bagagwaa
@bagagwaa.bsky.social
my name is Ben. no colon, no masters. antizionist jew. I'm writing about music and life at traumaangel.substack.com
all pronouns are fine, I'm too old to care how you perceive me
all pronouns are fine, I'm too old to care how you perceive me
Pinned
bagagwaa
@bagagwaa.bsky.social
· Nov 15
It has to start somewhere
And unfortunately for you, that place is an unwieldy post in which I work to regain my footing as a writer
open.substack.com
It's here! It's here! My new blog/newsletter, Trauma Angel, is now live. It's a music site but also not just a music site. Read, share, subscribe, or don't. I'm not your mother. Short reviews of new music by Thank, Chat Pile, Ardente, Melted Bodies, and so much more. Thanks for your time and love.
They’ve rebranded this old timey guy into someone you’d see bartending in Williamsburg and getting into fuckboy situations on a weekly basis
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
They’ve rebranded this old timey guy into someone you’d see bartending in Williamsburg and getting into fuckboy situations on a weekly basis
I had a great time listening to music this week. How about you?
November 24, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I had a great time listening to music this week. How about you?
Sharing this again since it took me two months to break out of my silly writer's block of self-doubt. Trying to grow more comfortable with my own meandering writing instead of wishing I wrote like some of my wittier friends.
The newest edition of Trauma Angel is here. My thoughts on authenticity, imperfect work, the magic of Silksong, the artistic legacy of Tomas Lindberg, new albums from Deftones & Yellow Eyes, and so much more. Read and share if you'd be so kind.
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
On tangled writing
And why it's better to be authentic and messy than to not be anything at all
traumaangel.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Sharing this again since it took me two months to break out of my silly writer's block of self-doubt. Trying to grow more comfortable with my own meandering writing instead of wishing I wrote like some of my wittier friends.
December will be my first month living alone since 2023. I'm looking forward to the time and space it will allow me. I have so many little projects (in the home and in my own life) I'd like to work on that I don't even know where to begin! I can't wait to nest and nurture myself.
November 23, 2025 at 1:20 AM
December will be my first month living alone since 2023. I'm looking forward to the time and space it will allow me. I have so many little projects (in the home and in my own life) I'd like to work on that I don't even know where to begin! I can't wait to nest and nurture myself.
By the way, did Andrew Cuomo move to Florida yet or is he waiting until Mamdani actually takes office?
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
By the way, did Andrew Cuomo move to Florida yet or is he waiting until Mamdani actually takes office?
Gen Z coworker commandeered the music and is now subjecting our brunch guests to “Plainsong” by The Cure. I’m okay with this.
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Gen Z coworker commandeered the music and is now subjecting our brunch guests to “Plainsong” by The Cure. I’m okay with this.
Still thinking Howard thoughts this morning. I’m going back home for a week in a few days and I’m going to try to grab lunch with his wife. She used to rescue orphaned baby raccoons and nurse them to health before returning them to the wild. Just amazing people.
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Still thinking Howard thoughts this morning. I’m going back home for a week in a few days and I’m going to try to grab lunch with his wife. She used to rescue orphaned baby raccoons and nurse them to health before returning them to the wild. Just amazing people.
Six years ago today my best friend was murdered. He taught me so much about how to be in this world. That I could be loving and vulnerable while remaining out of step with conventional society. I will carry the love he taught me forever. I wish everyone could have met Howard.
November 22, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Six years ago today my best friend was murdered. He taught me so much about how to be in this world. That I could be loving and vulnerable while remaining out of step with conventional society. I will carry the love he taught me forever. I wish everyone could have met Howard.
The newest edition of Trauma Angel is here. My thoughts on authenticity, imperfect work, the magic of Silksong, the artistic legacy of Tomas Lindberg, new albums from Deftones & Yellow Eyes, and so much more. Read and share if you'd be so kind.
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
On tangled writing
And why it's better to be authentic and messy than to not be anything at all
traumaangel.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The newest edition of Trauma Angel is here. My thoughts on authenticity, imperfect work, the magic of Silksong, the artistic legacy of Tomas Lindberg, new albums from Deftones & Yellow Eyes, and so much more. Read and share if you'd be so kind.
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
traumaangel.substack.com/p/on-tangled...
New Trauma Angel is about ready to post, I just need a short post-work nap before I do one last proofread/edit session. I'll have it out tonight, thank you for your patience. <3
November 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
New Trauma Angel is about ready to post, I just need a short post-work nap before I do one last proofread/edit session. I'll have it out tonight, thank you for your patience. <3
Sometimes I make a post that randomly gets ten times as much attention as my regular posts and every person who likes it is a 'blue wave' type of person who follows at least five thousand people on here. I don't think it's a bad thing really but I never know how or why. What key word am I hitting??
November 20, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Sometimes I make a post that randomly gets ten times as much attention as my regular posts and every person who likes it is a 'blue wave' type of person who follows at least five thousand people on here. I don't think it's a bad thing really but I never know how or why. What key word am I hitting??
I almost never get two days off in a row anymore, but I did this week. Yesterday was my big day for chores and shit so that today I can just sit and write all day (2000 words down so far) and let my dog take a long nap on my legs. I can't explain how good it feels.
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I almost never get two days off in a row anymore, but I did this week. Yesterday was my big day for chores and shit so that today I can just sit and write all day (2000 words down so far) and let my dog take a long nap on my legs. I can't explain how good it feels.
