James
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freemonster80.bsky.social
James
@freemonster80.bsky.social
Shouting into the Blue void to see who answers.
Looking for cats, records, books and horror with less nonsense. #MusicChallenge #MusicSky
ROC born & raised, sometimes missing my adopted JC home.
I love both their records: ‘Ignite the Rest’ is a 90’s weirdo-alt record but released in the 2010s (def a contender when we get to that debut bracket) and ‘War Poems, We Rested’ is a bit more esoteric and recalls a more focused (but still a little shambolic, it is Kelley after all) KD6K record.
January 15, 2026 at 1:01 AM
The late 90s Amps/early Breeders revival shows when Kim was going through her own struggles were ROUGH from the recordings I’ve heard, but ever since they’ve gotten clean they have been on fire in the live setting.

Speaking of Kelley, do you know the R Ring records?
January 15, 2026 at 12:49 AM
They’re the band I’ve seen the most at 11 times over the years and they’ve never been anything less than spectacular. (Though I missed the REALLY dark years.)

It did take until the full ‘Pod’ shows to ever hear “Doe” live, though, which always frustrated me as it’s my favorite.
January 15, 2026 at 12:32 AM
It’s my favorite Kim hands down, and still absolutely blows my mind like it’s the first time I’m hearing it even 24 years later.

Also, a fucking INCREDIBLE tour.
January 15, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Exactly. I get everyone has an off night and I’ve seen plenty over the years, but this one was offensive as an audience member.
January 15, 2026 at 12:26 AM
We were spared a little in 20/21 when our building didn’t increase rents much/at all due to declining occupation due to the pandemic, but they more than made up for it by jacking up the rent once they could and it just wasn’t feasible any more. (And the area is getting SO congested with new builds.)
January 15, 2026 at 12:24 AM
‘Nobody Loves You More’ is an absolute triumph of an album. (Though if we’re being honest, it’s probably only my third favorite Kim LP behind ‘Title TK’ and ‘Pacer’.)
January 15, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Obviously I didn’t go in expecting a high NRG, bells and whistles visual extravaganza of a show, it is Portishead after all, but it would have been nice to not feel like I was putting them out as an audience member. I haven’t been able to listen to them since. @bitsbitsbirch.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 12:21 AM
The entire performance was so lifeless and dull and the entire band - especially Beth - looked like they couldn’t even be bothered to be there. The final straw was when she essentially yawned her way through “Glory Box”, an all-timer of a song that should have been a triumph. 1/2
January 15, 2026 at 12:20 AM
I know we definitely got priced out of our apartment in Paulus Hook…arguably years before we left lol, but we held on as long as we could.
January 14, 2026 at 11:41 PM
‘Ferment’ 🧡
January 14, 2026 at 8:45 PM
…and, as a counter to the last post, ‘LSXX’ with ‘Pod’ encore was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen…well, five of the greatest shows (two with full ‘Pod’ encore) since I couldn’t stop going.
January 14, 2026 at 4:52 PM
One of my favorite ever record store finds was the CD pressing of ‘Dry’/‘Demonstration’ at Princeton Record Exchange for $1.99 about 10 years ago; it didn’t have its original case (so no numbered sticker), but can’t pass that up. (This LP cost me a pretty penny in the 90s so it evens out.)
January 14, 2026 at 3:07 PM
My favorite Manson; I like ‘Antichrist Superstar’ a lot and appreciate it more with time, but the schtick wore thin after that for me. (And now, obviously no thank you.)
January 14, 2026 at 1:13 AM
I loved this album when it came out, but as you say it quickly devolved into nonsense. I couldn’t tell you the last time I listened to it, now seems like a good time to give it a revisit.
January 14, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I love this record and they were an absolute blast live in the 90’s, but it does get a bit same-y over its runtime.
January 8, 2026 at 1:02 PM
“I’ve had bad dreams / so bad I threw my pillow away” from “Angel” kills me every time. 💙
January 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM