❄️ Snowy Sunday Thoughts

Subscriptions, Bundles, and More...

Jan 26, 2026

Hello from cold and snowy New Hampshire. It looks like we could get almost two feet of the white stuff when this is all done. Today was a great day to stay in with a warm bowl of broccoli cheddar soup or a hot chocolate with those tiny marshmallows floating on top, and read a book or listen to a record. I decided to take a walk mid-afternoon and listen to the snow falling while hiking through the quickly accumulating snow — no one else was in sight. I love when the snow is brand new, the world is quioet and we can all take a moment to appreciate nature. It’s almost meditative.

Another Subscription?

So Pitchfork just introduced subscriptions. For $60 a year, you can read more than four reviews, comment on their reviews, and review albums yourself. Maybe I’m naive, but other than paying for access to reviews (with ads), commenting and reviewing albums yourself is free via any social media or blog platform, no? I honestly don’t see any benefit to a paywall for an ad-supported website like Pitchfork. Don’t get me wrong, I totally support journalism and music writers — in fact, I subscribe to a bunch of magazines, and I have a few music-related Substack subscriptions as well. All totally worth it. I just don’t see the value here... unless it was a lot more than just reviews. What do you think?

By the way, one of my Substack subscriptions is to Jazz and Coffee, written by the talented Syd Schwartz. He’s very knowledgeable in more genres than just jazz (and coffee), and this amateur writer highly recommends subscribing, if you can. You won’t be disappointed.

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It’s sort of a subscription, right? The Winter Bundle from International Anthem includes two records for $45 (plus $6 shipping) or the limited edition color vinyl for $52 (plus $6 shipping). IARC 107 and IARC 108 will ship around March 20th, and downloads will be provided via Bandcamp on or before the ship date.

I wonder what these two releases could be? Any guesses?

A Little Plug…

Who is Samuel S.C.?

Samuel started in the early 90s in State College, Pennsylvania. They were a punk rock band that toured constantly on the DIY hardcore and punk scene. They played shows with well-known bands from that time, including Avail, Promise Ring, Chamberlain, Anti-Flag, Grain, and Kerosene 454, among others. Samuel was the main band on drummer Eric Astor's label, Art Monk Construction, which put out some of the most respected 7-inch vinyl records of the time. In 2021, as Samuel S.C. returned, adding the S.C. to reflect a new beginning while paying homage to the band’s origins.

This is their new song:

A Hidden Jewel

Have you heard of Analog Tone Records? It’s a new jazz label created by saxophone player Jerome Sabbagh and pianist & recording engineer Pete Rende, dedicated to analog tape. All their LPs are 100% analog, available in 180g vinyl and digital formats. Stand Up! is an incredible album by Jerome Sabbagh, featuring guitarist Ben Monder, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Nasheet Waits. It features eight tracks in which the band interprets the music of artists such as Trent Reznor, Kenny Barron, Stevie Wonder, and others.

This album and the label are new to me. I just heard about both while reading a best-of-2025 list. It was brought to my attention through The Gig by Nate Chinen, another great read here on Substack.

New Release This Week

Soul Jazz Records Presents: Junglist!

A heavyweight new selection of classic and rare original jungle. Now available on LP, CD, or digital. Order online. All tracks date from 1993-95, at the height of jungle. Rarities include Bizzy B & TDK’s ‘Big Things.’

An Exciting Preorder

Katzin - Buckaroo (Mexican Summer)

I’ve been listening to the three available songs from Katzin's forthcoming debut album lately. New York-based, his sound is rooted in the mysterious West meets indie pop. Catchy tunes! The debut album arrives Friday, February 13, 2026.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?