Ryan Reed
@rysreed
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@SPIN senior editor / reviews editor (online) | writer for Relix, GuitarWorld, etc. / author of Fleetwood Mac FAQ | musician, former adjunct prof, Radiohead fan
Knoxville, TN
Joined July 2011
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Freelancers, keep pitching me!
ryan(dot)reed(at)spin(dot)com
Essays, profiles, lists, oral histories — whatever. Music and/or culture. Angle just needs to be fresh and/or the subject matter unique. Quirky is good, but it's obvious when people are forcing it. (1/3)
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Call for pitches: SPIN has a new interview series featuring owners of hole-in-the-wall record stores. If you have a suggestion and want to contribute, reach out: ryan dot reed at spin dot com.
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Hi there! Seeking pitches for music/culture stories: ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com. Bring your fun/weird/silly/thought-provoking ideas. No "album coming out" profiles. No reviews. Pretty anything else is cool. (This guidance only applies to me. Not speaking for other editors.) (1/?)
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Writers: pitch me! Mostly interested in evergreen stories and those timed for September/beyond. Not interested in "artist has new album" profiles. Bring me your weird/quirky shit. (This guidance only applies to me. Can't speak for the other editors.) ryan(dot)reed(at)spin(dot)com
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Feels like a strange time to celebrate a career development, but...maybe it's also the best time(?) Anyway, I'm now editing the soon-to-be-revamped album reviews section at SPIN! More details soon. For now, I need to start assigning! (Writers, think Feb. and beyond.) (1/3)
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Another call for pitches: Seeking music profiles for March/beyond. (If you already pitch these to another editor, you can keep doing so. I'm just assigning a lot more now.) Nothing specific here—just searching for intriguing stories and sounds, ideally with a unique angle. (1/2)
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We're doing a new series where writers explore the music lore of their hometowns: the legends and tall tales, the songs/albums based on wild things that actually happened, the obscure bands that never broke out but should have. Feel free to pitch me: ryan dot reed at spin dot com
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Hoping to expand the bench of freelancers for my SPIN list projects. If you're a blurb wizard, hit me up at ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com. Rockers welcome, but I'd especially like to hear from experts in hip-hop, R&B, metal, and jazz. (Please email ME, not another editor. Thanks!)
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It's been a rough few months for many reasons. But here's some exciting PERSONAL NEWS: I got bumped up to Senior Editor at
@SPIN
! I'm excited to take on a bigger role. Huge thanks to
@danielkohn
and the whole crew. (1/2)
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I'm excited about how this is shaping up! Door always open for pitches. (I'd particularly like to see more pitches for rap/jazz/metal/R&B/experimental rock in its various forms.) ryan dot reed at spin dot com
Feels like a strange time to celebrate a career development, but...maybe it's also the best time(?) Anyway, I'm now editing the soon-to-be-revamped album reviews section at SPIN! More details soon. For now, I need to start assigning! (Writers, think Feb. and beyond.) (1/3)
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If any aspiring music journalists ever want to chat about this very weird career, hit me up. I started out with no contacts/credentials/clue what I was doing, and I lived in the Bible Belt. I’ve been there, feeling like it isn’t possible. It’d be cool to give back somehow.
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Transcribing an interview and reliving a staple of music journalist anxiety: "I only have 30 minutes for this phoner, and the introductory chit-chat is really taking a long time."
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I write about music for a living but also MAKE music for the love of it. And I'm fascinated by how others balance these overlapping passions — the blurry ethical lines, the awkward moments. So I told a bit of my story and chatted with some other folks. (1)
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You know the part of freelancing I enjoy the most? Having to ask 400 times if I can, um, actually get that money we talked about — and then feeling guilty later, like I'm bothering someone. Weird way to make a living. (This tweet is not directed at any of my regular outlets.)
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Some names that people have called me this week while pitching: “Ryan,” “R,” “Reed,” “Andy,” “Editor,” and (my favorite) “Vanessa.”
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Big piece, big day. I made my debut in the Pitchfork reviews section by tackling one of the greatest albums ever. (Huge thanks to
@jeremydlarson
, who helped me tremendously.)
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I had a nice chat with Craig Finn of
@theholdsteady
about their new album, the different kinds of producers, and the challenge of evolving.
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👽 Personal news 👻 Last night was my final RS news shift. It's been eight years — most of my adult life. Crazy. I'm still a contributing editor at SPIN and UCR, and I'm freelancing a ton. But if I can write for you (reviews, features, bios, etc), hit me here: ryanreed231
@gmail
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1) Pitch amazing, exclusive dream story to huge pub. 2) Mention to publicist that I'm pitching there. 3) Band's team decides that's THE pub. 4) Editor passes. 5) Publicist asks me to help break in there, so we brainstorm. 6) Pub staff writer convinces editor, claims story. 7) lol
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A uniquely freelancer experience: having a paywall prevent you from accessing a years-old article you forgot you wrote.
