HT to Mac for steering me toward's Dan Epstein's Music To Watch Christmas Elves By (2025 Edition) - a lengthy repository of Christmas music of the muzak variety. Of course my favorite K-Mart Christmas 1974 is in there but there's a trove of instrumental, orchestra and delightfully soothing options in there as well. Make sure you listen to at least one of the S.S. Kresge Background Music Records - holiday perfection.

I tend to agree with the general sentiment of this Noah Smith piece - I love AI. Why doesn't everyone? It's a great article about the ills of technology, the general trepidation towards anything new and the specific trepidation towards AI. It's a hopeful piece about the potential of what AI can do. A mindful piece debunking many false claims. And a bit of an eyeroll towards those that decry it entirely.

That said, I do not agree with the article entirely. I agree AI has so much potential and I'm excited by the prospects. I even count myself among the rare minority that Smith does. However, I think the complaints about how artists and creators were ripped off training AI models is entirely valid; tho I am not sure what action could be taken now to reconcile it. I also believe that all of the negativity around AI can lead to positive change. No lawmaker is going to get involved if no one is complaining. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. In other words, people should feel emboldened to point out the pitfalls of AI because it should only lead to improvements (theoretically).

At the end of the day, it's not really a black or white issue. Being entirely anti-AI and being entirely pro-AI are not sensible stances to take. It's a big grey zone and you can perhaps lean slightly to one side. Regardless, it's a good read.

John Paul Bullock has been compiling a monthly playlist throughout 2025 of "50 Great Songs Released or Reissued" for the given month. The November playlist is here on YouTube (and Apple and Spotify). It's always a refreshing mixture of styles and genres. Make sure you're following him on IG subscribed to Major Label Debut - the podcast for which he is a producer. Goodness abound.

In 2024, I interviewed for a job way out of my league at Napster. I was intrigued by the idea of working for a well known brand with a history of being an upstart; particularly in the music streaming space where there is a lot of potential to do good, which seems to be the opposite of the norm. Unsurprisingly, I did not get the job.

I think I may have dodged a bullet tho because Napster has been in turbulent waters in 2025! This Forbes piece breaks down the story of a $3.6 Billion investment that has vanished. Napster alleges to be the victim of investor fraud, can not pay its existing shareholders and has let go a good number of employees. They're also being sued by the likes of Sony and other rights holder for lack of royalty payments. It's not looking great!

But Napster has a history of perseverance. Will their Napster AI product eventually launch and gain traction? Impossible to say! Who knows what the future holds!

I don't know anything about Kyle Kingsbury, aka Aphyr but this piece, I Want You To Understand Chicago is rather affecting. I don't think there's anyone that reads this site and doesn't find the actions of ICE abhorrent. Regardless of what you feel about immigration (illegal or not), having masked, unidentifiable, non-compliant, federal agents raiding buildings, neighborhoods and citizens can't sit right. In a word, it's terrifying.

This essay captures that fear and terror. I share it because the gravity of the situation needs to be fully understood. Turning a blind eye is not an option. Even if you're powerless to do anything about it (as I am). Even if you live in a State where you have horrible politicians that would support actions like this (as I do). Even if you have family that may shrug this off as leftist reactionism (as I have). Even with all that, it should be read and understood.

I know this sort of thing can be depressing and you aren't coming here to find heavy subjects but I don't think ignorance is an option here.

Photo from Rolling Stone, Federal agents violently confront protesters gathered outside of the suburban Chicago ICE Detention Center in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 19.. Added by me, not Aphyr.

Really fantastic piece here by Derek Thompson entitled The Monks in the Casino. It serves as a rumination on "the loneliness crisis" (quotes his) and other modern ailments. I can't articulate it any better than the article itself but it speaks to recent changes in culture and policy that have resulted in a world where distractions are so plentiful we don't even register that we need to be with other people.

I'm going to share my favorite snippet from the summation of the article but you really should read the entire thing. It's filled with thoughtful moments. I'm saving this in particular as I find myself wanting to be offline more and more, so it felt quite pertinent.

