague who sent off her PhD proposal today.

Sad to hear about the death of #Mani. Vanishing Point is one of my favourite Primal Scream albums. BBC News - Tributes to Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani www.bbc.com/news/article...

What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?

Rainy November afternoon = Squash soup + Gingerbread

Autumn colours this morning

Last bit of shortlisting for #5debutalbums0004 gor this week is this from Thalia Zedek. Not listened to this in years. Worth a spin

Looking forward to this call to arms:

More shortlisting for #5debutalbums0004. Today it's Tomahawk's one and only album, in which Mike Patton continues to prove that he's a bonkers visionary with an astonishing vocal talent. Not recommended if you have a headache 😱

I thought the shortlisting for #5debutalbums0004 would be easy, but... seems I have more first releases than I thought. Today's listening:

A strong contender for my picks for #5debutalbums0004

Heart in mouth day today as I take boy 2 off to uni. Nervous, apprehensive... yep, that's how we're both feeling!

Some gorgeous 4AD vinyl arrived today. I love the 80s and 90s 4AD package: music, artwork, design... #vinylsky

Just finished this wonderful little book. If you like Vodolazkin's Laurus then you'll enjoy this, I think. #booksky

Boy 2 goes off to uni on Saturday, so it must be time for this:

Just back from a week's holiday in France. I love it when my summer reading opens up an unexpected but fruitful intertextual conversation for me: #booksky

Love this from Alan Jacobs on his daily routine: blog.ayjay.org/the-daily-dr...

I haven't even finished this yet and it's already one of the best books of the year. Timely, approptiayely angry, insightful and deeply compassionate. #booksky

I still think Badmotorfinger is the #Soundgarden masterpiece but I'd forgotten how good this one is.

Book proposal turned down. When I sent it off I thought it would be but there was a tiny part of me holding out hope.

Watching Live Aid at 40 with the 22 year old. I'm reminded of what an incredible event it was. I remember watching it on TV with my older brother. Looking back, we had no idea just what talented musicians they were.

Finished this by @beckycopeland.bsky.social last week. A very thoughtful and insightful read.

And here they are

Last day of term for our Scripture, Theology and Culture students. They've been a great cohort and we had a fantastic day together. Now to plan the next one for September.

Is it just me, or could the "Ronnie Wood" at the Black Sabbath gig actually be Bill Nighy?

Tiberius— "There has never been a better time to watch this video"

A Scarlet Tiger Moth for your enjoyment. Beautiful.

This is the third of Han's fascinating little meditations I've read. Highly recommended. #booksky