? Music
Crucial Track 🎵 May 4, 2026
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult
Prompt Share a song you love that has parentheses (in the title).
A song that would have been in my ‘Just Good Songs’ playlist the day I heard it - it’s just that 🍎 hadn’t got round to inventing it - mainly because mere mortals didn’t have the internet.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 3, 2026
"Rockin' In The Free World (Glastonbury 2009)" by Neil Young
Live. Glastonbury. Well over ten minutes. Neil rockin' out.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 2, 2026
"Hi Ren" by Ren Gill
Stunning. A friend shared this with me last year. If you want to listen to a totally original and highly talented artist - start here.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 1, 2026
"Permanating" by Steven Wilson
In the Venn Diagram of music that jax and I both like - this one sits high ... so clearly needs to be pulled out first.
🎵📼 🔗 Tom Petty does ‘The Mac’ - and his ‘Welllllll’ must be the best ‘Wellllll’ I have heard in any other cover. It might also be better than the original.
The Irish tale of Oisín describes the warrior’s journey to Tir na nÓg, the land of youth. He spends three years there but when he returns to Éire to see his old fighting comrades from the Fianna, 300 years have passed.
And for a related 🎵 interlude …
Tír na nÓg are an Irish folk duo formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 by Leo O’Kelly and Sonny Condell.[^cite_ref-LarkinGE_1-0][1] They are often considered one of the first progressive folk bands with other artists like Nick Drake or groups like Pentangle.
💬 Wikipedia
Not to be confused with Horslips - who along with Tír na nÓg were in constant circulation on ‘young John’s’ turntable back in the day. Almost certainly arrived at them via Pentangle and Fairport - but most definitely stood on their own. Still listen to Horslips to this day - not so much Tír na nÓg.
🎵 Vincent's Tale by Ren
Surprise? Not if you know Ren. One of the most extraordinary artists that have emerged in the past decade.
🎵 Boots on the Ground by Massive Attack, Tom Waits
Massive Attack and Tom Waits … that’s the surprise. The result? As wonderful as you might expect.
🎵 Hope and Fury by Joe Jackson
Always liked Joe - and he has still got - 22 albums in. The tour starts soon.
