Daniel James Leith
@danthecritic.bsky.social
Music Writer. Check out my blog: danthecritic.weebly.com
Pinned
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Wrote about the 20th anniversary of Tha Carter II, an album that means something to me.
Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter II' Turns 20
I couldn’t take Tha Carter II home. That wasn’t how it worked. The labels wanted their records to get reviews in glossy music magazines, which still existed then, but they were worried that critics wo...
stereogum.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Wrote about the 20th anniversary of Tha Carter II, an album that means something to me.
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace!
December 5, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace!
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
I wrote about why cutting Kill Bill in half might have cost Uma Thurman an Oscar, and how the new 4 1/2-hour version makes whole the greatest performance of her career.
Kill Bill Is Back in Theaters in a New Version. It’ll Never Play the Same.
The Whole Bloody Affair changed the way I saw Tarantino’s epic revenge film—and so did the reporting about its making.
slate.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I wrote about why cutting Kill Bill in half might have cost Uma Thurman an Oscar, and how the new 4 1/2-hour version makes whole the greatest performance of her career.
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
hi i'm a billionaire my company, which will definitely not murder everyone, is named SauronMurdersEveryone Inc after the beloved jrr tolkien character sauron whom i have always admired for his disruptive use of world changing technology and for murdering everyone
December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
hi i'm a billionaire my company, which will definitely not murder everyone, is named SauronMurdersEveryone Inc after the beloved jrr tolkien character sauron whom i have always admired for his disruptive use of world changing technology and for murdering everyone
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
IHTOV is off today due to some scheduling shenanigans but..
my favorite yacht rock documentary is a year old, so let's repost an in depth interview @thecurmudgeon.bsky.social had with @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social about all things yacht rock ihavethatonvinyl.com/conversation...
my favorite yacht rock documentary is a year old, so let's repost an in depth interview @thecurmudgeon.bsky.social had with @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social about all things yacht rock ihavethatonvinyl.com/conversation...
Talking to Yacht Rock Expert "Hollywood" Steve Huey
“At this point, JD had started calling it yacht rock. Because you look at the cover of Loggins and Messina’s Full Sail album, they’re on a boat. They’re very, very happy to be on a boat. You look at t...
ihavethatonvinyl.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
IHTOV is off today due to some scheduling shenanigans but..
my favorite yacht rock documentary is a year old, so let's repost an in depth interview @thecurmudgeon.bsky.social had with @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social about all things yacht rock ihavethatonvinyl.com/conversation...
my favorite yacht rock documentary is a year old, so let's repost an in depth interview @thecurmudgeon.bsky.social had with @hollywoodsteve.bsky.social about all things yacht rock ihavethatonvinyl.com/conversation...
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Anyway if YOU feel like the algorithm has eroded your curiosity and you want to hear a bunch of varied and novel new music I strongly recommend taking part in THE WORLD CUP OF 2025 on @peoples-pop-polls.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Anyway if YOU feel like the algorithm has eroded your curiosity and you want to hear a bunch of varied and novel new music I strongly recommend taking part in THE WORLD CUP OF 2025 on @peoples-pop-polls.bsky.social
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
In 1989, Technotronic instructed us to "Pump up the Jam". Sound advice. If your jam is deflated it can severely impact your fuel economy.
November 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
In 1989, Technotronic instructed us to "Pump up the Jam". Sound advice. If your jam is deflated it can severely impact your fuel economy.
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Yep, you can still love Columbo and believe ACAB
remember: columbo isn't a cop. he's a fae with a strong sense of justice, who shows up to crimes and glamours people into thinking he's a cop.
that's why he doesn't carry a gun: the cold iron
that's why he doesn't carry a gun: the cold iron
November 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Yep, you can still love Columbo and believe ACAB
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
![A float of Goku from Dragon Ball Z, smiling and holding his hand to his head with two fingers extended. There is a caption that says [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] overlaid on top of him.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r3jz2av542vhxbsouxvzrwe2/bafkreigoci7n3zt72bjp6xhr7g7g7h5gbte2bovkgomwmd5ircmjersx4m@jpeg)
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We did it, folks. A huge thank you to everyone who voted, everyone who wrote Designated Cheerleaders, everyone who discussed and RT’d the matches here, everyone who reads the newsletter. It simply can’t work without you.
The Best Album of 1989 is
Pixies, DOOLITTLE
Pixies, DOOLITTLE
November 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
We did it, folks. A huge thank you to everyone who voted, everyone who wrote Designated Cheerleaders, everyone who discussed and RT’d the matches here, everyone who reads the newsletter. It simply can’t work without you.
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Final playlists for the year on multiple platforms — ideal for shuffle.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/3NT...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Tidal: tidal.com/browse/playl...
Deezer: link.deezer.com/s/30uHAbCg3m...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/3NT...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Tidal: tidal.com/browse/playl...
Deezer: link.deezer.com/s/30uHAbCg3m...
