If you'd like to see something that will -- or should -- bring you happy tears today, watch this. I don't care about the Emmys, but I definitely care about Jeff Hiller and SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, which will eventually be considered a classic.

Oh, my god. THIS is the kind of queer art we need now. My kingdom to see this performed.

I was listening to an old Casey Kasem American Top 40 (I find this soothing these days) from 1985 where he told the story of Wendy Carlos, who scored The Shining and Tron, and her journey to becoming trans. Casey got all the pronouns right and it was presented as a slice of life, feel good story

#CDFriday thanks to Wall of Sound in Seattle. $1! This was the first place I — and I suspect many Americans — first heard “Unfinished Sympathy.”

Oh no, let's go: the charts of the summer of '84 were a *time*.

We don't need to be rallying behind Dems because they'll "protect" our democracy, we need to be pressuring Dems to RESTORE our democracy. They're not going to do it if we don't push them, and if you want my help in pushing them, then you better believe I'm also going to push them on trans issues.

They're openly calling to lock up every trans person by force. We need every ally to speak out forcefully against this because trans folks cannot do this on our own.

Joy and pain, as Frankie Beverly and Maze sang, are like sunshine and rain. And the R&B top 10 albums this week back in 1980 were mostly on the bright side. (Also: the *other* #1 albums of the week.)

I'd MUCH rather see Pedro Pascal starring in a gay romance from Todd Haynes than Joaquin Phoenix, so this is thrilling news.

How fucking good does this look, wow.

I voted for Newsom for Mayor when I lived in SF. I voted for him for Lt Gov, twice. I voted for him for Gov of California. But I WILL NOT and CANNOT vote for him again, as he's completely gone off the anti-trans deep end. And cis/het folks, you shouldn't either, if you call yourselves allies.

WGCI, August 1986: hotter than ever. Airchecks and a playlist included in my latest "Radio Romance" column.

Summer '83 on the charts was absolutely golden, and this proves it.

In 2005, Madonna released her last best album, which I reviewed for STYLUS, doing the same for its corresponding live album in '07. Because it's her birthday tomorrow, here are both reviews, newly republished.

Cardi B's new Jay-Z-interpolating single is killing me today. So so good. So ready for her new album next month, FINALLY.

Tomorrow's the birthday of pop's queen of the past 45 years, Madonna -- and even more than pop, she's been the real queen of the dancefloor. An appreciation, with some caveats.

This is a very important piece worth your time, which clearly enumerates some of my own thoughts this week. But also, c'mon, how could it NOT make me think of this? (@sotoalfred.bsky.social I'm looking directly at you.)

Rod's greatest single, full stop.

Well, I sure am glad I didn’t renew this year. No Richard Lawson or David Canfield? WTF.

Here comes the brand new flava in ya ear, in the form of the epic remix of a classic '90s hip-hop jam.

Read this and believe it. The Republican party is genuinely attempting to legislate trans people out of existence.

I ride HARD for the S.O.S. Band, and especially for the brilliant collaborative work they did with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. So does @thetwelveinch.bsky.social, and I heartily recommend their latest column on "Just the Way You Like," the legacy of S.O.S., and '80s synth funk.

What's better than love? Luther Vandross and Gregory Hines had some thoughts, on the first single from Hines's sole album.

There can only be one.

Happy birthday to one of THE definitive divas. A true singer’s singer.

Carly Simon's "Why" is one of the greatest records of all time; @markfrommusings.bsky.social breaks it down.

DeBarge were, simply put, SO FUCKING GOOD. HBD to Randy, whose bass was vital to many of their classics.

I wish I could stop, and switch off the clock: 1989 isn't exactly a banner year for music, but the top 40 from this week is pretty hot nonetheless. And yes, that's my beloved Winger in the link photo, because their hit in this countdown is magnificent.

35 years ago this week, "Vision of Love" topped the US singles chart, and the world was never the same. An appreciation of a diva in every sense of the word, Mariah Carey.

HBD to superb on-the-one drummer Bill Berry of R.E.M. They're one of my all-timers.

The campaign for my friend Quinn's card game launches today! It's scientifically proven: you CAN'T draw a bad cat! If you love kitties, &/or gaming, &/or supporting independent creatives &/or folx in the trans community, PLEASE consider backing!

If you thought that Chris Housman couldn't get any better, YOU'RE WRONG. DAMN! #queercountry

Today's the late David Sanborn's birthday; the great saxman is known as an icon of Smooth Jazz but did a lot more than that (Aretha! Bowie! Steely Dan!). You've probably heard his distinctive tone out in the wild.

Journey, Billy Squier, Tom Petty, and Moody Blues each had a pair of singles in the top 20 AOR tracks this week in 1981. And what's that peaking around the corner, ready to disrupt the music industry? It's MTV.

I love birthday boy Mick Jagger on DIRTY WORK, and here's why.

Streisand's best album, and I say that as a strong GUILTY partisan. But this is just... perfection.

HBD to the kinky one in Depeche Mode, writer of the bulk of their catalog, Martin Gore. On his and DM’s crowning achievement.

It's the birthday of one of the greatest guitarists of the 1980s and beyond, Slash. I saw GNR on their first "reunion" tour (aka Axl + Slash + Duff) and he and they RIPPED IT UP. And yeah, some of their catalog definitely qualifies as hair metal.

AMEN!

Steve Albini was one of the greatest to ever touch a mixing board, and today's his birthday. Here's a few words I wrote upon his death last year.

going deep. 🪩💿💿✨

Because I'm enjoying being a source of surprises this week, here's some thoughts on an album from 2022 that I only discovered this year but fairly like.

The fact that the S'Express album is unavailable on streaming in the U.S. is *incredibly* homophobic.

NEW NIN THIS IS NOT A DRILL AND ALSO IT'S GREAT

1974 was a TIME in the U.S. charts. You wanna talk about something for everyone?

Another great piece by @songsthatsavedyou.bsky.social, this one on punk's queer beginnings.

Don't mention my name: Elvis in 1975 was still firing on most, if not all, cylinders. I love this album.

But wait, I'm not done! My favorite Linda Ronstadt album came out 45 years ago: MAD LOVE. I hope she's having a great birthday.

In the last 24 hours I've been jamming this song a LOT, so it felt it prudent to remind y'all of its greatness; it was a favorite of Larry Levan's to spin at Paradise Garage as '79 became '80. This 12" remix is pumped up so hottt. 🔥

Linda Ronstadt is truly one of the greatest; HBD to her. An appreciation.