I reviewed the surprisingly good new Modest Mouse record for Slant:

Review: Modest Mouse’s The Golden Casket Is a Polished, Buoyant Pop-Rock Trip

On their debut release, Parting (ex Empire! Empire!, Dowsing, Annabel, and Hawk & Son) construct a testament to transforming together while maintaining the truth of everything they always stood for. Here’s my review, for The Alternative:

Album Review: Parting — “Unmake Me”

I contributed blurbs on The Armed, Spirit of the Beehive, and Snow Ellet for The Alternative‘s Best of 2021 So Far list.

The 60 Best Records of 2021 So Far

The departure of drummer Janet Weiss, who left the band in 2019, is unavoidably felt on the new Sleater-Kinney record, but the band, now a duo, still has the power to dazzle. Here’s my review for Slant Magazine:

Review: On Path of Wellness, Sleater-Kinney Chooses a Path of Stability Over Invention

I wrote about the really great debut from Bachelor, the clear result of a fruitful creative partnership. Here it is, for The Alternative:

Album Review: Bachelor – ‘Doomin’ Sun’

My newsletter, I Keep a Diary, is still going strong! Today it has migrated off of Substack and moved to Buttondown. All existing subscriptions have moved over, but if you’re looking to become a new subscriber, you can sign up here or at the newsletter link in the above menu.

Today’s edition has a little bit of everything—sections on music, books, and writing with just a dash of feelings. You can check that out right here:

I Keep a Diary #10: Staying Warm