Sounds Good! $5 / month

Sounds Good! explores the intersection of popular culture and personal reflection, focusing on films, music, and books. It blends critiques, nostalgia, and personal stories to discuss the enduring impact of art. The content ranges from eulogies for celebrities, reflective movie reviews, to analysis of music and its influence on emotions and memories.

Celebrity Life and Legacy Film Analysis and Nostalgia Music Appreciation and Review Cultural Critique Personal Reflection and Experience Literary Trends and Fashion Travel Writing

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

"Could it 'BE' any more tragic?" - A Eulogy (of sorts) for Matthew Perry aka Chandler Bing

216 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Celebrity TV Entertainment Memories Reflection
  1. Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing in 'Friends', has passed away at the age of 54.
  2. Despite personal struggles, Matthew Perry found success but was unable to shake off his character from 'Friends' in his career.
  3. The tragic life story of Matthew Perry serves as a reminder that fame and success do not always bring happiness.

Gig Review: Finally Finding Fun in the Foos - Dave Grohl’s Long-Running Project Rocks Wellington (Again!) And I Am There For It - In All Senses - This Time.

117 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎶 Music Rock Band Musician Tour
  1. The author has a complex history with Foo Fighters but enjoyed their recent concert in Wellington.
  2. Despite some mixed feelings about the band's music over the years, the author appreciated the energy and dynamic performance of the Foo Fighters during the concert.
  3. The replacement drummer, Josh Freese, played a key role in driving the energy and performance of the band during the concert.
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Pitchfork’s Dead. Thank god for that!

98 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎶 Music Music journalism Music Streaming Music Industry
  1. The death of music journalism was influenced by various factors like streaming services and changing reader behaviors.
  2. Pitchfork's decline started when they shifted focus from writers to brand and relied heavily on their rating system.
  3. Critics like Bob Lefsetz shed light on modern music journalism challenges, with many expressing disingenuous sentiments about the demise of platforms like Pitchfork.

America: That's a (W)rap!

98 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🏝 Travel Vacation Books Food Shopping Observations
  1. The family bought a lot of books, CDs, and other souvenirs while on their trip to America.
  2. The trip included visits to bookstores, concerts, and enjoying American food.
  3. The author had mixed feelings about America but appreciated the experience of the trip.

Where Have All The Cowgirls Gone?

98 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Travel Writing Gender Authors Literature
  1. Good travel writing is about good writing - the genre matters less than the quality of writing.
  2. Some notable travel writers like Bill Bryson and P.J. O'Rourke have made significant contributions to the genre.
  3. There is a lack of representation of female and non-binary voices in the field of travel writing.

The Apparent Rise of Reading Fashion

98 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Merchandise Fashion Trends
  1. There is a rise in wearable and fashionable book-related merch known as 'Litcore'.
  2. Personal style and expression can be showcased through book-themed clothing and accessories.
  3. Book-themed merchandise, like tees and totes, is becoming popular, allowing individuals to express their literary interests.

Gig Review: Death To All But Death Metal, But Also Smiles All Around - Obituary Delivers The Goods, Looks Fucking Stoked About It And Everyone Generally Has A Very Good Time

78 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎶 Music Metal Live Music
  1. The gig review highlighted Obituary's strong performance in delivering death metal music with enthusiasm and connection to the audience.
  2. The review emphasized the band's authenticity and energy on stage, creating a symbiotic relationship with the audience.
  3. The writer expressed a nostalgic appreciation for Obituary's music and performance style, describing it as a full night of glorious death metal.

4 Reviews: 4 Movies, 4 Days...

78 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration
  1. The author watched four movies in four days and shared quick reviews for each.
  2. The horror film 'Night Swim' was fun with some scares but became a bit silly at the end.
  3. 'Poor Things' was described as the best movie seen in 2024, wild, funny, and featured great performances.
  4. 'Ferrari' was criticized for being slow and boring, despite some good performances.

Ode To Curb

78 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows Comedy Celebrity Entertainment Pop culture
  1. The TV show 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' is celebrating its final season after being on air for 25 years.
  2. Larry David's comedic series, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', is known for its improvisation, real-life cameos, and satirical humor.
  3. The show has faced criticism for recent episodes but still has a loyal following eagerly anticipating each new season.