Since the 1970s, America has over-regulated the physical world and under-regulated the digital space. To open a daycare, build an apartment, or start a factory requires lawyers, permits, and years of compliance. To open a casino app or launch a speculative token requires a credit card and a few clicks. We made it hard to build physical-world communities and easy to build online casinos. The state that once poured concrete for public parks now licenses gambling platforms. The country that regulates a lemonade stand will let an 18-year-old day-trade options on his phone.

In short: The first half of the twentieth century was about mastering the physical world, the first half of the twenty-first has been about escaping it.

In 1996, high school senior Michael Lucid filmed a mini-documentary about some 8th graders who were infamous for their bad behavior and grunge-y attire - dubbed the "Dirty Girls." It's 20-minutes long and fascinating from start to finish.

Obviously I don't know what it's like to go to high school in the modern era but I can say that when I was in school in the mid-90s, this was exactly the experience. There were Riott Grrls that were largely ostracized by their peers and, in at least once case, by staff. I am sure there's still a hierarchy to the social system but my hope is that things have improved.

The element of the film that delighted me beyond belief is that the "Dirty Girls" themselves were incredibly smart, confident, artistic and genuinely funny. Maybe it was for the cameras but they also seemed largely unbothered by the judgement - just shrugging it off as an opinion from a group of idiots. It's admirable to say the least.

Be sure to indulge in the whole playlist - that includes follow-ups, outtakes and a reunion.

A simple challenge: build the worst UX for a datepicker you can muster. The one primary rule is that the end product must be able to actually pick a date. The winner is certainly worthy of the crown - just the right balance of awful and usable - but there are many many runner up entries that should be enjoyed.

This one is absurd. I couldn't even decipher this one. I did this one far too many times. And I kinda genuinely loved this one. That's all just the tip of the iceberg too.

I occasionally stumble across some affecting imagery and really don't know where to put it! Case in point, this image of Sam Davis Hotel being demolished in Nashville, 1985. The building, along with many others, was destroyed to make way for the Nashville Convention Center - a huge, potential, boost to the tourism economy but at the cost of displacing the permanent residents of the building, among many others.

This Nashville History X post paints an even bleaker story:

The hotel was cleared of the remainder of its 150 permanent residents just before Thanksgiving 1984. Many of the residents were elderly and otherwise homeless. They paid $31.50 a week at one of the last residential hotels in Nashville.

Oof. It's been 40 years since the Hotel was demolished but that imagery, mixed with that history, is still a potent one.

I mentioned this last year but Tis The Season, so here we go again. If you're a Blank Check with Griffin & David listener, you know producer Ben Hosley. You are also likely familiar with his various art projects - such as Slow Xmas, a series that started out as slowed down, sludgy, Christmas songs. With Slow XMas 5 (the sixth release), things have certainly evolved. First and foremost, this year's compilation is available on vinyl. So if you like your Christmas slow and analog, they got you covered. The lead track is available digitally, with the full digital album (presumably) dropping in early December. This has all been covered by Stereogum, so you know it's legit!

I'll withhold my opinion until hearing the full release but it's a fairly safe bet that this will be another quality entry in the Slow Xmas series. I am absolutely loving this first offering - from the pacing to the saxophone, it's got my number.

jms directed me towards Town Portal the other day, saying they sound like "instrumental Shiner." Say no more, I'm in. Of course, that two word description is just the enticement to get you in the door. Town Portal's Grindwork is its own thing, not simply a knock off of Shiner. They share a sonic palette with ominous tones, some angular guitars and lots of spacey influences. All good things. There's also a nice mixture of swelling strings and the occasionally brutal guitar explosion.

I'm not familiar with their prior work but, as an introduction, Grindwork is an instantly enjoyable and somewhat dark journey.

You may have caught Chloe Troast in the 49th season of Saturday Night Live but her time on the show was short lived. While that is unfortunate, she still got to be on SNL for a season, so no tears. It's also great that it creates some awareness for new endeavors - such as Spilling Your Seed with Chloe Troast, a somewhat serious, somewhat parody show that looks at the lineage of her guests. In other words, it's Finding Your Roots but absurd.

The trailer is amusing and the first episode with Ben Marshall delivers fully on the show's conceit. Great stuff. Do subscribe.

