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1988 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction As I mentioned in my 1986 post, part of my intrigue in going through the music of the ‘80s…
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Thoughts on the 2026 Booker Prize Longlist
After a couple near attempts, this was the first year I’ve managed to read the whole Booker Prize longlist. I didn’t really set out to do that, but it just sort of worked out through a combination of interest and accessibility, and the fact that the book I was least interested in reading got perhaps…
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1987 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction At the time of writing this, I’ve completed twenty-four of these annual deep-dives, and 1987 was by far the…
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1986 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction I started my deep-dive into 1980s music with one big question: When did the ‘80s fall off the cliff?…
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Monthly Music Roundup: August 2026
I’ve been enjoying my monthly reading roundups here, so I thought it would be fun to do the same for new music releases. Here are some of the highlights, and one notable low-light, from the past month of new music releases. Five Raves, Albums Good Grief (Sara Bareilles) While there’s good reason Taylor Swift is known…
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Monthly Reading Roundup: August 2026
Here are some of the highlights, and one notable low-light, from the past month of my reading life. Nine Raves The Fire-Dwellers, by Margaret Laurence (1969 🇨🇦) Premise: A housewife struggles to break the culture of silence and keeping up appearances in her suburban Vancouver neighborhood. Review: This is in all respects a typical second-wave…
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1985 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction 1984 was unquestionably one of the most momentous and important years in popular music since the Second World War.…
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1984 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction There are certain years whose musical output simply becomes legendary. 1984 is one of those years and is often…
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Monthly Reading Roundup: July 2026
Here are some of the highlights, and one notable low-light, from the past month of my reading life. Nine Raves Whistler, by Ann Patchett (2026) Premise: After over forty years, a woman is reunited with an ex-stepfather with whom she shared both a natural affinity and a life-changing trauma-bond. Review: Ann Patchett has this way…
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1983 in Music
[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.] Introduction The ’80s have so far been building, not just in their essential ’80sness’ but towards something big. 1984 is…
Matt's Books and Music
So many books, so many songs
