Why Taylor Swift, the Beatles, and Nirvana are overrated

And other music opinions you'll really hate. Also: how drummers are like Taco Bell, the perfect cocktail party playlist, and much more on music.

🎥 My new standup special “Bolo” is available to stream now for only $4. Don’t wanna pay? It’ll be coming to YouTube/MattRuby on January 9.

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Let’s talk tunes

Musing on music…

When it all changed for DJs

Once heard an old school DJ explain that everything shifted once people started staring at the DJ. Before that, people just looked at each other and danced. I haven’t been able to get that out of my head since.

Sondheim Park

Stephen Sondheim writes a fan letter to Trey Parker…

"This is the time of discouragement" is a mindblowing line to just toss off randomly.

Think outside the snare

Drummers are like Taco Bell. They only have five ingredients, but it's fascinating to see how many different ways they can mix them together. Cheesy tom-tom gordita hi-hat supreme.

Up ahead: “Taylor’s Version,” late-era Beatles, Cobain/Dylan lyrics, “Freebird,” evil women, zombie attacks, the most underrated music producer ever, the perfect cocktail party playlist, and much more…