To whom it may interest, While music writers and enthusiasts were busy compiling those "Best Of" lists during the long-elapsed final days of 2022, No Ripcord 's podcast, Quarantine The Past , was running a multi-episode series devoted to the same endeavor. I was asked to participate for episode 4, which was posted today. A little late maybe, but some good albums are reviewed. Discussed: Chat Pile  black midi OFF! Die! Die! Die! The Soft Moon Enumclaw Denzel Curry Ka Guerilla Toss Gilla Band (formerly Girl Band) I contributed some blurbs for the  written list :  Placement: 47).  OFF!  —  Free LSD  (Fat Possum)   38).  Enumclaw  —  Save The Baby  (Luminelle Recordings) 26).  Danger Mouse and Black Thought  —  Cheat Codes  (BMG) 12).  Chat Pile  —  God's Country  (Flenser) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapered

Lori Goldston & Greg Kelley All Points Leaning In Broken Clover Records Released: 1/19/23 On November 18th, 1993, cellist Lori Goldston performed with Nirvana for MTV's Unplugged .  When I found out about All Points Leaning In , which is Goldston's new album with trumpet player Greg Kelley, a "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" level of familiarity hit me as I thought to myself, "Where have I seen that name before?"  Oh, I know that name from when I was 17 years old and listening intently to Unplugged In New York on CD, scanning the liner notes and song credits while Kurt Cobain strummed a live rendition of "Something In The Way", Goldston's beautiful bowed embellishments stretching beneath the acoustic melancholia. That's why I know that name.  A lot of you may remember Goldston the same way. However, for All Points Leaning In , consider this album the aural purge you were looking for, a cathartic noise project rife with deep, droning, textura...

For me, one of the highlights of 2022 was seeing 7SECONDS perform with The Circle Jerks and Negative Approach. Announced today, Trust Records will be reissuing Walk Together, Rock Together , the band's 1985 follow-up to their milestone LP, The Crew , (which was reissued by Trust in 2021). All info, links, and sounds are provided courtesy of another / side PR.  7SECONDS ANNOUNCE WALK TOGETHER, ROCK TOGETHER DELUXE REISSUE VIA TRUST RECORDS IN COLLABORATION WITH BYO RECORDS REMASTERED AUDIO AND VINYL AVAILABLE IN-STORES FEBRUARY 3  PRE-ORDER HERE LISTEN / SHARE REMASTERED AUDIO FOR TITLE TRACK NOW THIS EDITION OF THE 1980’S UNDERGROUND CLASSIC INCLUDES: - Remastered audio by David Gardner from the original analog tapes. - 20-page full-color book with oral history from 1984 - 1986 with commentary from Pushead, Ian MacKaye, Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand), Milo Aukerman (Descendents), Tony Hawk, Shepard Fairey and more. - Fully restored version of iconic yel...

To whom it may interest, Still getting acclimated to 2023 and up on January releases. How are you feeling about this year? Anything that you're looking forward to? I believe I've mentioned this before, but I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to develop a following in the TikTok space. You can find that here .  For last week's rounds of browser tabs, I've heard the following: ____________________________ Alex Ward Item 4:  "OURS" (from  Furthered,  releasing 3/3/23 by  577 Records )       577 Records · OURS by Alex Ward/Item 4 from album 'Furthered' (577 Records) Courtesy of 577 Records. Meg Baird:  "Ashes, Ashes" (from  Furling,  releasing 1/27/23 by  Drag City ) Courtesy of Drag City.  Ad Omega: "Triumph of Void" (from  Aphelic Ascent,  releasing 2/10/23 by  Drakkar Productions ) Courtesy of Falce Press & Management.  Constant Smiles:  "Triumph of Void" (from  Kenneth Anger,...

To whom it may interest, In the wake of late night neighborhood demonstrations of amateur fireworks displays and cork-ejaculated ribbons of bubbly champagne, the first full calendar week of 2023 has been officially Xd out. Time to take the Christmas trees down and bundle up for the next couple months. For last week's rounds of browser tabs, I've heard the following: ____________________________ Endorphins Lost:  "Regulation Area Bombing" (from Night People  releasing 2/1/23 by  To Live A Lie  / Rotten to the Core ) This one will beat you up pretty good: A little over a minute and thirty of throat scraping crust punk/power violence replete with excessive head-knock and a writhing breakdown for its second act.   Night People by Endorphins Lost Courtesy of Earsplit PR. Atsuko Chiba:  "Link" (from  Water, It Feels Like It's Growing  releases 1/20/23 by  Mothland ) The synth ride overtop some elaborate prog-level guitar noodling is worth explorati...

How was 2022? Better than 2021.  Midyear I tested positive for COVID. I found myself unable to move or rest, which sounds contradictory until you experience bludgeoning exhaustion on top of significant physical discomfort. I'm lucky, though: In spite of testing positive for a full 8 or 9 days after symptoms showed up, the worst moments took place over the course of two full days. After that, it was just a matter of regaining some level of energy. It's no exaggeration to say that I felt drained for maybe a full month.  I saw some gigs this year and bought a LOT of albums. I think my record collection is beginning to outgrow my space, which means I may need to consider some purges.  Omissions & Lamentations for 2022: There are always too many of those. Considering I didn't even bother attempting to round-up my favorite albums in 2021, I'm going to focus on what I did hear and enjoy. We'll go back to being sad next year.  While I know that the blogosphere has lost ...