His website is graniteandtumble.com. Don’t fuck with his shit.
But we can still read it, right? 😕
I'm actually curious about his essay on "How Algorithms Taught Us to Like the Wrong Track." Don't you think he's missing a more obvious explanation, which is that for many bands from the late pre-download era (i.e., all the ones he mentions), people go to the streaming services to listen to obscure b-sides simply because those tracks are so obscure, and maybe they (the listeners) weren't completists, and now they can't find them anywhere else, so they listen to them just so they can say they've heard everything? ...And that maybe enough people do it to cause the streamer's algorithm to think that's what everyone wants to hear from that band, since maybe the rest of the band's material just isn't poppy enough for the masses?
That's why I do it, anyway. I just suspect he's giving the programmers too much credit for being able to determine when songs really sound similar to other songs.
I'm actually curious about his essay on "How Algorithms Taught Us to Like the Wrong Track." Don't you think he's missing a more obvious explanation, which is that for many bands from the late pre-download era (i.e., all the ones he mentions), people go to the streaming services to listen to obscure b-sides simply because those tracks are so obscure, and maybe they (the listeners) weren't completists, and now they can't find them anywhere else, so they listen to them just so they can say they've heard everything? ...And that maybe enough people do it to cause the streamer's algorithm to think that's what everyone wants to hear from that band, since maybe the rest of the band's material just isn't poppy enough for the masses?
That's why I do it, anyway. I just suspect he's giving the programmers too much credit for being able to determine when songs really sound similar to other songs.
You can certainly read it! I didn't have a chance to look at the site yet (until now) so I wasn't sure if his spot would get blown up!
Fair take on the reasoning. My initial reaction to your thought would be it could depend on the popularity of the artist overall. Using his example(s), Pavement and Galaxie 500, those feel like they'd get enough plays and have wide enough recognition that the amount of completionists would be far outweighed by the amount of more casual listeners. As much as I listen to music, I wouldn't consider myself to be a completionist.
If I was asked to guess (which I wasn't but I'm going to give it a go!) I think it could also be tied to two cultural phenomena we've been introduced to in the last decade - social media (especially tik-tok) and platform engagement. For the first, for example, it's interesting that his two examples are 90s bands - which is all the rage with Gen z on tik-tok. One tik-tok video could attract multiples of an audience that otherwise would have never come across a given indie or obscure 90s band. For the second, the spotify's of the world want users to get on and stay on their platforms. If they incentivize listening to music that is more agreeable and less love/hate users would likely stay on and engage with the platform more.
I can't speak to spotify, only apple music, but apple music does have algorithmic playlists - some are focused on exploring new music and/or new releases and others are focused on your tried and trued favourite songs. What do we think more people are clicking on, the former or the latter? In the end, I think it may boil down to people like you, me, and Bill being in the marginal minority. Most people don't listen to music with the intent to explore, discover, trial/error, and leave all stones overturned. Some people hit shuffle on Taylor Swift or a Top 40 playlist and aren't looking to go much further.
Final - final (i promise) - attention spans and intellectual curiosity are dwindling across all generations. We're used to convenience and getting things handed to us - I think this is leaking into how we consume music as well. Is it right? Who am I to say... but I'm happy there are people like you and me who find joy in exploring!
Camera Obscura - Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi (2001) >>> listen, and listen many times >>> Camera Obscura falls into my too long of a list of artists I know I’ll like but haven’t put in the time to listen to (see Devendra Banhart on my 9 June post…). Up until now, I’ve listened to only one of there songs over 100 times… side story… I saw Ducks Ltd. on 29 Jul ‘25 at The Empty Bottle and was blown away by their cover of Loyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken. I walked out of there with my partner seeking out the source of the song knowing I needed more which led me right back to Camera Obscura (ducks ltd. has since put out an EP with a polished version of that cover which I recommend). I wished I cried more - the last time I got a good wale out was back in 2015 when my childhood dog died in my arms - however listening and singing this song gets me pretty close.
Anyway. As for this album it plays great cover to cover. I can’t compare it to the rest of their catalogue but i imagine in a few weeks i’ll be able to. I have a soft spot for Ivy, and this is like a less BPM Ivy album with subtle production. This album makes me want to dance in the kitchen, the shower, and the walk in closet I’ll never have (or at least that you all will never realize i have (had)).
