The new collaboration between Jamie Liddell and Luke Schneider is a sublime ambient masterpiece and I reviewed it for PopMatters.

a) it still looks shitty. AI will never look anything but shitty b)no matter how good you think it looks, there is still an ethical problem with using AI, looking bad is not the worst problem with it c) you are a billion dollar company, hire real artists www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...

From the Wikipedia entry for the Beatles’ “Rain.” Can someone with recording studio experience tell me if this is now a common practice? Because it sounds like it was a technical decision reached after taking way too many drugs

Happy 80th birthday to Neil Young, a guy who’s always done things his own way. Trailblazer, rule breaker, guitar slinger, absolute legend.

11/11 isn’t just Veterans Day. It’s also Power Pop Day - Andy Partridge and Marshall Crenshaw were both born on this day in 1953

Randomly found out about this mineral and now I’m low-key obsessed en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocoite

An excellent essay on nostalgia and a hopeful NYC future from @jillmapes.bsky.social

The new Apple TV five-part documentary on Martin Scorsese is a delight. My only complaint is that they spent about five times more time talking about “Silence” than “After Hours” (the latter is easily Top Three Scorsese for me)

Travis Laplante teamed up with JACK Quartet for a recording of two of his string quartets, which use the method of just intonation. This stunning new album is now out and I reviewed it for PopMatters.

The Rock and Roll HoF is a pretty silly concept so I’m generally indifferent to it, but I can’t help feeling thrilled that Warren Zevon is finally in. If you’re not familiar with his work beyond Werewolves of London, I urge you to dig into his catalog, which is overflowing with incredible songs

So when are Debra Messing and Michael Rapaport leaving New York

To put this in scale, Elon Musk's salary from Tesla alone could fund the SNAP program for the entire country into 2034.

The legendary David Garland recently released his latest album, a warm, lovely, slightly eccentric (in the best way) meditation on loss. I reviewed “The Spark” for PopMatters.

Can’t stop thinking about all the robber baron fucks that held secret meetings and spent MILLIONS AND MILLIONS in bribes and campaign investments and attack ads and media manipulation trying to tank Mamdani currently having the dawning realization that their money is completely and utterly useless.

Charlie Bruber’s sophomore album combines sophisticated folk melodies with bits of grand, over-the-top rock gestures. I reviewed the excellent “Prized Burden” for PopMatters. www.popmatters.com/charlie-brub...

Hi Bluesky, help me pick my next suburban dysfunction novel

She seems nice

Vanessa Wagner’s ambitious interpretation of Philip Glass’ piano etudes is simply amazing and I reviewed the complete set for PopMatters.

Agree 100 percent - I first saw it on HBO in 1984 and it’s an excellent “Beatles Primer.” No frills, lots of crucial information and excellent soundbites from relevant people of the era

The new album from Visible Light is a warm, soothing walk through nature, a tonic for these difficult times. I reviewed “Songs for Eventide.”

The new album from Darian Donovan Thomas is a beautiful work of experimental soundscapes. I reviewed “A Room With Many Doors: Day” for PopMatters.

Hausu Mountain has been on fire this year. They recently released the excellent new Pulse Emitter album, a glorious collection of melodic soundscapes. I reviewed “Tide Pools” for PopMatters.

I’m really loving the beautiful new album from Greg Jamie, which I reviewed for PopMatters.

Over at PopMatters, I reviewed the wonderful new album by Matt Bachmann. www.popmatters.com/matt-bachman...

"I bet you’re one of those people who thought that once the millennium started, you’d never have to hear 'River of Dreams' again. I used to feel that way until I became a dentist. Now, I live every day like it’s 1993."

My absolute favorite hyper-specific genre of YouTube video at the moment is “People Reacting to Hearing XTC’s ‘Mayor of Simpleton’ For the First Time”

We can't lower the cost of healthcare or give children free breakfast/lunch at school, or house the unhoused. But we CAN afford: $172M for 2 private jets for Kristi Noem $250M Ballroom $2M Patio $1B to update a "free jet" $3.3M weekend golf $6M for Hegseth to berate the military .....

....And then she said, I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge Today, Billie-Joe McAllister jumped off the -

Charlie Kaplan’s fourth album was released last Friday, and it’s a beautiful thing. Inspired by both his late father and his young son, it’s Kaplan’s most personal album yet - and, in my opinion, his best. I reviewed “A Hat Upon the Bed” for PopMatters. www.popmatters.com/charlie-kapl...

Luke Cissell is an astonishingly gifted musician and composer and his new album of string quartets - which I reviewed for PopMatters- does not disappoint.

2025 was the year I discovered Tim Robinson, and “The Chair Company” could not have come at a better time

Wild fact I learned this morning

HELP I DON’T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS

I’m just now starting to explore the fascinating discography of Cate Le Bon, and I reviewed her excellent new album for PopMatters

Mamdani talking lucidly and passionately about trans rights and history in a video that should frankly shame every politician who has hemmed and hawed and triangulated and said, "Well, but sports..." It's not that hard to tell the truth and stand for what's right. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEvV...

Probably preaching to the choir here, but I must reiterate my utter hatred towards bullshit AI art. Generating videos of garbage like Freddie Mercury fist bumping Ozzy Osbourne in heaven is the worst kind of cheap, exploitative bullshit that’s ever taxed the power grid. Shut it down already

Barely hanging on by a thread, what's updog with you

Hot take: I really wish Brandi Carlisle would leave Joni Mitchell alone for five minutes

Katy Pinke and Will Graefe teamed up to make a fantastic covers album featuring songs by everyone from Paul Simon to Frank Ocean to Bobbie Gentry. I reviewed “Patterns” for PopMatters. www.popmatters.com/katy-pinke-p...

I reviewed the latest album from Wilder Maker, a moody, nocturnal change of pace for the Brooklyn-based band.

Am I the only person just now finding out that Zohran Mamdani’s mother is Mira Nair

I reviewed the wonderful new album from Léna Bartels.

Fuck ICE

Wouldn’t it be beautiful if the thing that brings down this presidency for good is a crippling lawsuit from Blue Oyster Cult

“Hot Ones” guest suggestions: Bob Dylan Mariah Carey Jasmine Crockett Richard Kind Father John Misty Werner Herzog Dolly Parton Ben Kingsley Tom Waits John Flansburgh

Over at PopMatters, I reviewed the new grunge-y punk dream-pop album from New York-based Laveda.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a series of strange and embarrassing remarks in front of our nation’s military today, prompting new calls for him to resign. Maj. Gen. William Enyart (Ret.), former Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, joins The Weeknight to respond.

Hi, Pete Hegseth. It’s me. Army veteran, Judge Advocate lawyer, and law professor. Your vain and gross performance to our nation’s military leaders succeeded only in proving your incompetence, dangerousness, and childishness. You’re a petty spoiled 7th grade boy without the sophistication or class.

Once again reminding folks that the ethical replacement to using Spotify isn’t another streaming platform; it’s buying music from artists when you’re in the financial position to do so and pirating them when you’re unable to do so. Or simply ask an artist for the files, like actually.