Ricky McAllister
@rickymca.bsky.social
Husband to Jenny - dad to Ethan, Holly, Micah, Benji & Annie - Man U fan for 40 years - Music & film - coffee - Reader of books but a failed novelist - SEN teacher - lover of a fine stout/porter.
#last4albums #MusicSky
‘Throughly enjoying the Christmas holiday now that Christmas Day is over’ edition😊
‘Throughly enjoying the Christmas holiday now that Christmas Day is over’ edition😊
December 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
#last4albums #MusicSky
‘Throughly enjoying the Christmas holiday now that Christmas Day is over’ edition😊
‘Throughly enjoying the Christmas holiday now that Christmas Day is over’ edition😊
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 What A Pleasure
🎤 Beach Fossils
Obviously the band would go to hit new & genuinely wonderful heights with Bunny.
This isn’t near that in terms of quality but there are fine moments on this. It’s an interesting & diverting listen for a band with a few gears to go through yet.
💿 What A Pleasure
🎤 Beach Fossils
Obviously the band would go to hit new & genuinely wonderful heights with Bunny.
This isn’t near that in terms of quality but there are fine moments on this. It’s an interesting & diverting listen for a band with a few gears to go through yet.
December 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 What A Pleasure
🎤 Beach Fossils
Obviously the band would go to hit new & genuinely wonderful heights with Bunny.
This isn’t near that in terms of quality but there are fine moments on this. It’s an interesting & diverting listen for a band with a few gears to go through yet.
💿 What A Pleasure
🎤 Beach Fossils
Obviously the band would go to hit new & genuinely wonderful heights with Bunny.
This isn’t near that in terms of quality but there are fine moments on this. It’s an interesting & diverting listen for a band with a few gears to go through yet.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Light Verse
🎤 Iron & Wine
A lovely surprise Christmas gift this morning.
The history books say it was 7yrs between Beast Epic & this. The intervening years included 2 EPs, 1 Archive Series release, Calexico collab, 1 reissue of his breakthrough album, two live albums & a doc🤷♂️
💿 Light Verse
🎤 Iron & Wine
A lovely surprise Christmas gift this morning.
The history books say it was 7yrs between Beast Epic & this. The intervening years included 2 EPs, 1 Archive Series release, Calexico collab, 1 reissue of his breakthrough album, two live albums & a doc🤷♂️
December 26, 2025 at 12:52 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Light Verse
🎤 Iron & Wine
A lovely surprise Christmas gift this morning.
The history books say it was 7yrs between Beast Epic & this. The intervening years included 2 EPs, 1 Archive Series release, Calexico collab, 1 reissue of his breakthrough album, two live albums & a doc🤷♂️
💿 Light Verse
🎤 Iron & Wine
A lovely surprise Christmas gift this morning.
The history books say it was 7yrs between Beast Epic & this. The intervening years included 2 EPs, 1 Archive Series release, Calexico collab, 1 reissue of his breakthrough album, two live albums & a doc🤷♂️
A very nice book and record haul this morning. My family know me well☺️
December 25, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A very nice book and record haul this morning. My family know me well☺️
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
1. Bon Iver | Sable, Fable
Alongside Sufjan Stevens, Justin Vernon is, personally, the most consequential artist this century. I certainly didn’t expect a soul-pop album, but he delivered another masterpiece. Glorious stuff.
Has been my AOTY since the needle first dropped.
#bestof2025
1. Bon Iver | Sable, Fable
Alongside Sufjan Stevens, Justin Vernon is, personally, the most consequential artist this century. I certainly didn’t expect a soul-pop album, but he delivered another masterpiece. Glorious stuff.
Has been my AOTY since the needle first dropped.
December 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
1. Bon Iver | Sable, Fable
Alongside Sufjan Stevens, Justin Vernon is, personally, the most consequential artist this century. I certainly didn’t expect a soul-pop album, but he delivered another masterpiece. Glorious stuff.
Has been my AOTY since the needle first dropped.
