immensely grateful to be receiving an andy warhol foundation arts writers grant — grateful to @artswriters, and grateful to garden state artists. everything i know about art i’ve learned from writing about your shows. glad to have this opportunity to keep learning and writing.

@paranoiacs britt daniel was so good at making every percussion hit and piano chord count. all things discrete, discernible, and significant. little spoon-fuls of sound. his were some of the most imaginative rock arrangements of the '00s. as minimal as they needed to be.

@Myg we could spend all day pointing out hypocrisy and contradiction. since they know that wouldn't leave a journalist, or a dissident, or a conscious citizen time for anything else, i'm sure it was part of the initial design. hate to see people continue to fall into the trap.

@constans i guess this is where i part from the liberals. hopefully not in too many other cases.

@turnitup211off i'm of the minority opinion that van's best stretch was '79-'83. he had a fantastic band together with isham, pee wee ellis, hayes, van hook on drums, and he was singing, writing, recording and performing at an extremely high level. *into the music* kicks off that hot streak.

@brookstweetz there's a weird idea that ts's behavior at award shows is performative. as if she doesn't spend every minute she can writing, recording, performing and obsessing over music. she loves pop. she loves being a part of this. surely way more than she loves anything, or anybody, else.

@tilleykomorny i believe it.

@Steven_Hyden @en_cohen they're cute and they know it. all six (seven) of them. good for them. this band was revelatory with isaac wood, and they remain terrific without him. strong musicians together, strong musicians individually. looking forward to the new album.

@Mikehomeseller do it again for sure!

@billjamesonline gary roenicke and john lowenstein (they were kind of one guy)

@TonyDaDome one of the greatest and most creative groups ever. their their '88-'93 recordings are wildly innovative and still sound like nothing else. raw deluxe is great, too, even if it's a bit more normal-sounding. how you want it they got it.

@paranoiacs he's honest with us about who he is, and who he is is not exactly pleasant. but while his big mouth has gotten him in hot water, he has never done anything to compromise the legacy of the music he’s made. the belligerence will fade. veedon fleece is forever.

@colleenstone also: common bond in montrose for croissants & stuff.

@sadarlo1 i kinda like the hand puppet, to be honest. seems like a friendly guy.

@loveisworry14 Mates of State is another standout from that roster.

@MattFriedmanNJ i laughed.

@Marc_Fagel @suzyv the whole 99f album is just one amazing song after another.

@paranoiacs also: the sea refuses no river. that's almost a late-period joni song.