For the VERY FIRST On Shuffle, my music library has randomly delivered a song that he has never heard before. This week, I go in depth on Discovery’s 2009 “hipster R&B” track “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” (ft. Angel Deradoorian). Check it out:
Introducing: On Shuffle
I started a new weekly column over at The Alternative. It’s called “On Shuffle,” which explains exactly what I’ll be doing—every week, I’ll turn my library on shuffle and go long on whatever song comes up first. Read my introduction here and keep an eye on on Tuesdays for the column:
2nd Grade — “Wish You Were Here Tour Revisited”
I wrote about the lovely 2nd Grade and what it means to reissue a recent release these days for The Alternative:
Interview: Hurry
I interviewed Matt Scottoline of the Philadelphia power pop band Hurry about their new record Fake Ideas.
Modest Mouse — “The Golden Casket”
I reviewed the surprisingly good new Modest Mouse record for Slant:
Parting — “Unmake Me”
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:
The Alt’s Best So Far 2021
I contributed blurbs on The Armed, Spirit of the Beehive, and Snow Ellet for The Alternative‘s Best of 2021 So Far list.
Sleater-Kinney — “Path of Wellness”
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:
Bachelor — “Doomin’ Sun”
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’
Newsletter Update
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
Jordan Walsh 