Christopher Burke
@pituko.bsky.social
Nouveau Mexican. Or I guess that should be Nuevo Mexicano. Nuevo jubilado tambièn.
Ok, so somehow I had completely missed out on Voices from the Lake until today. Both the first (2013) and the new one are fucking ace. Like on continuous repeat the whole day. Just wow.
December 7, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Ok, so somehow I had completely missed out on Voices from the Lake until today. Both the first (2013) and the new one are fucking ace. Like on continuous repeat the whole day. Just wow.
15. A completely unexpected reappearance, at least as good as anything that had come before from Slowdive. Delightful from start to finish.
December 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
15. A completely unexpected reappearance, at least as good as anything that had come before from Slowdive. Delightful from start to finish.
14. Another one related to time and circumstance, but it would have made the list regardless. Heard it first on a tinny Bluetooth speaker with Laura falling asleep in my lap on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico. It stuck immediately and I’ve been a slave to Beach House ever since. Still my favourite.
November 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
14. Another one related to time and circumstance, but it would have made the list regardless. Heard it first on a tinny Bluetooth speaker with Laura falling asleep in my lap on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico. It stuck immediately and I’ve been a slave to Beach House ever since. Still my favourite.
Thirteen. What I treasure most about mbv isn’t just that it exists and that it is wonderful, but the shared experience of its release. For me, it was the last happy one of those in this digital age. Putting on my headphones after finally getting the link to work, and blissing out with the rest…
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Thirteen. What I treasure most about mbv isn’t just that it exists and that it is wonderful, but the shared experience of its release. For me, it was the last happy one of those in this digital age. Putting on my headphones after finally getting the link to work, and blissing out with the rest…
The twelfth. This one would be on the list even if it was just Mladic on repeat. Such a menacing and powerful track. I’ve loved what they have been doing lately, but they haven’t quite hit this high since. Can’t wait to see them play here in Querétaro in January.
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The twelfth. This one would be on the list even if it was just Mladic on repeat. Such a menacing and powerful track. I’ve loved what they have been doing lately, but they haven’t quite hit this high since. Can’t wait to see them play here in Querétaro in January.
Eleven. Sometimes it’s less about what I’m listening to than when I’m listening to it. This one is about both. 2009 was a difficult year in my life, and Veckatimest was my escape, my constant companion. I love the album dearly from start to finish.
November 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Eleven. Sometimes it’s less about what I’m listening to than when I’m listening to it. This one is about both. 2009 was a difficult year in my life, and Veckatimest was my escape, my constant companion. I love the album dearly from start to finish.
Tenth. Unexpected, complex, abrasive in parts, simply stunning release from artists who would have dominated this list in the quarter century prior. Recent releases from both Beth Gibbons and Geoff Barrow (via Beak>) actually enhance this record, revealing it to be their collective masterpiece.
November 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Tenth. Unexpected, complex, abrasive in parts, simply stunning release from artists who would have dominated this list in the quarter century prior. Recent releases from both Beth Gibbons and Geoff Barrow (via Beak>) actually enhance this record, revealing it to be their collective masterpiece.
Ninth, and the first (but not last) artist to appear a second time. I miss them terribly. Haunting and prickly in spots, it was a bit of a shock at the time. But the hazy warmth and beauty that I came to find in this was always there. A true classic.
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Ninth, and the first (but not last) artist to appear a second time. I miss them terribly. Haunting and prickly in spots, it was a bit of a shock at the time. But the hazy warmth and beauty that I came to find in this was always there. A true classic.
For the eighth, we’re overdue for a little CanCon. It took me a little while to warm to this one, and it was more the live performances that really made it click. Super weird and lovable, one I go back to a lot still.
November 18, 2025 at 11:27 AM
For the eighth, we’re overdue for a little CanCon. It took me a little while to warm to this one, and it was more the live performances that really made it click. Super weird and lovable, one I go back to a lot still.
Number seven after a little break. We jump to 2003 for this classic. I’ve loved nearly everything he’s done, but this is still the start to finish high water mark for me.
November 18, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Number seven after a little break. We jump to 2003 for this classic. I’ve loved nearly everything he’s done, but this is still the start to finish high water mark for me.
For the sixth, an album I’ve covered here before. And as before, I’ll keep it brief. Just a great album from start to finish, and my favourite from Sonic Youth.
November 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
For the sixth, an album I’ve covered here before. And as before, I’ll keep it brief. Just a great album from start to finish, and my favourite from Sonic Youth.
