Andy Zax
@andyzax.bsky.social
Music producer. Adjective deployer. Cultural gerontologist.
Pinned
Andy Zax
@andyzax.bsky.social
· 15d
The Game Of Jim — Andy Zax
www.andyzax.com
Honored and elated to have won a 2025 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for “Extinctophonics: The Game Of Jim” in Maggot Brain #18. Hugest gratitude to @mikemcgonigal.bsky.social and Mairead Case for giving it a home.
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass at the Dolby Theatre: an unexpectedly emotional celebration of some of the 20th Century’s most popular pop music. The setlist went deep into the TJB’s ‘60s catalog: all the era-defining hits, tons of deep cuts, and a Lani Hall tribute to Sergio Mendes. Olé!
November 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass at the Dolby Theatre: an unexpectedly emotional celebration of some of the 20th Century’s most popular pop music. The setlist went deep into the TJB’s ‘60s catalog: all the era-defining hits, tons of deep cuts, and a Lani Hall tribute to Sergio Mendes. Olé!
“Calling All Girls” is one of the most brilliantly over-caffeinated singles of all time. If you’ve never experienced it before, you really should:
November 14, 2025 at 8:13 PM
“Calling All Girls” is one of the most brilliantly over-caffeinated singles of all time. If you’ve never experienced it before, you really should:
When I’m shopping for records, tedious albums with groovy covers are my greatest weakness. (This one is especially dull.)
November 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
When I’m shopping for records, tedious albums with groovy covers are my greatest weakness. (This one is especially dull.)
Eight years ago tonight, I saw Peter Perrett play the comeback gig of the century in Camden, after which I returned to my hotel room and watched old Bullseye episodes on TV for three hours. A triumphant evening.
November 5, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Eight years ago tonight, I saw Peter Perrett play the comeback gig of the century in Camden, after which I returned to my hotel room and watched old Bullseye episodes on TV for three hours. A triumphant evening.
Farewell, Joseph Byrd.
![The United States Of America [mono mix] (Columbia, 1968)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:daj27owxvu6dr5mklwcenwmu/bafkreif7qjqkudg7ddrpeiio337bcixj4sfo62hcwzzlrw6hrjwocuzcju@jpeg)
November 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Farewell, Joseph Byrd.
A few days ago, I spent five hours in a vinyl bar in San Diego playing more than a hundred 7-inch singles for a remarkably tolerant and generous audience. I am certain that my best segue of the evening was “Mind Train” —> “Fingleheimer Stomp.”
November 2, 2025 at 6:57 PM
A few days ago, I spent five hours in a vinyl bar in San Diego playing more than a hundred 7-inch singles for a remarkably tolerant and generous audience. I am certain that my best segue of the evening was “Mind Train” —> “Fingleheimer Stomp.”
Reposted by Andy Zax
Each issue of Maggot Brain is a reliably good read from cover to cover, but Andy's column is what prodded me into finally subscribing, and this piece was a highlight. Well deserved!
Honored and elated to have won a 2025 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for “Extinctophonics: The Game Of Jim” in Maggot Brain #18. Hugest gratitude to @mikemcgonigal.bsky.social and Mairead Case for giving it a home.
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
The Game Of Jim — Andy Zax
www.andyzax.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Each issue of Maggot Brain is a reliably good read from cover to cover, but Andy's column is what prodded me into finally subscribing, and this piece was a highlight. Well deserved!
Honored and elated to have won a 2025 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for “Extinctophonics: The Game Of Jim” in Maggot Brain #18. Hugest gratitude to @mikemcgonigal.bsky.social and Mairead Case for giving it a home.
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
The Game Of Jim — Andy Zax
www.andyzax.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Honored and elated to have won a 2025 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for “Extinctophonics: The Game Of Jim” in Maggot Brain #18. Hugest gratitude to @mikemcgonigal.bsky.social and Mairead Case for giving it a home.
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
MB remains analog-only, but you can read the piece here:
Soft Cell were the first group whose preferred mode of expression was not the album or the 45 but the 12-inch single, and this compilation is one of the half-dozen or so greatest releases of the ‘80s. #daveball
October 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Soft Cell were the first group whose preferred mode of expression was not the album or the 45 but the 12-inch single, and this compilation is one of the half-dozen or so greatest releases of the ‘80s. #daveball
Even after 20 years of obsessive listening and talmudic scholarship, I keep finding new things to love about The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat. The anniversary edition sounds better than any previous LP or CD and adds a worthwhile unreleased track. They only made 500 copies; get one if you can.
October 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Even after 20 years of obsessive listening and talmudic scholarship, I keep finding new things to love about The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat. The anniversary edition sounds better than any previous LP or CD and adds a worthwhile unreleased track. They only made 500 copies; get one if you can.
Best, and most relatable, sign at No Kings today: “Agoraphobes For Democracy.”
October 18, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Best, and most relatable, sign at No Kings today: “Agoraphobes For Democracy.”
I got covid for the first time ten days ago. (I’m fine now.) Two important takeaways:
1) mRNA vaccines and paxlovid are fucking awesome.
2) At some point in the last few years, saltines, which I crave whenever I get sick, became borderline-inedible squares made of some sort of caulking material.
1) mRNA vaccines and paxlovid are fucking awesome.
2) At some point in the last few years, saltines, which I crave whenever I get sick, became borderline-inedible squares made of some sort of caulking material.
October 15, 2025 at 12:42 AM
I got covid for the first time ten days ago. (I’m fine now.) Two important takeaways:
1) mRNA vaccines and paxlovid are fucking awesome.
2) At some point in the last few years, saltines, which I crave whenever I get sick, became borderline-inedible squares made of some sort of caulking material.
1) mRNA vaccines and paxlovid are fucking awesome.
2) At some point in the last few years, saltines, which I crave whenever I get sick, became borderline-inedible squares made of some sort of caulking material.
I would enjoy time-traveling back to 1969 just to visit the A&M Records promo department and “Well, actually…” the ignoramus responsible for the copy on this picture sleeve.
October 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I would enjoy time-traveling back to 1969 just to visit the A&M Records promo department and “Well, actually…” the ignoramus responsible for the copy on this picture sleeve.
I can count the good things that have come from social media in the last dozen years on maybe three fingers, and Justin and @dicknixon.bsky.social are two of them.
Justin is one of our great living writers. I don't say that lightly. I am not nice enough to pay a false compliment, even to a good friend. His work as @dicknixon.bsky.social has been transformative to me, and takes such dedication and talent I can hardly fathom it.
October 7, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I can count the good things that have come from social media in the last dozen years on maybe three fingers, and Justin and @dicknixon.bsky.social are two of them.
This fall: action wears a Homburg!
October 3, 2025 at 11:12 PM
This fall: action wears a Homburg!
A dreamy electric Brit-jazz LP from 1970 that’s in desperate need of a reissue. Henry Lowther was (and still is) a virtuoso trumpeter/violinist, who played Woodstock as a member of the luckless Keef Hartley Band. Next time I DJ out, I’m playing “Trav’lling Song” into Fairport’s “A Sailor’s Life.”
October 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A dreamy electric Brit-jazz LP from 1970 that’s in desperate need of a reissue. Henry Lowther was (and still is) a virtuoso trumpeter/violinist, who played Woodstock as a member of the luckless Keef Hartley Band. Next time I DJ out, I’m playing “Trav’lling Song” into Fairport’s “A Sailor’s Life.”
Reposted by Andy Zax
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
September 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
Reposted by Andy Zax
A farewell to my friend, Kaleb Horton, a great writer who died unexpectedly this past weekend.
Kaleb Horton RIP
A farewell to my friend Kaleb Horton, a great writer who died unexpectedly this past weekend.
sterlewine.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
A farewell to my friend, Kaleb Horton, a great writer who died unexpectedly this past weekend.
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
September 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
While going through text messages from Kaleb—insert an image of Charlie Brown saying “sigh” here—I found this, from about a year ago. The point he was making applies to all of us.
I wouldn’t have understood this as a teenager, but recent losses have convinced me that, metaphorically speaking, you’re a lot better off trying to have Bob Seger’s career than Ian Curtis’s.
September 28, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I wouldn’t have understood this as a teenager, but recent losses have convinced me that, metaphorically speaking, you’re a lot better off trying to have Bob Seger’s career than Ian Curtis’s.
A few months ago, I found a t-shirt I bought at a Dylan/Petty concert I took my grandmother to in 1986. I felt certain that the only person capable of appreciating its talismanic qualities was Kaleb, so I gave it to him and he was delighted (or he pretended to be). Anyway: I miss him.
September 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A few months ago, I found a t-shirt I bought at a Dylan/Petty concert I took my grandmother to in 1986. I felt certain that the only person capable of appreciating its talismanic qualities was Kaleb, so I gave it to him and he was delighted (or he pretended to be). Anyway: I miss him.
“I’ve seen so much more F Troop than a normal person should see.”
—Kaleb Horton
—Kaleb Horton
September 27, 2025 at 4:58 PM
“I’ve seen so much more F Troop than a normal person should see.”
—Kaleb Horton
—Kaleb Horton
An eloquent requiem for a psychedelic warlord who has disappeared in smoke.
Shiver-inducing tribute to the late John Whitson, who ran the legendary Holy Mountain label, by Al Cisneros, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Ben Chasny, and Matthew Tobias.
theholymountainorchestra.bandcamp.com/track/song-f...
theholymountainorchestra.bandcamp.com/track/song-f...
Song for JW, by The Holy Mountain Orchestra
track by The Holy Mountain Orchestra
theholymountainorchestra.bandcamp.com
September 21, 2025 at 5:13 AM
An eloquent requiem for a psychedelic warlord who has disappeared in smoke.