An Archive of Joy

Things feel pretty shaky right now, regardless of who or where you are in the world. This is not a new feeling for many of us; in my life, there have been times things felt personally uncertain and hope seemed hard to come by.

Knowing I experience(d) these low moments, I put together a personal archive of joy — a collection of media that I could lose myself in and shut out the outside world for even just a few minutes.

In lieu of talking about technology or great new music I've discovered (like this Horsegirl record, which will undoubtedly be my favorite of the year), here are some links that may help you find a little light in dark times.

See When Musicians Realized They “Made It”

• This video of Idles at Glastonbury realizing the crowd is louder than they are.
• English Teacher, who won the Mercury Prize recently, playing Jools Holland. Singer Lily Fontaine must alternate between stage serious and personally proud.
• Cleo Sol used to play pubs and coffee shops to paltry crowds. Here is her big live debut at the Royal Albert Hall taking in the crowd. (Seeing her next month at Radio City!)
• There are a million Adele moments, but this might be the best.
• "The south got something to say."
• If you feel like you've been working on something for forever and have yet to see results, this performance is the result of 17 years of Guy Chadwick's commitment to his craft.

Amazing Performances

I keep a bunch of scattered live music playlists on YouTube. Among my favorite performances are:

• The landing of the motherfucking Mothership at the end of this stellar P-Funk performance
• Can performing "Vitamin C" live
  • From Can's drummer, Jaki Liebezeit — top 5 drummers of all time: "You Have To Play Monotonous"
• The full Fela/Africa 70 experience in Germany (1978)
• Early Felt performing "Primitive Painters"
• A bit on the nose, but here's Soft Machine's "Hope For Happiness" in '67
• Black Country, New Road's first "coming out" after the departure of their lead singer.
  • The band Battles also faced the same issue and found a way to make it work (for a time).
• The only overly happy song on The Chameleon's famous goth-ass record.
• D. Boon passed away nearly 40 years ago. Mike Watt still plays his friend's songs (but won't play his solos).
• I'm very much a secular Jew, but Sacred Harp singing is among the most beautiful music on the planet.
• On the much lighter side of things, The Armed audition to fill Chester Bennington's role in Stone Temple Pilots.

Pro Wrestling and the Manufacturing of Hope

The reason I watch(ed) pro wrestling for so long, among many other reasons, was because it wholly manufactured those moments in sports where feelings are hope are fully realized, even if just for a moment.

• The best example of this is Dusty Rhodes' "Hard Times" interview, which is crazy relevant in 2025 (especially regarding computerized redundancies).
• Then there's Macho Man Randy Savage giving the best interview ever while performing slight-of-hand tricks.
  • Speaking of, here's Macho Man talking about masculinity and fragility with Arsenio Hall. "It's okay for Macho Men to show every emotion available."
• Bad Bunny, the biggest musician in the world, decides to try the side quest of pro wrestling in his hometown, is in awe of the crowd.
• Very large Scottish man, who was laid off from the company years prior, cries after winning big match. (There are plenty of these moments.)
• 20 year veteran luchador, who used to wrestle his brother in the streets of Mexico for money, debuts in WWE in his adopted hometown in front of his wife and daughters.

Albums to Listen To

Pulling these from a text I sent a friend not too long ago. In low times, when I wish to live in hope, these are the albums I flock to. Can you imagine having a bad day after listening to Songs in the Key of Life?

Marc Hollis got a gazillion dollars to make a pop album and made the most cathartic 41 minutes of music ever.

My favorite record of all time, naturally:

You, too, can relive childhood feelings of love, love lost, and love regained with Slowdive.

"Living off borrowed time/the clock ticks faster..." The wordplay on this album has gotten me through the last month alone.

Be well, friend.

Best,
Scott Steinhardt