I was but I was 8. In my teens I put them away as thought I was supposed to, but slowly came back around in my 30s (largely thanks to picking up Gold in a charity shop and falling in love again with SOS).

Agreement here too.

You see so many of these alleged ‘articles’ that feel like little more than press releases from tech companies desperate to make a name for themselves. Depressing.

I enjoyed it. One of my favourites for the year even although I think it needs a few more listens to embed before I’m sure.

Nothing to add - exactly right.

Again - all agreement. Even Dylan, perhaps the greatest lyricist in the past 70 years, had to write (or at least borrow) a good tune first. Despite all the gushing directed at his lyricism (arguably deserved), people often forget his musicality. And that, to me at least, is what matters.

Completely agree. I sympathise (to a degree), it's hard to write about music - it's a completely different language - and people do like a good story. But, put crudely, I've never bopped to good lyrics.

I agree with much of what you write here, but I'm not sure I've ever agreed with you so emphatically as I do when you say 'pull yourselves away from the fucking lyrics.' Lyrics are fine (of course) but they are one component of many, and rarely the most decisive.

I’m pretty sure I listen to far more albums per week than your average - probably something like four-six per day (I work from home at the moment) - so ~42 a week. 22 records would mean that I’d not properly absorbed them all *plus* not listened to anything else. How’s that good?

That is awful. If the article itself wasn’t banal enough…

I enjoyed the Sudan Archives. I’ve only given one listen so far. Very club heavy, but fun. Time will tell if it stacks up. I’ve not listened to the Mozart Estate just yet. I’ll try to this week. Lawrence is someone I’ve not given enough time to.

I find sometimes that it incentivises not buying stuff on release date.

The amount of our lives we place on these platforms can be significant. I stepped away from FB deliberately - I just couldn’t stomach Meta any more - but there was a lot of weird regret and sadness to see that much of my personality go to the wind.

Sadly, I’m not surprised re: unhelpful chatbot. They’re just not that bothered about people as people - it’s just data, advertising and attention farming for them, I think.

Thank you! Appreciated

This week it's a weird mix of French pop, 80s, 90s indie rock and early Warp. I do my best.

A sad read but a good one. With that qualification, I enjoyed it. Thank you.