The Scratchpad
Half-finished ideas
Scratchings on "The Jakarta Method"
By Liam Coley
Published Sep 28, 2026
The forgotten violence of the Cold War.
Ants from Up There
By Liam Coley
Published Apr 27, 2026
The end is the beginning, and so on forever.
I LOVE MY COMPUTER
By Liam Coley
Published Mar 20, 2026
Ninajirachi's 2025 album is an ode to the dreams of the future we once had.
Racing Mount Pleasant
By Liam Coley
Published Feb 13, 2026
A masterpiece of introspection from the Ann Arbor septet.
NEVER ENOUGH
By Liam Coley
Published Feb 13, 2026
Turnstile's follow-up to GLOW ON has its merits, but lacks depth.
Behind the Scenes
By Liam Coley
Published Feb 11, 2026
Take a quick look under the hood.
Another Headache
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 31, 2026
A surprise return from the mysterious duo.
The Myth of New Zealand
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 29, 2026
100% Pure New Zealand
Pain to Power
By Liam Coley
Published Oct 8, 2025
Maruja's debut is almost impeccable.
A Real Headache
By Liam Coley
Published Aug 28, 2025
The Head Hurts but the Heart Knows the Truth.
We're All Cowards
By Liam Coley
Published Apr 4, 2025
Squid's 2025 release is a maturation of the Windmill Scene.
Top Albums of 2024
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 14, 2025
A strong year for music.
Les Chants de L'Aurore
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
Alcest's 8th outing evokes a sort of neo-romanticism.
Imaginal Disk
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
PRESS ANY BUTTON TO START...
Greeptober
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
The Black Midi frontman's first solo outing is a frenetic success.
Going Vegyn
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
Vegyn's warm trip-hop is a portal to the early 2000's.
"NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD"
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
A powerful return to form for the Montréal collective.
Mountainhead
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 13, 2025
A bizarre but catchy allegory for capitalism and infinite growth.
Scratchings on "The Castle"
By Liam Coley
Published Dec 16, 2024
Kafka's final, unfinished novel is an unsolvable puzzle - and that's the point.
A Sketch of Koh Tao
By Liam Coley
Published Jun 7, 2024
The popular Thai island is more a theme park.
Scratchings on "The Big Con"
By Liam Coley
Published Mar 25, 2024
The consulting industry's poor track record is no secret, but Mazzucato and Collington's book seems to miss the bigger picture.
Scratchings on "No Surrender"
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 23, 2024
Hiroo Onoda's legendary story of survival and guerilla war is simultaneously frustrating and ludicrous.
Scratchings on "The Dispossessed"
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 14, 2024
Ursula K. Le Guin's masterpiece sketches out two dreams of the future.
Scratchings on "Ghosts of My Life"
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 9, 2024
A flawed but ultimately critical collection of writings that theorises why modern culture is so bereft of creativity.
Scratchings on "Call of the Wild"
By Liam Coley
Published Jan 2, 2024
Jack London's Alaskan odyssey is surprisingly heartfelt.
Scratchings on "Debt: The First 5000 Years"
By Liam Coley
Published Dec 30, 2023
David Graeber's anthropological account of debt, money, and markets warrants a rethink in how we conceive of 'the economy'.
Scratchings on "Society of the Spectacle"
By Liam Coley
Published Oct 23, 2023
Guy Débord's classic work only gains relevance as time goes on.
Scratchings on "Capitalist Realism"
By Liam Coley
Published Oct 10, 2023
Mark Fisher's screed on capitalism lays bare its position: as unquestioned ideology.