Because we’re still having problems due to OpenWeb changing its API on us, I do not know your highest rated comments this week. I’m told I’ll get some comment data next week, but I’m not holding my breath. Shut Up, Dude was going to be coming to an end soon anyway; as you might have seen me mention in Gumcord, we are moving to a new, much better platform for the entire site in Q3 (maybe Q4). Its in-house commenting software will be more affordable too, but it will also make publishing a Best Comments list impossible. I didn’t want this column to end so unceremoniously, though, so I will give OpenWeb a couple of weeks and see if we can schedule a proper farewell tour. Anyway, #NoKings except Brian Wilson, so scroll through all of these best comments instead:

OpenWeb messed with their API without telling us again so sadly, I cannot pull your best comments this week. Let’s still have a comment party though? You might have seen that Stereogum is at Primavera Sound Barcelona, which is headlined by last year’s three main pop girlies Sabrina, Chappell, and Charli. Tom missed his original flight then cut his foot on the Airbnb bed and bled on all the towels, but otherwise we are doing excelente. Wish us luck for Turnstile’s 3 a.m. set.

I think I’m falling for the Addison propaganda.

It’s New Music Friday. Don’t forget to search YouTube for “song.”

Leave Taylor alone.

New type of pope dropped. Harry was in apparently in Vatican City for the announcement? But streets are saying Leo is more of a second wave emo fan.

This week in NYC music venues…

Lordisaim summer.

This week we talked to Molly Burch, Chime Oblivion, Rhiannon Giddens, Greet Death, aya, and quickly, quickly. Read those interviews and have a safe 4/20/Easter.

Bon Iver’s SABLE, fABLE is out today. The album launch comes with over two dozen brand collaborations, a basketball tournament, and a confusing photo of “your mother.” Read our Premature Evaluation of the LP here.

Happy New Music Friday. Are you spinning L.A. Witch’s DOGGOD or L.A. Guns’ Leopard Skin?

This week we interviewed Destroyer, Perfume Genius, Judy Collins, Bryan Ferry, and Nels Cline, and we asked one of those people about appearing in the movie Junior.

We reviewed Jbrekkie’s For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) and asked Michelle Zauner about her old music videos featuring Christopher Moltisanti and a former Stereogum editor. Read those then tell us in the comments what you’re getting up to this weekend.

It’s the 30th anniversary of memorable rock albums by Radiohead, Matthew Sweet, Mad Season, Goo Goo Dolls, Elastica, and Collective Soul so, with apologies to Christina Ricci, let’s look back at Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart this week in 1995…

This week saw the longest ever Oscars speech and the longest ever presidential address to Congress. 😩 But soon we’re getting the longest ever Car Seat Headrest song. 😃 Here’s a short list of this week’s excellent comments.

Minus The Bear and the Beta Band appear to be teasing reunion tours. Whatdya say, R.E.M.?

Superheaven announced their first album in a decade, Superdrag announced their first NY and LA shows in 15 years, and Supergrass announced a 30th anniversary tour and got covered by Kelly Clarkson. Supertramp were off this week.

For Valentine’s Day, I got you new covers of two Genesis frontmen’s debut solo singles.

There are several new benefit comps with exclusive recordings raising money for wildfire relief — including Los Angeles Rising, Good Music To Lift Up Los Angeles, Love Los Angeles, and Super Bloom: A Benefit For Fire Relief In Los Angeles — and today Bandcamp is donating its fees to MusiCares. Meanwhile Give A Frock LA is auctioning music video outfits and gear to support Altadena Girls, Friends In Deed, One Voice, and Pasadena Humane Society. And tomorrow in LA Stereogum will co-present Rocket at Zebulon benefitting the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund and the Pasadena Job Center.

Lana Del Rey is not nominated for any Grammys this weekend, but this was good advice from u/couriier6…

I accidentally wrote “Brat Pitt” in the newsletter today. How was your week?

☕

This week we were enjoying Polish LSD, cutting coked-up demos with Toto, and poppin’ pillies like a rockstar. 🥴

Happy New Year everybody!!

On New Year’s Day, Stereogum will turn 23 years old. (It’s easy to remember because we share a birthday with Ice Spice.) I spend enough time on social media to know that longreads about Ned’s Atomic Dustbin aren’t what’s setting the algo on fire these days, yet Stereogum’s audience is larger than it’s ever been, so thank you all for caring. We’re especially grateful to everyone who has been supporting Stereogum with a paid Membership, helping to keep independent music journalism alive in ’25. We have exciting things in store for next year and look forward to sharing them with you, the best music community on the internet. But first we must look back on things you wrote underneath our posts this year. Shut Up, Dude, this site’s long-running weekly best comments countdown, is one of our Members Only features, but I’m once again opening up the year-end roundup to all. Below, enjoy the best of Stereogum readers’ jokes and insights in 2024, and we’ll see you on the futuresport court in 2025.

It’s the last regular Shut Up, Dude of the year, but check back on Tuesday for the big 50 Best Comments Of 2024 countdown.

Stereogum’s 2024 In Review package continued with countdowns of the ten best albums in metal, rap, hardcore, country, experimental, and electronic music, and more genre lists are coming next week. The metal list marks the last-ever edition of our monthly column The Black Market. 🥲 Thank you Ian, Doug, Wyatt, Michael, and Aaron for the 12 years (!) of kick-ass metal recommendations. Stay tuned for Stereogum’s new monthly metal column launching in 2025. 👀

Our lists are in, but your favorite music of the year is not official until you vote in the Gummys. Tell us the best album and song of 2024 and you’ll be entered to win a Stereogum t-shirt of your choice. Then watch this commercial…

We’ve got new items at the Stereogum merch booth for the holidays, including a pint glass and our two most popular t-shirts now on Comfort Comforts. ICYMI in the Discord, there’s a Member-exclusive discount code you can use for 25% off any order before Tuesday. Enter GNX at checkout!

Happy 50th birthday to God-fearing patriot Chad Kroeger.

It’s been a week. Feel free to discuss the election, the Grammys, or neither in the comments.

This week Mk.gee got an SNL booking, Wishy got a Sims sync, Alvvays got sampled by Lil Uzi Vert, and Magdalena Bay got a TV debut and a Grimes remix and Rosalia’s Halloween costume. You love to see it.

This week Halsey made her The Number Ones debut and today she releases the new album The Great Impersonator.

Does Sabrina Carpenter wear a wig onstage? Even Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t know…

Stereogum is in Vegas (baby) for Best Friends Forever festival. We’ll be chatting with a bunch of the bands in video interviews so if you have any pressing questions about second wave emo lmk.

This week we published interviews with LL Cool J, the Blood Brothers, Blood Incantation, Alan Sparhawk, Raphael Saadiq, Balance And Composure, Geordie Greep, and Yasmin Williams. Read them, there will be a quiz.

This week we saw beefs between Journey and Avenged Sevenfold and between Peter Frampton and Megadeth. I wish I had a third example right now but we may have to wait until some band picks a fight with Grand Funk Railroad at ACL. Your final best comments of September are below!

This week’s #6/#5 arrangement is 🤌. Great work from you all heading into Moo Deng Autumn.