CJ Simonson
@cjsimonson.bsky.social
Editor-in-Chief At Merry-Go-Round Magazine | Arizona Sports and Music Posts Exclusively | merrygoroundmag@gmail.com
https://merrygoroundmagazine.com/
https://merrygoroundmagazine.com/
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CJ Simonson
@cjsimonson.bsky.social
· Dec 12
And without further ado, my top 100 albums of 2024. Could I keep listening to more? Sure. Do I want to. The answer is confusing. Cheers!
Reposted by CJ Simonson
Five years ago, we claimed Danny Brown was the best artist of the 2010s. Half a decade later he might be in the conversation for the greatest of all time.
On the difference five years makes, QUARANTA, his podcast, and the brilliantly colorful STARDUST.
On the difference five years makes, QUARANTA, his podcast, and the brilliantly colorful STARDUST.
Danny Brown is the Greatest of All Time - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
Five years ago, we claimed Danny Brown was the best artist of the 2010s. Checking in now, he might be in the conversation for the greatest artist of all time.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Five years ago, we claimed Danny Brown was the best artist of the 2010s. Half a decade later he might be in the conversation for the greatest of all time.
On the difference five years makes, QUARANTA, his podcast, and the brilliantly colorful STARDUST.
On the difference five years makes, QUARANTA, his podcast, and the brilliantly colorful STARDUST.
Reposted by CJ Simonson
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring @zayallcaps.bsky.social's modern madcap pop spectacle ART POP * POP ART and bloodsports' thrillingly aggressive ANYTHING CAN BE A HAMMER! Read about both and then check them out over on @bandcamp.com!
Bandcamp Picks: zayALLCAPS & bloodsports - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring zayALLCAPS' modern madcap pop spectacle ART POP * POP ART and bloodsports' thrillingly aggressive ANYTHING CAN BE A HAMMER!
merrygoroundmagazine.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring @zayallcaps.bsky.social's modern madcap pop spectacle ART POP * POP ART and bloodsports' thrillingly aggressive ANYTHING CAN BE A HAMMER! Read about both and then check them out over on @bandcamp.com!
For so much of my life the Spurs and the Lakers were the teams I hated the most, denying those Suns teams in the 2000s Finals opportunities. But... since living in Los Angeles, it's become the Dodgers and its not really that close.
November 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM
For so much of my life the Spurs and the Lakers were the teams I hated the most, denying those Suns teams in the 2000s Finals opportunities. But... since living in Los Angeles, it's become the Dodgers and its not really that close.
Should’ve ended with a grand slam against the bigot Clayton Kershaw smh
October 28, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Should’ve ended with a grand slam against the bigot Clayton Kershaw smh
Reposted by CJ Simonson
The 1%’er Pro-ICE Dodgers winning the World Series is just a bit on the nose no?
October 18, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The 1%’er Pro-ICE Dodgers winning the World Series is just a bit on the nose no?
Reposted by CJ Simonson
I'm over at @mgrmagazine.bsky.social for the first time writing about the finale of "WTF With Marc Maron," and the concept of what is or isn't a "satisfying" podcast finale at all in an era where it's eclipsing even legacy TV.
merrygoroundmagazine.com/wtf-do-we-th...
merrygoroundmagazine.com/wtf-do-we-th...
merrygoroundmagazine.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I'm over at @mgrmagazine.bsky.social for the first time writing about the finale of "WTF With Marc Maron," and the concept of what is or isn't a "satisfying" podcast finale at all in an era where it's eclipsing even legacy TV.
merrygoroundmagazine.com/wtf-do-we-th...
merrygoroundmagazine.com/wtf-do-we-th...
Reposted by CJ Simonson
We had the honor to chat with director Emily Mkrtichian to discuss her new documentary THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT. She broke down the visceral immediacy of the conflicts facing production, the challenges and triumphs of connecting with and celebrating Armenian heritage, and more!
Interview: Emily Mkrtichian On The Triumphs and Tribulations Within THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
Emily Mkrtichian discusses her new film THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT, breaking down the characters, the visceral immediacy of the conflicts facing the production, and the challenges and triumphs of connec...
merrygoroundmagazine.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We had the honor to chat with director Emily Mkrtichian to discuss her new documentary THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT. She broke down the visceral immediacy of the conflicts facing production, the challenges and triumphs of connecting with and celebrating Armenian heritage, and more!
Reposted by CJ Simonson
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring the imaginative and inspired ambience of Kirin McElwain's YOUTH, out now via @akprecordings.bsky.social, and the crushingly soulful lo-fi folk of Emily Hines' THESE DAYS, out now via @keeledscales.bsky.social! Read about both albums today!
