Pinned
Semipop Life: Not with that attitude
Hüsker Dü, Lella Fadda, CMAT, Big Thief, and more!
bradluen.substack.com
I like a few things doing okay on the year-ends (CMAT! Sudan Archives! Rochelle Jordan!) but I'd just as well listen to Egyptian sorta trap or Japanese pop-shoegaze. If I have to listen to Dudes Rocking, let it be from 1985 (can I have my old fogey badge now)
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
#2025FavSingles
Ari Lennox: "Soft Girl Era"
One appreciates soft things in a hard year, even if I don't make Ari's preferred tax bracket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd53...
Ari Lennox: "Soft Girl Era"
One appreciates soft things in a hard year, even if I don't make Ari's preferred tax bracket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd53...
Ari Lennox - Soft Girl Era (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by AriLennoxVEVO
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
#2025FavSingles
Ari Lennox: "Soft Girl Era"
One appreciates soft things in a hard year, even if I don't make Ari's preferred tax bracket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd53...
Ari Lennox: "Soft Girl Era"
One appreciates soft things in a hard year, even if I don't make Ari's preferred tax bracket
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd53...
#2025FavSingles
Mörda & Thakzin: "Vault"
Pick via @lokpolokpo1.bsky.social presumably. Such is hte pace of South African dance music that Thakzin (as much as anyone) invented 3-step three years ago, and now he's a classicist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0fX...
Mörda & Thakzin: "Vault"
Pick via @lokpolokpo1.bsky.social presumably. Such is hte pace of South African dance music that Thakzin (as much as anyone) invented 3-step three years ago, and now he's a classicist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0fX...
Vault
YouTube video by MÖRDA - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#2025FavSingles
Mörda & Thakzin: "Vault"
Pick via @lokpolokpo1.bsky.social presumably. Such is hte pace of South African dance music that Thakzin (as much as anyone) invented 3-step three years ago, and now he's a classicist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0fX...
Mörda & Thakzin: "Vault"
Pick via @lokpolokpo1.bsky.social presumably. Such is hte pace of South African dance music that Thakzin (as much as anyone) invented 3-step three years ago, and now he's a classicist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0fX...
It's interesting that I have a decent enough knowledge of what Western visual art looked like in 1480 (vs. 20 years earlier or later) that I can sorta guess people's ages in the quote tweets, whereas there's no way I can do that for music, and I can't even name a writer active in 1480 without Wiki
Actual Bluesky challenge: post your favorite work of art from 500 years before you were born
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
December 10, 2025 at 5:09 AM
It's interesting that I have a decent enough knowledge of what Western visual art looked like in 1480 (vs. 20 years earlier or later) that I can sorta guess people's ages in the quote tweets, whereas there's no way I can do that for music, and I can't even name a writer active in 1480 without Wiki
My favorite annual Eddy tradition: lots of picks to please country-pop classicists, and also Petey Pablo's doing country soul nostalgia? In Indianapolis??
NEW!!! My first long post about 2025 music. 5600+ words on 45 songs from Sweden, Korea, Petey Pablo, you name it! You might not even consider some country at all! But from Cherokee folk to K-Pop, Southern soul to teen-girl two-steps, I did anyway. Hope the screen shots & captions amuse you as well.
40 (+5) Best Country Singles of 2025
I probably listened to country radio this year for, oh, maybe an hour tops.
chuckeddy.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
My favorite annual Eddy tradition: lots of picks to please country-pop classicists, and also Petey Pablo's doing country soul nostalgia? In Indianapolis??
#2025FavSingles
Te Kuru Marutea ft. Naia Awatea & Bailey Tava: "Kei Wareware i a Tātou" (TikTok version)
gonna give this some kind of PPP nom, get ahead of the curve
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVS...
Te Kuru Marutea ft. Naia Awatea & Bailey Tava: "Kei Wareware i a Tātou" (TikTok version)
gonna give this some kind of PPP nom, get ahead of the curve
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVS...
Te Matatini - Peoples choice award winners 2025
YouTube video by T
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
#2025FavSingles
Te Kuru Marutea ft. Naia Awatea & Bailey Tava: "Kei Wareware i a Tātou" (TikTok version)
gonna give this some kind of PPP nom, get ahead of the curve
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVS...
Te Kuru Marutea ft. Naia Awatea & Bailey Tava: "Kei Wareware i a Tātou" (TikTok version)
gonna give this some kind of PPP nom, get ahead of the curve
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVS...
Actual Bluesky challenge: post your favorite work of art from 500 years before you were born
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
December 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Actual Bluesky challenge: post your favorite work of art from 500 years before you were born
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
artsandculture.google.com/asset/st-fra...
my exceedingy un-fun pick
www.nyrb.com/products/the...
www.nyrb.com/products/the...
