iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I enjoy this more than most because you can see your taste evolve with every album.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

(Hears a 10-year cavalcade of racist and anti-gay, -trans, -immigrant, and -women garbage from hateful conspiratorial lunatics in “fuck your feelings” and “Let’s Go Brandon” merch) “So, tacos?”

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Enjoyed yesterday’s trip to Frederick, MD, where I bowed to the mural of native son Lester Bowie and purchased a mint condition first US pressing of Exile on Main Street for $40. Also good bakeries.

A mural of Lester Bowie, depicting him playing trumpet in scrubs in front of a psychedelic background.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Clapping like a seal because an addled pedophile said “ass.”

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Really interesting writer. Gorilla, My Love is also wonderful.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Even if they never left the diner this would be one of funniest things I’ve ever seen.

youtu.be

Kids In The Hall - The Chase

YouTube video by grinc333

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They were both released in October 1984, so “The Good War” probably isn’t dedicated in recognition of The Terminator. Maybe Studs Terkel just loved Piranha 2.

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Kurt aging into "oldest guy at the skate park" is fun.

Man if I found a genuinely cheap copy that’d make my year.

Is this a triple LP? Most copies I see online tend to be.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

They did one session together for The Possum.

George Jones, likely more hammered than anyone you know has ever been.

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Top 10 JB tune right here, monster Jabo groove.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Never loved this one but Fairfax County is one of their great recordings.

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Loved The Drama and it was also the one that made me think he was amazing. For the record I also like The Lighthouse, the only Eggers film with humor.

More likely, they send the address for dinner and when I arrive it's a plumbing supply company that closed three years ago.

TFW you like seeing familiar events through the choices of the people who lived them, and are also generous with meals.

I responded, we'll see if I get this meal

Jeff Weiss @passionweiss.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Never understood the business case behind AI messages asking to promote your book, but I’m WAY more confused by fake readers offering to buy me dinner.

Hi John,
I live in the DC area and read biographies because I like seeing familiar events through the choices of the people who lived them. Backbeats looks like a different way into music history, through the drummers who often sit just outside the spotlight.
I'd love to hear how you chose the people who could carry that story.
If you're around DC, could I buy you dinner sometime? I'm curious what surprised you most while researching the book.
Best,

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Reposted by John Lingan

Max Roach performing a drum solo on a set of Hollywood Tronic drums, live on the Italian television program Senza Reta (1968)

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Thread. Mighty Sparrow was a political artist, calypso is a social music in every sense. Great breakdown here of how that is.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

If you don't know this legend, Van Dyke Parks produced a tremendous 70s LP that serves as a beautiful starting point. True folk music, and so much fun.

mightysparrow.bandcamp.com

Hot and Sweet, by The Mighty Sparrow

10 track album

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I love it, his most fatalistic/brutal movie. No rhyme or reason to any of it, and it’s all punishment.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Thread. This crap is so dumb. But more importantly, a waste.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Amazing! Simply amazing, Colin.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The pope never got enough attention until Lambchop covered his early stuff.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This version of "I Want to Talk About You" is the song that helped me understand him. A delightful love song turned into a heavy-metal-intense group ballad, then lifted into the stratosphere when the band drops out and JC goes on solo. Breathtaking performance.

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John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Eagerly awaiting, even more so after seeing the Winesburg epigraph. Made the same connection when I wrote about IAWL long ago. Cheers!

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Low hanging fruit, yes, but the same paper that employs a “Canon editor” also employs Bret Stephens, who today complains that the National Book Awards aren’t honoring enough conservative men. A canon reflects an institutional POV, draw your own conclusions.

I don’t believe that it’s an arts section’s job to sell book reprints or boost streams. If the coverage makes a difference then we’d be better off with lists of lesser-known work rather than ones that regurgitate popular taste. And if it costs them nothing than they could use the $$ for…anything.

We can all name lists that introduced us to great stuff. The way to do that is a real statement of purpose. This is quite literally "we asked powerful/famous people for titles and averaged them." Boring is inevitable.

Defining the Modern Canon | The New York Times Company

Lists & countdowns can be fun and informative, and reflect a publication's POV. But the NYT now has a "canon editor" and there isn't a jerkoff motion big enough for that title. Acting like your listicle is etched in marble because famous people return your emails. Hire some freelancers, christ.

nytco.com

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To be clear I love thinking of lists and canons and think there's value in sharing them! But not "The people love Mad Men" from the frigging nyt.

Easier than ever since I don’t expect to write for the section again!

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🚨BUZZKILL ALERT🚨 The NYT’s move towards big canon-making feature lists is frankly depressing, a waste of resources for one of the last remaining US newspaper arts sections that has them. Boutique crowd sourcing, online argument starters…who cares?

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Masterpiece. And perfect for fall.

John Lingan @johnlingan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This one bested only by “Faded.” The final three tracks are the most amazing last act of any album I can think of from that time.