May 2018 ~ Wonderful Confusion

“This song knocked me out all month. At under two minutes long, it packs an incredible amount of narrative punch, summoning a whole short story's-worth of characters and situations with the barest amount of lyrical information. I imagine using this in a creative writing class as an example of how powerfully a work can be improved by decisive editing, whether it's a song, poem, story, etc.”

Featuring: The Shins, Pongo, Natalie Prass, Ebo Taylor, and more.

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July 2016 ~ Encountering Another Chicago

"I found myself being incredibly moved by RP Boo's set at Pitchfork. It was getting a glimpse into a genuine Chicago, an organic and utterly unique expression of culture from a part of the world that is reliably portrayed in the negative. It felt like a clear and forceful refutation of the idea that all Chicago's south and west sides have to offer the world is violence and poverty."

Featuring: Xenia Rubinos, The Frightnrs, PWR BTTM, William Bell, and more.

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DeMisty D. Bellinger

"This list is ultimately for my daughters, but also for all the others who want to hear women. I gave myself only two stipulations: 1) The lead vocalist must be a woman and 2) The song must not compromise the integrity of that vocalist or any woman at all."

Featuring: Xenia Rubinos, Whitney Houston, The Breeders, and more. 

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March 2014: Damon Albarn & Post-postmodernism

Even though it was kind of like eating candy for me, I felt slightly guilty about the retro focus of last month's playlist, with its severe dearth of new music. This month I renewed my commitment to finding new music, and also devoted energy to researching some new sources, a few of which I'll mention below. Looking at this mix now, I wonder if I've swung too far in the other direction - but that anxiety is assuaged by what I think is a pretty tight, well-paced mix.

Featuring: Xenia Rubinos, Sharon Van Etten, Black Milk, John Lurie, and more. 

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