Music Diary, Vol. 95
For the rationale behind this mad effort, the initial post is here . The full series of Music Diary posts are here . The full playlist is above, and also here . Week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2025 LYRICS: R.E.M., "Swan Swan H" SONG: Tiffany Johns’s old-school brass arrangement of Chappell Roan’s biggest hit would be extraordinary enough even if she weren’t playing every part. This absolutely earns its 6-minute-plus length. ALBUM: Neko Case’s new record has plenty of musical riches and harmonic surprises but what I keep coming back to it for are the startlingly vivid images and phrases that fill her lyrics—so many gems that I compiled my faves below: LYRICS: Madison Cunningham, "Take Two" SONG: The tempo and timbre of this slow-cooking Amber Mark track lean hard into ambivalence and melancholy—it’s all in minor keys—while still somehow sounding bright, forward-looking. And then a Prince-like guitar solo takes it to the fade. Exquisite. ALBUM: ...
