@elienis.bsky.social's recent Q&A with High. pushed me to revisit Lilys this week - I guess I was wrong about them because 1994's "Eccsame The Photon Band" is hitting me hard - check em' both out here: www.elienis.com/chasing-frid... & frontierrecords-lilys.bandcamp.com/album/eccsam...

Wrote about: -Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry's "Hive Mind" unexpectedly winning me over -Ninajirachi's incredible live show, hyperpop in 2026, and where she sits relative to Snow Strippers -Katzin's freak-folk debut 'Buckaroo' -Plus, a Q&A with shoegaze star flyingfish about going emo

SPEED WEEK THURSDAY - GREAT WRITERS PICK GREAT FAST SONGS! www.ienjoymusic.net/speed-week-p...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Elevating to xaviersobased in a Dollar General -How Poison Ruïn won me back -katmoji's invigorating "tweemo" -Rekrucify's brutalist hardcore Plus, a CRUCIAL witch house scene report/Q&A with E_Death. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Of Note 022 is out! Highlighting work from: @natechinen.bsky.social on Blackstar @elienis.bsky.social with M. Dubice @jonbern.bsky.social's JTE bio @stevenhyden.bsky.social on Pitchfork @ericdharvey.com on Bob Marley @tombreihan.bsky.social on The Greatest @marissarmoss.bsky.social asks a question

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -The Femcels' likeably off-putting indie-pop -Clothesline From Hell's subversively clever pop-rock -New ones from Horse Vision, Gollylagging, and bill. Plus, a colorful Q&A with Ben Cook of GUV. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -The Femcels' likeably off-putting indie-pop -Clothesline From Hell's subversively clever pop-rock -New ones from Horse Vision, Gollylagging, and bill. Plus, a colorful Q&A with Ben Cook of GUV. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Pittsburgh deserves worker-centered journalism. PAPER is raising funds to research, support and build out exactly that. I've joined several meetings and can say there is enthusiasm, community support and now grassroots money behind it. Learn more and contribute here: ourpapernow.org

For the first time, Otto Benson (fka Memo Boy and OTTO) opened up about how his astronomically popular teenage bedroom project became the Pepe the Frog of indie music. A wild story about TikTok, trauma, starting over, and seeking offline connection. www.elienis.com/otto-benson-...

Can't put a price on peace, but I did put a score on the new and final Megadeth album over at @pitchfork.com. Genuinely had a blast interrogating the Mustaine mindset. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote: -Trend reports on internet-native emo (via Sweet Boy) and brutal death metal's presence in hardcore (via Fatal Realm) -Reviews of Zachshots' twee and Maria Somerville's remix EP Plus, a Q&A with screamo-core stars Holder. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

On the topic of good websites that cost $5/month... Every week, I review music no one else is writing about, dig into genre/scene undercurrents with a degree of detail that's nearly unrivaled, and ask artists questions no one else is asking them. Your $5 goes a long way: www.elienis.com/subscribe/

I had a long talk with Marisa Dabice about Mannequin Pussy's next album, their AI video controversy, burning out on tour, speaking up about the genocide, 10 years of 'Romantic,' the band's early years, and much more. Chasing Sundays subscribers can read it all. www.elienis.com/marisa-dabic...

I had a long talk with Marisa Dabice about Mannequin Pussy's next album, their AI video controversy, burning out on tour, speaking up about the genocide, 10 years of 'Romantic,' the band's early years, and much more. Chasing Sundays subscribers can read it all. www.elienis.com/marisa-dabic...

It's Friday. I wrote about -Slayr's rage-rap revamp -Sin Against Sin's murderous second demo -Ratboys being an exception to my alt-country burnout -Sword2's dogshit emo-rap -And more hardcore, electro-rap, & slow-gaze Plus, an interview with Trauma Ray. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

I made another 100-song playlist of new-to-me music and blogged 10 highlights by Jane Remover, Big Thief, Dexter in the Newsagent, Shlohmo, Olivia O., and some others that no one's ever written about. Read the blurbs and browse the full playlist on Chasing Sundays. www.elienis.com/100-song-pla...

My first for @dropsitenews.com: after a grueling three-year strike, workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette returned to work in victory. This week, the 240-year-old paper’s wealthy owners decided to shut it down. open.substack.com/pub/dropsite...

Chasing Fridays is back. Wrote about: -Seeing 15 bands at Syracuse's NYD hardcore matinee -Home Front's protest synth-punk -Getting Dream Fatigued -Bellcave's elegant dream-pop Plus, a Q&A with Sign Crushes Motorist's cloud-rap alter ego Carson Clay. www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Gonna try to be on this site a lot more in 2026, but I also recently made a Chasing Sundays Instagram where I'm promoting my work, posting what I'm listening to, and documenting other run-ins with music (physical media, live shows, etc.). Give it a follow if IG is your thing.

For my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...

I already liked this band, but I like them even more now that I know their leader's favorite bands are Swirlies and Unwound

This was a really great conversation to read. Very intrigued by the possibility of a Wednesday hardcore record.

Eli’s newsletter is good and I learn about a lot of new music from it. Including iirc my best song of the year www.welcometohellworld.com/the-best-50i...

