Author | Lightnews

Mark J Wray

@markjwray.com

140 followers 120 following 750 posts

Writes about music and sometimes other stuff at markjwray.com He/him

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · Jun 27

Haven’t written much recently, but here’s a double header of two songs I love (Hyperballad by Björk and Freak by LFO) that combined to make one of the greatest music moments of my life.

Hope you enjoy.

markjwray.com/2025/06/27/e...

Every Song I Love : 23. Björk – Hyperballad & 24. LFO – Freak

A double header of songs that I love, with Hyperballad by Bjork, and Freak by LFO, which for a glorious moment became one.

markjwray.com

1 5

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Micah @rincewind.run · 9h

I will aggressively ignore all changes to the timeline until they pry the following feed from my cold dead hands

give me reverse chronological or give me death

Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 9h

“As users ‘dislike’ posts, the system will learn what sort of content they want to see less of. This will help to inform more than just how content is ranked in feeds, but also reply rankings.”

Bluesky hits 40 million users, introduces 'dislikes' beta | TechCrunch

As users "dislike" posts, the system will learn what sort of content they want to see less of. This will help to inform more than just how content is ranked in feeds, but also reply rankings.

techcrunch.com

18 89 610

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 19h

One unexpected impact of #TheTwen2ie5 is a rekindling of my love of techno, with some excellent tracks posted by other players.

Robert Hood and Helena Hauff in particular.

Too late for my list or 5 posted HMs, but they will be on my full list of 50 HMs.

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 20h

Great line-up this!

Fika Recordings @fikarecordings.com · 21h

21-24 January at The Lexington: The Winter Sprinter 2026, with
Comet Gain
Fightmilk
The Just Joans
Steven Adams
New Starts
Carla J Easton
Cheerbleederz
Pelts
The Moats
Jessica's Brother
and two more to be announced.
Day tickets on sale now from wegottickets.com/fikarecordings

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 2d

#TheTwen2ie5

Celebrating the best songs of the 2020s

HM5
Lia Lia
I’m A Moth
2022
Germany

I’ve discovered a whole load of great songs through other people’s picks in this challenge. Plenty will be making my full list of 50 HMs, but this one cracks the top 5.

youtu.be/T7zHk_IQHow?...

LIA LIA - I'm a Moth!!

YouTube video by LIA LIA

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 2d

#TheTwen2ie5

Celebrating the best songs of the 2020s

HM4
DeBasement
Front Left Speaker
2024
USA

Most of my HMs are giving a boost to songs which already have a decent amount of votes, but in this case it’s just because I forgot to include it in my main 50.

youtu.be/Ws_Hn5Lw2Sg?...

FRONT LEFT SPEAKER

YouTube video by deBasement - Topic

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

LGBT+ Liberal Democrats 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @pluslibdems.bsky.social · 3d

LGBT+ Liberal Democrats condemn our party's decision to base internal gender quotas on sex assigmed at birth.

This trans-exclusionary decision is an attack on one of the most vulnerable groups in our society.
1/4

The text of our thread on an image of Big Ben with a rainbow and a trans flag.

9 59 190

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 3d

What fresh hell is this?

A poster for Alex James’ Britpop Classical concert at Halifax Piece Hall

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 3d

#TheTwen2ie5

Celebrating the best songs of the 2020s.

HM3
Chase & Status and Bou (featuring IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga, Takura)
Baddadan
2023
UK (although Takura is from Zimbabwe and Bou was born in Algeria and raised in the UK)

youtu.be/rkjNL4dX-U4?...

Chase & Status, Bou - Baddadan ft. IRAH, Flowdan, Trigga, Takura

YouTube video by ChaseAndStatusVEVO

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Tom Ewing @tomewing.bsky.social · 4d

Harsh take on “Snooker Loopy” this

idca @idca.bsky.social · 4d

just checking in on the professor of rock

professor of rock video thumbnail - "biggest record of 1986 was cancelled for being culturally insensitive!"
(featuring the professor on the right hand side speaking his truth and some guy in a white suit with a headmic on the left)

byline - "CRITICS tried to ERASE the #1 record of 1986 for being CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE!"

1 19

Reposted by Mark J Wray

josh (oldfriend99) @oldfriend99.bsky.social · Sep 7

I saw The Blair Witch Project way too young and it made me afraid of projects

33 560 3.2K

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 4d

#TheTwen2ie5

Celebrating the best songs of the 2020s

HM2
Low
Days Like These
2021
USA

I chose a different Low song for my main list, but this is the one that has been racking up the votes, and is also excellent, so thought I would give it a little boost.

youtu.be/d8QiSZRX8dA?...

Low - Days Like These (Official Video)

YouTube video by Low

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Bohdan &%@#ing Pavuk @bpavuk.neocities.org · Dec 26

if you see this post, your actions are:
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost

your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive

Joshua Holland @joshuaholland.bsky.social · Dec 25

I’ve never donated to Wikipedia before but I set up a small monthly donation as a fuck you to the world’s richest psychopath.

Elon Musk takes aim at Wikipedia

Musk has denounced Wikipedia as "Wokepedia" on X and urged people not to donate to the platform.

www.newsweek.com

260 35K 27K

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 5d

Funnily enough I was just reading Vivian Goldman’s interview with him this morning (in her book Rebel Musix)

1 1

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 5d

#TheTwen2ie5 - celebrating the best songs of the 2020s

HM1
Doechii
Denial Is A River
2024
USA

A shameful omission from my list of 50, for which I can only apologise, I can at least give it a small boost here

youtu.be/F0cdbR5ognY?...

Doechii - DENIAL IS A RIVER

YouTube video by IamdoechiiVEVO

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Gail Myerscough @gailmyerscough.co.uk · 6d

Hello!
It doesn’t cost anything to repost but it helps me spread the word about my small business.
My online shop is full of bold & colourful prints, homewares and cards.
I’m also available for freelance design work and art licensing.
gailmyerscough.co.uk

Collage of designs: framed prints, phone case, cushion, mug, slip mat, and t-shirt all featuring vintage inspired graphics.

3 240 170

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 6d

#TheTwen2ie5 - Day 25

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

26
Shamir
Where Gravity is Dead
2021
USA

Ending the first half with a cover of a song, originally by Laura Veirs, which may itself appear in my 2000s list.

youtu.be/KGDzLL1_Qoc?...

Shamir - Where Gravity Is Dead (Art Video)

YouTube video by Kill Rock Stars

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 6d

Jesus Christ

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 6d

Good album that

1 1

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 7d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 24

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order

27
Desire Marea
Tavern Kween
2021
South Africa

youtu.be/XxwhOl3z9No?...

DESIRE MAREA - Tavern Kween

YouTube video by Desire Marea

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 8d

Safe to say it is very different from the list I would choose. 6 from Divers and 1 from The Milk-Eyed Mender is interesting to say the least, with Bridges and Balloons being a particularly egregious omission.

1 1

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Eddie Robson @eddierobson.bsky.social · 8d

Aw fuck. I'd been hoping to go and see Soft Cell when they toured their next album. Really sad news. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Soft Cell co-founder Dave Ball dies, aged 66

The musician, best known for Tainted Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, died in his sleep at home.

www.bbc.co.uk

10 55 200

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 9d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 23

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

28
FKA Twigs
Striptease
2025
UK

My favourite track from possibly the best album of 2025

youtu.be/wZ2njttY3BA?...

FKA twigs - Striptease

YouTube video by FKA twigs

youtu.be

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 10d

#TheTwen2ie5 Day 22

My 50 favourite songs of the 2020s in reverse order.

29
Horsegirl
Ballroom Dance Scene
2020
USA

Would ideally have liked to get both Horsegirl and Horsegiirl on my list, but in the end went for one of the few new indie guitar bands I’ve enjoyed this decade.

Horsegirl - Ballroom Dance Scene (Official Video)

YouTube video by Horsegirl

youtu.be

Reposted by Mark J Wray

Ed Hodgson @edhodgson.bsky.social · 10d

Gillian Welch tickets for sale Manchester
Saturday 25th October

I managed to buy 2 for this without realising I'm going to see Cabaret Voltaire as well that night..

Two stalls seats. Row OO 9 & 10
47.50 each face value

DM me with an offer if you're interested

2 7 5

Mark J Wray @markjwray.com · 10d

Whoop! Glad I’m not the only one picking this. Will be featuring very high on my list

1 1