#bestof2025
1. Bon Iver | Sable, Fable
Alongside Sufjan Stevens, Justin Vernon is, personally, the most consequential artist this century. I certainly didn’t expect a soul-pop album, but he delivered another masterpiece. Glorious stuff.
Has been my AOTY since the needle first dropped.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Love In Mind
🎤 Mt Misery
Joining @agarr45.bsky.social in spinning the wonderful @mtmiseryband.bsky.social tonight. No finer way to spend Christmas Eve.
Have a very happy Christmas folks😊🙌 and best wishes to you all.
@prefectrecords.bsky.social
💿 Love In Mind
🎤 Mt Misery
Joining @agarr45.bsky.social in spinning the wonderful @mtmiseryband.bsky.social tonight. No finer way to spend Christmas Eve.
Have a very happy Christmas folks😊🙌 and best wishes to you all.
@prefectrecords.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Love In Mind
🎤 Mt Misery
Joining @agarr45.bsky.social in spinning the wonderful @mtmiseryband.bsky.social tonight. No finer way to spend Christmas Eve.
Have a very happy Christmas folks😊🙌 and best wishes to you all.
@prefectrecords.bsky.social
💿 Love In Mind
🎤 Mt Misery
Joining @agarr45.bsky.social in spinning the wonderful @mtmiseryband.bsky.social tonight. No finer way to spend Christmas Eve.
Have a very happy Christmas folks😊🙌 and best wishes to you all.
@prefectrecords.bsky.social
On ham duty for tomorrow and Mrs M has asked that I abandon my usual recipe this year and cook it in Coca Cola, because “it is supposed to be amazing”.
Not on board with this at all. Can’t be right. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend’s mum in my 20s who cooked chicken in milk🤢
We’ll know tomorrow…
Not on board with this at all. Can’t be right. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend’s mum in my 20s who cooked chicken in milk🤢
We’ll know tomorrow…
December 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
On ham duty for tomorrow and Mrs M has asked that I abandon my usual recipe this year and cook it in Coca Cola, because “it is supposed to be amazing”.
Not on board with this at all. Can’t be right. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend’s mum in my 20s who cooked chicken in milk🤢
We’ll know tomorrow…
Not on board with this at all. Can’t be right. Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend’s mum in my 20s who cooked chicken in milk🤢
We’ll know tomorrow…
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
2. Massage | Coaster
Now one of my favourite bands of the past 10 years. While not quite hitting the heights of the sublime Still Life, a fair few songs are as good as anything they have ever done.
Picks: Daffy Duck; We’re Existential.
#bestof2025
2. Massage | Coaster
Now one of my favourite bands of the past 10 years. While not quite hitting the heights of the sublime Still Life, a fair few songs are as good as anything they have ever done.
Picks: Daffy Duck; We’re Existential.
December 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
2. Massage | Coaster
Now one of my favourite bands of the past 10 years. While not quite hitting the heights of the sublime Still Life, a fair few songs are as good as anything they have ever done.
Picks: Daffy Duck; We’re Existential.
#bestof2025
2. Massage | Coaster
Now one of my favourite bands of the past 10 years. While not quite hitting the heights of the sublime Still Life, a fair few songs are as good as anything they have ever done.
Picks: Daffy Duck; We’re Existential.
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
3. The Beths | Straight Line Was A Lie
They don’t put a foot wrong do they?
Picks: Mother Pray for Me; Take.
#bestof2025
3. The Beths | Straight Line Was A Lie
They don’t put a foot wrong do they?
Picks: Mother Pray for Me; Take.
December 23, 2025 at 5:20 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
3. The Beths | Straight Line Was A Lie
They don’t put a foot wrong do they?
Picks: Mother Pray for Me; Take.
#bestof2025
3. The Beths | Straight Line Was A Lie
They don’t put a foot wrong do they?
Picks: Mother Pray for Me; Take.
December 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Maggot Brain
🎤 Funkadelic
Probably as un-Christmassy as it is possible to get🤷♂️
This bleak masterpiece is bookended by two all timers here, where Eddie Hazel arguably out-Hendrixes Hendrix.
💿 Maggot Brain
🎤 Funkadelic
Probably as un-Christmassy as it is possible to get🤷♂️
This bleak masterpiece is bookended by two all timers here, where Eddie Hazel arguably out-Hendrixes Hendrix.
December 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Maggot Brain
🎤 Funkadelic
Probably as un-Christmassy as it is possible to get🤷♂️
This bleak masterpiece is bookended by two all timers here, where Eddie Hazel arguably out-Hendrixes Hendrix.
💿 Maggot Brain
🎤 Funkadelic
Probably as un-Christmassy as it is possible to get🤷♂️
This bleak masterpiece is bookended by two all timers here, where Eddie Hazel arguably out-Hendrixes Hendrix.
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
4. Midlake | A Bridge To Far
A triumph from start to finish for Midlake Mark 2. Potentially right up there with Van Occupanther. Just gets better with each listen.
Picks: The Ghouls; Valley of Roseless Thorns
#bestof2025
4. Midlake | A Bridge To Far
A triumph from start to finish for Midlake Mark 2. Potentially right up there with Van Occupanther. Just gets better with each listen.
Picks: The Ghouls; Valley of Roseless Thorns
December 22, 2025 at 5:59 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
4. Midlake | A Bridge To Far
A triumph from start to finish for Midlake Mark 2. Potentially right up there with Van Occupanther. Just gets better with each listen.
Picks: The Ghouls; Valley of Roseless Thorns
#bestof2025
4. Midlake | A Bridge To Far
A triumph from start to finish for Midlake Mark 2. Potentially right up there with Van Occupanther. Just gets better with each listen.
Picks: The Ghouls; Valley of Roseless Thorns
December 21, 2025 at 7:17 PM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
5. Pulp | More
Classic Pulp & that is always a welcome thing indeed. Possibly my favourite Pulp so far, although there may be recency bias at work.
Picks: Farmer’s Market; Background Noise.
#bestof2025
5. Pulp | More
Classic Pulp & that is always a welcome thing indeed. Possibly my favourite Pulp so far, although there may be recency bias at work.
Picks: Farmer’s Market; Background Noise.
December 21, 2025 at 6:51 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
5. Pulp | More
Classic Pulp & that is always a welcome thing indeed. Possibly my favourite Pulp so far, although there may be recency bias at work.
Picks: Farmer’s Market; Background Noise.
#bestof2025
5. Pulp | More
Classic Pulp & that is always a welcome thing indeed. Possibly my favourite Pulp so far, although there may be recency bias at work.
Picks: Farmer’s Market; Background Noise.
A truly delightful concoction.
My first coffee & oatmeal stout definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks Rascals of Dublin…
My first coffee & oatmeal stout definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks Rascals of Dublin…
December 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A truly delightful concoction.
My first coffee & oatmeal stout definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks Rascals of Dublin…
My first coffee & oatmeal stout definitely won’t be my last.
Thanks Rascals of Dublin…
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
6. Maria Somerville | Luster
MS has called this a “subconscious expression of a deep longing for home”. It’s an exquisite mix of shoegaze, post-punk and ambient electronic music.
Picks: Projections; Stonefly.
#bestof2025
6. Maria Somerville | Luster
MS has called this a “subconscious expression of a deep longing for home”. It’s an exquisite mix of shoegaze, post-punk and ambient electronic music.
Picks: Projections; Stonefly.
December 20, 2025 at 8:44 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
6. Maria Somerville | Luster
MS has called this a “subconscious expression of a deep longing for home”. It’s an exquisite mix of shoegaze, post-punk and ambient electronic music.
Picks: Projections; Stonefly.
#bestof2025
6. Maria Somerville | Luster
MS has called this a “subconscious expression of a deep longing for home”. It’s an exquisite mix of shoegaze, post-punk and ambient electronic music.
Picks: Projections; Stonefly.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Stains on Silence
🎤 Girls Names
Their final album isn’t an easy listen: it is dense & intense, full of tension but undoubtedly pays off repeated listens.
Nevertheless, it has dawned on me halfway through that I’m depressing myself on the day work finished for 2 weeks.
💿 Stains on Silence
🎤 Girls Names
Their final album isn’t an easy listen: it is dense & intense, full of tension but undoubtedly pays off repeated listens.
Nevertheless, it has dawned on me halfway through that I’m depressing myself on the day work finished for 2 weeks.
December 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Stains on Silence
🎤 Girls Names
Their final album isn’t an easy listen: it is dense & intense, full of tension but undoubtedly pays off repeated listens.
Nevertheless, it has dawned on me halfway through that I’m depressing myself on the day work finished for 2 weeks.
💿 Stains on Silence
🎤 Girls Names
Their final album isn’t an easy listen: it is dense & intense, full of tension but undoubtedly pays off repeated listens.
Nevertheless, it has dawned on me halfway through that I’m depressing myself on the day work finished for 2 weeks.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Up To Our Hips
🎤 The Charlatans
Recorded when the odds were stacked against them, it was probably a miracle UTOH got made at all. A fairly pivotal album for them and considered by the band to be “back to basics” I believe.
The expanded issue has some lovely stuff on it.
💿 Up To Our Hips
🎤 The Charlatans
Recorded when the odds were stacked against them, it was probably a miracle UTOH got made at all. A fairly pivotal album for them and considered by the band to be “back to basics” I believe.
The expanded issue has some lovely stuff on it.
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Up To Our Hips
🎤 The Charlatans
Recorded when the odds were stacked against them, it was probably a miracle UTOH got made at all. A fairly pivotal album for them and considered by the band to be “back to basics” I believe.
The expanded issue has some lovely stuff on it.
💿 Up To Our Hips
🎤 The Charlatans
Recorded when the odds were stacked against them, it was probably a miracle UTOH got made at all. A fairly pivotal album for them and considered by the band to be “back to basics” I believe.
The expanded issue has some lovely stuff on it.
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
7. Highspire | Crushed
A superb comeback. It’s big, vibrant & full of memorable hooks.
Picks: She Talks in Maybes; Nautilus.
#bestof2025
7. Highspire | Crushed
A superb comeback. It’s big, vibrant & full of memorable hooks.
Picks: She Talks in Maybes; Nautilus.
December 19, 2025 at 6:38 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
7. Highspire | Crushed
A superb comeback. It’s big, vibrant & full of memorable hooks.
Picks: She Talks in Maybes; Nautilus.
#bestof2025
7. Highspire | Crushed
A superb comeback. It’s big, vibrant & full of memorable hooks.
Picks: She Talks in Maybes; Nautilus.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 7
🎤 Beach House
For so long Depression Cherry was my favourite BH album but over time it has been overtaken by Bloom & this. 7 probably shades it…quite a few of these songs would seem to be among their very best.
Victoria & Alex called it a "rebirth and rejuvenation”.
💿 7
🎤 Beach House
For so long Depression Cherry was my favourite BH album but over time it has been overtaken by Bloom & this. 7 probably shades it…quite a few of these songs would seem to be among their very best.
Victoria & Alex called it a "rebirth and rejuvenation”.
December 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 7
🎤 Beach House
For so long Depression Cherry was my favourite BH album but over time it has been overtaken by Bloom & this. 7 probably shades it…quite a few of these songs would seem to be among their very best.
Victoria & Alex called it a "rebirth and rejuvenation”.
💿 7
🎤 Beach House
For so long Depression Cherry was my favourite BH album but over time it has been overtaken by Bloom & this. 7 probably shades it…quite a few of these songs would seem to be among their very best.
Victoria & Alex called it a "rebirth and rejuvenation”.
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
8. Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You
My favourite folk album of 2025. A gorgeous collection of songs with the added bonus that it is one of the few my family can tolerate.
Pick: All Is Well.
#bestof2025
8. Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You
My favourite folk album of 2025. A gorgeous collection of songs with the added bonus that it is one of the few my family can tolerate.
Pick: All Is Well.
December 18, 2025 at 6:40 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
8. Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You
My favourite folk album of 2025. A gorgeous collection of songs with the added bonus that it is one of the few my family can tolerate.
Pick: All Is Well.
#bestof2025
8. Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You
My favourite folk album of 2025. A gorgeous collection of songs with the added bonus that it is one of the few my family can tolerate.
Pick: All Is Well.
December 17, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Snowdrops & Hot Air Balloons
🎤 The Proctors
The sort of band Sarah Records would have snapped up in the 90s.This is a cracking album by 1 of the best jangle acts around.
The Proctors are a band that are easy to miss but hard to forget.Deserving of a bigger audience for sure.
💿 Snowdrops & Hot Air Balloons
🎤 The Proctors
The sort of band Sarah Records would have snapped up in the 90s.This is a cracking album by 1 of the best jangle acts around.
The Proctors are a band that are easy to miss but hard to forget.Deserving of a bigger audience for sure.
December 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Snowdrops & Hot Air Balloons
🎤 The Proctors
The sort of band Sarah Records would have snapped up in the 90s.This is a cracking album by 1 of the best jangle acts around.
The Proctors are a band that are easy to miss but hard to forget.Deserving of a bigger audience for sure.
💿 Snowdrops & Hot Air Balloons
🎤 The Proctors
The sort of band Sarah Records would have snapped up in the 90s.This is a cracking album by 1 of the best jangle acts around.
The Proctors are a band that are easy to miss but hard to forget.Deserving of a bigger audience for sure.
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
9. Blankenberge | Decisions
While not quite hitting the heights of the magisterial Everything, this is still a frequently dazzling album. Modern masters.
A pity about those vinyl prices though…
Picks. Together; Waiting For The Sun.
#bestof2025
9. Blankenberge | Decisions
While not quite hitting the heights of the magisterial Everything, this is still a frequently dazzling album. Modern masters.
A pity about those vinyl prices though…
Picks. Together; Waiting For The Sun.
December 17, 2025 at 5:52 AM
#MusicSky
#bestof2025
9. Blankenberge | Decisions
While not quite hitting the heights of the magisterial Everything, this is still a frequently dazzling album. Modern masters.
A pity about those vinyl prices though…
Picks. Together; Waiting For The Sun.
#bestof2025
9. Blankenberge | Decisions
While not quite hitting the heights of the magisterial Everything, this is still a frequently dazzling album. Modern masters.
A pity about those vinyl prices though…
Picks. Together; Waiting For The Sun.
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Opaque
🎤 Mo Dotti
They wear their influences proudly - My Bloody Valentine in particular - & call to my mind the likes of Lush & Slowdive…this album is a real treat from start to finish.
Haven’t listened to it much in 2025 but I’ve been enjoying it immensely recently.
💿 Opaque
🎤 Mo Dotti
They wear their influences proudly - My Bloody Valentine in particular - & call to my mind the likes of Lush & Slowdive…this album is a real treat from start to finish.
Haven’t listened to it much in 2025 but I’ve been enjoying it immensely recently.
December 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
#NowPlaying #NP
💿 Opaque
🎤 Mo Dotti
They wear their influences proudly - My Bloody Valentine in particular - & call to my mind the likes of Lush & Slowdive…this album is a real treat from start to finish.
Haven’t listened to it much in 2025 but I’ve been enjoying it immensely recently.
💿 Opaque
🎤 Mo Dotti
They wear their influences proudly - My Bloody Valentine in particular - & call to my mind the likes of Lush & Slowdive…this album is a real treat from start to finish.
Haven’t listened to it much in 2025 but I’ve been enjoying it immensely recently.