For my last piece of 2025, I had a long, personal convo with Karly Hartzman. We talked about the next Wednesday album, the band's early years, how she's handling their growing popularity, her evolving music taste, regrets/successes, and much more. www.elienis.com/karly-hartzm...

I had a very compelling conversation with Ned Russin about Glitterer, the practicality of independence, "hustler culture" poisoning punk, the weirdness around Title Fight's legacy, money, careerism, individualism, optimism, and much more.

Frankie Palmeri, frontman of the very popular deathcore band Emmure, went mask-off Nazi last week. I wrote about his demented worldview, the ideological void of deathcore, and why Emmure are the 21st century's most prescient band. Nihilistic, violent, extreme. www.elienis.com/emmure-death...

Here's @elienis.bsky.social with the definitive feature on They Are Gutting A Body Of Water

Straight heat from @elienis.bsky.social on All American Rejects’ summer of “DIY shows” as viral branding opportunities www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Thanks to @elienis.bsky.social for the kind words about Ritual Cross. It's been cool to see folks getting what we're going for while also hitting different reference points each time.

Did my best to dismantle the notion that Sleep Token have any redeeming qualities. For @pitchfork.com pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

It's Friday. I wrote about: -Loathe's overwrought dud -Bulls Shitt's smokin' LP -Sin Against Sin's evil demo -Boo Boo Spoiler's rippin' punk-gaze -Talulah Paisley's kooky garage-rock -Maria Somerville's OK dream-pop -Magdalena Bay's underwhelming live show & more www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Bleary Eyed's potential to drop an era-defining shoegaze classic -Cortisa Star's hyperpop/drill twist -Coma Cinema's first song in 8 years -Hotline TNT's new tune -This Day Forward's 2000 metalcore gem www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

this is the most i’ve ever suffered for my writing. i put my biceps on the back burner for this piece. please make my juice worth the squeeze by reading www.invisibleoranges.com/meshuggah-wo...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Bleary Eyed's potential to drop an era-defining shoegaze classic -Cortisa Star's hyperpop/drill twist -Coma Cinema's first song in 8 years -Hotline TNT's new tune -This Day Forward's 2000 metalcore gem www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Greet Death's members were actually greeted by death. It finally gave them the will to live. For @stereogum.bsky.social www.stereogum.com/2304205/gree...

I don’t think you can summarize the fatal problem with modern liberalism any better than “My issue with the way people are being deported and disappeared is procedural.”

Had an inspiring chat with Molly Burch about how difficult the indie music business is, and why she's a million times happier with her drastic career pivot. For @stereogum.bsky.social www.stereogum.com/2304181/moll...

Greet Death's members were actually greeted by death. It finally gave them the will to live. For @stereogum.bsky.social www.stereogum.com/2304205/gree...

@elienis.bsky.social spoke to the great songwriter Molly Burch about quitting a demoralizing indie music career to start Picnic Studio, an art non-profit for adults with IDD, focused on inclusivity and getting the artists paid. Read: www.stereogum.com/2304181/moll... Donate: www.picnicstudiola.com

Had an inspiring chat with Molly Burch about how difficult the indie music business is, and why she's a million times happier with her drastic career pivot. For @stereogum.bsky.social www.stereogum.com/2304181/moll...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Jane Remover and 2hollis's visions for a post-rage, post-hyperpop future -Turnstile's first-ever mediocre single -Kitchen's folky slowcore -La Dispute's 'Wildlife' and why it still works for me www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Essentially the end of the first amendment and it’s in service of Zionism — a collaborative effort from both parties and their biggest representatives to frame criticism of Israel and their massacre as terrorism.

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Jane Remover and 2hollis's visions for a post-rage, post-hyperpop future -Turnstile's first-ever mediocre single -Kitchen's folky slowcore -La Dispute's 'Wildlife' and why it still works for me www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

My newsletter, Chasing Sundays, just surpassed 1500 subscribers! To celebrate, I've got a longer-than-usual edition going out tomorrow morning. Sign up to get it in your inbox and see what all the fuss is about: www.elienis.com

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -Amira Elfeky's metalcoreification of major label "nu-gaze" -The most important hardcore tour of 2025 -New ones from Skrillex, Raisa K, YT, J Brekkie, Cootie Catcher, kuru, and DJ Python www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Introducing Liberation Weekend, a two-day music and arts festival taking place in the nation’s capital on Friday, May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st, during WorldPride 2025. Proceeds go to @genderlib.com. Tickets on sale now: linktr.ee/liberationwknd

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -smokedope2016 thru the prism of: am I tapped-in or tapped-out? -Azshara's half-hearted melodeath -After's "y2k trip-pop" -bulletsbetweentongues's metallic screamo -Gas's ambient lodestar 'Pop' www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

For this week's Chasing Fridays I wrote about: -smokedope2016 thru the prism of: am I tapped-in or tapped-out? -Azshara's half-hearted melodeath -After's "y2k trip-pop" -bulletsbetweentongues's metallic screamo -Gas's ambient lodestar 'Pop' www.elienis.com/chasing-frid...

Btw, any journalistic entity or so-called civil rights org that gave even an INCH to the idea that anti-zionism=anti-Semitism shares responsibility for this.