Bandcamp Picks: Emily Hines & Kirin McElwain - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring the imaginative and inspiring ambience of Kirin McElwain's YOUTH, out now via AKP Recordings, and the crushingly soulful lo-fi folk of Emily Hines' THES...
merrygoroundmagazine.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It's our Bandcamp Picks of the Week, featuring the imaginative and inspired ambience of Kirin McElwain's YOUTH, out now via @akprecordings.bsky.social, and the crushingly soulful lo-fi folk of Emily Hines' THESE DAYS, out now via @keeledscales.bsky.social! Read about both albums today!
I get that there are too many bands mining the Hum/Deftones/Nothing'y space right now and it's beginning to feel pretty derivative but I just thing the Glimmer album is sick anyway lol
October 7, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I get that there are too many bands mining the Hum/Deftones/Nothing'y space right now and it's beginning to feel pretty derivative but I just thing the Glimmer album is sick anyway lol
Reposted by CJ Simonson
Listen to Editor-in-Chief @cjsimonson.bsky.social gab about the music of the early '50s over on the @indieheadspod.bsky.social!
Out now wherever you find podcasts, we’re joined by @mgrmagazine.bsky.social’s @cjsimonson.bsky.social on this season premiere of our new series, The 1950’s Number Ones.
Find your platform of choice here: linktr.ee/indieheadspodcast
Find your platform of choice here: linktr.ee/indieheadspodcast
September 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Listen to Editor-in-Chief @cjsimonson.bsky.social gab about the music of the early '50s over on the @indieheadspod.bsky.social!
Reposted by CJ Simonson
On the premiere episode of the 1950's Number Ones, we're joined by @mgrmagazine.bsky.social’s @cjsimonson.bsky.social as we relay every #1 hit from Truman’s State of the Union to the End of the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River.
Support us now on Patreon to hear the full episode over 48 hours early!
Support us now on Patreon to hear the full episode over 48 hours early!
September 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
On the premiere episode of the 1950's Number Ones, we're joined by @mgrmagazine.bsky.social’s @cjsimonson.bsky.social as we relay every #1 hit from Truman’s State of the Union to the End of the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River.
Support us now on Patreon to hear the full episode over 48 hours early!
Support us now on Patreon to hear the full episode over 48 hours early!
Best Golden Apples album to date by quite a bit, in my estimation
Golden Apples - "Noonday Demon" (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by lameorecords
www.youtube.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Best Golden Apples album to date by quite a bit, in my estimation
Wrote about some plane movies:
The last two gasps for summer box office relevance came and went, with THE ROSES and CAUGHT STEALING falling flat as fine films ideal for cable commercial interruption. TNT? USA? TBS? This kind of amicable, average, agreeable filmmaking is for you!
So-So Summer Concludes with Middling Cable Classics In THE ROSES and CAUGHT STEALING - MGRM
The last two major gasps for summer box office relevance came and went, with both THE ROSES and CAUGHT STEALING landing as average films ideal for cable commercial interruption.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Wrote about some plane movies:
Reposted by CJ Simonson
You think I just go on and on and on about comics? No, dude, my blow-hard-ed-ness also applies to music, like that of the awesome BRNDA. My latest for @mgrmagazine.bsky.social:
BRNDA Remain Ravenous for Fresh Ideas and Challenges - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
Washington, D.C.’s BRNDA explore a playful collage of human suffering on TOTAL PAIN the same way they always have, by offering brilliantly dry art-rock that eschews boundaries and boxes.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
You think I just go on and on and on about comics? No, dude, my blow-hard-ed-ness also applies to music, like that of the awesome BRNDA. My latest for @mgrmagazine.bsky.social:
Love Jens Lekman, but that was TOO MUCH Jens Lekman.
September 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Love Jens Lekman, but that was TOO MUCH Jens Lekman.
Reposted by CJ Simonson
@chrisdeville.bsky.social's new book, SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS, is a thorough and often necessary feeling exploration of blog era indie rock writ large, from Pavement to Mitski to Sufjan and beyond. For those of us who lived it, it's a refreshing read but a devastating reminder of the passage of time.
I Was There: SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS Is A Necessary Indie Rock Compendium - MGRM
Chris DeVille's new book, SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS, is thorough exploration of blog era indie rock. For those who lived it, it's a refreshing read if not a devastating reminder of the passage of time.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
@chrisdeville.bsky.social's new book, SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS, is a thorough and often necessary feeling exploration of blog era indie rock writ large, from Pavement to Mitski to Sufjan and beyond. For those of us who lived it, it's a refreshing read but a devastating reminder of the passage of time.
Reposted by CJ Simonson
Merry-Go-Round Magazine is officially 10 years old! Owner and former Editor-in-Chief Thomas Seraydarian reflects on what a decade has meant—the ups, the downs, last weekend's MGRM10 shows, and the zen art of just continuing to do it the same as it ever was (because someone has to).
Merry-Go-Round Magazine at 10 - MGRM
Celebrating 10 years of Merry-Go-Round Magazine, formerly known as Crossfader, Owner Thomas Seraydarian looks back on a decade of independent publishing.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Merry-Go-Round Magazine is officially 10 years old! Owner and former Editor-in-Chief Thomas Seraydarian reflects on what a decade has meant—the ups, the downs, last weekend's MGRM10 shows, and the zen art of just continuing to do it the same as it ever was (because someone has to).
Wrote about a few things I’m nostalgic for (Streetlight Manifesto, Nanami Ozone):
Happy Bandcamp Friday! Check out our Picks of the Week, including a charity compilation of Streetlight Manifesto covers put together by @lonelyghostrecords.com, and Neu Blume's year best cosmic folk album LET IT WIN! Read about both and then support them on @bandcamp.com!
Bandcamp Picks: Neu Blume & 16 SONGS OF REVOLUTION - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
It's our Bandcamp Picks, including a charity compilation of Streetlight Manifesto covers thrown together by Lonely Ghost Records, and Neu Blume's year best cosmic folk album LET IT WIN!
merrygoroundmagazine.com
August 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Wrote about a few things I’m nostalgic for (Streetlight Manifesto, Nanami Ozone):
The thing about TONY HAWK PRO SKATER 3 + 4 is that 4 is remarkably harder than 3.
July 26, 2025 at 6:34 AM
The thing about TONY HAWK PRO SKATER 3 + 4 is that 4 is remarkably harder than 3.
Reposted by CJ Simonson
Twenty years after its release, and on July 4th no less, Sufjan Stevens' ILLINOIS feels like a hopeful piece of fiction. The America in these songs isn’t the one we live in today, but through community and solidarity, we can make it into something better.
ILLINOIS at 20: Envisioning an America Worth Celebrating - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
On the 20th anniversary of its release, Sufjan Stevens' ILLINOIS reads as a remarkable piece of fiction, a hopeful vision for an America and a Chicago that don't currently exist.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
July 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Twenty years after its release, and on July 4th no less, Sufjan Stevens' ILLINOIS feels like a hopeful piece of fiction. The America in these songs isn’t the one we live in today, but through community and solidarity, we can make it into something better.
The thing about Wavves is, they're a genuinely amazing singles band, and if I was *insert name of big pop punk / rock band* I'd hire Nathan to help write songs for me yesterday
July 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The thing about Wavves is, they're a genuinely amazing singles band, and if I was *insert name of big pop punk / rock band* I'd hire Nathan to help write songs for me yesterday
Reposted by CJ Simonson
@jackprobst.com is dusting off some LPs and exploring how music becomes etched into our own stories. This month: Learning to wear earplugs. Contemplating your sexuality. Awkwardly meeting your idols. Bob Mould's BODY OF SONG. It's a tale from the Bargain Bin!
The Bargain Bin: Bob Mould's BODY OF SONG - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
Learning to wear earplugs. Contemplating your sexuality. The awkwardness of meeting your idols. Bob Mould's BODY OF SONG. It's a tale from the Bargain Bin!
merrygoroundmagazine.com
June 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
@jackprobst.com is dusting off some LPs and exploring how music becomes etched into our own stories. This month: Learning to wear earplugs. Contemplating your sexuality. Awkwardly meeting your idols. Bob Mould's BODY OF SONG. It's a tale from the Bargain Bin!
At one point a sound drop of Don in the final episode of MAD MEN lamenting he’s never made anything of himself transitions us into A$AP Rocky’s “Everyday,” you should come and dance with us!
We’re thrilled to announce (at the decade mark of Carly Rae Jepsen’s own essential text no less) E•MO•TION: A 2015 Dance Party! In looking back on 10 years of MGRM, we thought it appropriate to kitchen sink the year of our founding into one big disco night.
June 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
At one point a sound drop of Don in the final episode of MAD MEN lamenting he’s never made anything of himself transitions us into A$AP Rocky’s “Everyday,” you should come and dance with us!
Processed my hatred of MATERIALISTS:
There is little in the way of conflict in MATERIALISTS, a film that has been sold as a love triangle romance but in reality features zero love triangles. Celine Song is becoming a bad version of Nora Ephron for a braindead cohort of young romantics.
MATERIALISTS Checks Zero Boxes - Merry-Go-Round Magazine
MATERIALISTS, Celine Song's much anticipated PAST LIVES follow up, sells itself as a love triangle. It's not only not that, it's just flat out bad.
merrygoroundmagazine.com
June 21, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Processed my hatred of MATERIALISTS: