For many years, I lived my days through and by music. It was the continuous CPR that kept air in my lungs during the worst stretches of my life.

As I’ve said before, without Hope, Harriet, Tanya, Billy, Tori and others, I would not have made it. They showed me the better world that awaited me if I could find a way to turn the curse that was my existence. And I got there, barely. But I did. I’ll ever be thankful to them no matter the artistic merit their works do or do not possess. They kept me on this side of the dirt.

Today, I listened to all or part of 468 new (to me) songs. I liked 22 of those. That’s a hit rate of 4.7%. About average I think.

I also caused two browser crashes. Also about average.

Those who claim there is no good new music: How does it feel to be a ridiculous clown failure?

This is worth watching the first part of for a brief glimpse of Hope Sandoval when she was very young. In the video she’s 21 and though she doesn’t say anything or sing, she has the affect and mannerisms of someone much younger.

Just looking at that brief clip, if I had to guess her age I’d say she was 15-16. She also looks vastly different than her later much more goth-y look.

Strange seeing her like that, really. You almost get to hear her laugh.

I fairly commonly listen to bands called Fazerdaze, Glazyhaze, Sungaze and Honeyglaze.

That gets a mite confusing.

One of the best things about Tom Petty’s songwriting is that he deeply liked and had great empathy for women.

Soap&Skin’s cover of Robert Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues” is one of the greatest of all time.

It makes so much difference when an artist actually understands a song.

It’s almost unfair to the rest of y’all how good I am at finding new music.

Tonight, I listened to all or part of 322 new (to me) songs. I liked 21 of those.

Things went pretty well in the music mines tonight. I listened to all or part of 280 new (to me) songs. Of those, I liked 18. That’s a 6.4% success rate. Not bad.

Told my son I’m sad that D’Angelo died so young.

Son, “Wasn’t he 96 years old. Most of the music you like is 96 years old.”

These kids are villains.

— Natalia Antonova 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@NataliaAntonova) October 22, 2025

I listen to music that is 96 minutes old. It’s so much more fun than constantly rehashing the past.