New pieces: rollingstone.com and Pitchfork

17 Feb 2014

I’m writing again! I had a bit of a break because I was employed by publications that didn’t want me doing music writing for other places, which was a bummer. But that’s a common part of full-time staff life. Anyway, I wrote my first little bits for rollingstone.com and a new review for Pitchfork — my first review for them in four years. Links over on my clips page.

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Jessica Suarez Twitter

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I've been watching a lot of Battlestar Galactica. And soon...

I'v been watching a lot of Battlestar Galactica. And soon after I started watching I started thinking I really like the dude who plays Felix Gaeta. Then I started thinking. It would be awesome to meet him. Later: â€œI bet I could meet him at like, some

I'v been watching a lot of Battlestar Galactica. And soon after I started watching I started thinking I really like the dude who plays Felix Gaeta. Then I started thinking. It would be awesome to meet him. Later: â€œI bet I could meet him at like, some sort of event. Next thing I know I'm looking up sci-fi conventions featuring Galactica panels and photo sessions. So that's how it starts, I guess, and it ends with me posing with a pissed off Alessandro Juliani in front of a speckled blue backdrop.

28 Aug 2014

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Selected Entries From My Pitchfork Half-Decade Ballot

Albums 5. Wild Beasts: Present Tense 6. EMA: Past Life Martyred Saints 8. WU LYF: Go Tell Fire to the Mountain 12. Ciara: Ciara 16. Swans: The Seer 19. Sharon Van Etten: Tramp 25. Pusha T: My Name Is My Name 26. Marnie Stern: Marnie Stern 33. Childish Gambino: Camp

Albums

5. Wild Beasts: Present Tense
6. EMA: Past Life Martyred Saints
8. WU LYF: Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
12. Ciara: Ciara
16. Swans: The Seer
19. Sharon Van Etten: Tramp
25. Pusha T: My Name Is My Name
26. Marnie Stern: Marnie Stern
33. Childish Gambino: Camp
37. Maria Minerva: Will Happiness Find Me?
43. Schoolboy Q: Habits & Contradictions

Tracks

1. Beyoncé: “Halo”
17. Beyoncé: “Countdown”
32. Beyoncé: “Drunk in Love”
38. Beyoncé: “Blow”
43. Man Man: “Head On”

I wrote about “Ride” and “212” for Pitchfork’s tracks list.

11 Dec 2012

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Maybe I Should Just Put This Post in My Signature Line

I’m steadily getting my Gmail and work email count back down to zero with the help of The Email Game, Saneinbox, and some increasingly intense conditional filters. As I’ve gotten close to zero, I’ve realized a few things that I didn’t realize before I began working

I’m steadily getting my Gmail and work email count back down to zero with the help of The Email Game, Saneinbox, and some increasingly intense conditional filters. As I’ve gotten close to zero, I’ve realized a few things that I didn’t realize before I began working with so many freelance writers and photographers, co-workers, and publicists:

— Every email you answer generates another 1-3 emails: More questions, more thoughts, more “thank you!”s and “got it!”s. I’m guilty of this too, but I blame others for this — everyone else sends “thank you!” emails to finish off a thread, so then I feel like I have to send these emails too. It’s pointless.

— Sometimes, even most of the time, a writer or photographer answers their own question if you give them an hour or two.

— People you don’t want emailing you are only encouraged to email you more when you send them an email telling them you aren’t interested in whatever thing they’re offering you.

And these are all problems, because email makes my day look like this (screenshot from RescueTime):

So, what’s the solution?