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I'm open to anything and everything. Just want to follow the trail of the exciting/original. ryan dot reed at spin dot com. If you pitch, please include clips, a logical subject line, and summary of your thoughts. Please email rather than DM. I'm not on here much. (2/3)
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- Obvious, I know, but I'm looking for music/pop culture stories. (It's always clear when a writer has never visited the site.)
- Please link some published clips relevant to your pitch. (So if you're pitching a music story, don't include PDF files of local sports writing.)
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Email ryan dot reed at spin dot com. Please don't DM. (I try to minimize my time on here.) Please include related clips, a paragraph or so about your idea (not just "I want to interview TK about Y"), and a subject line that makes sense (ideally "Pitch: _____"). Thank you!
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I interviewed the great Phil Selway about his atmospheric new solo LP, Radiohead's future, the drumming in "Pyramid Song," and other assorted geekery.
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It's a long shot request for my feed, but I'm looking for writers who are experts in popular music from the 1920s. (This could be a paid opportunity.) If this sounds like you, DM here or email me at ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com.
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Money depends on multiple factors, and I'm usually just the messenger. Remember to link out to your previous clips. Put "PITCH" in your email and, if possible, keep the message fairly short. I'll try to answer questions if you have them. Thanks! (3/3)
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Some of my favorite production ever. So many perfect moments: the tumbling-down-the-stairs piano loop at 1:02, the stereo-panned bass lines finishing each other's sentences at 1:13, the trebly drums crashing in at 1:45. The mood is so sinister. Essential.
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Just dropping in to say...holy shit. The response so far has been phenomenal. I'm gonna spend the next four months wading through all these pitches, but it's worth it. Thanks for all your enthusiasm! (My bucket list of record stores has also quadrupled, so there's that.)
Call for pitches: SPIN has a new interview series featuring owners of hole-in-the-wall record stores. If you have a suggestion and want to contribute, reach out: ryan dot reed at spin dot com.
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An interview with a local street performer who plays the musical saw and recites spoken word? I'm intrigued. The 20 Best Beatles Songs? Nah. Evergreen ideas welcome. (Remember: There are several editors here. These are just suggestions for pitching *me.*) (2/3)
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As part of SPIN's ongoing 35th anniversary coverage, I wrote about my favorite band on the planet.
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Here's my/our latest
@SPIN
list project, The 50 Best Albums of 1972. I wrote about Wishbone Ash, Alice Coltrane, PFM, Charles Mingus, and Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes.
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I'm trying to get better about tweeting my work. I had a nice chat with Tommy (
@tommybtbam
) of Between the Buried and Me (
@btbamofficial
) about how dreams, family, and the perils of celebrity worship influenced their heady new LP.
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Latest SPIN project: The 50 Best Albums of 1982. If you think you know No. 1, you're dreaming.
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The response has been fantastic. Thanks to everyone who's pitched. There are so many goddamn emails that I can't respond to everyone, but I'm trying to make a small dent. Anyway, it feels like an apporpriate time to retweet this, in case anyone needs a freelance lead.
Hi there! Seeking pitches for music/culture stories: ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com. Bring your fun/weird/silly/thought-provoking ideas. No "album coming out" profiles. No reviews. Pretty anything else is cool. (This guidance only applies to me. Not speaking for other editors.) (1/?)
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Hello, music industry people. I recently finished a big bio project, and my plate is clean. If you need someone, drop me a line at ryanreed231(at)gmail(dot)com. My taste is all over the map, but I probably get the most requests from prog/art rock/metal/psych-rock bands.
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I've officially reached the stage in my career where it seems like everyone is younger — sometimes way younger — than me. Weird feeling. Fuck!
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I’ll miss you forever, friend. You were truly the best. Rest easy, my sweet Gabriel. I wish I had the strength to write more, but I just don’t.
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Awhile back, I had the pleasure of chatting with one of my favorite singers/songwriters,
@jeremyenigk
. We talked about his songwriting evolution, the joy and frustration that fueled his most recent solo LP, and the legacy of Sunny Day Real Estate.
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I'm retiring now. I've never had more fun — or experienced more stress — writing a list. Anyway, here's where I landed: From "Mama" to "No Son of Mine," from "Firth of Fifth" to "Eleventh Earl of Mar," it's every
@genesis_band
song, ranked worst to best.