If you asked me if I'd be interested in reading through the History of Casio Watches, my response would likely be a polite decline. Not that Casio isn't interesting, I just don't consider myself much of a watch nerd in that arena.

But I'll be damned if it isn't an entirely compelling read. Not only are the designs of these devices outrageous, the functionality is absurd. Most people my age associate Casio watches with the the infamous "calculator watch" but there's a 1980s watch that acted as an FM transmitter! A battery-less solar powered watch! A 1991 watch with touchscreen and apps! A 1998 watch with a vibrating sensor for incoming calls - a proto-Apple Watch before the iPod ever existed.

I don't think it's any surprise that Casio is an innovative company but reading through this list, it's really quite a marvel. Personally, I think most of the watches look abhorrent but that's neither here nor there, the functionality is worth scrolling through.

Here's an interesting combo that I don't think I've ever written about before - Mixtape Memories is both a conversational card game and an insightful podcast. I'm sure I've written about both of those things in the past but never together.

The game is a deck of cards shuffled inside of a cassette shell. You draw a card and the topic on it becomes the jumping off point of conversation. What are songs that make you think of My First Car, My First Job or Emo Goth Songs? It's not so much a competition as it is a series of entertaining prompts.

The podcast is that same formula but with a person of interest on each episode. The latest is with Dan Blacktree, a good friend of mine from San Francisco that only occasionally peeks his head out into the world in this way. He's generally a non-public person but he's always a downright delight to speak with or hear spoken with. He has a great love for music and this is a really nice entry point for Mixtape Memories. Get to know them both.

Dropped a new video from Zook this morning. "Disappear" was directed by Joymatt3r and it's an immersive trip, to say the least! Love to see all these effects going to good use.

The track is from the album Evaporating that just released last Friday (Nov 7th).

There was a time many many years ago that I heard rumor about an expansive system of tunnels running underneath Nashville. Rumor had it that they spanned a great deal of the city - connecting hotels, random sewer grates and who knows what in between. All constructed over years and years as the city experienced growth. This was part urban myth, part urban explorer legend. I knew friends that went looking for them but doubted I'd ever see such a thing with my own eyes.

Well, thanks to YouTube and the Action Adventure Twins, both are now untrue. The tunnels are very much real and you can experience exploring them (kind of). It is as wild as I hoped it would be. Absolutely riveting... especially the pool they find.

For a bit more context and history, be sure to swing over to Nashville History X; always your best bet for Nashville insights.

I've done a bad job recently of keeping up with the releases from Totally Real Records. I'm a big fan of their diverse offerings, I've just slipped on staying on top of everything emerging from the label. As luck would have it, I did tune in for Well The Night Has Come , the latest EP by Fulton Lights. The four songs are a fascinating combination of intimate mid-tempo ruminations blended with flourishes of dark vibes. The vibe exuding from this is a great companion to the impending colder, quieter, months. Truthfully, music in this style can often by overwrought, too self-involved and a little boring in terms of arrangements but every track avoids those pitfalls. The musical choices are compelling and diverse and, while introspective, it's still a delight to listen to.

Other random observations: I can't comprehend why the cassette for this is only $4. That seems impossible. Additionally, the artwork by Austin Stahl is... a perfect match.

Note to self: do better keeping up with TRR!

I've been a fan of Coupler (aka Ryan Norris) and sugar sk*-*lls (aka Ben Marcantel) for a long time - probably twenty years to be honest! They may have been performing under different names but I've been enjoying their creations for a long time. I'm really flattered to work with the both of them over at yk Records.

Their latest release is a collaborative release called The Great Oxidation Event. I have mentioned it before but it bears repeating! It's an immersive piece presented in 3 parts over 20 minutes. The creation of the piece was inspired by Miles Davis' Bitches Brew where an improvisational piece was played and then producer Teo Macero was instructed to craft the end result not through overdubs but only through edits and mutations of the existing work. The sugar sk*-*lls + Coupler piece is, obviously, very different sonically but inspired by that same process. I got the opportunity to talk with both Ryan and Ben about the creative process involved with the recording, the editing and the video that accompanies it. That chat is now available in a YK World episode called The Three C's with Coupler and sugar sk*-*lls. I know I am biased but it's a wildly engaging chat for anyone involved with any creative process. There is plenty of time spent talking about the aforementioned EP but we also get into a lot of topics about creativity in general. Somehow they manage to be insightful, thought provoking and casual about the whole thing. They have their Galaxy Brain thinking engaged but it's never overly dense or heady.