December 9, 2025 at 5:41 AM
my exceedingy un-fun pick
www.nyrb.com/products/the...
www.nyrb.com/products/the...
Fave 2025 rap albums (many/most of which are from 2024, I'm behind okay), a thread:
Serengeti: Kenny Dennis IV (2024)
kennydennis.bandcamp.com/album/kenny-...
bradluen.substack.com/i/157769161/...
Thundercats! Giardiniera! Plot twists in a soap opera that's been running for close to two decades!
Serengeti: Kenny Dennis IV (2024)
kennydennis.bandcamp.com/album/kenny-...
bradluen.substack.com/i/157769161/...
Thundercats! Giardiniera! Plot twists in a soap opera that's been running for close to two decades!
kenny dennis iv, by serengetiraps
21 track album
kennydennis.bandcamp.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Fave 2025 rap albums (many/most of which are from 2024, I'm behind okay), a thread:
Serengeti: Kenny Dennis IV (2024)
kennydennis.bandcamp.com/album/kenny-...
bradluen.substack.com/i/157769161/...
Thundercats! Giardiniera! Plot twists in a soap opera that's been running for close to two decades!
Serengeti: Kenny Dennis IV (2024)
kennydennis.bandcamp.com/album/kenny-...
bradluen.substack.com/i/157769161/...
Thundercats! Giardiniera! Plot twists in a soap opera that's been running for close to two decades!
The regents of the University of Nebraska are getting rid of the university's Statistics Department (among others) based on… bad statistics. Rain on your wedding day, etc.
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/t...
srvanderplas.github.io/posts/other/...
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/t...
srvanderplas.github.io/posts/other/...
‘This hurts’: NU regents back shuttering four academic programs at UNL • Nebraska Examiner
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted to eliminate four academic programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
nebraskaexaminer.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The regents of the University of Nebraska are getting rid of the university's Statistics Department (among others) based on… bad statistics. Rain on your wedding day, etc.
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/t...
srvanderplas.github.io/posts/other/...
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/05/t...
srvanderplas.github.io/posts/other/...
#2025FavSingles
Brother Ali & Ant: "Two Dudes"
the funniest song KRS-One's ever been associated with
brotherali-mmg.bandcamp.com/track/two-du...
Brother Ali & Ant: "Two Dudes"
the funniest song KRS-One's ever been associated with
brotherali-mmg.bandcamp.com/track/two-du...
Two Dudes, by Brother Ali
from the album Satisified Soul
brotherali-mmg.bandcamp.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
#2025FavSingles
Brother Ali & Ant: "Two Dudes"
the funniest song KRS-One's ever been associated with
brotherali-mmg.bandcamp.com/track/two-du...
Brother Ali & Ant: "Two Dudes"
the funniest song KRS-One's ever been associated with
brotherali-mmg.bandcamp.com/track/two-du...
Oklou: Never Enough
My name is beige and I'm really glad to meet ya ("ICT", "Harvest Sky") *
My name is beige and I'm really glad to meet ya ("ICT", "Harvest Sky") *
December 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Oklou: Never Enough
My name is beige and I'm really glad to meet ya ("ICT", "Harvest Sky") *
My name is beige and I'm really glad to meet ya ("ICT", "Harvest Sky") *
I like a few things doing okay on the year-ends (CMAT! Sudan Archives! Rochelle Jordan!) but I'd just as well listen to Egyptian sorta trap or Japanese pop-shoegaze. If I have to listen to Dudes Rocking, let it be from 1985 (can I have my old fogey badge now)
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
Semipop Life: Not with that attitude
Hüsker Dü, Lella Fadda, CMAT, Big Thief, and more!
bradluen.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I like a few things doing okay on the year-ends (CMAT! Sudan Archives! Rochelle Jordan!) but I'd just as well listen to Egyptian sorta trap or Japanese pop-shoegaze. If I have to listen to Dudes Rocking, let it be from 1985 (can I have my old fogey badge now)
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
NICHE COMPLAINT: what the hell happened to the quote marks in Substack's default font, do I have to become a sans serif person and get rid of my rugs and lotions and weird lighting
(yes yes I know it's my own fault for sticking with Substack)
(yes yes I know it's my own fault for sticking with Substack)
December 7, 2025 at 8:10 PM
NICHE COMPLAINT: what the hell happened to the quote marks in Substack's default font, do I have to become a sans serif person and get rid of my rugs and lotions and weird lighting
(yes yes I know it's my own fault for sticking with Substack)
(yes yes I know it's my own fault for sticking with Substack)
#2025FavSingles
Fridayy, Meek Mill: "Proud of Me"
Meek keeps up his one or two great songs every ten years average. Fridayy is actually good too!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQg5...
