My Top 5 Songs of the Week (2024 Week 39):
https://youtu.be/eOjZ9A3TGfs
1. Rudimental with Mystic Marley and Flowdan – "Ram Pam". London's Rudimental are keeping drum and bass alive with this crucial dancehall banger featuring Bob Marley granddaughter Mystic on vocals and rapping from grime MC Flowdan. #music

https://youtu.be/0fE4TG4RADg
So grateful to my friend Marina Lazzara for inviting me to her autumn equinox celebration and allowing me to share work from my book *Hypnopompic Diaries* and from my collaboration with Chris Stroffolino titled *Dreaming to a Click*, and to Brian Lucas, who took this video of the first half of my reading.

My best of 2024 (so far) playlist is updated regularly and can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDJeO4dNUaIn2mN9hFpBK1szGAA07d8pq&si=ZVqklnxTIwkgAQKq
#music

https://youtu.be/SnCToK4Jw7w
5. Suzanne Vega – "Rats". If you had told me back in 1984 that in 30 years' time, Suzanne Vega would be writing post-apocalyptic punk songs about vermin, I'd have said, "Who's Suzanne Vega?" since I didn't start listening to her sophisticated folk/pop until about 1987. #music

https://oldmillioneye.bandcamp.com/track/sister-rock
4. Old Million Eye – "Sister Rock". Old Million Eye's music is as uncanny and enigmatic as a dream. It all makes perfect sense as you float along through it, yet when it's over, it becomes elusive, ungraspable to the conscious mind. Luckily, unlike a dream, you can listen to it again (and again). #music

https://youtu.be/b4uOvP-sqBY
3. Haley Heynderickx – "Foxglove". Second single from her new album is another '60s-inflected folk/pop gem. #music

https://youtu.be/poO4oicbPw8
2. Blossoms – "I Like Your Look". Mod disco from Manchester band's fifth album "Gary". "I'm suiting insouciant finery". #music

My Top 5 Songs of the Week (2024 Week 38):
https://youtu.be/tQjcGbaABgE
1. The Soundcarriers – "The City Was". A sonic portal opened up to suck you directly back to 1966 or '7: fuzzed-out guitars, trippy organ and druggy lyrics like "the days only go to one place: to the place where the city was". #music

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, July 2024.

Shell ginger, Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, July 2024.

Neoregelia, Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, July 2024.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/17/donald-trump-michigan-rally-00179741
Know who else survived two assassination attempts? Gerald Ford. It ain’t a sign of a political future.

My best of 2024 (so far) playlist is updated regularly and can be found here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDJeO4dNUaIn2mN9hFpBK1szGAA07d8pq&si=ZVqklnxTIwkgAQKq
#music

https://youtu.be/352TSvVyjqg
5. (Honorable mention) Hugo Largo – "Blue Blanket". Hugo Largo were one of my favorite bands of the late '80s and early '90s, featuring a drumless configuration (two bassists and a violinist) and the angelic voice and childlike openness of Mimi Goese. There's a new set out collecting the two albums and previously unreleased miracles like this one they recorded before disbanding in 1991. #music

https://youtu.be/ljI7vtKrMOI
4. R. Missing – "Jane Four". a darkwave chiller from New York's R. Missing, "Jane Four" features a busy, anxious synth riff and the detached vocals of Sharon Shy. #music

https://youtu.be/-xtq4Qek0Uo
3. Disintegration – "Hideaway". Fellow Ohioans Devo live in the processed guitar shrapnel and stuttering drums of "Hideaway", creating the perfect foil for Haley Himiko's urgent vocal. #music

https://youtu.be/VXe_9IxsAvY
2. Clementine Douglas – "Slippin' ". A near-perfect pairing of '80s-'90s dance club sounds and peaks soul horns and singing from Birmingham, England's Douglas. #music

My Top 5 Songs of the Week (2024 Week 37):
https://youtu.be/XLgmuj-Gnuo
1. Naima Bock – "Feed My Release". Ex-Goat Girl Bock has a new solo album out which includes this jazzy (saxophone!) folk-pop gem. She uses the full range of her voice and amazing harmonies to great effect. #music

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/15/jd-vance-lies-haitian-immigrants
What JD Vance meant: “If I have to amplify racist hoaxes from Neo-Nazis so that the American media remains fully focused on the imaginary grievances of white people then that's what I'm going to do”

Can you believe there are people who think this whiny tantrum throwing baby is some kind of alpha male strongman?