Hawk Unwrapped ☆

Records I bought, few books I loved, two books I couldn't finish

Every year I set a $100 budget to spend on physical music media. You’d be surprised how much it can get you, or how it might turn into $150 and that feels even more satisfying. If you’re a digital person it’ll buy you 10+ albums! For better or worse, I’m a stuff lover. Some of my most valuable records are ones that came out in 2006 when no one was buying vinyl. I love my records, and I feel sad that it’s become such a financial privilege and environmental burden. If only this industry had an ounce of interest in equality and moderation!

I felt moved in 2023 by all the records I’ll list below. I curse streaming services and wave my records around every year in an instagram video. Somehow in 2023 I also read books with the same fervor I had as a freshman in college. Included a few of those too.

Music

Candlelight Showertime by Sun Organ
fav track: “God Loves His Little Things Pt. II”
✦ listen/buy

Greg Mendez by Greg Mendez
fav track: “Maria”
✦ listen/buy

Engine of Hell Live at Roadburn by Emma Ruth Rundle
fav track: “Razor’s Edge”
✦ listen/buy

Radial Gate by Sluice
fav track: “Centurion”
✦ listen/buy

Shrug by Exercise
fav track: “My Room”
✦ listen/buy

Other releases of note to me: Suntub by ML Buch, Why Does The Earth Give Us People to Love? by Kara Jackson, Bananasugarfire by Golden Apples, and obviously everything released on Double Double Whammy in 2023, we had an incredible year.

---

Books <3

Someone Who Isn’t Me by Geoff Rickly (independently published on Rose Books ! )

Her Country by Marissa R. Moss

This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music

Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise and Fall of SST Records by Jim Ruland

Talk About the Passion (Oral History of R.E.M.) - Denise Sullivan

The Meaning of Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King

Down the Drain - Julia Fox

Books </3

Nobody Ever Asked Me About the Girls - Lisa Robinson

• gossipy and impactful example of internalized misogyny, which is sadly the opposite of the book’s intent

The Creative Act - Rick Rubin

• too woo-woo and airy for me. nothing stuck

---

PS. Subscribe to GUNK! They’re an incredible NYC showpaper/zine who also deliver digitally via substack. I have an essay on streaming/reality TV in February’s edition.

PPS. I’m playing a solo set at McCarren Park House on February 11 for Songwriter Sundays. Debuting my new Eddie Van Halen guitar, a ton of new songs, and a PJ Harvey cover. It’s donation based - no tickets needed.