Fridayy, Meek Mill: "Proud of Me"
Meek keeps up his one or two great songs every ten years average. Fridayy is actually good too!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQg5...
Fridayy, Meek Mill - Proud Of Me
YouTube video by FridayyVEVO
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:53 PM
#2025FavSingles
Fridayy, Meek Mill: "Proud of Me"
Meek keeps up his one or two great songs every ten years average. Fridayy is actually good too!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQg5...
Fridayy, Meek Mill: "Proud of Me"
Meek keeps up his one or two great songs every ten years average. Fridayy is actually good too!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQg5...
#2025FavSingles
ALT BLK ERA: "Run Rabbit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1J...
Have a feeling this'll do well in polls of pop performed by particular people. (Need to work out how to gerrymander my own poll so that it finishes appropriately.)
ALT BLK ERA: "Run Rabbit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1J...
Have a feeling this'll do well in polls of pop performed by particular people. (Need to work out how to gerrymander my own poll so that it finishes appropriately.)
ALT BLK ERA - Run Rabbit (Official MV)
YouTube video by ALT BLK ERA
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
#2025FavSingles
ALT BLK ERA: "Run Rabbit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1J...
Have a feeling this'll do well in polls of pop performed by particular people. (Need to work out how to gerrymander my own poll so that it finishes appropriately.)
ALT BLK ERA: "Run Rabbit"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1J...
Have a feeling this'll do well in polls of pop performed by particular people. (Need to work out how to gerrymander my own poll so that it finishes appropriately.)
Fave 2025 singer-songwriter(ish) albums, as I replay them
Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman
margoprice.bandcamp.com/album/hard-h...
review coming soon but I think it's the right album for its time—"Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" isn't the only song about not letting the bastards get you down
Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman
margoprice.bandcamp.com/album/hard-h...
review coming soon but I think it's the right album for its time—"Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" isn't the only song about not letting the bastards get you down
Hard Headed Woman, by Margo Price
12 track album
margoprice.bandcamp.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Fave 2025 singer-songwriter(ish) albums, as I replay them
Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman
margoprice.bandcamp.com/album/hard-h...
review coming soon but I think it's the right album for its time—"Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" isn't the only song about not letting the bastards get you down
Margo Price: Hard Headed Woman
margoprice.bandcamp.com/album/hard-h...
review coming soon but I think it's the right album for its time—"Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down" isn't the only song about not letting the bastards get you down
Somehow I avoided hearing "Gnarly" until right now. It's… okay? Like really constructed-sounding, but that's the genre?
December 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Somehow I avoided hearing "Gnarly" until right now. It's… okay? Like really constructed-sounding, but that's the genre?
#2025FavSingles
Titi ft. Samba Diarra Mbaye: "Jëlël"
Adventures in auto-translate:
It's here to stay, the egg is not here to bond
You lost your buffalo today and you have a bull
The world will kill you and you will die again
If I were you I would be thankful
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm...
Titi ft. Samba Diarra Mbaye: "Jëlël"
Adventures in auto-translate:
It's here to stay, the egg is not here to bond
You lost your buffalo today and you have a bull
The world will kill you and you will die again
If I were you I would be thankful
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm...
TITI FEAT SAMBA DIARRA MBAYE - JËLËL (CLIPS OFFICIEL)
YouTube video by Prince Arts
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
#2025FavSingles
Titi ft. Samba Diarra Mbaye: "Jëlël"
Adventures in auto-translate:
It's here to stay, the egg is not here to bond
You lost your buffalo today and you have a bull
The world will kill you and you will die again
If I were you I would be thankful
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm...
Titi ft. Samba Diarra Mbaye: "Jëlël"
Adventures in auto-translate:
It's here to stay, the egg is not here to bond
You lost your buffalo today and you have a bull
The world will kill you and you will die again
If I were you I would be thankful
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm...
At the "doing due diligence on the year in Japanese shoegaze" stage of editing this week's column
(the act that I semi-randomly glommed on to is definitely holding up in comparison so far, thankfully)
thissidejapan.substack.com/p/2025-in-ja...
(the act that I semi-randomly glommed on to is definitely holding up in comparison so far, thankfully)
thissidejapan.substack.com/p/2025-in-ja...
The Year in Japanese Shoegaze in 7 Songs
Looking back at the year in the genre with songs by kurayamisaka, Beachside talks, AprilBlue and more
thissidejapan.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:01 AM
At the "doing due diligence on the year in Japanese shoegaze" stage of editing this week's column
(the act that I semi-randomly glommed on to is definitely holding up in comparison so far, thankfully)
thissidejapan.substack.com/p/2025-in-ja...
