Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

Good morning! Need an antidote for the algorithms? Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.

For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing, and the playlist below is some of what’s been in heavy rotation for me.

As always, thank you to those who have recently upgraded their subscriptions. Your direct support fuels this community and makes a positive impact. Shares and reposts also help!

When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:

I hope this finds you well is the ultimate cliché when it comes to openers. But no, really—how are you? How are you holding up? Life’s never easy. But 2026 has been an 12-day pressure test. It seems weird to put out playlists and write about records in a time like this, but also completely normal. One of the foundations of this nation has always been that tomorrow will be better. That aspiration found its way into every corner of life here. It’s hard to see that as an ongoing concern—and, anecdotally, a bit bewildering to realize that life goes on. I had that revelation driving home after dropping our car off at the shop. Oil changes and interval checks? Now?! Apparently so. More importantly, as bad as things are, nothing is a foregone conclusion. There is still so much we can do.

There’s zero historical context for any of the last couple of weeks, but we’ve always leaned into music when things get sketchy. Indeed, this nation’s entire history has been soundtracked; from fifes and drums during the Revolutionary War to Woody Guthrie, to RATM during the Bush Sr. era, and on to today. It also serves as both a respite and fuels resolve. It’s always seemed like anything’s possible when you’ve got something good playing.

This week, Dan Epstein touched on that using Curtis Mayfield as an example, highlighting his 1971 track “Keep On Keeping On,” writing:

Curtis went to his untimely grave believing that, for all of humanity’s myriad faults and fuckups and self-inflicted tragedies, we still have the potential to get our collective shit together. He also knew that no one was coming to save us, and that we’d have to do it ourselves and within our own communities before we could bring about any lasting and meaningful changes at the national or global level. But he damn well believed that it was still possible.

I do too, Curtis. Even after this past week.

Same here. I went with “Move On Up,” a track that to my ear feels both impossibly sunny and makes one feel like at the sky’s the limit. Besides Curtis, we’ve got some brand new blistering hot sounds from up here in Madison, a bit of shoegaze from the Second City (at least Bears fans have a little something to celebrate?), and the usual dose of sonic comfort food. There’s also a couple of Grateful Dead tracks in the mix. RIP Bob Weir.

And for anyone that feels helpless right now and wonders what they can do, there are plenty of options for every ability and every level of risk tolerance. The only non-starter is doing nothing.

KA—

P.S. A few of you have asked if I sequence these as if they’re an album or mixtape. The answer is always “yes.” In my head, I imagine them being played on your morning commute or road trip. I’m too old to use the word “vibes” as much as I have lately, but, well, if the shoe fits…

This week, side A is tracks 1-12, with Side B being 13-27.

P.P.S What song defined 2025 for you? Tell me about it here. Thank you to everyone who has responded so far. Please keep ‘em comin’!

On to the music…

Other sources: Qobuz | YouTube Music | Apple Music

Now it’s your turn.

Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to? Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Leave a comment

Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

Good morning! Need an antidote for the algorithms? Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.

For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing, and the playlist below is some of what’s been in heavy rotation for me.

As always, thank you to those who have recently upgraded their subscriptions. Your direct support fuels this community and makes a positive impact. Shares and reposts also help!

When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:

I’ve mentioned it before, but before my knee decided to commit harakiri (0/10, do not recommend), I played pickup soccer every week at a local gym. Every January, the parking lot would get exponentially more crowded for a few weeks as the “new year, new me” crowd resolved to “do something,” only to lose faith, interest, whatever, a few weeks later. It went on long enough that we started betting informally on the over/under for how long it would take to get a good parking spot again. And to reiterate, we never bet on anyone specific—they could’ve easily been one of us (and occasionally were).

All of this is a long way around to say that there won’t be a sonic version of “new year, new me” here; I like what I like and am a creature of habit (exhibit A: track 10). But one of my habits is finding new music, so there’s that (exhibit B: tracks 21–22). I enjoyed Miki Berenyi’s Tripla but hadn’t really done a close listen since I reviewed it. I checked it out again and found a new appreciation for it.

This week, there are a few other faves from 2025 back in the mix. What’s the over/under on when AOTY season ends? A few new-to-me records are here, and of course a bunch of old favorites. My world looked like Hoth for a minute, and going back to/through those records is my version of hygge. We went out for an early dinner on NYE, and tracks 8–11 were heard at our fave pizza place (resolution: go there more). And we were overdue for a two-for from Trent Reznor & co.

Turnstile is a band that seemingly on everyone’s list except mine. Did I miss the boat? Sure looks like it. Might be one of those records I left on the table. I’ll resolve to find out…

KA–

P.S. A few of you have asked if I sequence these as if they’re an album or mixtape. The answer is always “yes.” In my head, I imagine them being played on your morning commute or road trip. I’m too old to use the word “vibes” as much as I have lately, but, well, if the shoe fits…

This week, side A is tracks 1-13, with Side B being 14-28.

On to the music…

Other sources: Qobuz | YouTube Music | Apple Music

Now it’s your turn.

Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to?

What song defined 2025 for you? Tell me about it here.

Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Leave a comment

The Year That Was at On Repeat Records

by KevinLeave a Comment on The Year That Was at On Repeat Records

Some thoughts on community, curation, and why indie writing matters more than ever

My dad’s last job was in what we would today call “IT.” For a while, he was on the hardware side, and our garage was full of boxes from long-lost brands like Leading Edge. While on the software side, we got to see games that today seem primitive, but back then seemed revolutionary.

LOGO? Sure, laugh now, but man, that turtle was f’ing something. Ditto the original Oregon Trail game—who knew dying of dysentery could be fun? For a minute, we had an Apple IIe. This also coincided exactly with how long I was cool at school. I’m sure it was a coincidence. His final project before he passed was a program that pulled together your frequent flier miles, applied each airline’s award rules, and showed how close you were to any given redemption—so you could book your next trip with whatever carrier made the most sense. Today, we’d call that an app, and probably one you’d learn to build in a 200-level class.

That idea—aggregating value across fragmented systems so people can make better choices—has stayed with me. Because in a small, non-technical way, that’s what this project is trying to do too.

It’s a miracle, this internet. For as much as words like doomscrolling and digital decay have now become regular parts of the discourse, nothing else has done more to slip the surly bonds of geography and let people find one another around shared interests, values, and obsessions. Yes, it’s often weaponized, but it’s just as frequently used as a force for good—whether that’s organizing pro-democracy rallies or yapping about records. All of it would look like science fiction to people just a few short years ago.

This time of year is flooded with lookbacks and lists, but if you’ll indulge me for a second, I wanted to take one last glance before we start looking ahead this Saturday.

This community continues to grow in new and exciting ways. Its success is due to readers like you. Thank you for making it what it is. Thank you for sharing it on social media and with your friends and family. If you’re sharing it with your enemies, well, thanks for that, too.

Whether you’ve been here since Day 1, just recently showed up, or this is the first post of mine you’ve ever read, I’m glad you’re here. And if you’re up at 7 AM on New Year’s Day? More power to you!

Some red meat for the data wonks:

Because of your recommendations, On Repeat Records is read in 48 states (2024 resolution: get North Dakota and Wyoming on board; 2025 resolution: try again; 2026: third time’s a charm?!) and 71 countries worldwide. There are a lot more of us here than there were a year ago at this time, but the vibe still seems to be “the coolest dinner party you’ve ever been to.” One 2026 goal: keep that goin’. These missives land in inboxes as close as literally just down the block and as far away as New Zealand. That never ceases to amaze me and is incredibly humbling.

The numbers are interesting and prove there is an appetite for sharing the music we love with people, subverting algorithms, and supporting indie music journalism. Metrics are fun to discuss, but wouldn’t mean much without engagement.

The conversations—especially the ones in the comment sections that go far off into the weeds—are a highlight of every week. Same with the stories you share directly with me. I appreciate the feedback and love hearing the role certain records have played in your life. I read every one and try to respond as quickly as possible. That door is always open. Please use it.

This was also the year that I finally got hit with a few “stick to music” responses and performative unsubscribes. So be it. It’s a reminder that there are people on both sides of the glass. Most folks are here for hot takes on cool records, but once in a while, there will be a wildcard essay from a middle-aged guy trying to make sense of the world around him (spoiler: that guy is me).

Rather than list everything month by month, here are a few moments that felt representative of the year:

Through it all, the throughline was community.

We don’t do ads or sponsored content here. There is no media team or marketing, either. It’s just Gizmo and me spreading the word about good records (and warning you away from bad ones).

That only works because of reader support. Paid supporters have full access to the entire archive, but more importantly, that revenue is the jet fuel that keeps this project in the air. Your support, shares, and recommendations all make an immediate, positive impact and keep this place independent.

I also want to again thank every guest writer, collaborator, and co-conspirator from the past year. If you recognize yourself in that sentence, thank you for trusting me with your work. And to the few of you I got to meet in real life, know that those moments were genuine high points of the year. More of that in ’26, please!

We’ve talked about a lot of records and covered a lot of ground. I hope you’ve found a new favorite or two, and a new favorite spot on the internet. Life’s better with records in it and people to share ’em with.

2025 was a meaningful year for On Repeat Records, and 2026 is already looking bright. Thanks for being a part of it.

Onward!

KA—

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Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

Good morning! Need an antidote for the algorithms? Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.

For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing, and the playlist below is some of what’s been in heavy rotation for me.

As always, thank you to those who have recently upgraded their subscriptions. Your direct support fuels this community and makes a positive impact. Shares and reposts also help!

When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:

Welcome to dead week, everyone! The liminal space where nothing really happens unless you’re in the resolution business, in which case it’s peak season. Maybe you have 1–2? I don’t, other than the boringly boilerplate ones like “eat better,” and “listen to more records.” The smart money says I’ll go 1-for-2. You can probably guess which is which. Later this week we’ll take a look both back at the decade that was 2025, and forward to 2026. In the meantime, here’s some tracks that have been in heavy rotation here at the house. Hopefully these’ll sound good on the trail or treadmill.

I was having a discussion with a friend about bands that often get lost in the discussion when talking about any given scene, and that led me down a Cabaret Voltaire rabbit hole (yes, they’re from Sheffield, yes I’m counting it as Manchester). There was also a lot of album playing over the last few days, and that’s reflected in some deeper cuts throughout the list. I feel like I missed the boat on J Brekkie this year. For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) never really landed with me, yet every time I hear a track off the record, it’s my new favorite. Guess that’s how it goes sometimes.

“Monie in the Middle” might stick out here, but is one that pops into my head every now and again and stays for a few days. The Big Audio Dynamite and Let’s Active tracks are old favorites from new (to me) records picked up last week at a benefit event for our local LW FM station, WVMO. “Stimulation” is an older track from a new (to me) band, Preoccupations. Tbh, I think they would’ve fit right in on a bill with some of the Manchester bands of old.

We spent a lot of time with Kitchens of Distinction as part of the “Best Record of 1989” bracket challenge. This one’s from ‘91, and the next bracket is for ‘01, which is a bit of a blind spot for me. Maybe that should be my resolution? We can workshop it. In the meantime, Milwaukee’s represented here with Collections of Colonies of Bees. Spotlighting more Wisco bands is definitely on order for the new year, as is finding more new-to-me stuff like Air Miami.

KA–

P.S. A few of you have asked if I sequence these as if they’re an album or mixtape. The answer is always “yes.” In my head, I imagine them being played on your morning commute or road trip. I’m too old to use the word “vibes” as much as I have lately, but, well, if the shoe fits…

This week, side A is tracks 1-16, with Side B being 17-27.

On to the music…

Other sources: Qobuz | YouTube Music | Apple Music (Note: Qobuz & YT Music are both missing a couple).

Now it’s your turn.

What caught your ear this week? Any new releases or tickets to shows for Christmas/Hanukkah/ Boxing Day? Do you make any end-of-year lists or resolutions? If so, please share below!

Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Leave a comment

Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

by KevinLeave a Comment on Discussion: What’re You Listening To?

Good morning! Need an antidote for the algorithms? Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.

For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing, and the playlist below is some of what’s been in heavy rotation for me.

As always, thank you to those who have recently upgraded their subscriptions. Your direct support fuels this community and makes a positive impact. Shares and reposts also help!

When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:

One of my biggest holiday wishes for everyone is that you get a day (or 2-3) to do…well, whatever you want. Maybe that means letting the sun wake you up instead of a shrieking alarm clock. Perhaps it means declaring email bankruptcy and going nuclear on your inbox. There’s probably some coffee in there, too. I was on vacation this past week and got to enjoy several of those things. I also chipped away at my TBR pile and spun a lot of records.

It’s strange; when people hear that I work for an airline, the default assumption is that we’re always jetting off to somewhere exotic. I have plenty of ink on my passport, but the truth is that sometimes I just want to do a dry run on what retirement might look like. In other words, the other side of Madison was the farthest I ventured.

Music-wise, this list reflects hanging around the house. There’s a reason this week’s is a bit longer (and eclectic) than usual- plenty of free time and sub-zero temps mean plenty of time in front of the sound machine. There’s also a couple of best of 2025 tracks back in the mix. Last week, I mentioned hitting a wall and needing some space from the records I’d been gorging on ahead of AOTY season. That was short-lived, and I got back to enjoying them. Plenty of post-punk too. Some things never change, I guess. And there’s some New Order on here, because of course there is.

Looking over the list, I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard a few of them. “Coldsweat” sounded as good a few days ago as it did when my friend Kendra pushed a copy of Life’s Too Good in my hand a few lifetimes ago and told me I needed to hear it. I wonder if those memories would have been as strong had the algorithm fed ‘em? I doubt it. Ironically, it was my employer that tipped me off to J-Boy; I first heard it while listening to IFE on a flight as we rocketed out of Portland.

I hope you find a few new faves here and that everything on your list shows up under your tree.

KA–

P.S. A few of you have asked if I sequence these as if they’re an album or mixtape. The answer is always “yes.” In my head, I imagine them being played on your morning commute or road trip. I’m too old to use the word “vibes” as much as I have lately, but, well, if the shoe fits…Side A is tracks 1-17, with Side B being 18-35.

On to the music…

Other sources: Qobuz (missing a couple) | YouTube Music| Apple Music

Now it’s your turn.

What caught your ear this week? Any new releases or shows you’re hoping will be under the tree? Do you make any end-of-year lists? If so, please share below!?

Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Leave a comment

For The Record- 20. December. 2025

by KevinLeave a Comment on For The Record- 20. December. 2025

Some thoughts on Christmas, JoJos, and cinnamon bears

Note: This first ran 2 years ago and quickly became one of the year’s most popular posts. It has been lightly updated & edited. Maybe it’ll become another recurring tradition for the newsletter? Perhaps it’ll become a holiday version of trying to make ‘fetch’ work? Time’ll tell!
KA—

This is a Christmas story. It’s also a story about Portland. Portland has always been quirky—from a sign with a deer on it to a store that gave free buzz cuts in the style of its owner (“and Gloria too!”) to a parade about roses. Mention ‘Psycho Safeway’ or say ‘Rip City!’ to someone outside of The Rose City and see how it goes.

Keep Portland weird? Oregonians have been doing that since day 1, long before it became performative or a sport. 

Every city had these sorts of things, I suppose. The kind of thing that transcends most demographics but is corralled within a few zip codes. A common ground that gets the diaspora to come out of the woodwork years later. It is a language 1000s share, but few outsiders get, like how the best Jojos come from gas stations. That is an absolutely true fact, btw. It’s science. And that statement reads like gibberish if you aren’t from the 503. 

This is a Portland story and one about Christmas. And quirks and traditions. 

It is the story of the Cinnamon Bear.

I grew up in a time when department stores still had flagship outlets in the middle of the city. Beautiful buildings with stunning facades and elegant insides that, even after their heyday, still made you feel fancy just walking through the door. There used to be a few of these downtown—stately matrons who watched over Pioneer Square—and the parking garage that was there before it. The Meier & Frank building was gorgeous, taking up an entire city block. During the holidays, no expense was spared in turning the place into a winter wonderland that looked like it was straight off the set of Miracle on 34th Street.

There was even an (admittedly sketchy) monorail that took you around Santa Land. The whole experience was magical enough that seeing Santa wasn’t even the best part.

It was the stuff childhood dreams are made of.

None of that was happening at Frederick and Nelson’s. 

There were decorations, but they felt lifeless and apathetic. Spartan, even. 

But they did have something not even the vaunted Meier & Frank could touch— the Cinnamon Bear.

All of that is well and good. But what matters here is that by the mid to late 70s, like the store itself, our man had seen better days. The costumes were a little more tattered, the eyes a little more wild. The cookies were still decent, though I’m sure that as a 7-year-old, my bar was low. 

After Lipman’s was bought by department store Frederick & Nelson in 1979, they kept the character and trotted him out for another decade, to the abject terror of some Portland children.

“Oh my god, I fucking hated that bear,” recalls Nico Bella, owner of downtown’s Spellbound Flowers. “He looked like a Sleestak [from Land of the Lost] to me, and I was terrified of those. It was in a doorway and came waving and walking towards me, and I started yelling, ‘No, no, NO!’ and wailing. I ran out screaming.”

(In addition to the Sleestak resemblance, some versions of the 1980s-era Cinnamon Bear suit look rather disturbingly like a Furry in blackface.)

It’s not like he was mean like the Santa in ‘A Christmas Story’ or a degenerate like in ‘Bad Santa.’ He was just… freakin’ weird. Sometimes, he was light brown. Sometimes, his eyes were exaggerated, rendering him an ursine George Hamilton. He didn’t even talk! How could we tell him what we wanted? And why would it matter, anyway? Santa’s the guy who delivered. Toys came from the North Pole, not Maybeland. Couldn’t we just go across the street, survive a spin on the monorail, and call it good?

Apparently not. Portland parents kept bringing their kids. Maybe out of tradition, maybe to buck tradition. Maybe spite. I don’t know, and I’m not sure it matters.

What I do know is this: when the holidays roll around, there are a bunch of Gen X’ers posting things like:

And sharing pictures that look like this:

Wherever this finds you over the next couple of weeks, and however you celebrate, I hope it’s a holiday season filled with laughter, music, and joy. 

And Jojos.

As always, thanks for being here.

KA—

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