It's funny that the album that got randomly served to you is the one album of theirs I've listened to and rated. I liked it well enough, but not as much as you did. I might have to give it another spin.
jnmayles wrote:
Michael Jackson - Invincible (2001) >>> skip >>> first things first, fuck Michael Jackson. Fuck privileged elite who can get away with so much and get away with it. I find ignorant privileged people to be the worst of the worst, not even counting his interactions with children, animals, etc. In the words of Twain - I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure. My take on it - some people die too early… some people die too late… interpret that as you may…
Back to the action.
1998-2003, not counting every possible 5 year range between 1980-1989, my least favourite half decade out there. Barron wasteland. That weird bass + piano + bass lick combo sound is not for me even though it would have been engrained into a lot of the pop music on for me as a kid… just not for me…
Not sure what producers, artists, and the world were thinking in this era of music (broadly speaking). I couldn’t make it through this album, so i listened to most songs partially. Honestly, excluding Thriller, which is top to bottom amazing, i don’t listen to Michael Jackson. This blog isn’t about live music, but i’ll give him credit, he is the epitome of ‘song and dance’ when so many artists only bring the song and not the ‘dance’ to live music. Stage presence is so imperative and he arguably set the precedent and the foundation for what has become stadium shows (of which i’ve never really been to or experienced, but they make people happy and indirectly the world a better place - so we’ll give Michael credit for that…)
That's a take on Michael Jackson I don't hear often, but I respect it. I still love most of his music, but I get where you come from with the man himself.
I've never given his more obscure albums a listen, so I'd be curious to hear this one. I think I'd be slightly more receptive to it if only because I don't have the bias against the sound that you do.
jnmayles wrote:
The Mountain Goats - Beat the Champ (2015) >>> listen for sure >>>I don’t believe in coincidence or fate. I just enjoy trying to draw arbitrary and imaginative lines between two seemingly unrelated ideas or concepts. In this case, it’s a very easy line to draw. The week I listened to this was the week I got to see a good friend of mine, Bill, for the first time in two years - whose favourite band is the mountain goats. There are 532,763 songs in my library, 457 of them by The Mountain Goats. That’s a 0.08577923% chance a Mountain Goats album is picked… combined with how we ended up meeting up… incalculable. See my following post for more on Bill.
As for the Mountain Goats, they have an intimidating discography. This is the first album where i would have been made aware of them back from my days of being a sheep and using pitchfork + stereogum + other unnamed online publications to dictate what I listened to.
High on my mental list (List #1) is creating a formal mental list of visionary/ creative things that I want to deliver to the world (List #2) for no more reason than to entertain myself. On List #2, would be creating a list of things I want to do and maintain through BEA (List #3) of which on that list would be a list of custom charts that explore how I think about music through different lenses (List #4). At the top of List #4 would be a custom top 100 chart for my favourate album covers (List #5) of which this album cover would make the short list.
I’m not into lyrics normally, but for this album i decided to give it more attention than others - so i read all lyrics for each song as I listened. I assumed from the album cover and the titles of the song this is a made up story of a wrestler’s journey through amateur / semi-professional wrestling (WWE style). I was wrong, but enjoyed them none the less.
It makes me sad that I don’t look into or consume more lyrics because it shows just how much more to music and an album there can be and I choose to consumer my music in a more efficient way. I’m sad not because i could be happier but because there will always be much more art that’s worthwhile consuming that I’ll never find the time in my life to consume. I consume so much more than I create and give back… which is something I’m working on but something we as society can work on as well relative to resources, time, and happiness.
I always say I'm a music first guy, but good lyrics can really elevate music for me. There's a lot of stuff I've listened to in the past year where I might like it well enough on an initial listen, but then fall in love with once I go back and listen with the lyrics. It's definitely turn me into someone that always try to give an intentional listen to an album with lyrics if I like it enough. But like you said, there isn't enough time in the world to be able to give every album that attention. _________________ My overall top 100 is far from fleshed out at this point, so here are some charts I am actually proud of:
Top 100 Albums of 2025
I'm actually curious about his essay on "How Algorithms Taught Us to Like the Wrong Track." Don't you think he's missing a more obvious explanation, which is that for many bands from the late pre-download era (i.e., all the ones he mentions), people go to the streaming services to listen to obscure b-sides simply because those tracks are so obscure, and maybe they (the listeners) weren't completists, and now they can't find them anywhere else, so they listen to them just so they can say they've heard everything? ...And that maybe enough people do it to cause the streamer's algorithm to think that's what everyone wants to hear from that band, since maybe the rest of the band's material just isn't poppy enough for the masses?
That's why I do it, anyway. I just suspect he's giving the programmers too much credit for being able to determine when songs really sound similar to other songs.
I feel like this is a fairly optimistic view of the current music listening landscape. I think I come down more with jnmayles on this one.
I agree jn that social media is a big big factor. Tik Tok can blow up a song of any genre, time period, and popularity level. If it catches on there then it could easily become an artist's most listened to song on Spotify no matter where it stood previously.
I also think Bill has a point. There are far more people willing to let Spotify dictate what they listen to rather than be intentional about their music listening these days, and so the trend of musical homogenization has begun to at least some extent with the algorithms and the playlists they produce. If a song has a basic enough sound to be pulled by Spotify's algorithm onto multiple of its computer made playlists, then that can lead to random and obscure songs being "discovered" by spotify listeners. In reality, I would say a fraction of people who have streamed these obscure Galaxie500 and Damien Jurado tracks would be able to say they intentionally sought out the songs. It was on a curated playlist that they had Spotify make for them and maybe they didn't even register the song in their minds as it played in the background of whatever they were working on.
It's a bit sad to think about, really, but everyone is entitled to use music how they see fit. There are real issues to explore and tackle when looking at the effect of Spotify on the music industry, but I also appreciate that people are getting to randomly listen to some obscure track that would have been otherwise lost or almost unlistened to. I just hope that this consumption revolution doesn't completely destroy the production of great music. It will take artists remaining dedicated to their art over the almighty dollar, and I have hope yet that true art can find a way. _________________ My overall top 100 is far from fleshed out at this point, so here are some charts I am actually proud of:
Top 100 Albums of 2025
Hello people of BEA. It’s been too long. Since I’ve last written I’ve been allocating some more time elsewhere and less on the random album project. For once, I’ve been keeping a little up to speed with 2026 releases and living much less in the past… although I’ve started a project of listening to taylor swift’s discography that may or may not result in a powerpoint presentation to my new partner’s close friends.
To summarize the below, I’d recommend listening to Terraplana’s ‘natural’ album if you’re looking for a potential hidden gem. Otherwise, no major surprises.
Keep rocking on and hear from you in the comments if you’re feeling so inclined!
[list]
[*]... Nara Leão - A Bossa de Nara (Compilation) (2002) >>> listen if you like bossa nova >>> I don’t know much about the intent of this compilation - I assume it’s compiling her more well regarded bossa nova songs into one… I’ve listened to an album or two of hers and I’ve always been keen on them, although she has a large discography and I’m sure there are some stinkers in there. Normally I’m more keen on female vocalists, but in the case of bossa nova I think I sway toward male vocalists. Same with folk, broadly speaking….
Bossa nova translates to new wave - if only american/british new wave was close to as good as this…
[*]Nicole Dollanganger - Heart Shaped Bed (2018) >>> skip >>> generic art/dream pop album… a genre I’ve never personally understood. Feels like we should relabel the genre as “20th century James Bond movie second credits song”. I get the alure and appeal to some, not saying it shouldn’t exist… it just doesn’t sit right in my ears… feels like albums like this are chasing the sound Julee Cruise created and perfected with Floating into the Night album (that she couldn’t even replicate… in my opinion)
[*]Nightmares On Wax - Still Smokin.III. (2025) >>> skip >>> boring beats, ill conceived off-tempo instrumentals, and uninspired lyrics... hard pass
[*]Panda Bear- Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper (Bonus Mr Noah EP Edition) (2015) >>> skip probably >>> mid album. Tracks 5 through 7 have something a bit special to them, but overall not my jam. Never have been nor will be super into Noah l or the animal collective as a collective or individuals
[*]Various Artists - DJ‐Kicks: Kruder & Dorfmeister (2010) >>> listen >>> i’ve got a sweet tooth for downtempo and this is a fun little comp. that certainly scratches the itch! Highlighted artists include The Herbaliser, Thievery Corporation (of course!), and Lab Rats.
[*]Sufjan Stevens - A Sun Came! (2003) >>> skip maybe >>> i was excited when this ended up on my list. I’ve got to be honest Sufjan is an artist i’ve never really spent much time listening to. I liked Carrie and Lowell. The illinois album was a little over the top for my taste. This album certainly had it’s highlights,”A Winner Needs a Wand” namely.
