Welcome Distractions
New music, book reviews, short stories and more from blog this week
Plus lots of links to other good stuff that didn’t get there (yet)
Hi! You’re here! Thank you.
So on Sunday night I decided that I wanted to tinker with the homepage of the site a bit. I was annoyed with the layout choices and the search was slow. Cosmetic stuff.
When I built the website in 2023, it was bad (and if you go look at the site even from one year ago, it’s obvious that I was in over my head).
Long before Mike Tyson got the credit, Joe Louis said “Everyone’s got a plan until they get hit”. Lemme tell you man, when I started playing around I got rocked, like one of those schmucks on Property Brothers when they open up the wall to find mold and bugs or whatever.
So I spent most of my free time this week fixing the dumb mistakes I made in the dark days. I ripped off Vogue for the homepage but mine’s better (no ads!).
Downside: No Shortlist. Zero music features. A pretty week link dump this week. But you’re on vacation anyway.
Upside: I’ve heard a ton of great new music that I’ll get to in the next few weeks. And this week’s Setlist is a banger.
Got something to share? Lay it on me. And now:
Off the blog: links you shouldn’t miss
Hearing Things quits Spotify. The site run by ex-Pitchforkers has bailed on Spotify. I don’t pay for Spotify and I only use it to share playlists. If you pay for it consider switching. I’m a fan of Apple Music and I’m happy to pitch you on it (you can upload your own music!)
Did a teacher try to sell his students’ art? This story is all kinds of weird, and ends in an unsatisfying way, but you won’t forget it. The school board is shady as hell here.
Jonathan Lethem tells you to read Dino Buzzati. If you won’t listen to me, listen to him. Read Buzzati.
The Giller Prize might be cooked. Though the math is wonky: A budget of $1.5M a year and they give out less than 1/3 of it in prizes.
Five Things I Believe about actually-existing AI today. I nodded along to this all the way. He also links to a brilliant piece by Ted Chiang about AI. And recommends this book about private equity which I plan to pick up this weekend.
It is no surprise that generative AI has mostly been deployed to offer worse products at lower costs across a range of industries.
What got your attention this week? Got a hot take on something? Hit reply and let me know.
On the Blog
Reading:
The more I think about Audition by Pip Adam, the more I’m sure I didn’t like it. A very strange sci-fi social commentary hybrid.
I’d wanted to read this Alastair MacLeod novel for YEARS. Finally read it, and it stinks on ice.
Goodreads told me that I’d hate this Jill Ciment book too, but nope. Loved it. Kick rocks, Goodreads. You should read Jill Ciment books. Start with Consent.
The Shortlist: sorry. It’s in design hell right now, It’ll be back next week when I get it pretty.
Got a short story? Send it my way
Listening:
The Backstory from Mr. Industry is a really interesting one. It’s also the first time that a band member has credited his bandmates as inspiration.
The Setlist: about 2 hours of good, good, good music. Plus a new look. Standout tracks? You bet: country-ish ones from Night Hawk and Léna Bartels, plus a killer new single from OG blog pal Kat Koan with Joone.
Listen on Apple Music or Spotify.
What’s on your playlist? Send me your faves
Next week: It’s Elmore Leonard week. I’ve loved his books since forever and I have something pretty ambitious planned. Plus a new record from Mount Mural, and a few bands that I’m still digging into this week.
Thanks for being here!
-hugh
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