Other Dave 2025 Songs
open.spotify.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Final playlists for the year on multiple platforms — ideal for shuffle.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/3NT...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Tidal: tidal.com/browse/playl...
Deezer: link.deezer.com/s/30uHAbCg3m...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/3NT...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Tidal: tidal.com/browse/playl...
Deezer: link.deezer.com/s/30uHAbCg3m...
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
"An observant life"
This is beautiful. Read and reflect on it.
This is beautiful. Read and reflect on it.
for this week’s My Time Back i wrote about Raymond Carver’s short story collection Cathedral. it’s probably my favorite thing i’ve written this year. would love if you took a dive in and read mytimeback.beehiiv.com/p/cathedral?...
November 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
"An observant life"
This is beautiful. Read and reflect on it.
This is beautiful. Read and reflect on it.
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
This whole doc is filled with amazing footage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_I...
ROOTS ROCK REGGAE 🇯🇲 The Jamaican Music Scene In 1977 🇯🇲
YouTube video by Twice's Classic Reggae Vault
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This whole doc is filled with amazing footage: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_I...
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Doing this challenge made me firm up what I like about the 2020s and realise more than ever that people who think current music has stagnated are just weird. Surges of creativity across Africa, Asia and South America; a golden generation of women pop stars; tons of funny, filthy rap - good times!
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 50
1. CHAPPELL ROAN - “Good Luck, Babe!” (24, USA) - 12 POINTS
How do you do fellow normies? First time I heard this I thought “that chorus is like Dragostea Din Tei (derogatory)” but NOW I think “that chorus is like Dragostea Din Tei (complimentary)”
youtu.be/1RKqOmSkGgM?...
1. CHAPPELL ROAN - “Good Luck, Babe!” (24, USA) - 12 POINTS
How do you do fellow normies? First time I heard this I thought “that chorus is like Dragostea Din Tei (derogatory)” but NOW I think “that chorus is like Dragostea Din Tei (complimentary)”
youtu.be/1RKqOmSkGgM?...
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Doing this challenge made me firm up what I like about the 2020s and realise more than ever that people who think current music has stagnated are just weird. Surges of creativity across Africa, Asia and South America; a golden generation of women pop stars; tons of funny, filthy rap - good times!
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
RIP Jimmy Cliff 🙏
November 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
RIP Jimmy Cliff 🙏
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 50
1 (12 Points)
Hikaru Utada-"Somewhere Near Marseilles" (2022, Epic Japan) www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ek...
1 (12 Points)
Hikaru Utada-"Somewhere Near Marseilles" (2022, Epic Japan) www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ek...
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 50
1 (12 Points)
Hikaru Utada-"Somewhere Near Marseilles" (2022, Epic Japan) www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ek...
1 (12 Points)
Hikaru Utada-"Somewhere Near Marseilles" (2022, Epic Japan) www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ek...
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 49
2 (11 Points)
Fred Again ft. Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax-"Victory Lap" (2025, Atlantic) www.youtube.com/watch?v=08C9...
2 (11 Points)
Fred Again ft. Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax-"Victory Lap" (2025, Atlantic) www.youtube.com/watch?v=08C9...
November 24, 2025 at 12:46 PM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 49
2 (11 Points)
Fred Again ft. Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax-"Victory Lap" (2025, Atlantic) www.youtube.com/watch?v=08C9...
2 (11 Points)
Fred Again ft. Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax-"Victory Lap" (2025, Atlantic) www.youtube.com/watch?v=08C9...
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
I made a YouTube playlist of records I mentioned in Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music. I'm still adding to it, but there's over 100 tracks in there so far.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music - YouTube
songs featured in Al Shipley's book Tough Breaks
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I made a YouTube playlist of records I mentioned in Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music. I'm still adding to it, but there's over 100 tracks in there so far.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Metallica’s Cliff Burton in 1986: “There’s a band called R.E.M. that I like a lot…”
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Metallica’s Cliff Burton in 1986: “There’s a band called R.E.M. that I like a lot…”
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Reposted by Daniel James Leith
Lot of Beatles discourse on my timeline today based on one writer saying that as a kid he rebelled against them as his parents' music — which seems an awful lot like the most normal and non-controversial thing a teenager can possibly do
November 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Lot of Beatles discourse on my timeline today based on one writer saying that as a kid he rebelled against them as his parents' music — which seems an awful lot like the most normal and non-controversial thing a teenager can possibly do
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 48
3 (11 Points)
Doechii-"Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" (2020, IamDoechii) m.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnO...
3 (11 Points)
Doechii-"Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" (2020, IamDoechii) m.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnO...
November 23, 2025 at 10:08 AM
#TheTwen2ie5 Day 48
3 (11 Points)
Doechii-"Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" (2020, IamDoechii) m.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnO...
3 (11 Points)
Doechii-"Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" (2020, IamDoechii) m.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnO...