Tom Hull
@tomhull747.bsky.social
Post-employed engineer, non-credentialed sociologist, has heard a lot of music, writes up utopian ideas and practical proposals, is a fairly decent cook.
Zack Beauchamp does a good job of explaining how Trump was never a dove but he doesn't quite get to why: the problem is endemic to conservatives, who are always quick to use violence to defend their precious hierarchy: www.vox.com/politics/474...
Donald Trump was never a dove
How critics of American interventionism fell for a myth.
www.vox.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Zack Beauchamp does a good job of explaining how Trump was never a dove but he doesn't quite get to why: the problem is endemic to conservatives, who are always quick to use violence to defend their precious hierarchy: www.vox.com/politics/474...
Here's my introduction to the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. I hoped to write more about Francis Davis, but cut it short as the main thing was to provide a table of contents for the rest of the articles: artsfuse.org/322847/the-2...
The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll: The Institution Continues - The Arts Fuse
Onwards for an invaluable poll from a community of critics that gives us a map to an expansive world of jazz to explore -- with hints at terra incognita.
artsfuse.org
January 13, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Here's my introduction to the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. I hoped to write more about Francis Davis, but cut it short as the main thing was to provide a table of contents for the rest of the articles: artsfuse.org/322847/the-2...
Music Week: 49 albums, 3 A-list; notes on the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3364-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Music Week: 49 albums, 3 A-list; notes on the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
I've unlocked the ballots and results for the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. The articles are published at ArtsFuse. Links to them can be found on the poll website, here: hullworks.net/jazzpoll/25/
2025 Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll
hullworks.net
January 12, 2026 at 9:56 PM
I've unlocked the ballots and results for the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. The articles are published at ArtsFuse. Links to them can be found on the poll website, here: hullworks.net/jazzpoll/25/
New Notes on Everyday Life (Substack) post: Editing Help Needed. Could be viewed as a desperate "Hail Mary" pass, but I'm a big believer in the "open source" lesson about "more eyeballs." Link: notesoneverydaylife.substack.com/p/editing-he...
Editing Help Wanted
A brief note on this year's jazz critics poll
notesoneverydaylife.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:22 PM
New Notes on Everyday Life (Substack) post: Editing Help Needed. Could be viewed as a desperate "Hail Mary" pass, but I'm a big believer in the "open source" lesson about "more eyeballs." Link: notesoneverydaylife.substack.com/p/editing-he...
Saddened to hear that Rebecca Kilgore just died. Here's a sample from one of her best albums: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81-...
Make Someone Happy
YouTube video by Rebecca Kilgore - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Saddened to hear that Rebecca Kilgore just died. Here's a sample from one of her best albums: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81-...
Woke up this morning with "Surabaya Johnny" rattling through my brain. Not sure which recent version triggered those thoughts, but when I got to my computer, I played first Lotte Lenya then this remarkable version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukrE...
Surabaya Johnny
YouTube video by Marianne Faithfull - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Woke up this morning with "Surabaya Johnny" rattling through my brain. Not sure which recent version triggered those thoughts, but when I got to my computer, I played first Lotte Lenya then this remarkable version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukrE...
Music Week: 40 albums, 7 A-list, long introduction, much to say here: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3363-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Music Week: 40 albums, 7 A-list, long introduction, much to say here: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Music Week, or at least the start of one, as I mostly talk about what needs to be done to wrap up the Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, and some help I could use in doing so. The week's albums will be added when I get a bit of time: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3363-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Music Week, or at least the start of one, as I mostly talk about what needs to be done to wrap up the Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll, and some help I could use in doing so. The week's albums will be added when I get a bit of time: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Pick hit: Arkady Gotesman: Music for an Imaginary Ballet (2000-25 [2025], NoBusiness): Lithuanian drummer, samples 25 years of remarkable free jazz, mostly duos which he turns into a seamless masterpiece. [9] nobusinessrecords.bandcamp.com/album/music-...
Music For An Imaginary Ballet, by Arkady Gotesman/Nate Wooley/Charles Gayle/Mark Sanders/Liudas Mockunas/Martin Kuchen/Ned Rothenberg
12 track album
nobusinessrecords.bandcamp.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Pick hit: Arkady Gotesman: Music for an Imaginary Ballet (2000-25 [2025], NoBusiness): Lithuanian drummer, samples 25 years of remarkable free jazz, mostly duos which he turns into a seamless masterpiece. [9] nobusinessrecords.bandcamp.com/album/music-...
Here I am reminiscing about Christmas (1950-2025), on Notes on Everyday Life: notesoneverydaylife.substack.com/p/christmas-...
Christmas 1950-2025
The long road from joy to resignation, or maybe serenity?
notesoneverydaylife.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Here I am reminiscing about Christmas (1950-2025), on Notes on Everyday Life: notesoneverydaylife.substack.com/p/christmas-...
Music Week: 60 albums, 6 A-list: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3362-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Music Week: 60 albums, 6 A-list: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
I've belatedly added last week's Xgau Sez to Robert Christgau's website: robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?...
Robert Christgau: Xgau Sez
robertchristgau.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I've belatedly added last week's Xgau Sez to Robert Christgau's website: robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?...
The deadline for voting in the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll has passed, which means that if you mean to vote but didn't, you better hurry up (I'm still counting): hullworks.net/jazzpoll/25/...
2025 Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll
hullworks.net
December 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The deadline for voting in the 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll has passed, which means that if you mean to vote but didn't, you better hurry up (I'm still counting): hullworks.net/jazzpoll/25/...
The Arts Fuse included my list in their "Best Jazz Albums of 2025" feature: artsfuse.org/321921/music...
Music Feature: The Best Jazz Albums of 2025 - The Arts Fuse
The magazine's jazz critics look back over the past year and highlight their favorite albums.
artsfuse.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The Arts Fuse included my list in their "Best Jazz Albums of 2025" feature: artsfuse.org/321921/music...
Mike Konczal provides a sober statistical evaluation of the Trump economy. A year ago I could have told you so: newsletter.mikekonczal.com/p/a-year-in-...
A Year In, the MAGA Labor Market Story Has Fallen Apart
The administration bet on government cuts, tariffs, deportations, and a gendered theory of growth. The data say otherwise.
newsletter.mikekonczal.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Mike Konczal provides a sober statistical evaluation of the Trump economy. A year ago I could have told you so: newsletter.mikekonczal.com/p/a-year-in-...
Music Week: 23 albums, 4 A-list: includes my Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll picks: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3361-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Music Week: 23 albums, 4 A-list: includes my Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll picks: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Music Week: 36 albums, 4 A-list; first draft notes on jazz EOY ballot, breakout lists on hip-hop and country. tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3360-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Music Week: 36 albums, 4 A-list; first draft notes on jazz EOY ballot, breakout lists on hip-hop and country. tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Pick Hit: Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance): One of the all-time great jazz quartets, working hard for 4 days, too much for anyone at once, but pick a random set and be thrilled. [9] anthonybraxton-bam.bandcamp.com/album/quarte...
Quartet (England) 1985, by Anthony Braxton
13 track album
anthonybraxton-bam.bandcamp.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Pick Hit: Anthony Braxton: Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance): One of the all-time great jazz quartets, working hard for 4 days, too much for anyone at once, but pick a random set and be thrilled. [9] anthonybraxton-bam.bandcamp.com/album/quarte...
Music Week: 21 albums, 2 (+1?) A-list: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3359-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Music Week: 21 albums, 2 (+1?) A-list: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
My websites are down due to a data center migration. They should be back up tonight. Meanwhile, why are my and other Substack pages so screwed up (at least on Firefox; Chromium seems to be ok)?
December 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
My websites are down due to a data center migration. They should be back up tonight. Meanwhile, why are my and other Substack pages so screwed up (at least on Firefox; Chromium seems to be ok)?
Archived Robert Christgau's "Xgau Sez: November 2025" on his website: robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?...
Robert Christgau: Xgau Sez
robertchristgau.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Archived Robert Christgau's "Xgau Sez: November 2025" on his website: robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?...
This is a very striking title: "Gaza humanitarian foundation calls it quits after thousands die seeking its aid." It suggests that Israel has succeeded in demoralizing aid groups, but GHF seems more like a psy-op to terrorize hungry Palestinians.
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Calls It Quits After Thousands Die Seeking Its Aid
The aid group GHF oversaw relief in Gaza during a period defined by the killings of Palestinians seeking food during famine.
theintercept.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This is a very striking title: "Gaza humanitarian foundation calls it quits after thousands die seeking its aid." It suggests that Israel has succeeded in demoralizing aid groups, but GHF seems more like a psy-op to terrorize hungry Palestinians.
I also added a brief PS to yesterday's Music Week: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3358-Music-Week.html
tomhull.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I also added a brief PS to yesterday's Music Week: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
I added some more notes to Monday's Loose Tabs last night, and fixed some grave typos today: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...
Tom Hull: 3357-Loose-Tabs.html
tomhull.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I added some more notes to Monday's Loose Tabs last night, and fixed some grave typos today: tomhull.com/ocston/blog/...