Your critic and co-listener // ex-Washington Post // reccos/rants/prayers/curses at thefutureisourstomake.substack.com // contact me: christopherpaulrichards at proton dot mehttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mw76s7svak2aI just saw ERYKAH BADU slow-walk the apocalypse https://thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/you-hang-up-first https://thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/you-hang-up-first?r=7evfuk&utm_medium=ios23 Sep 2026 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw76s7svak2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mvsd626myc2oOne of the coolest things you can do in the D.C. streets is be listening to a Fugazi song when you drive through a tunnel18 Sep 2026 13:57 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvsd626myc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mvg6warp2k2iYou need to read my newsletter if you want to party with JJ thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/jjs-rsvp13 Sep 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvg6warp2k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mup54gmoxk2gHere’s my month-long review of CHARLI XCX’s “Music, Fashion, Film” https://thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/im-really-hurting-my-neck04 Sep 2026 14:06 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mup54gmoxk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mu6zf7ccbk23I actually don’t think it’s nice that everyone’s talking about her good deeds more than her music I wish more publications employed music journalists and critics Despite all the great writing this week, we can still see how much we’re missing right now29 Aug 2026 04:16 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu6zf7ccbk23https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mtzsnenuns2427 Aug 2026 02:32 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzsnenuns24https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mtz5g2ku2s2xThis is exceptional [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Aug 2026 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz5g2ku2s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mtz4chj2j22xMy favorite DOLLY PARTON song makes me feel like her big pop crossover was actually a bigger step toward improving the world we share https://thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/just-when-ive-begun-to-get-myself26 Aug 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz4chj2j22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mtfj7qinlc2sThis is outstanding https://www.newyorker.com/culture/pop-music/usher-and-chris-browns-audacious-joint-tour19 Aug 2026 00:50 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtfj7qinlc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3msvht56n4c2kFriends, which search engines do you recommend now that Google entirely sucks?12 Aug 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvht56n4c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3msv6ybjwfc24Today, I’m launching a quarterly review of the BEST NEW FANZINES Submit yours for next time to THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE / P.O. Box 60182 / Washington D.C. 20039 Meantime, make a fanzine, read a fanzine, encounter a fanzine here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/its-always-been-someones-apocalypse12 Aug 2026 13:05 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3msv6ybjwfc24https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3ms42jvh22s27Beautiful Sunday morning music for you on THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE courtesy of the dollar bin at Princeton Record Exchange/destiny https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/i-found-infinity-in-the-dollar-bin https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/i-found-infinity-in-the-dollar-bin?r=7evfuk&utm_medium=ios02 Aug 2026 13:08 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms42jvh22s27https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mruk2egw6s2lProof of listening, proof of life — I just reviewed 102 recordings for THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE. Read it for free / tell a friend https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/any-number-of-quantum-positions30 Jul 2026 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mruk2egw6s2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mr3d5pfjls2kA quick review of the most widely-experienced musical performance in human history https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/halftime-hacks https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/halftime-hacks?r=7evfuk&utm_medium=ios20 Jul 2026 12:45 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3d5pfjls2khttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mqz3j4n2vc2mSeasonal 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 https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/summertime-in-the-permanent-present19 Jul 2026 15:23 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqz3j4n2vc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mqrzulrwy225This shout out from @alanzilberman.bsky.social in the Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. issue means a ton and then some https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/788702/best-of-dc-2026-editors-picks/16 Jul 2026 20:05 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrzulrwy225https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mpwrwr3u5k2yCleaning out the basement today and found this a day late06 Jul 2026 00:01 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpwrwr3u5k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mptcd2rndk2aAmerica is just a word but I use it04 Jul 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mptcd2rndk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mpqqibyocs2zMassive hell yes to this. Natalie is the greatest [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Jul 2026 14:19 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqqibyocs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mpodqh5olc2aHad 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 https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jul/02/crazysexycool-tlc-musical-kwame-kwei-armah-interview02 Jul 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpodqh5olc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mp6ws3apjs27As 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 https://www.notus.org/this-hugely-popular-country-song-has-surprising-parallels-to-the-texas-senate-race26 Jun 2026 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp6ws3apjs27https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mossfr4kf22vHappy first day of summer https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/summer-sensorium https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/summer-sensorium?r=7evfuk&utm_medium=ios21 Jun 2026 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mossfr4kf22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3moijmpddfk27What 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 https://www.the-tls.com/lives/autobiography/bread-of-angels-patti-smith-book-review-chris-richards17 Jun 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3moijmpddfk27https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mnuzpetn3s2rI’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. [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Jun 2026 20:24 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnuzpetn3s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mnpyav2xfk26Amazing to be a part of POW MAG this week of all weeks. Read and subscribe and read! substack.com/@powmag07 Jun 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnpyav2xfk26https://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mnpawbovuk2bG O O D M O R N I N G https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/birds-of-paradise07 Jun 2026 13:17 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnpawbovuk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mni7xcrahs2bHonored 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 [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Jun 2026 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mni7xcrahs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/chrisrichards.bsky.social/post/3mnhpsjv4sc2aTook 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 https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/screen-off https://open.substack.com/pub/thefutureisourstomake/p/screen-off?r=7evfuk&utm_medium=ios04 Jun 2026 13:22 +0000at://did:plc:vsrrf5pasd3ocw6o6ilrbmd6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnhpsjv4sc2a