Richard

78 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
📚 Literature Poetry Memoir Friendship Youth Social Interactions
  1. The author is working on a new poetry project named 'Richard', with old and new poems in the sequence.
  2. The author reminisces about past experiences and relationships, reflecting on themes of sacrifice, friendship, and personal growth.
  3. There is a focus on storytelling, memories, and personal reflection through a mix of poetry and prose.

An Unranked List of The Best (Recent/ish) Music Memoirs I Can Think of Right Now...

58 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎶 Music Memoirs Authors Reviews Recommendations Insights
  1. The post shares an unranked list of recent music memoirs, highlighting some standout titles from the last decade.
  2. The list includes memoirs from a diverse range of musicians like Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, Grace Jones, Kim Gordon, and more.
  3. The author praises the storytelling, writing style, and depth in the memoirs, particularly highlighting the strong work by female authors in the music memoir genre.

Favourite Films of 1975

39 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Music Horror Comedy Horror
  1. The post lists favorite films of 1975, highlighting impactful movies like 'Dog Day Afternoon,' 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' and 'Jaws.'
  2. The author shares personal experiences with the films, like being blown away by the lack of music in 'Dog Day Afternoon' and being scared by 'Jaws' as a child.
  3. The post also includes notable mentions like 'Shampoo,' 'Tommy,' 'The Passenger,' 'Love and Death,' and 'Shivers,' showcasing a diverse film selection for the year.

A Ham Sandwich Walks Into A Bar

39 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Humor Music Art & Illustration
  1. The post discusses the humor and insensitivity of joking about the deaths of famous singers Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass with references to ham sandwiches.
  2. It highlights the idea that reducing someone's legacy to a joke can be disrespectful and hurtful.
  3. The post reflects on how jokes involving ham sandwiches are often used as shortcuts to avoid more meaningful or thoughtful discussions.

2024 Oscar Nominations: Picks and Predictions

19 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film Entertainment Media Celebrities Art
  1. The Oscar nominations for 2024 were recently announced with some surprises and snubs.
  2. Opinions on who should win and who will actually win vary in different categories.
  3. The author has strong preferences for certain films and actors, like "Killers of the Flower Moon", but acknowledges the subjectivity and unpredictability of award ceremonies.

Gig Review: I Found Myself Lost In The Sound of Russian Circles Once Again

19 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🎶 Music
  1. The post-rock band Russian Circles delivers a powerful, dynamic performance that captivates the audience.
  2. The drumming of Dave Turncrantz stands out as a driving force behind Russian Circles' full sound.
  3. Russian Circles impress with a well-balanced setlist that showcases their evolution and musicality.

The 20 Gigs I Reviewed in 2023:

19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎶 Music Reviews
  1. The author reviews gigs to capture moments and preserve them as a public record.
  2. Even though most reviews were planned as paid content, the author values the meaning behind complimentary tickets.
  3. The author is navigating new rules about sharing reviews when tickets are comped, learning as they go.

Poem: Clang

19 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry Emotions Friendship Soul Regret
  1. The poem reflects on the soullessness of a friend and the pain of realizing it too late.
  2. The friend in the poem exhibits a lack of vulnerability and is portrayed as psychologically bereft and spiritually bankrupt.
  3. The poem highlights the emptiness and profound sadness caused by a person who seems to lack a soul.

Playlist: BBQ Madness

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎶 Music
  1. The post shares a long playlist called 'BBQ Madness' for entertaining a group with background music.
  2. The playlist is meant to be suitable for various activities throughout the day, like prepping, eating, and hanging out.
  3. The playlist is recommended as a basis for creating an all-day music selection for different occasions.

Poem: Small Mercy

0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The poem 'Small Mercy' talks about being content with one's height.
  2. The author shares a short poem emphasizing the value of being five foot three instead of six feet two.
  3. The post includes a link to the full poem on the author's Substack page.

Poem: That Was Now & This Is Then

0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The past was not necessarily better than the present, just different.
  2. Appreciate the days we have, as they are valuable.
  3. Take advice with a grain of salt and give back anything that doesn't resonate.