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Also, just a reminder that I don't use my Instagram for work. Please don't engage with the profile impersonating me on there. (3/3)
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I rarely Google my own work, but I was feeling down about my writing, so I did a quick search on a recent-ish story. First result I find is a Reddit post: “This article is dumb.” The Internet: a great place to work!
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I feel nothing but joy that Kate Bush is reaching a new generation. More KB love can only be a good thing. It's weird that snobs are annoyed about a great song's resurgence. The logic makes no sense — is there a magic age by which you're supposed to discover an artist/song?
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I wouldn't be the same person if Pitchfork didn't exist—no doubt about that. As a teenager, reading those reviews—even the ones I hated—changed my life. Fuck.
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.
@modestmouseband
's 'Good News' follow-up is a classic that no one calls a classic, fueled by the guitar telepathy of Isaac Brock and Johnny Marr. I spoke to both (and Jeremiah Green) for
@SPIN
.(Bury Me With (the Lede): B&M are collaborating on new songs.)
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@BigEarsFestival
I discovered a bunch of fascinating bands (Nik Bartsch's Ronin, Finom), caught some recent favorites (Shabaka, Kokoroko), and sat in the presence of some legit legends (Herbie Hancock, John Paul Jones, Laurie Anderson).
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First email: "I look forward to hearing from you soon."
First follow-up: "I look forward to hearing from you shortly."
Fourth follow-up: "I look forward to hearing from you Tuesday around noon, preferably before because I'm doing an early lunch thing."
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We music critics are an insufferable bunch, aren’t we? As if anyone’s dying to know my 37th-favorite album of the year.
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I had to tell my beloved cat Peter goodbye two days ago, after a sudden, out-of-nowhere illness. He was five. My wife and I are devastated and having trouble managing the grief. It all feels so bleak at the moment. If you have any wisdom/helpful articles, I could use it all.
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In this time of unprecedented division, I want to do something that unites us: start a prog-rock podcast.
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Music critics: Have you ever reviewed an album, done a complete 180 about the music later on, and wished you could get a do-over? If so, DM me.
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Goes without saying, but the stores in question should be hidden/sorta hidden gems that people should check out. Thanks!
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For the Oct/Nov issue of Relix, I interviewed Neal Francis and reviewed a bunch of albums (The Mars Volta, King Gizzard, Lindsey Buckingham, David Crosby, Leprous, The Murlocs, Frank Zappa, and Metallica)
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Wrote about
@SeafoamWALLS
,
@BlueLabBeats
, To Bloom,
@gharmz1999
for this. 👏 to a great crew of writers:
@BrentonBlanchet
,
@1000TimesJeff
,
@analeorne
,
@AAAAAAAGGGHHHHH
, Jibril Yassin,
@BobbyOlivier
,
@TheeMaxB
,
@CarrieDadshaw
,
@nikostratis
,
@abbyfjones_
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I spoke with the great Steve Howe about the new
@yesofficial
album, maintaining the spirit of the late Chris Squire, and producing these songs himself.
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First off, thanks to everyone who retweeted and spread the word. I'm blown away by how many great writers — some I already know, some I don't know but admire, some I'm just meeting today — have reached out so far. Keep 'em coming!
Hoping to expand the bench of freelancers for my SPIN list projects. If you're a blurb wizard, hit me up at ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com. Rockers welcome, but I'd especially like to hear from experts in hip-hop, R&B, metal, and jazz. (Please email ME, not another editor. Thanks!)
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I still can’t believe I get to write this sentence: I saw my favorite band for the first time last night. Here’s my UCR review of
@genesis_band
’s first US date in 14 years. Seeing Phil sing the intro of “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight” made my year.
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I wrote about the 10 heaviest Yes moments — from the jazz-fusion chaos of "Sound Chaser" to the orchestral-rock surge in "Spirit of Survival."
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I know it’s been an especially shitty week (/month/year) when I have my classic stress dream: failing a college class because I forgot I was taking it and didn’t show up all semester.
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I felt weird sharing this because self-promotion makes me cringe—probably the same reason I rarely use this app. But...anyway, here's a belated recap of some stuff I wrote/edited in 2023. Special thanks to all the great writers I got to work with.
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I wrote about these new Pink Floyd bootlegs and the evolution of a psychedelic masterpiece.
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Thanks to
@AAAAAAAGGGHHHHH
,
@msbeverlybryan
,
@BradyWGerber
,
@dniellechelosky
,
@nikostratis
,
@Paige_Elexis
,
@LauraBraun
,
@BrendanMenapace
,
@PitchDiscontent
,
@ptgrw
,
@ninabraca
and Candace McDuffie. BTW, I wrote about Sunny Day Real Estate and
@SayAnythingMuz
.
