strangerfiction

Earlier this year, I wrote about Taylor Swift’s first album from 2020, folklore. Earlier this week, Taylor Swift released her second album of the year, evermore. In many ways it continues the indie-themed acoustic guitar rock of folklore. But in some ways, it’s different.

For example, one of the album’s standout tracks, champagne problems, would’ve easily fit in with the rest of folklore, but the HAIM collaboration, another standout track, no body, no crime probably ... read more

At different points in my life, I’ve obsessively spun records by the Cure, Beck, New Order, St. Vincent, ScHoolboy Q, and of course Gorillaz themselves. So obviously, this year’s set of Gorillaz releases piqued my interest, with a slow trickle of songs featuring the Cure’s Robert Smith, ScHoolboy Q. Those releases culminated in a record, named for the video series that spawned it, Song Machine, Season One, Strange Timez, which was released late October. Musically, it’s ... read more

You might see my recommending Otis Redding's 1965 classic Otis Blue as an act of unconscionable lethargy. You might well ask: what's your next recommendation going to be, the Beatles? Rahman? But my purpose has never been to talk solely about some obscure post neo strangecore nutters. I mean, I will often talk about obscure post neo strangecore nutters, but not always. With these Chits, I only intend on sharing a paragraph on the Good Music I’m enjoying. And what I've been enjoying this ... read more

There are some songs and albums that go with certain memories like peanuts in plastic white cups used to go with Friday nights back in the day. In 2012, I had just graduated from college and had just begun life as a rent-paying adult. White men crooning soulfully over fuzzy, reverb-drenched, jangly guitars had become a large part of what indie rock sounded like. My Friday nights were spent sharing peanuts in plastic cups with friends, listening to, among other songs, Merchandise’s Become ... read more