Week wrap – September 6, 2024


Read and listen: new singles plus everything else I wrote about this week including books, music, and more

14 songs
45 minutes

Jump to new releases, this week’s music posts, or things to read.

Hi! You’re here! Thank you.

Not a ton to wrap this week, first week back in the real world after summer break and a long weekend.

Some big-ish changes coming next week (gradually) to the design of some pages and the Friday routine. More emphasis on the music, and the weekly wrap moves to the newsletter only (other changes coming there too, sign up here if you want to get that email). It’s almost this website’s first birthday, and I think it’s close to the final form.

Listen

14 songs. 45 minutes. Here is this week’s playlist for Apple Music and Spotify.

New Singles from Blog Faves

Singles from new artists (to me)

  • His Death Was Red (Toronto) released “Jesus Freaks” a few weeks ago. I just heard their distinctive indie rock this week and I’m a huge fan
  • Sophia Warren (Texas) released debut indie pop single “Please Don’t Hate Me” a couple weeks ago
  • GLICH3 (Texas) released “bbbedhead“. He calls his music ‘Indietronica’ and I think that’s pretty bang on
  • Elias Rønnenfelt (Denmark) released his second solo single “No One Else” a couple weeks ago. Indie that sounds a bit like Conor Oberst writing for Velvet Underground
  • Clutter (Stockholm) released debut single “Holy Brother“. It’s got a fuzzy, noisy, original sound to it and I look forward to hearing more from these guys
  • Opal Mag (London) released debut single “Looking For“, dreamy indie pop with a catchy melody

From the blog

A song from each of these artists is on the playlists: Apple Music and Spotify

  • Kynsy – Shame / Money

    Shame / Money

    Kynsy
    Dublin

    Kynsy’s been putting out music for a few years, but her recent indie power-pop reinvention is a killer new sound …read more

  • untitled (halo) – that’s honey / sKill isSue / towncryer

    that’s honey/negative fantasy/sKill isSue

    untitled (halo)
    LA

    untitled (halo) is a little enigmatic and mysterious, and their breakbeat-backed indie sound is fresh and addictive …read more

  • Debdepan – OMEN / Darkest Hour

    OMEN / Darkest Hour

    Debdepan
    Ramsgate, UK

    Debdepan only has four songs available online, but their moody indie sound and their live performance are compelling and strong …read more

  • googly eyes – Internet Star / Bareback / Demos

    Internet Star / Bareback

    Googly Eyes
    Los Angeles

    googly eyes is a new identity for a seasoned singer and producer. She has a bunch of slightly offbeat pop music that I can’t get enough of …read more

Read

Short things

  • Week wrap – September 6, 2024

    Week wrap – September 6, 2024

    Week wrap: new singles plus everything else I wrote about for the last two weeks including books, music, and more …read more

  • Books vs. Charts — Part three

    Books vs. Charts — Part three

    Countering the data with anecdotes and french fries …read more

  • Books vs. Charts – Part Two

    Books vs. Charts – Part Two

    Using AI-generated graphs to see if we can draw some conclusions. …read more

  • Ted Chiang on AI is required reading

    Ted Chiang on AI is required reading

    One of the best thinkers on the topic is back with another brilliant piece …read more

  • Books vs Charts: part one

    Books vs Charts: part one

    Marking four years of sobriety by making spreadsheets about my Goodreads data on a Friday night …read more


Book reviews

  • Shame by Annie Ernaux

    Shame

    byAnnie Ernaux

    Shame is another delicate and devastating memoir. Annie Ernaux is a master of excavating trauma …read more

  • 10:04 by Ben Lerner

    10:04

    byBen Lerner

    10:04 is almost excellent, sometimes eye-rollingly precious. I didn’t like this book but there’s a lot of it that’s brilliant. …read more

  • The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes

    The Making of the Atomic Bomb

    byRichard Rhodes

    Richard Rhodes’ The Making of the Atomic Bomb is one of the most difficult and rewarding nonfiction books I’ve ever read. …read more


Follow along

Want to keep up?

There are a few ways to do that: find out what works for you

Have something to share?

Something you wrote or made? Something you just think more people should see?

I’ll read it.