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Here are my top 10 albums of 2021, with some quick blurbs about a few of them. I’ll post my super long list at some point. (The other
@SPIN
staffers are in here too.)
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I wrote about the new Rush reissue for UCR.
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AFI’s ‘Sing the Sorrow’ is a perfect album. Atmosphere, hooks, instrumental fireworks, lyrics, production — it has everything! Not just nostalgia talking, though it did get me through some tough times as a teenager.
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"In this list / I lost my place, could stay a while." I put this together for the angstiest of V-Days, with help from Emo King
@jcchesler
and some great writers. (I'll shout them out below.)
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I wrote about Stax legend Albert King for Vinyl Me Please
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I spoke with J.D. Considine about his classic, three-letter review of GTR's self-titled album. "It is weird," he says, "to have the best-known thing you ever wrote not even be a full word."
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Me finishing a phone interview with a person I’ve never met IRL and may never speak to again: “Talk to you later.”
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Something I probably wouldn't assign (for various reasons): "This artist I like has an album coming out, and I'd like to interview them."
0
0
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Enjoyed chatting with
@paulmeany
about
@MUTEMATH
's excellent new LP (and too many other topics to list here).
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I’ve been slacking on sharing lately. For the Jan/Feb issue of Relix, I interviewed Secret Machines and reviewed Paul McCartney, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Born Ruffians, Puscifer, The Flower Kings, Steven Wilson, This is the Kit, Tobacco, Peter Gabriel, and Sigur Ros.
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I've already tweeted a couple times today, so I might as well share my 2024 writing goals: formulate a plan for my prog rock book, develop the interview series I've had simmering for four years, write more about film and TV, *start* writing about basketball and the UAP topic.
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I spoke to
@LuciferBand
mastermind Johanna Sadonis for this
@Revolvermag
piece, featured in the June/July issue. We talked about philosophy, religion, hanging out in cemeteries, the eerie influence of Danzig, and her quest for the meaning of life.
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Recalling the time I pitched a TV movie review, got a "yes," stayed up very late writing it (per the editor's request), turned in a solid piece, and got the response "I think I made a mistake in assigning this. The movie looks so bad" (with a 25% kill fee). Freelancing is fun.
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The New York Times let me gush about 12 essential Chick Corea performances.
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After what feels like a decade, I’m finally looking at my book. Thanks again to all who encouraged me/cracked jokes about Buckingham’s Rumours-era chest hair. Also, yeah, there was a delay in getting the books out there, but they do exist! If you ordered it, you’ll get it soon.
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Also awe-struck by the scene where Paul wills “Get Back” into existence: strumming his bass and mumbling gibberish, carefully shaping the melody, riff, and words with each pass. I love how bored the other two look — until the song begins to emerge. Genius isn’t always exciting.
I’ve never seen anything like this on film before. Paul really has nothing at the 30 second mark—but 45 seconds later he’s got the makings of a hit single.
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13K
72K
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Had a nice chat with Alex Lifeson:
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I’m looking for hip-hop writers who enjoy classic psych/prog rock. If this sounds like you, email me at ryan.reed(at)spin(dot)com.
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Freelancer's Vacation, a Play in Three Acts: 1) Do Extra Work the Week Before, 2) Worry About Work During Your Break, 3) Do Extra Work the Week After
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Testing out my new 12-string by playing what could be my favorite riff of all-time. To fit the Halloween spirit, I’m scary out of tune.
Apologies for the rough playing — I’m very rusty, and I haven’t played a 12-string in ages. (I’m also admittedly a little drunk.)
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My stuff in Relix’s Jan/Feb issue:
- an interview with Ty Segall
- reviews of Mastodon, Punch Brothers, Band of Horses, The Doors, The Mars Volta
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Very strange day for me, the end of an era: A few hours ago, I finished my final daily news shift for Rolling Stone. It’s been over six years, a huge chunk of my adult life, and I’m a bit nervous not knowing what comes next. (1/7)
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Just informing the world of music journalism that I'm here for your Sunny Day Real Estate needs. God, I love this band. <3
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For Relix’s September issue, I interviewed David Crosby and Jose Gonzalez / reviewed Japan, Fleetwood Mac, Big Big Train, and Jethro Tull.
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Put this together with help from
@logblake_
,
@alshipley
,
@BobbyOlivier
,
@danielkohn
,
@Volume_Knob
,
@zzzzaaaacccchhh
,
@Laura_Studarus
,
@Slow_News_Day
,
@jeddferris
, and a few other people who appear to not have Twitter. (I wrote about
@ryleywalker
,
@reallyfrom
, and Bruno Pernadas.
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