The Journal

The Archive

All the Jamwise you missed

Some Excellent Albums from 2000

Wazzzzuupppp from the year 2000. Featuring: Santana, Radiohead, Erykah Badu, Outkast, Linkin Park, The Avalanches, D'Angelo, Primal Scream

(Some of) The Greatest Albums of 1999

Featuring: Fiona Apple, Blur, Blink-182, Mos Def, The Roots, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Weekend Vinyl

A new series listening through my parents' vinyl collections. Featuring: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, J. Geils Band, Crosby Stills & Nash, Rod Stewart, B.B. King, and a short discourse on moonshine

Greatest Albums of 1998

Featuring: Massive Attack, Garbage, Ms. Lauryn Hill, PJ Harvey, Outkast, Pulp, Lucinda Williams

Southern Sounds: South Carolina's Best Albums of 2024

Exploring the music of the Southern USA, one state at a time. Featuring: Brave Baby, The Simplicity, Shovels and Rope, Dog Named Squid, E.Z. Shakes, Slow Funeral, Little Stranger

Greatest Albums of 1997

Featuring: Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Foo Fighters, Erykah Badu, Biggie, Creed, Third Eye Blind, Sleater-Kinney

Jamwise #49 - Best of 1996

We're back after an unplanned break! Featuring: Jay Z, Beck, Rage Against the Machine, Fiona Apple, Tool, Aphex Twin, R.E.M.

Jamwise #48 - Best Albums of 1995

Featuring: Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Alanis Morisette, Oasis, Pulp, Pavement, Elliott Smith, 2Pac

Jamwise #47 - Best Albums of 1994, pt. 2

Part 2 Featuring: Nirvana, Blur, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Hole, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M, and the Unofficial Substack Crowdsourced List of Best Albums from 1994

Jamwise #46 - Best Albums of 1994

Featuring: Soundgarden, Green Day, Jeff Buckley, Nas, Portishead, Oasis, Weezer

Jamwise #45 - Special Edition: 2024's Chart-Topping Albums

A side quest exploring some 2024 Pop as an exercise in critical listening. Featuring: Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Beabadoobee, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande

Jamwise #44 - The Best Albums of 1993, pt. 3

The last one for 1993 I swear!!! Featuring: Cypress Hill, Bjork, Pet Shop Boys, Counting Crows, Radiohead, Mazzy Star

Jamwise #43 - Best Albums of 1993, pt. 2

Habits are good for fun stuff, too. Plus: Wu-Tang Clan, The Breeders, De La Soul, Yo La Tengo, Depeche Mode, Pearl Jam

Jamwise #42 - Best Albums of 1993

Plus some thoughts on why this newsletter exists. Featuring: Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, Smashing Pumpkins, A Tribe Called Quest

Jamwise #40 - Best Albums of 1992, pt. 2

Featuring: Alice in Chains, The Cure, Aphex Twin, PJ Harvey, Stone Temple Pilots, Sonic Youth, Arrested Development

Jamwise #39 - Best of 1992, Pt. 1

Featuring: Dr. Dre, R.E.M., Pavement, Rage Against The Machine, The Pharcyde, Mary J Blige, Tori Amos, Sade

Jamwise #38 - Best Albums of 1991, Pt. 2

Featuring: My Bloody Valentine, R.E.M., De La Soul, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Teenage Fanclub

Jamwise #37 - Best Albums of 1991

Featuring: Massive Attack, Nirvana, A Tribe Called Quest, U2, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primal Scream

Jamwise #36 - Best Albums of 1990

This week, we're focusing on the greatest albums from the year 1990: Madonna, Depeche Mode, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Sonic Youth, Cocteau Twins, Sinead O'Connor

Jamwise #35

Featuring: The Rolling Stones, Sade, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, U2, Neutral Milk Hotel

Jamwise #34

Featuring: Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, GZA, Aerosmith

Jamwise #33

Featuring: Fela Kuti, The Eagles, Pulp, Lil Wayne, Todd Rundgren

Jamwise #32

Featuring: The Weeknd, Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, Lauryn Hill, Bo Diddley

Jamwise #31 - Separating the Music From The Listener

Featuring: The Smiths, Mary J. Blige, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles.

Jamwise #30

Featuring: Lana del Rey, The Rolling Stones, Eric Church, Bruce Springsteen

Jamwise #29

Featuring: Gillian Welch, Eminem, Jay-Z, Stone Roses

Jamwise #28

Featuring: Roxy Music, The Who, Kanye West, Belle and Sebastian

Jamwise # 27

Featuring: New York Dolls, Stevie Wonder, The Police, Portishead

Jamwise #26

Featuring: Robyn, The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, John Mayer, Jimmy Cliff & Friends

Jamwise #25

Featuring: De La Soul, Husker Du, Van Morrison, Daft Punk, Pet Shop Boys

Jamwise #24

Featuring: Roxy Music, New Order, The Breeders, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Lorde, and the Taylor Swift review everyone's been clamoring for

Jamwise #23

Featuring: D'Angelo, The Magnetic Fields, The Raincoats, Brian Eno, X-Ray Spex

Rebuilding An Original 1962 Fender Jaguar - Part 2

Plus: Kendrick Lamar, Steely Dan, Solange, Laura Nyro, KISS

Rebuilding An Original 1962 Fender Jaguar - Part 1

Plus: Rush, Cocteau Twins, Yes, The Notorious B.I.G., Black Sabbath

Jamwise #20: Just the Music

Earth, Wind & Fire, The Who, Madvillain, Lou Reed, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Albums vs. Playlists: The Great Debate

Plus: Pearl Jam, Lil Wayne, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Gang of Four, Grateful Dead, LIz Phair

Music Recommendation Algorithms: How They Work and What We Can Learn From Them

Deep diving the algorithms that (sometimes) help us find the best new music.

Listening Widely vs. Listening Deeply

Plus: Radiohead, Kanye West, The Kinks, My Bloody Valentine, The Beatles, Green Day, Bruce Springsteen

I've Finally Given Up On Objective Music Ratings

Plus: Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Primal Scream, Tom Waits, Loretta Lynn, Elvis Costello

Sometimes You Just Need to Listen to Your Old Favorites

Plus: The Byrds, Robert Johnson, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, Blondie, Curtis Mayfield

How Do People Find New Music These Days?

Plus: Snoop Dogg, Pixies, Johnny Cash, Shakira, Hank Williams, The Doors, J Dilla

Learning How to Dislike Music Like An Adult

Plus: Beastie Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Arctic Monkeys, Tom Petty, and Pavement

Preparing For a Post-Streaming World

Maybe it'll never come... but what if? Also: Janis Joplin, Smashing Pumpkins, Ray Charles, Radiohead, Phil Spector

Music Critics and You: How to Find Music Writers You Trust

Plus: Miranda Lambert, Santana, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Led Zeppelin

Defeating Generative AI: Why I'm Hopeful For The Future of Music

AI news can give you whiplash. Here's why, despite the noise, I'm genuinely hopeful about what generative AI means for the future of human-made music.

Understanding My Musical Taste With... Data!

Plus: Otis Redding, Taylor Swift, Tame Impala, Cream, and Big Star

Objectivity In Rating Music, part 2

Plus: Kanye West, Sparks, Rod Stewart, Daddy Yankee, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake

How To Appreciate Music From Our Past

Plus Michael Jackson, Television, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The B-52's, LL Cool J, The Ramones

How to Download Your Spotify User Data

A short guide to get your playlist and streaming data

Why Music Curation is More Important Than Ever

Plus Prince, Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, The Ronettes, Bad Bunny

New Jams - December 2023

The best music I've found this month, recommended sources for new jams, and inspiration for your music discovery.

Objectivity In Rating Music

Plus: Mariah Carey, Amy Winehouse, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Big Star, Boyz II Men, Lucinda Williams

The Importance of Context In Music

Drake, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Brian Eno, Ornette Coleman, Bob Dylan & The Band - Why context is so important as a music listener