James Brubaker
@jamesbrubaker.bsky.social
Writer/Teacher. WE ARE GHOST LIT out now from Braddock Avenue Books (he/him)
Inspired by The Mastermind, I’m doing a Kelly Reichardt watch/rewatch. Watched River of Grass for the first time last night, and rewatched Old Joy for the first time in just under 20 years tonight. Rewatched Wendy and Lucy last week. Reichardt is one of the best there is. That’s all.
February 12, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Inspired by The Mastermind, I’m doing a Kelly Reichardt watch/rewatch. Watched River of Grass for the first time last night, and rewatched Old Joy for the first time in just under 20 years tonight. Rewatched Wendy and Lucy last week. Reichardt is one of the best there is. That’s all.
Wait, is this new Epstein file drop being used now to distract us from Minnesota?
January 30, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Wait, is this new Epstein file drop being used now to distract us from Minnesota?
The hero we need
January 8, 2026 at 5:55 AM
The hero we need
“See, one of the terms of the sale is that Warner will have to restore the Snyderverse…”
December 30, 2025 at 4:53 AM
“See, one of the terms of the sale is that Warner will have to restore the Snyderverse…”
Perfect 90s albums, you say?
(“Ignoreland” haters can eat shit and take a hike (with throw up on their shoes).)
(“Ignoreland” haters can eat shit and take a hike (with throw up on their shoes).)
December 29, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Perfect 90s albums, you say?
(“Ignoreland” haters can eat shit and take a hike (with throw up on their shoes).)
(“Ignoreland” haters can eat shit and take a hike (with throw up on their shoes).)
Now I’m starting @ambersparks.bsky.social debut novel. Love her collections, and well, just started reading this today, and am 60 pages in and don’t want to stop. I’m completely enamored with the world and characters, the off-beat humor, and wonderful sadness running through it.
December 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Now I’m starting @ambersparks.bsky.social debut novel. Love her collections, and well, just started reading this today, and am 60 pages in and don’t want to stop. I’m completely enamored with the world and characters, the off-beat humor, and wonderful sadness running through it.
Man oh man, this new one by Brandon Hobson is fantastic. Really special book, so full of wonder and anguish. Maybe my favorite of his yet?
December 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Man oh man, this new one by Brandon Hobson is fantastic. Really special book, so full of wonder and anguish. Maybe my favorite of his yet?
Reposted by James Brubaker
maybe i am going insane
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
maybe i am going insane
Oh, life is bigger
It’s bigger than you and you are not me
The lengths that I would go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
It’s bigger than you and you are not me
The lengths that I would go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
November 23, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Oh, life is bigger
It’s bigger than you and you are not me
The lengths that I would go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
It’s bigger than you and you are not me
The lengths that I would go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up
Flew to NYC to see Patti Smith play Horses. Incredible show. Top 5 all-time concert experience, practically holy.
Also, @michaelstipe.bsky.social was there.
Also, @michaelstipe.bsky.social was there.
November 23, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Flew to NYC to see Patti Smith play Horses. Incredible show. Top 5 all-time concert experience, practically holy.
Also, @michaelstipe.bsky.social was there.
Also, @michaelstipe.bsky.social was there.
“Bleed in your own light/Dream of your own life/I miss me/I miss everything I’ll never be”
November 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
“Bleed in your own light/Dream of your own life/I miss me/I miss everything I’ll never be”
I should be in bed, but I can’t get enough of this record. One more spin for the latest from GBV…
(And a happy birthday to Bob Pollard!)
(And a happy birthday to Bob Pollard!)
October 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I should be in bed, but I can’t get enough of this record. One more spin for the latest from GBV…
(And a happy birthday to Bob Pollard!)
(And a happy birthday to Bob Pollard!)
Circus Devils tonight:
Laughs Last (2017)
Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up) (2017)
Squeeze the Needle (2023)
*wouldnt normally include a best of, but since it was supposed to be the end of Circus Devils, seemed like a nice way to bridge the gap to StN.
Laughs Last (2017)
Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up) (2017)
Squeeze the Needle (2023)
*wouldnt normally include a best of, but since it was supposed to be the end of Circus Devils, seemed like a nice way to bridge the gap to StN.
October 31, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Circus Devils tonight:
Laughs Last (2017)
Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up) (2017)
Squeeze the Needle (2023)
*wouldnt normally include a best of, but since it was supposed to be the end of Circus Devils, seemed like a nice way to bridge the gap to StN.
Laughs Last (2017)
Laughs Best (The Kids Eat It Up) (2017)
Squeeze the Needle (2023)
*wouldnt normally include a best of, but since it was supposed to be the end of Circus Devils, seemed like a nice way to bridge the gap to StN.
The most unbelievable thing about Task is how much Richard and Linda Thompson they’re jamming out to at that biker bar.
October 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The most unbelievable thing about Task is how much Richard and Linda Thompson they’re jamming out to at that biker bar.
My ranking of current era of GBV albums. This run is crazy good. Even my least favorite is a pretty good album. Bob is the best:
October 27, 2025 at 5:30 AM
My ranking of current era of GBV albums. This run is crazy good. Even my least favorite is a pretty good album. Bob is the best:
Getting close to the end of this Ictober Circus Devils journey. Tonight:
Escape (2014)
Stomping Grounds (2015)
Escape (2014)
Stomping Grounds (2015)
October 27, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Getting close to the end of this Ictober Circus Devils journey. Tonight:
Escape (2014)
Stomping Grounds (2015)
Escape (2014)
Stomping Grounds (2015)
Grand opening of the White House Ballroom (2028)
October 22, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Grand opening of the White House Ballroom (2028)
October Circus Devils-athon continues:
Mother Skinny (2010)
Capsized (2011)
When Machines Attack (2013)
(All by Circus Devils)
Mother Skinny (2010)
Capsized (2011)
When Machines Attack (2013)
(All by Circus Devils)
October 20, 2025 at 5:23 AM
October Circus Devils-athon continues:
Mother Skinny (2010)
Capsized (2011)
When Machines Attack (2013)
(All by Circus Devils)
Mother Skinny (2010)
Capsized (2011)
When Machines Attack (2013)
(All by Circus Devils)
Was gonna let the new Pynchon cut in my “to read” pile line, but my buddy Brandon convinced me to go with this one that had been patiently waiting its turn for months and goddam am I glad. Metallic Realms is fantastic, so funny, so sad—so everything I hoped for and more, @thelincoln.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Was gonna let the new Pynchon cut in my “to read” pile line, but my buddy Brandon convinced me to go with this one that had been patiently waiting its turn for months and goddam am I glad. Metallic Realms is fantastic, so funny, so sad—so everything I hoped for and more, @thelincoln.bsky.social
Can he do Creed next?
BREAKING: Pope Leo XIV is set to effectively disband Opus Dei in the coming weeks.
This would be the most sweeping internal reform of his pontificate — and a dramatic continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy.
This would be the most sweeping internal reform of his pontificate — and a dramatic continuation of Pope Francis’s legacy.
NEW: Pope Leo Set To Break Up Opus Dei
If Pope Leo does indeed approves a plan that effectively dissolves Opus Dei’s structure, it would be the most significant internal action of his short pontificate to date.
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Can he do Creed next?
God is in the guitar tone of all three of the singles released from the forthcoming Guided By Voices album, “Thick, Rich, and Delicious.”
tidal.com/browse/album...
tidal.com/browse/album...
Guided By Voices - Lucy's World
Listen to Lucy's World on TIDAL
tidal.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
God is in the guitar tone of all three of the singles released from the forthcoming Guided By Voices album, “Thick, Rich, and Delicious.”
tidal.com/browse/album...
tidal.com/browse/album...
Gonna just start being really awful at everything I do and anytime someone calls me out on it respond by saying: “Well, you just have James Brubaker derangement syndrome.”
October 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Gonna just start being really awful at everything I do and anytime someone calls me out on it respond by saying: “Well, you just have James Brubaker derangement syndrome.”
More Circus Devils October
Circus Devils - Ataxia (2008)
Circus Devils - Gringo (2009)
Circus Devils - Ataxia (2008)
Circus Devils - Gringo (2009)
October 12, 2025 at 5:04 AM
More Circus Devils October
Circus Devils - Ataxia (2008)
Circus Devils - Gringo (2009)
Circus Devils - Ataxia (2008)
Circus Devils - Gringo (2009)
Is Wink Martindale this bad at his job or are these kids just still developing?
October 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Is Wink Martindale this bad at his job or are these kids just still developing?