For a moment, it seemed Ulver had settled into "a sound." It was a great sound, but I'm delighted to see they're still elusive shapeshifters at heart. The first CD of theirs I bought said "we hide, come find us" in the liner notes. The search is on once more.
Neverland, by Ulver
11 track album
ulver.bandcamp.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
For a moment, it seemed Ulver had settled into "a sound." It was a great sound, but I'm delighted to see they're still elusive shapeshifters at heart. The first CD of theirs I bought said "we hide, come find us" in the liner notes. The search is on once more.
Reposted by bagagwaa
found libythth initially on macula dog's now silent little label thing "Haord". i need more material from these guys... or this label... anything........ haord.bandcamp.com/track/social...
Social Mold, by Cabo Boing
from the album Real Gems For Little Jewels
haord.bandcamp.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
found libythth initially on macula dog's now silent little label thing "Haord". i need more material from these guys... or this label... anything........ haord.bandcamp.com/track/social...
I am pleased to say that my health has improved (in some ways) and I can eat soups and stews a bit more easily than I could this time last year. Please send me your favorite recipes for soups or stews or anything I can make in my crockpot. I am ready to be cozy in my home.
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I am pleased to say that my health has improved (in some ways) and I can eat soups and stews a bit more easily than I could this time last year. Please send me your favorite recipes for soups or stews or anything I can make in my crockpot. I am ready to be cozy in my home.
Listening to the Decibel Top 40 of 2025 in 40 days.
40. "The Arsonist" is pretty strong considering I'm not usually into thrash. It's muscular and varied enough to not feel like retro nostalgia and the vocals have a nice bite to them. Not entirely surprised since Sodom have always been standouts.
40. "The Arsonist" is pretty strong considering I'm not usually into thrash. It's muscular and varied enough to not feel like retro nostalgia and the vocals have a nice bite to them. Not entirely surprised since Sodom have always been standouts.
November 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Listening to the Decibel Top 40 of 2025 in 40 days.
40. "The Arsonist" is pretty strong considering I'm not usually into thrash. It's muscular and varied enough to not feel like retro nostalgia and the vocals have a nice bite to them. Not entirely surprised since Sodom have always been standouts.
40. "The Arsonist" is pretty strong considering I'm not usually into thrash. It's muscular and varied enough to not feel like retro nostalgia and the vocals have a nice bite to them. Not entirely surprised since Sodom have always been standouts.
Day off listening. This still rules and is worth diving into.
Eye Frame, by Mukqs
8 track album
mukqs.bandcamp.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Day off listening. This still rules and is worth diving into.
Listened to Gojira for the first time in maybe a decade or so and I think I like this more than I did when it first came out. I've only heard this album, The Link, and a couple songs off the record after this one. I should fix that soon, yeah?
FROM MARS TO SIRIUS, by GOJIRA
12 track album
listenable-records.bandcamp.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Listened to Gojira for the first time in maybe a decade or so and I think I like this more than I did when it first came out. I've only heard this album, The Link, and a couple songs off the record after this one. I should fix that soon, yeah?
Good morning all my high-IQ rockers! Raise those horns 🤘💀🤘 hell yeah my brothers
November 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Good morning all my high-IQ rockers! Raise those horns 🤘💀🤘 hell yeah my brothers
Up past my bedtime because I started listening to this album and I'm not just gonna turn it off halfway through
Absence, by Dälek
10 track album
dalek.bandcamp.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Up past my bedtime because I started listening to this album and I'm not just gonna turn it off halfway through
Revisiting Deftones' self-titled album and wondering if it's still treated like a lesser child (because it had to follow the 1-2 punch of Around the Fur and White Pony) or if people now see how great it is regardless of what came before.
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Revisiting Deftones' self-titled album and wondering if it's still treated like a lesser child (because it had to follow the 1-2 punch of Around the Fur and White Pony) or if people now see how great it is regardless of what came before.
There isn’t a lot in this world I feel great about, but every time I come home from work Butterscotch looks at me all desperate and excited and demands to be held like my little spoon and gives me so many kisses…that little ritual makes everything else seem okay
November 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
There isn’t a lot in this world I feel great about, but every time I come home from work Butterscotch looks at me all desperate and excited and demands to be held like my little spoon and gives me so many kisses…that little ritual makes everything else seem okay
I had a great time listening to music this week. Did you?
November 17, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I had a great time listening to music this week. Did you?
Reposted by bagagwaa
Fresh off the latest edition of @bagagwaa.bsky.social 's newsletter, I'm listening to Columbia Deluxe, a live album by Fuubutsushi. I've no idea what I'm really listening to, despite the label tags, but it's got a beautiful joy to it.
fuubutsushilive.bandcamp.com/album/columb...
fuubutsushilive.bandcamp.com/album/columb...
Columbia Deluxe, by Fuubutsushi (live)
6 track album
fuubutsushilive.bandcamp.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Fresh off the latest edition of @bagagwaa.bsky.social 's newsletter, I'm listening to Columbia Deluxe, a live album by Fuubutsushi. I've no idea what I'm really listening to, despite the label tags, but it's got a beautiful joy to it.
fuubutsushilive.bandcamp.com/album/columb...
fuubutsushilive.bandcamp.com/album/columb...