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maxbenign.bsky.social
MaxBenign
@maxbenign.bsky.social
250 followers 380 following 2K posts
I like disco, death metal, and wildflowers, for starters. He/they. MKE.
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maxbenign.bsky.social
my man's about to drop a diss track that will immortalize you and your ancestors. you'll live forever as a footnote to this guy's Wikipedia stub. the only remaining trace of your snuffling, dropped-sausage, cheese-rind ass will in the etymology of an archaic word word for "chump."
A ruddy-faced musician with a Van Dyke beard and the slyest, most cunning look holds a fiddle under his chin, bow poised above the strings. He's wearing a brown, wide-brimmed slouch hat with a bedraggled feather, rough leather vest, faded and worn red jacket. You made a huge mistake to even think about stepping to him.
January 18, 2026 at 3:02 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today: Prog Or Howl in the Absence of Heat

#cdfriday
Stacked CD playlist on wooden floor, lit by the Christmas tree on it's last night of the season. In order played, bottom to top: Fruupp THE PRINCE OF HEAVEN'S EYES (in sleeve) Matching Mole MARCH Circle MILJARD (disc one) Yes CLOSE TO THE EDGE Yes RELAYER Hawkwind SPACE RITUAL Jean-Luc Ponty COSMIC MESSENGER Gil Evans SVENGALI STRAWBERRY LETTER 23: THE VERY BEST OF The Brothers Johnson
January 17, 2026 at 3:24 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today (Yesterday): Heaven or Moonlight, Tiger or Grace (Strategy or Melancholy)

#cdfriday
Stacked CD playlist in front of colorful coarsely stitched pillow with green and orange stripes and dark blue eyes, nose and flat crescent mouth forming a smiling face. In order played, bottom to top: Abhorrent Expanse ENTER THE MISANTHROPOCENE Circle ZOPALKI The Necks DISQUIET (Disc Two, "Ghost Net") Brian Eno TAKING TIGER MOUNTAIN (BY STRATEGY) Stereolab INSTANT HOLOGRAMS ON METAL FILM Philip Glass SONGS FROM THE TRILOGY Cocteau Twins HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS Jean Rondeau MELANCHOLY GRACE Yoshida Tatsuya & Mishiba Satoshi MOONLIGHT SONATA
January 17, 2026 at 3:17 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today (1.12.26): Before and After Light

#cdfriday
Stacked CD playlist on wooden coffee table in pale winter light. In order played, bottom to top: Colleen EVERYONE ALIVE WANTS ANSWERS David Bowie LOW Brian Eno ANOTHER GREEN WORLD Circle MANNER Brian Eno BEFORE AND AFTER SCIENCE Rafael Toral TRAVELING LIGHT David Bowie LODGER David Bowie "HEROES" David Bowie THE NEXT DAY
January 17, 2026 at 3:00 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Wallace Shawn in My Dinner With Andre. Rapidly balding man with longish, wavy brown sides and back, in a camel hair blazer, white shirt, dark tie. He's smiling in an engaged way and holding a large glass of red wine.
January 11, 2026 at 2:28 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
😭
screen clip from Forced Exposure listing for Einstein on the Beach ft. Suzanne Vega et al: NOT IN STOCK NO RESTOCK ESTIMATE
January 10, 2026 at 3:59 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
The full list, in roughly chronological order of when they were played the most.
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk Marshall Allen - New Dawn Fruupp - Wise As Wisdom: The Dawn Albums 1973-1975 Richard Dawson - End of the Middle Trotsky Icepick - I Haunted Myself Spirogyra - Bells, Boots and Shambles Scott Appel - Nine of Swords Various Artists - Happy Land: A compendium of alternative electronic music from the British Isles 1992-1996 Various Artists - Lost Paradise: Blissed Out Breakbeat Hardcore 1991-94 The Roches - The Roches; Nurds; Keep On Doing Katrina and the Waves - Katrina and the Waves Circuit des Yeux - Halo On The Inside Sasha Berliner - Fantôme Wussy - entire discography The Bug Club - Very Human Features Judee Sill - Judee Sill Cate Le Bon - Michelangelo Dying Castrator - Coronation of the Grotesque The Necks - Disquiet Plasmodulated - An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell Tropical Fuck Storm - Fairyland Codex Leo Chadburn - Sleep in the Shadow of the Alternator Lisa LeBlanc - Chiac Disco Say She She - Cut & Rewind Hannah Frances - Nested in Tangles Home Front - Watch It Die Ancient Death - Ego Dissolution Dominie Hooper - In This Body Lives Subject to confirmation (heard too late in the year to be 'official' but likely candidates for my 2025 list): Abhorrent Expanse - Enter the Misanthropocene Rafael Toral - Traveling Light SANAM - Sametou Sawtan
January 3, 2026 at 3:17 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today (Last Year and Today): 2025 favorites

Some of the albums I loved and/or listened to the most last year. Not all were released in 2025.

#cdfriday
Stacked CD playlist in front of electric candelabra and fireplace screen. In order played, bottom to top: The Necks DISQUIET (disc one, "Rapid Eye Movement") Fruupp MODERN MASQUERADES (in sleeve) Cate Le Bon MICHELANGELO DYING Scott Appel NINE OF SWORDS Spirogyra BELLS, BOOTS AND SHAMBLES Tropical Fuck Storm FAIRYLAND CODEX Home Front WATCH IT DIE Magdalena Bay IMAGINAL DISK Lisa LeBlanc CHIAC DISCO Judee Sill JUDEE SILL Plasmodulated AN OCEAN OV VILE, STINKY, DISGUSTING HELL Rick Deitrick COYOTE CANYON (in sleeve) Stacked CD playlist in front of fireplace screen and 'rustic' log basket thingie In order played, bottom to top: Sasha Berliner FANTÔME Hannah Frances NESTED IN TANGLES The Roches THE ROCHES The Bug Club VERY HUMAN FEATURES Richard Dawson END OF THE MIDDLE Leo Chadbourn SLEEP IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALTERNATOR Circuit Des Yeux HALO ON THE INSIDE Say She She CUT & REWIND The Roches KEEP ON DOING Castrator CORONATION OF THE GROTESQUE Wussy ATTICA!
January 3, 2026 at 3:12 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today (recently), L to R:
What Rough Beast, Charlie Brown?
Way Out On a Garden Path

All week off till yesterday, worked one day, it's the weekend again...I have no idea what day it is, let's call it #cdfriday
Stacked CD playlist in the right foreground on gray cloth ottoman. To the left in the middle background, slip cover for Peanuts collection featuring Charlie Brown and Lucy staring at a wide open starry sky. Christmas tree lit with white lights beyond. In order played, bottom to top: Plasmodulated AN OCEAN OV STINKY, VILE, DISGUSTING HELL Blood Incantation HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE Theurgy EMANATIONS OF UNCONSCIOUS LUMINESCENCE Celtic Frost MONOTHEIST Ancient Death EGO DISSOLUTION Imperial Triumphant SPIRIT OF ECSTASY Proscription DESOLATE DIVINE Kate Bush THE RED SHOES Castrator CORONATION OF THE GROTESQUE Portrait mode pic of stacked CD playlist in with Christmas tree lit with colored lights in the smeary unfocused background. In order played, bottom to top: Emma Kirkby - Susanne Rydén - Belle'arte Salzburg IN NATIVITATE DOMINI Alvin Curran SONGS AND VIEWS OF THE MAGNETIC GARDEN The Belbury Poly THE PATH The Belbury Poly FARMER'S ANGLE (in sleeve) Cocteau Twins BBC SESSIONS (Disc Two) Dominie Hooper IN THIS BODY LIVES Aventure ONS IS EEN KIJNT GEBOREN: CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM THE KONING MANUSCRIPT CA. 1500 Hannah Frances NESTED IN TANGLES (in sleeve) Pye Corner Audio THE ENDLESS ECHO Bing Satellites THE TRUE JOY IS THE MYSTERY The Belbury Poly NEW WAYS OUT
December 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
You can have party noshes for dinner even if you aren't having people over. There's no law against it
Three plates on a tray, counterclockwise from top left: carrots, cauliflower and broccoli florets, snap peas, arranged around a container of edamame bean dip (soi-disant "hummus"); asstd cheese slices, mid-fancy crackers, summer sausage, around a glass bowl with cream cheese and a spreading knife; lox.
December 25, 2025 at 12:16 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Big roasting pan filled with Chex* mix, nuts, bagel chips, Cheez-Its, Triscuits, couple different kinds of pretzels, Melba Toast, cheese braids, etc.
December 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
CD cover art: Alfred Deller and the Deller Consort THE HOLLY AND THE IVY: CHRISTMAS CAROLS, SONGS & HYMNS Three angels drawn in outline in a starry pale blue sky, watching over Mother and Child RIYL c*o*u*n*t*e*r*t*e*n*o*r*s CD cover art: SACRED TREASURES II: CHORAL MASTERWORKS FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL, Gregorio Allegri "Miserere" (arr. Vladimir Ivanoff & Metamorphoses) Photo of Sistine Chapel in gold, orange and red, inset of statue (?) of woman in gathered robes resting head on one hand Very spacey new-agey arrangement with lots of trumpet. Not technically Christmas music but neither is the Messiah.
December 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
you, foolish wizard: hehe comtemplating orb

me, wise alchemist toiling at the Great Work: Preparing to strike the Philosophical Egg with a glowing sword
A walled courtyard reached by a long covered walkway, with peaked roofs and steeple beyond. A smoky fire burns in an open hearth. A muscular bearded man in a skirt raises a sword above a huge egg standing on end on a low table.
December 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Show gno mercy
Stuffed Christmas gnome dog toy with red hat and boots, white beard, big pink nose. One arm has been torn completely off, the other hangs in shreds. The hat is torn open at brain level and again at the top. The nose is torn open with a tuft of polyfill snot hanging from it. There is another toy stuffed into the brain hole. Stuffed Christmas gnome dog toy with red hat and boots, white beard, rear/side view. The hat is torn open at brain level and with a spiny plastic ball stuffed into the brain hole. I am the Charles Dexter Ward of dog toys, reanimating them in horrible ways.
December 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
The face of a killer
Boston terrier sitting on floral patterned rug, which is littered with fluff from s stuffed toy. He is staring with alert, impatient attention, eyes bright, ears up.
December 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Movie you've watched more than six times with a gif. No Stars (either War or Trek), LOTR, or Marvel.
December 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Played Today (Monday, Thursday, Friday): "Matter delights in music, and became Bach."

Checking in with #cdfriday on Saturday morning.
Stacked CD playlist on gray tweedy ottoman in front of Christmas tree with white lights and multi-colored ornaments. In order played, bottom to top: J.S. Bach (Paul Galbraith, guitar) THE SONATAS & PARTITAS FOR UNACCOMPANIED VIOLIN (Disc 1) Giovanna Pessi - Eduardo Egüez LIQUIDE PERLE Marc Hantai - Georges Barthel - Eduardo Egüez - Philippe Pierlot UN CONCERT POUR MADAME DE SÉVIGNE J.S. Bach (Philippe Herreweghe, Chorus & Orchestra of Collegium Vocale) CANTATAS & MASSESS (Disc 1, Disc 4, in sleeves) J.S. Bach (Stefan Hussong, accordion) ENGLISH SUITES NOS. II, III & IV Nils Økland - Elisabeth Seitz - Philippe Pierlot ABEL EN NORVÈGE Leoš Janáček (András Schiff, piano) A RECOLLECTION Stacked CD playlist on gray tweedy ottoman in front of Christmas tree with white lights and multi-colored ornaments. In order played, bottom to top: De Orto / Josquin (Jesse Rodin, Cut Circle) MUSIQUE À LA CHAPPELLE SIXTINE AUTOUR DE 1490 J.S. Bach (Philippe Herreweghe, Chorus & Orchestra of Collegium Vocale) CANTATAS & MASSESS (Disc 2, in sleeve) Cocteau Twins TREASURE Johannes Ockeghem (Blue Heron) COMPLETE SONGS VOLUME 1 Johannes Ockeghem (Kevin Moll, Schola Discantus) THE TWO THREE-VOICE MASSES Cocteau Twins MILK & KISSES J.S. Bach (John Eliot Gardiner, The Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloists) CANTATAS BWV 106 - 118/231 - 198 Cocteau Twins VICTORIALAND J.S. Bach (András Schiff, piano) GOLDBERG VARIATIONS Stacked CD playlist balanced on brown glass candle jar in front of nighttime window reflecting white Christmas lights. In order played, bottom to top: J.S. Bach (András Schiff, piano) GOLDBERG VARIATIONS J.S. Bach (Glenn Gould, piano) GOLDBERG VARIATIONS (1955) J.S. Bach (Arthur Grumiaux, violin) COMPLETE SONATAS AND PARTITAS FOR SOLO VIOLIN (Disc 1) J.S. Bach (Wolfgang Dimetrik, accordion) PARTITAS 2 & 4 Jack Walrath "Wake Up and Wash it Off" and "Come Sunday" from OUT OF THE TRADITION J.S. Bach (Café Zimmermann) CONCERTS AVEC PLUSIERS INSTRUMENTS I Jesu SILVER J.S. Bach (Philip Pickett, New London Consort) CHRISTMAS ORATORIO Philip Pickett THE BONES OF ALL MEN J.S. Bach (Shawn Leopard/John Paul, lautenwerke (gut-strung harpsichord)) THE COMPLETE KEYBOARD TRIO SONATAS
