Alan Ranta
@alanranta.bsky.social
Freelance ranter about music, movies, books and TV since 2004. Bylines in such esteemed outlets as Exclaim!, PopMatters, Bandcamp, CBC Music and the Georgia Straight. Longtime Polaris Prize and Juno Awards juror. (he/him)
Pinned
Sisu: Road to Revenge - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
My mom and I went to see 'Sisu 2’ yesterday. It was surprisingly funny, for an action-revenge movie. I never thought my mom would laugh so hard about commies getting blasted in different ways. This was way more fun than most DC movies, and it was made for $12m.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
Reposted by Alan Ranta
Gebrauchsgraphik, Jan 1968
Cover by André Chante
Cover by André Chante
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Gebrauchsgraphik, Jan 1968
Cover by André Chante
Cover by André Chante
"Shit happens."
- Gene Roddenberry
- Gene Roddenberry
November 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
"Shit happens."
- Gene Roddenberry
- Gene Roddenberry
Reposted by Alan Ranta
"Just as people have been checking labels in supermarkets and urging folks to 'Buy Canadian,' it’s also important to 'Listen Canadian.'"
Polaris jury foreperson @touchofallright.bsky.social drops some truthin' for @thewalrus.ca.
Polaris jury foreperson @touchofallright.bsky.social drops some truthin' for @thewalrus.ca.
From Céline Dion to Drake, Canada has produced some music heavyweights. But between funding cuts, streaming loopholes, and pressure from the US, the future of Canadian music depends on how we show up now. Writer @touchofallright.bsky.social explores: thewalrus.ca/amid-buy-canadia...
November 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
"Just as people have been checking labels in supermarkets and urging folks to 'Buy Canadian,' it’s also important to 'Listen Canadian.'"
Polaris jury foreperson @touchofallright.bsky.social drops some truthin' for @thewalrus.ca.
Polaris jury foreperson @touchofallright.bsky.social drops some truthin' for @thewalrus.ca.
Reposted by Alan Ranta
Months ago I saw Timbaland reviewing people's music for crazy cheap on TikTok live and thought "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
Then we found out what Tim's been up to. Training an AI music model for a garbage new AI artist.
Now I'm thinking "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
Then we found out what Tim's been up to. Training an AI music model for a garbage new AI artist.
Now I'm thinking "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
November 28, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Months ago I saw Timbaland reviewing people's music for crazy cheap on TikTok live and thought "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
Then we found out what Tim's been up to. Training an AI music model for a garbage new AI artist.
Now I'm thinking "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
Then we found out what Tim's been up to. Training an AI music model for a garbage new AI artist.
Now I'm thinking "damn, is Timbaland that hard up for cash?"
Reposted by Alan Ranta
25 percent off everything at my online store with the code STEPOUT until Monday night:
cadenceweapononlinemerch.myshopify.com/collections/all
Anyone who gets something with the promo code is entered into a raffle for a one-on-one virtual hang with me 👋🏽
cadenceweapononlinemerch.myshopify.com/collections/all
Anyone who gets something with the promo code is entered into a raffle for a one-on-one virtual hang with me 👋🏽
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
25 percent off everything at my online store with the code STEPOUT until Monday night:
cadenceweapononlinemerch.myshopify.com/collections/all
Anyone who gets something with the promo code is entered into a raffle for a one-on-one virtual hang with me 👋🏽
cadenceweapononlinemerch.myshopify.com/collections/all
Anyone who gets something with the promo code is entered into a raffle for a one-on-one virtual hang with me 👋🏽
Reposted by Alan Ranta
They're bringing back the 'U.S. Marihuana Tax Act of 1937?'
wrote about the "hemp ban" that Congress snuck into the government-reopening bill, the impact it's already having on angry farmers and brewers and small-biz owners across the country, the misconceptions around the plant, and the lobbies that agitated for this crackdown: slate.com/business/202...
November 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
They're bringing back the 'U.S. Marihuana Tax Act of 1937?'
I've been listening to Buckminster Fuller all day. That dude was smart.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckmin...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckmin...
Buckminster Fuller - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 29, 2025 at 12:26 AM
I've been listening to Buckminster Fuller all day. That dude was smart.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckmin...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckmin...
Reposted by Alan Ranta
That's it for my series on Stephen Malkmus, truly a singular songwriter, singer, guitar player, bandleader, and interviewee. If you missed any of the posts analyzing one song from each of Malkmus's nine solo albums, the entire series is collected here:
reclinernotes.com/stephen-malk...
reclinernotes.com/stephen-malk...
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
That's it for my series on Stephen Malkmus, truly a singular songwriter, singer, guitar player, bandleader, and interviewee. If you missed any of the posts analyzing one song from each of Malkmus's nine solo albums, the entire series is collected here:
reclinernotes.com/stephen-malk...
reclinernotes.com/stephen-malk...
Reposted by Alan Ranta
Reposted by Alan Ranta
Wishing everyone a Wednesday Addams Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Wishing everyone a Wednesday Addams Thanksgiving
Reposted by Alan Ranta
#CALIBRO35 new single alert! Listen to Grover Washington Jr.’s classic 'Mr Magic' gone afro-funk. Out today on all streaming platforms and dropping Feb 06 on a limited edition clear orange 45 with 'Vitamin C' on the B-side. Only 600 copies, instant collector’s item: recordkicks.lnk.to/mistermagic
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
#CALIBRO35 new single alert! Listen to Grover Washington Jr.’s classic 'Mr Magic' gone afro-funk. Out today on all streaming platforms and dropping Feb 06 on a limited edition clear orange 45 with 'Vitamin C' on the B-side. Only 600 copies, instant collector’s item: recordkicks.lnk.to/mistermagic
Reposted by Alan Ranta
We´re excited to share »𝗫-𝗥𝗮𝘆« from »𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲«, the upcoming album by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 out March 13th 2026.
»𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲« is available to pre-order in different vinyl color versions -> linktr.ee/notwist
Artwork by: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁
youtu.be/Szaz6ShHKxo?...
»𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲« is available to pre-order in different vinyl color versions -> linktr.ee/notwist
Artwork by: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁
youtu.be/Szaz6ShHKxo?...
The Notwist: X-Ray
YouTube video by morrmusic
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We´re excited to share »𝗫-𝗥𝗮𝘆« from »𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲«, the upcoming album by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 out March 13th 2026.
»𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲« is available to pre-order in different vinyl color versions -> linktr.ee/notwist
Artwork by: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁
youtu.be/Szaz6ShHKxo?...
»𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲« is available to pre-order in different vinyl color versions -> linktr.ee/notwist
Artwork by: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁
youtu.be/Szaz6ShHKxo?...
My mom and I went to see 'Sisu 2’ yesterday. It was surprisingly funny, for an action-revenge movie. I never thought my mom would laugh so hard about commies getting blasted in different ways. This was way more fun than most DC movies, and it was made for $12m.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
Sisu: Road to Revenge - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
My mom and I went to see 'Sisu 2’ yesterday. It was surprisingly funny, for an action-revenge movie. I never thought my mom would laugh so hard about commies getting blasted in different ways. This was way more fun than most DC movies, and it was made for $12m.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu:_R...
For those of you who think I have changed over the years, this is what I had published by Kamloops This Week on November 22, 2002. You be the judge.
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
For those of you who think I have changed over the years, this is what I had published by Kamloops This Week on November 22, 2002. You be the judge.
How things change in fifty years...
November 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
How things change in fifty years...
Toki does not approve of how I like to play with the tube.
November 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Toki does not approve of how I like to play with the tube.
Turns out Lawrence O’Donnell is in favor of sacrificing 6% of Americans, killing at least 50,000 of them every year, in order to protect the unity of establishment Democrats like Chuckles. Way to sell-out, Larry! You were one of the last mainstream heads worth listening to.
youtu.be/XGnfLs-G2p4?...
youtu.be/XGnfLs-G2p4?...
Lawrence: Trump says 65% of Americans are ‘FOOLS!’
YouTube video by MSNBC
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Turns out Lawrence O’Donnell is in favor of sacrificing 6% of Americans, killing at least 50,000 of them every year, in order to protect the unity of establishment Democrats like Chuckles. Way to sell-out, Larry! You were one of the last mainstream heads worth listening to.
youtu.be/XGnfLs-G2p4?...
youtu.be/XGnfLs-G2p4?...
50,000,000 d'hommes
YouTube video by Robert Charlebois - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Sure would be nice if Aziz Ansari didn't play the Riyadh Comedy Festival. His new movie is really funny and poignant, but the whole message rings hollow as soon as you leave the theatre and realize Aziz performs for blood money, which ensures people live lives far worse than the one he didn't want.
November 1, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Sure would be nice if Aziz Ansari didn't play the Riyadh Comedy Festival. His new movie is really funny and poignant, but the whole message rings hollow as soon as you leave the theatre and realize Aziz performs for blood money, which ensures people live lives far worse than the one he didn't want.
Happy Halloween, y'all!
November 1, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Happy Halloween, y'all!