I know I am biased but it's a great talk. I know it's a lengthy one but I believe it'll fly by. Go give it a whirl. It's on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all the other spots. Enjoy!

YouTube loves to suggest videos to me from big thinkers talking about big issues and how history can provide us with a lens to view both the problems and the possible answers. They are often 35minutes long and I almost never click on them. I want to be the kind of person that clicks on them and devotes 35 minutes of concentrated listening to them but, turns out, I'm not that guy.

So when a video with a thumbnail that says "This Changes Everything" and claims to be about why 2025 is the most pivotal year in our lifetime comes across my feed, I was skeptical. Fortunately the stars were aligned so I tapped on through and was treated to a delightful 15-minute history lesson from early WIRED contributor Peter Leyden about the three significant eras of technological advancement that we've most recently seen - Post-war, Gilded Age and Founding Era. Specifically he talks about the cadence of how they occurred, the similarities they contain with our present situation and, most importantly, what he foresees coming ahead - the Era of AI.

He cites that advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Clean Energy and Bioengineering are the driving forces to a whole new paradigm for the planet. His reasoning is hard to argue with! I found the entire piece to be educational and exciting. Humans love to see patterns in things and maybe he's right on this one?

Truthfully, the final takeway is a hard pill to swallow. Leyden predicts we are moving away from a model of Nation States into one of Global Governance. On the one hand, you could look to Star Trek to envision that being a good thing. On the other hand, you could quickly see how that is highly problematic. There's problems with all of the major arguments he makes - AI's impact on the economy, Bioengineering's impact on the promotion of eugenics and a Clean Energy argument that may be flawed data.* It's easy to poke holes and be a pessimist! I am no stranger to it myself. But I choose to step back and try to view these things on a long timeline of eras and, hopefully, they'll be the levers toward better living for everyone. Worthwhile optimism.**

* not sure on this but he makes the argument that Clean Energy is based on infinite resources. Car batteries are not based on infinite resources, they are the new oil afaik..

**ALSO worth noting, the aspect ratio on this video is WILD. If nothing else, that should bring you some pleasure..

Happy Halloween! Nice to have the festivities fall on a Friday. Hope you get to enjoy them fully! Here are some treats for you. First, enjoy some Mundane Halloween Costumes. Then, make sure you queue up John Paul Bullock's 2025 Halloween Mix. Then, enjoy these vids!

• Mambo de la muerte - 1951 performance from Tongolele. There are a lot of people dressed in DIY skeleton costumes, tons of horns and dancing. Impossible not to love. via Falfa.
• Squirrel Nut Zippers "Hell" - I haven't listened to thsi in 20 years but this week I woke up every morning with this song in my head. Truthfully: it rips.
• Jan Terri - Get Down Goblin - you may not listen to the entire song but that chorus is gonna stick with you for awhile.
• The Monster Club Dancer - perfectly campy horror movie from 1981 that has this dancer scene between stories. The transition that occurs is fantastic. Jump to 2:36 to get it going (but the whole song rules).
• Rapping Werewolves Spotted in Middle Tennessee - a more pessimistic version of me would have rolled my eyes at this but I can't deny its charms. If I saw a pack of werewolves downtown rapping, I'd be enamored.
• Boo Dudes - Skeleton Dog - we talked about this already but I keep coming back to it. Stupid but delightful.
• Trick or Treat Possum Style - if you're into public access TV flavors, this is pure uncut goodness.
• The Company of Wolves - the quality on this trailer is downright awful but I can't help but be completely intrigued by those wolves!
• Pumpkin Dance - you've seen it. It's a classic. See it again.
• Masque of the Red Death Credits - really amusing Vincent Price movie from 1964 with some very cool closing credits. You gotta jump to 1:40 to get the goods.