(the act that I semi-randomly glommed on to is definitely holding up in comparison so far, thankfully)
thissidejapan.substack.com/p/2025-in-ja...
#2025FavSingles
DJ Luís do Grau, MC MTHS, Oliveira Mc 011: "Zn Bota Tudo na Oliveira"
It's a voice that sounds like a synth (I think!) It's seventy-five seconds! It has a key change!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRD...
DJ Luís do Grau, MC MTHS, Oliveira Mc 011: "Zn Bota Tudo na Oliveira"
It's a voice that sounds like a synth (I think!) It's seventy-five seconds! It has a key change!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRD...
Zn Bota Tudo na Oliveira
YouTube video by DJ LUÍS DO GRAU - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:48 PM
#2025FavSingles
DJ Luís do Grau, MC MTHS, Oliveira Mc 011: "Zn Bota Tudo na Oliveira"
It's a voice that sounds like a synth (I think!) It's seventy-five seconds! It has a key change!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRD...
DJ Luís do Grau, MC MTHS, Oliveira Mc 011: "Zn Bota Tudo na Oliveira"
It's a voice that sounds like a synth (I think!) It's seventy-five seconds! It has a key change!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRD...
Reposted by bradluen
You should be following LokpoLokpo
#2025FavSingles
3️⃣/25
we’re just here for fun, frolicking no-strings-attached fun!
“Cheat On You” by 🇬🇭Ghanaian heartthrobs KiDi and Gyakie:
youtu.be/8vhOM7sHK6Y?...
#top25of25
#25SongsFrom2025
#Twenty5Stinkers
3️⃣/25
we’re just here for fun, frolicking no-strings-attached fun!
“Cheat On You” by 🇬🇭Ghanaian heartthrobs KiDi and Gyakie:
youtu.be/8vhOM7sHK6Y?...
#top25of25
#25SongsFrom2025
#Twenty5Stinkers
December 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
You should be following LokpoLokpo
#2025FavSingles
Nelly Furtado: "Corazón" (DJ Arana remix)
first of presumably many pix via @otherdavemoore.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvKj...
yes, I know if this ends up being my top Brazil funk song of the year and maybe of several years, it'll indicate a skill issue on my part
Nelly Furtado: "Corazón" (DJ Arana remix)
first of presumably many pix via @otherdavemoore.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvKj...
yes, I know if this ends up being my top Brazil funk song of the year and maybe of several years, it'll indicate a skill issue on my part
Nelly Fortado - Corazón dj Arana remix [lyrics]
YouTube video by Visual Cycle
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
#2025FavSingles
Nelly Furtado: "Corazón" (DJ Arana remix)
first of presumably many pix via @otherdavemoore.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvKj...
yes, I know if this ends up being my top Brazil funk song of the year and maybe of several years, it'll indicate a skill issue on my part
Nelly Furtado: "Corazón" (DJ Arana remix)
first of presumably many pix via @otherdavemoore.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvKj...
yes, I know if this ends up being my top Brazil funk song of the year and maybe of several years, it'll indicate a skill issue on my part
1. holy shit indeed
2. Ryusuke Hamaguchi Reze Arc when
2. Ryusuke Hamaguchi Reze Arc when
Holy Shit. Look Back! Live action and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda!
The Greatest Manga One-Shot of all time and one of the greatest Japanese directors.
This is a literal dream pairing. Fujimoto can’t stop winning.
Ps. Check out Monster/怪物. Trust me.
The Greatest Manga One-Shot of all time and one of the greatest Japanese directors.
This is a literal dream pairing. Fujimoto can’t stop winning.
Ps. Check out Monster/怪物. Trust me.
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 AM
1. holy shit indeed
2. Ryusuke Hamaguchi Reze Arc when
2. Ryusuke Hamaguchi Reze Arc when
#2025FavSingles
VIIS: "Chop Chop" (2024 Q4, heard via PPP)
slicing up eyeballs, ah ha ha ho
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXL...
VIIS: "Chop Chop" (2024 Q4, heard via PPP)
slicing up eyeballs, ah ha ha ho
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXL...
VIIS ‘CHOP CHOP’ | Official MV
YouTube video by gnest_official
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
#2025FavSingles
VIIS: "Chop Chop" (2024 Q4, heard via PPP)
slicing up eyeballs, ah ha ha ho
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXL...
VIIS: "Chop Chop" (2024 Q4, heard via PPP)
slicing up eyeballs, ah ha ha ho
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXL...