Chris Richards
@chrisrichards.bsky.social
Your critic and co-listener // ex-Washington Post // reccos/rants/prayers/curses at thefutureisourstomake.substack.com // contact me: christopherpaulrichards at proton dot me
Beautiful Sunday morning music for you on THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE courtesy of the dollar bin at Princeton Record Exchange/destiny open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
I found infinity in the dollar bin
A recording to listen to on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
open.substack.com
Proof of listening, proof of life — I just reviewed 102 recordings for THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE. Read it for free / tell a friend open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Any number of quantum positions
THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE’s quarterly review of significant recordings.
open.substack.com
A quick review of the most widely-experienced musical performance in human history open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Halftime hacks
A beginner’s guide to organizing the biggest musical performance in human history.
open.substack.com
Seasonal thoughts on how THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS sounds as new as life year round Sunday posts on THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE are for paid subscribers, but today’s is free If you subscribe — or if you’re considering — thank you for your generosity + excellence open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Summertime in the permanent present tense
A recording to listen to on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
open.substack.com
This shout out from @alanzilberman.bsky.social in the Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. issue means a ton and then some washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7887...
Cleaning out the basement today and found this a day late
Massive hell yes to this. Natalie is the greatest
Washington City Paper@wcp.bsky.social · last mo.Curator, scholar, and advocate Natalie Hopkinson takes us on a tour of 19 places that highlight the rebellious spirit of this city that refuses to be extinguished—many of the sites showcase Black entrepreneurs and creators.
Had the craziestsexiestcoolest time at the TLC musical now playing at D.C.’s Arena Stage and was happy to write about it for The Guardian www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
‘There’s not a lot of Black stories made by Black creatives in theater’: inside Kwame Kwei-Armah’s new TLC musical
CrazySexyCool, the celebrated playwright’s new show in DC, is a vibrant love letter to the hits and sisterhood of the R&B trio
theguardian.com
It’s tough to pinpoint the exact moment when Ella Langley’s hit single “Choosin’ Texas” grew bigger than country music, bigger than the singer’s starriest aspirations, bigger than the state of Texas itself, but like the universe, its expansion continues, writes @chrisrichards.bsky.social.
This Hugely Popular Country Song Has Surprising Parallels to the Texas Senate Race
“Choosin’ Texas” isn't about the future of democracy. Unless you want to hear it that way.
notus.org
As zeitgeisty pop songs go, I feel like ELLA LANGLEY’s “Choosin’ Texas” has grown massive enough to contain the vast unknowability of Texas itself — and I wrote about it for @notus.com www.notus.org/this-hugely-...
This Hugely Popular Country Song Has Surprising Parallels to the Texas Senate Race
“Choosin’ Texas” isn't about the future of democracy. Unless you want to hear it that way.
notus.org
What this review of Patti Smith’s “Bread of Angels” for the Times Literary Supplement doesn’t mention is that I loved the book so much, I bought a copy for my dad for his birthday www.the-tls.com/lives/autobi...
Just grown-ups
In her succinct volume on the creative process, Devotion (2017), the rock poet and memoirist Patti Smith made her greatest ambition plain. She wanted to
the-tls.com
I’m so honored by this recognition. I’m also looking for work! The Washington Post laid me off earlier this year. Deep thanks to the SFJ for elevating arts criticism in this tumultuous moment. Deep thanks to everyone for reading my stuff and spreading the word.
Society for Features Journalism@wearesfj.bsky.social · 2mo agoARTS & CULTURE CRITICISM PORTFOLIO, DIV 3 2026 SFJ winners: 🥇 1st: @philipkennicott.bsky.social - Washington Post 🥈 2nd: @marymcnamara.bsky.social - LA Times 🥉 3rd: @chrisrichards.bsky.social - Washington Post 🏅 HM: Rohan Preston - @startribune.com #SFJAwards
Amazing to be a part of POW MAG this week of all weeks. Read and subscribe and read! substack.com/@powmag
Honored to be on this list ! ! Deepest gratitude to Of Note With so much flux in music criticism right now, I’m a writer who appreciates every reader and a reader who appreciates every writer
Of Note@ofnotemusic.bsky.social · 2mo agoOf Note 025 is out! This is the final issue of the newsletter. It includes a list of some of my favorite subscriptions. @see-saw.fun @natalieweiner.bsky.social @marissarmoss.bsky.social @hearingthingsco.bsky.social @marcissist.bsky.social @natechinen.bsky.social @joshterry.bsky.social Cont.
Took a walk through reality with LIFTED and got schooled on the Altmansound, the Tuscany-Canterbury Drone, Sun Ra jamming on “Dumbo,” the duo’s new album “Movie,” and more open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Screen off
A walking interview with Matt Papich and Andrew Field-Pickering of Lifted.
open.substack.com
Love this short reflection of Rollins / an incidental anecdote that says much more than it lets on. "There’s very little experience behind a childhood crush. It’s almost entirely a thing of intuition, of wonder — a decision that’s somehow been made for you."
Chris Richards@chrisrichards.bsky.social · 2mo agoWhen I walk the streets of my (neighboring) hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, I like to imagine a young SONNY ROLLINS in love open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
When I walk the streets of my (neighboring) hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, I like to imagine a young SONNY ROLLINS in love open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Sonny’s crush
Brief thoughts on the childhood memories of a saxophone colossus.
open.substack.com
An interview with Jeff Parker about his storied residency at ETA, his experience collaborating with Flea, music’s unknowable ability to change the mood of a room, the influence of Wayne Shorter, and his latest, "Happy Today." By the great @chrisrichards.bsky.social www.powmag.net/p/jeff-parke...
I Don't Waste My Music: An Interview with Jeff Parker
Chris Richards speaks with the legendary guitarist about his new album, Happy Today.
powmag.net
I’m 2x hyper-grateful to have been able to speak with JEFF PARKER for POW MAG ! ! open.substack.com/pub/powmag/p...
I Don't Waste My Music: An Interview with Jeff Parker
Chris Richards speaks with the legendary guitarist about his new album, Happy Today.
open.substack.com
Awesome! Subscribe!
Marc Masters 🌵@marcissist.bsky.social · 2mo agoHey, I started a site/newsletter to continue the work of my recently-cancelled column. I features a monthly (free) rundown of good experimental releases, plus a bonus (paid-sub) post on a single release from the month. Check out goodexperimentalmusic.com and thanks to everyone who encouraged this!
Listen to this record/subscribe to this newsletter/have a good week open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Hiding the horizon
A record to listen to on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
open.substack.com
Playing records at ASL w Kim Coletta and John Davis, we’ll bring the Vace, you bring yrself and a cool beverage, D C R U !
Went on a walk with MARTYN to talk about music as something we can step into. His new album, “Music for Existing,” is truly fantastic open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Music for existing in three dimensions
A walking interview with Martyn.
open.substack.com
Here’s where you’ll find me at the WOLF EYES show open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
Confessions of a noise show nosebleeder
A review of Wolf Eyes at Rhizome.
open.substack.com
The Sleeves album on @12xurecs.bsky.social is so good and so unlike anything else rn. Great chat btwn them and @chrisrichards.bsky.social here. thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/open-to-an...
‘Open to any eventuality’
An interview with Jack Cooper and Tara Cunningham of The Sleeves.
thefutureisourstomake.substack.com
I asked THE SLEEVES about the perimeters of their fabulous new album — close, delicate music that invites us to wonder about the borders of existence and/or which string is best open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...
‘Open to any eventuality’
An interview with Jack Cooper and Tara Cunningham of The Sleeves.
open.substack.com