December 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
The Age of Men is over. The time of the Orb has come.
Selfie taken in a golden Christmas tree ball. Smiling guy in green sweatshirt holding hand under the ornament as if levitating a Wizard Orb. The tree lights, and the reflection of tree lights are reflected in the orb.
December 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Also: ace band logo
"Necrovore" band logo The lettering is red with a white outline, a stylized cursive with a long, blade-like descending "N", a "c" that evokes a pincer claw, and devil tails on the starting stroke of the "N" and trailing stroke of the last "e". Behind and sometimes intertwined with the lettering is an illustration of a fanged skull with skeletal bat wings and a blood dripping axe. It looks cool as hell to whatever part of you still gets a little charge out of the number 666.
December 6, 2025 at 5:05 AM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Through glass (Xmas 2026)
Gold, blue, white and yellow flecks and florets of light, a red orb, conifer branches, in milky silver. Close up photo of Christmas tree through glass ornament. Spattered red light, glass globes, white silver stars and snowflakes like spiked wheels in a deep red field. Close up photo of Christmas tree through glass ornament. Bony, grasping smears of green-gold, blue-black and white, a xenomorph angel of curving spines. Close up photo of Christmas tree through glass ornament. A purple fractal of caltrops and spangles. Close up photo of Christmas tree through glass ornament.
November 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Day of the Tripods
Glooming grey snow clouds beginning to clear, showing a pale blue sky and higher white clouds. Four square lamps shine with white light on a tall pole. In the low distance, three more lamp poles, bare tree branches, the peaked top of a tenant sign.
November 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
Japanese man with wild wavy hair and beard, a thoughtful smile on his face. It's Makoto Kawabata of Acid Mothers Temple.
November 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
You have summoned a demon to your eggplant feast
container of baba ganouj with a few scoops out that have formed a horrid face: staring eyes, one of them huge and misshapen, a sunken nose, an open frowning mouth. The background is a book cover in orange and blue that looks like hellish flames.
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
'ey check dis out
Cartoon drawing of a red imp, with big eyes, big pointy ears, two big buck teeth, a huge globular nose, and two li'l' horns. He's carrying something in a sack over his shoulder and has his mouth open with the speech balloon cropped so it looks he's saying the post above. David Trampier, Irving the Imp from "Wormy"
November 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
maxbenign.bsky.social
"you'll be visited by three spirits"

the three spirits:
It's heavy rockers Boris, a Japanese woman and two Japanese men, all dressed in black, all carrying double-necked guitars.
November 28, 2025 at 10:02 PM