Number 5 - I wasn’t as big into the Ninja Tune stuff at the time, but Every Day stuck itself in my CD player near the start of 2002 and didn’t come out for a very long time. The tour supporting this remains one of the best shows I’ve ever seen too. Just lush.
November 12, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Number 5 - I wasn’t as big into the Ninja Tune stuff at the time, but Every Day stuck itself in my CD player near the start of 2002 and didn’t come out for a very long time. The tour supporting this remains one of the best shows I’ve ever seen too. Just lush.
Next, also early 2001, the last from Labradford. I’ve enjoyed most of the Pan American outings, but none as much as this beautiful and cinematic (and all to brief) finale from a band I miss badly.
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Next, also early 2001, the last from Labradford. I’ve enjoyed most of the Pan American outings, but none as much as this beautiful and cinematic (and all to brief) finale from a band I miss badly.
#3 on the list, from early 2001. Standards was the last and best of a magical run that, to me, was peerless. And the drums to kick off Seneca…my god.
November 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
#3 on the list, from early 2001. Standards was the last and best of a magical run that, to me, was peerless. And the drums to kick off Seneca…my god.
The second on my list, and the second perfect album of 2000. It sort of jammed together everything I was listening to at the time and I still think it’s Radiohead’s best. To this day, I use Morning Bell to test and tune any new setup. And it gives goosebumps every single time.
November 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The second on my list, and the second perfect album of 2000. It sort of jammed together everything I was listening to at the time and I still think it’s Radiohead’s best. To this day, I use Morning Bell to test and tune any new setup. And it gives goosebumps every single time.
A perfect album from a perfect band. It’s the first in my list, 3 months into 2000, and I’m not sure it’s been topped yet. Simply stunning in every respect.
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
A perfect album from a perfect band. It’s the first in my list, 3 months into 2000, and I’m not sure it’s been topped yet. Simply stunning in every respect.
A compilation of 4 EPs, so technically not an album, but I’m putting it on my best of the year list anyways. Very different from In These Times, but no less compelling. Really one of my favourite artists over the last few years.
November 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
A compilation of 4 EPs, so technically not an album, but I’m putting it on my best of the year list anyways. Very different from In These Times, but no less compelling. Really one of my favourite artists over the last few years.
I’m not even halfway though this 3 hour drop by The Necks today, but holy shit. Completely stunning to this point. Ghost Net is just blowing me away.
October 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I’m not even halfway though this 3 hour drop by The Necks today, but holy shit. Completely stunning to this point. Ghost Net is just blowing me away.
So fantastic, this one. Several replays this weekend past, and it brings a bigger smile each time. Absolutely lovely.
September 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM
So fantastic, this one. Several replays this weekend past, and it brings a bigger smile each time. Absolutely lovely.
So yesterday was moving day, and we are in our new home in Zibatá. It’s a mess, and it’s been a crazy few months, but it’s a beautiful place in a beautiful place. Of course, the first thing I did (after cracking a beer) was set up the speaker. This was the first thing I put on. It’s beautiful too.
September 13, 2025 at 12:11 PM
So yesterday was moving day, and we are in our new home in Zibatá. It’s a mess, and it’s been a crazy few months, but it’s a beautiful place in a beautiful place. Of course, the first thing I did (after cracking a beer) was set up the speaker. This was the first thing I put on. It’s beautiful too.
Something warm and upbeat for this morning. A fantastic album from start to finish, no skips. A welcome departure from the chaos surrounding us at the moment. Happy Sunday, folks.
September 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Something warm and upbeat for this morning. A fantastic album from start to finish, no skips. A welcome departure from the chaos surrounding us at the moment. Happy Sunday, folks.
As it does from time to time, the current state of global affairs is irritating me today. Seeking a bit of calm, I threw this on. Perhaps not the cheeriest of solutions, but having discovered it very late I am finding it to be fascinating and distracting in its tiniest of details.
September 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
As it does from time to time, the current state of global affairs is irritating me today. Seeking a bit of calm, I threw this on. Perhaps not the cheeriest of solutions, but having discovered it very late I am finding it to be fascinating and distracting in its tiniest of details.
I am simply in awe of the sheer talent on display here. An absolute virtuoso and one of the best releases of the year so far.
September 1, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I am simply in awe of the sheer talent on display here. An absolute virtuoso and one of the best releases of the year so far.
I’m drunk already but I’m not going to stop before this one is done. Just trying to figure out what to listen to for the closing moments….
September 1, 2025 at 3:21 AM
I’m drunk already but I’m not going to stop before this one is done. Just trying to figure out what to listen to for the closing moments….