Daniel James Leith
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danthecritic.bsky.social
Daniel James Leith
@danthecritic.bsky.social
Music Writer. Check out my blog: danthecritic.weebly.com
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This is the thread I'll use to post my #TheTwen2ie5 picks, aka my 50 favorite singles of the 2020's in ranked order. Feel free to follow along!
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O!
November 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 43

8

Paula Cendejas-"X Ti" (2022, Warner Spain) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpeN...
November 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
"Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, no-one ever used the term 'Sound System Culture', it was 'Roots and Culture' – the music was the sound of freedom. Reggae music was the sound of culture and heritage dipped in the roots of our ancestral blood."

Voices from the sound systems of Chapeltown:
Roots and Culture: voices from the sound systems of Chapeltown
Home for three-quarters of a century to a thriving African-Caribbean musical, cultural and arts scene, Leeds celebrates its reggae pioneers
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 42

9

Zuchu-"Honey" (2023, Wasafi) www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFD_...
November 17, 2025 at 10:32 AM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 41

10

BabyMINT-"Hellokittybalahcurrihellokitty" (2023, HIM International) www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsb1...
November 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
I'm very sorry to report that the great alt-country singer-songwriter Todd Snider has died at 59 of undiagnosed walking pneumonia. I stick by what I wrote about him in 2012. www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bn/2012-0... Here's Rolling Stone's coverage. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Robert Christgau: Preaching Agnosticism (with Laugh Lines)
www.robertchristgau.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 40

11

Selecta J-Man and MC Spyda-"Foundation Style" (2024, Born On Road) www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_N0...
November 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
This was just posted on Todd Snider's Twitter account. Asking everyone who loves his music to send him good vibes right now. Really hoping he pulls through.
November 14, 2025 at 8:37 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 39

12

Yena-"NemoNemo" (2024, Yue Hua) www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_kW...
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 38

13

Scene Queen-"Pink Panther" (2022, Hopeless) www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR8M...
November 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crush’d like rotten apples!
November 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 37

14

The Spellbound ft. Jesse-"2Colors" (2024, NBCUniversal) www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXKk...
November 12, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
The most important thing to remember about the Cthulhu Mythos is it's terrible and almost nothing benefits from being set within it
November 12, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
The funny thing about Oates taking Musk out to the cornfield and beating him with an aluminum bat is he was JUST pretending to have read Tolkien for his endorsement of Tommy Robinson. When she called him out, it seems like he forgot all about that and started inventing other books he's read instead.
November 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 36

15

Yasmine-"Pega Nha Mon" (2021, E-Karga Music) www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEtM...
November 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Happy There Is A Circulatory System Walking Through The Kitchen Day to all who celebrate.
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 35

16

RXKNephew-"American Tterroristtt" (2020, New Breed Trapper) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nign...
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
I also wrote an anniversary piece about GZA's "Liquid Swords", a masterpiece that is arguably Rap's all-time greatest Winter album: dartadams.medium.com/gza-liquid-s...
GZA — Liquid Swords: A 25th Anniversary Retrospective
Decomposing an undisputed classic Rap LP that also happens to be the perfect Winter album…
dartadams.medium.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 34

17

Two Shell-"Home" (2022, Mainframe Audio) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WaJ...
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 33

18

Sarafina The Great-"Showtime (Decale Dokafele)" (2025, Queen Of Heaven) m.youtube.com/watch?v=bjE5...
November 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Writing is life. Lethargy is death.
October 16, 2025 at 10:37 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 32

19

Lil Yachty-"Poland" (2022, Quality Control) m.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Pz...
November 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
My latest newsletter: a review of Hüsker Dü's 1985: The Miracle Year, one of my favorite reissues of the year.
Hüsker Dü—1985: The Miracle Year
Numero Group's second archival Hüsker Dü set offers live recordings from the year the trio released New Day Rising and Flip Your Wig
sterlewine.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM