It's absolutely insane to me that Bleed American, the album that*defines* Pitchfork's erratic early scoring, has only been re-reviewed by 5 (FIVE) readers. Who is paying for this? Apparently no one. Such a degradation of product for, it appears, a feature that absolutely no-one is interested in.

Relieved to see that my new music radar remains moderately well-aligned with @stevenhyden.bsky.social despite the sad lack of Indiecast in recent weeks. First truly brilliant album of 2026 imo

I forget how beautiful boring London can be

With Indiecast going away (hopefully temporary but still), pitchfork/stereogum etc. paywalled, social media voices disbursing over multiple platforms -- I'm finding it noticeably harder to find and follow new music so far this year

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... well worth 5 minutes to read Mark Carney's speech in full.

Reversed the usual London route out to Effra Quay and back. Feeling quite good for the first time in a while, after a few weeks of more consistent mileage. Nice to be able to use St Paul's for a watch shot at the end of a run. #running #ukrunchat #london

Sad I didn't keep this running diary going. New shoes today so toying with starting again. #runchat #ukrunchat

Stewart Lee is a thing to behold. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Missing more photos of my watch than I'm taking right now, but had a nice hilly run with Joe in Sheffield morning to round out a slightly lighter week - 45k overall. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Ouch - didn't feel good all morning! Couple of blocked off roads and significant route improvisation didn't help much either. Bit of a slog! That said, first 50k week for a while so that's nice. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Just a short make-up run because I've been a bit under on distance so far this week. Couple of faster Kms there in the middle, just for fun. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Easy miles today, with a slightly disrupted route due to flooding! Second run of the week after a slightly quicker 45 mins on Monday with a friend #runchat #ukrunchat #running

19k done and dusted. Bacon and egg sandwich demolished. Now on to the weekend. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Midweek miles... 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️ #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Up and down the Thames, with a St Paul's start/finish. The Monday routine is working well. Planning a bit of a jump in mileage this week if all goes to plan, so we'll see how that goes. Work is also looking a bit busier for the week, too, so there's that... #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Yesterday's long one felt good! #running #marathontraining #ukrunchat #runchat

19km to round off the week's running. Nice and sunny loop on some quiet lanes. An afternoon of coffee and mooching about town awaits... #running #runchat #ukrunchat

4 x 3-minute intervals along the Thames at (something like) 3k best pace, with a decent warm up and cool down. Everything seems to be just about holding up! Forgot to take a photo until the walk home from the office, so here's St Paul's. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

It happened! Thank you and goodnight! Wordle 1,313 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Out 'n' back at lunch. Tired day. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

10k up and down the river after dark! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Long run done. Coffee and a bagel now in the process of demolition. Thank you very much. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

7k today, 7k on Monday. Niggles all over the place, but just about holding it together.. #running #runclub #ukrunclub

16k over the fields and through the Chidwickbury Estate, which was quite stunning tbh. Genuinely sub-zero temps made it more fun... Plus ended with a top notch bagel - no complaints👌🏻🥯🥶 #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Another lunchtime run down -- this works fine for 5-7km, but I'm not sure it's sustainable when the midweek training runs ramp up to 10k or longer. Might have to embrace nighttime running a bit more over the next few months. #marathontraining #runchat #ukrunchat

Starting off the week with a lunch run past the Tower of London and back to Bank. Nice. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

First long(ish) run in a long time. I guess this was week 1 of marathon prep 'proper'. 32k down for the week, which is more than I've managed in a *long* time. Icy cold out there. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Sure, you can't see the screen, but between this and a picture of my feet I think it has to be St Paul's.. I thought it might be a quieter day to run along the Thames but that didn't really turn out to be the case. Cold and sunny, though. Lovely. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Last one for the year. Felt a bit shattered from the start, to be honest, after a poor night's sleep and a long morning walk, but good to fit in one more 2024 run I guess! Happy New Year to all the runners out there. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

They all count... #running #runchat

Freeing foggy run on a new route wearing fancy new kit -- can't complain about that. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

A lunchtime jaunt with a few colleagues at work at a very relaxed pace. Nice mild day for a social trip up the Thames and back to St Paul's. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

First 10k in quite some time. Some discomfort in my big toe, which isn't ideal, but I'm feeling pretty set on April now so training is just going to have to balance the miles with the pain. Nice to get out on a Monday and start the week well anyway! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

7k for the first time in a while. Planning a 10k over the weekend, a couple more shorter ones next week, and then a final final decision on the marathon at next Friday's physio session. This felt good though 👌🏻 #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Laura Snapes is one of the most readable and real music writers around (side note: boy do I wish I hadn't given up on lastfm way back when) www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

Yesterday's run -- double wet and double windy! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Lunchtime run today. Yesterday further positive vibes from the physio that *maybe* the marathon might be on next year (after a solid year of stop-start stress). Running with K-Tape for the first time ever - is it meant to be noticeable?! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Squeezing in something before the weekend's over! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Fun and relaxed lunchtime run with work colleagues today, up and down the Thames. Nice to run as a big group, and the leisurely pace made the busy tourist presence on the South Bank much less stressful! #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Physio yesterday was really positive. Lots of exercises, no absolute ban on running, and the marathon might be possible. But it's 4-5k only for at least a few weeks. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

Windy and wild 6k today in the late afternoon darkness this week. Easing back into it post-injury and hoping things stay stable enough to let me get to the start line of London Marathon next year. Low and slow for at least a few weeks more. #running #runchat #ukrunchat

@loscampesinos.bsky.social run a fantasy football league with 500 or so members and this morning, for a few short hours at least, I am *top* of that thing. I've reached the pinnacle.

It's a sign of how much I like Record Club that Blue Sky is only the second most satisfying social media network I've joined this month...

Got to choose between recommending Michael Kiwanuka or Linkin Park in my weekly new album chat with friends and it feels, more so than ever, like a head vs. heart decision.