Catching some rays

Bonzo bless Caleb, who made the 15 BACKBEATS playlists available on Tidal:

I've watched this video twice now, just for pleasure

I wish more people knew about this kickass album. A wonderful, hard-grooving melange of funk/R&B, alt-rock, and Gene Eugene’s heartbreaking lyrics.

Rest in peace, Steve Cropper. One of the all-time greats — countless millions of listeners have his guitar parts and songwriting burned into their brains whether they know it or not.

This is the most shocking act of mass murder Bluesky has ever witnessed, and I am one thousand percent here for it.

Benny says hi

Year-end critics’ lists exist for people to fight over, so I’m happy when people complain about them. But the complaint I will never get is, “I’ve never heard of most of these movies/albums/shows.” Yes, and? Why be mad about learning about stuff you didn’t know before from the news?

I wrote about listening, thinking, reflection, memory & not “offloading” it all to sp*tify! www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...

@philipchristman.bsky.social, I started reading your new book and Sonny tried to eat it. I told him he had to wait for the paperback.

Grover saying “Rian Johnson?” is the song of the summer

This all day. If you can’t find good shit to listen to, watch, or read, it means your discovery process is (very understandably, thanks to relentless media rot, cacophony, and slop) letting you down. Because there is an overwhelming, neverending amount of good shit out there waiting to be found.

How am I supposed to get any work done today if everyone keeps insisting on dropping their best albums of the year lists?

Checking in with the boys

My vote is for Tartuffe, the Spry Wonder Dog

Checking in with the boys

Big Bend :: Last Circle In A Slowdown aquariumdrunkard.com/2025/01/17/b... Working with avant-jazz master Shahzad Ismaily and a varied ensemble (Jen Powers of Rolin/Powers Duo & violinist Zosha Warpeha), Phillips transforms delicate folk songs into strange collages and elliptical ballads.

something that's wild about this on top of uh, everything here: The theme song for the Franklin cartoon was written by Bruce Cockburn. One of his most famous songs is about wanting to shoot down the helicopters of a far-right regime in Guatemala www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPqP...

Just finished Death by Lightning, and I found it adequate but not satisfying. The writers didn't seem to find James Garfield a compelling character in his own right or make an effort to establish him as such. Especially in the last 2 episodes, he got sidelined as a supporting actor in his own story.

When I find a new favorite writer, I either (1) swiftly binge all they’ve written or (2) savor their work over several years so I don’t run out. Woodrell landed firmly on (2) for me — pages I couldn’t stop turning, but prose that made me slow down and luxuriate in its rugged, piquant beauty.

I was hoping the rumors about Daniel Woodrell weren’t true, but they are, and his death is such a huge loss. RIP to one of the great American writers. 🎁

Obsessed with this song (the album it's on is pretty great, too)

A really special movie

Watching a movie with Benny

I just saw an “Ohio’s not really part of the Midwest” post, and my eyes nearly rolled out of my head

I had to drive an hour to see Wake Up Dead Man on the big screen, and I’m so glad I did. The mystery is fun as all get-out, the film’s examination of faith at its best and worst is really well-done, and the lighting — oh my god, the lighting is so rich and gorgeous and expressive.

@profanity.accountant What’s the dang-darn-diddly-darn damage?

Missing Murderers Thunderhawk All Nite Skate The New Pale Swimmers Vandolah Sankofa Left Lane Cruiser The Illegitimate Sons The Orange Opera Metavari Sub-Surface Graves of the Endless Fall

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve seen: Herbie Hancock Mavis Staples My Bloody Valentine Willie Nelson Yo-Yo Ma Bob Dylan Neil Young Radiohead Wilco Yo La Tengo Over the Rhine Billy Joe Shaver Stevie Wonder X Hum (Me listing 15 shows instead of 5 is an all-too-accurate intro)

Abraham Lincoln, 1855. www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/spee...

I’m not hot enough to pull off a thirst trap, but hunger traps are a different story. Here’s my Thanksgiving baked mac and cheese made with smoked paprika breadcrumbs and five cheeses.

I also published a book in 2022 with introductions to nine 20th century women who were artists, activists, and all-around badasses, all through the lens of food. With recipes and illustrations. It is delicious. (And a very good book to give as a gift.) www.alissawilkinson.com/salty-lesson...

Splat: The Conflict Between Gravitational Norms and the Wing Structure of My Helplessly Flapping Arms

Funkadelic — “Maggot Brain” My Bloody Valentine — “Only Shallow” Ride — “Leave Them All Behind” Songs: Ohia — “Farewell Transmission” The War on Drugs — “Under the Pressure” (Barely scratching the surface here. Also, it seems I really like long Side 1 Track 1s)

How about I make a beautiful pan of baked mac and cheese with butter, whole milk, heavy cream, and five kinds of cheese instead

Very cool evening of stories and songs from Steve Wynn. Loved hearing him play “That’s What You Always Say,” “When You Smile,” “The Days of Wine and Roses,” “Merrittville,” and other classic Dream Syndicate tunes.

If you live near Columbus, there’s still time to get out tonight and see Steve Wynn play a rare U.S. solo show!

Like with pizza, pie is very much a yes-and food for me. Apple pie? Yes, and pecan? Yes, and peach? Yes, and lemon meringue? Yes, and pumpkin? Yes, and sweet potato? Yes, and cherry? Yes, and blueberry? Yes, and key lime? Yes, and coconut cream? Yes, and peanut butter? Yes and yes and yes and yes

Two or three follow-ups to DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS. Might have to mess with the series timeline or find someone younger to replace Denzel as Easy Rawlins, though.

I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, but the page reloaded half a dozen times and then crashed completely before I could even make it a quarter of the way through. Hurray for the modern web.

Lazy kitties

Here is my official ranking of Charles Laughton movies. 1. The Night of the Hunter.

Lots of good stuff here — plus several docs that weren’t on my radar at all and that I’m now eager to see

Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81

Gotta go with either Jumpin’ Jack Flash or Tumbling Dice

Such a fun and informative read — @johnlingan.bsky.social really outdid himself with this one. The best thing I can say about the book is that it has already made me a better listener, helping me hear new things in music while putting into words what I sensed but could not articulate.

Oh wait! Figured out how to get rid of the garbage Gemini button in Chrome: - Right-click - Unpin Gone!

I guess you have to “unleash” a record before you can “drop” it, otherwise it will just dangle helplessly

Did I stumble into Twin Peaks or The Fugitive?