Not enough stories in this write up, so I’ll force one. It was my first time being a boyfriend, so cut me some slack… For a moment in time I had an instagram in college and for some reason followed a random record shop - Luna - years before I met her and subsequently deleted my instagram and kind of forgot about it. At that point in time it was a way to track new releases and their socials team did a great job (circa 2013… can’t speak to it now…).
When I went to visit her in Indianapolis I thought it’d be fun to buy her a few CDs (we were near the end of the CD era at this point… some would argue it hasn’t past, others it never came). So I googled record shops in Indy near her and low and behold… Luna popped up. I hadn’t thought about it in years and it somehow randomly popped back into my life. What a store. Amazing selection of used, rare, and new. Just the right balance of compilations/OSTs. What a place, I’ll miss going there and spending too much money on wax… oh, and i blindly bought Carrie and Lowell for her assuming she’d be into it at Luna (among Love’s Forever Changes, which remained in her CD player for years and would start the first song every time she turned on the car… it drove me nuts and we hardly used her car… not sure how she did that everyday… it’s literally the reason i hardly revisit that album anymore…)
[*]Terraplana - natural (2025) >>> listen to this hidden gem >>> quite a few low rankings on this one… i’ve got to agree with my person MadhattanJack that this is a bit underrated on BEA. While it’s certainly nothing special… it’s a nice blend of early thousands pop and gaze. Love something that jumps between english and portuguese, my two favourite languages used in music. All round suggest you listen to this vs. the other star studded albums in this line up if you’re looking for something that you might like that you never would have found. Also look at that album cover. Amazing.
Some songs, or at least the drums and break beats they go for, sound like a take on Bar Italia’s Tracey Denim album, which side note, I saw them live coming off that album and boy was that live performance uninspired. Reminds me of when I saw Japanese Breakfast hot off their surgence into the limelight coming off of Lollapalooza and it’s like someone told them they had to hop around on stage and smile all the time… I think a bit less of Bar Italia after having seen them live… the lead singer set up a small fan in front of themselves and used a cordless mic… which was far from flawless…
Where do i start and where do i stop? Triple Six. 3 6. Prophet Possee. Hypnotize Camp Posse. Phew, I’m out of breath and i’m just typing that out, not speaking…
Would i play this album in a room of my closest friends and family. No. Would i play this album in my office alone with the shades drawn. Yes.
Certainly not their best, but such an amazing group. This era of rap is special to me, not just the overlap with my formative years but also the flow and the production. Such a crazy explorative era for rap in the late 90s and early/mid 2000s. It feels like rap went from one note to infinite notes (and is now back to one note for the most part). For me, there is so much more variety and fun stuff coming out of the south in this era relative to east/west coasts and the midwest. As uncomposed and refined as Three 6 albums are… I think I’d rather have 20 of them with 15+ mid tracks than 10 of them with 10 great tracks on each. Although I wouldn’t say this album has a lot of unpolished diamonds, there are some fun little tracks and samples in here, for example the inclusion of the electric horns from everlasting bass (a song I once listened to and sang with my good friend Shane for 2+ hours on the way to Angela’s lake house… the one and only time i drove a car over 100 mph… hated every second of that part of the experience)
Watched ghost dog w/ a friend and one of the rappers said 3 6 and i had to google… still don’t know. RZA good soundtrack, etc. hit them w/ moments quote
Unrelated, kind of, I was rewatching Ghost Dog the other day and in the ad hoc freestyle in the final third of the movie one of the guys called out ‘3-6’ in the rhyme which would have preceded Three 6. After minutes of googling, I still couldn’t discern what they were going for, given Three 6 Mafia is grounded in Triple Six (666) vs. some other meaning…
Also unrelated, kind of, my favourite and least favourite line in this album > “Got those rainbow ranchers in my cup”... i don’t like the glorification of drugs, but putting that aside for a second it reminded me of the purp story in Gucci Mane’s autobiography that i read last week (via audiobook) in 24 hours. Good, clean, fun.
The first top 100 of all time album to make it into my random album diaries. Let’s celebrate with more mediocre and moderately inspired jarble…
As I mentioned earlier, English aside, Portuguese is my favourite language to hear in music. Besides the annoying interludes… this album is close to perfect. One of my favourites.
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MadhattanJack
