Simon Sweetman

Poetry Reading: “The Death of Music Journalism” Turns Five A video podcast reading of five poems (previously not read live by me) from my first book of poems, “The Death of Music Journalism”, five years on from when we launched it at Meow in Edward St, Wgtn.

Here’a a little poetry reading I’m offering from home to celebrate my first book, The Death of Music Journalism, turning five years old!

Sonata for Arthur A Sunday essay about classical music, my grandfather, and me.

Here’s a wee Sunday essay about classical music, my grandfather, and me: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Playlist: The Working Title is ‘Working’ A playlist of songs connected to the short stories I’ve been writing this year.

I like to make and share playlists. Here’s one that’s connected directly to all the short stories I’ve been writing this year: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ultra long sentences and gloomy existentialism, two of my favourite things, ftw!!

What Dems said was "reverse Medicaid cuts." What Republicans heard was "transgender surgery"

Who Can Lead the Democrats? Kamala Harris almost won in 2024. So why does her new book feel like another defeat?

In her new memoir, Kamala Harris does not say whether she might run for President again—but one reason that her book has not landed well in certain quarters is a sense that it undercuts other Democrats who might be candidates.

Poem: Soup Spoons A poem about soup spoons.

Here’s a new poem called Soup Spoons: open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

The Best Scores of 2025 Friday is about music, so links and playlists. Today, I look at some of my favourite soundtracks and scores across movies, TV, and even a video game…

Here are my favourite movie and tv scores to listen to this year.

Dolly Parton's sister provides update after telling fans to pray for star Freida Parton concerned fans with a social media message saying she was "was up all night praying" for the country music icon.

Dolly Parton's sister asked for prayers because Dolly's feeling unwell. The reaction across social media - from those of all faiths and none - suggests that if an American wins the Nobel Peace Prize, it should be this generous, kind, hardworking joybringer.
www.newsweek.com/entertainmen...

Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | the National Library of New Zealand is turning 60 and we're all invited to the party! Archive fiends can sign up for one of the rare back-of-house tours on 18 Oct. Or check out Don McGlashan's lecture (6 Nov), a poetry reading with 11 Laureates (27 Nov) and more.

Short Story: Pissing Crystals A new micro fiction

—The dog is pissing crystals/
—That’s rich//
—That’s not funny/
—It’s not not funny//
—It’s not ideal/
—Good deal for the next Gypsy Fair though//
—You can’t call it that anymore/
—You can in Ōtaki//
—That’s true/
—Good title for a short story//
—You can have it/

open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Jon Stewart on how everyday Americans are feeling the pain of the government shutdown

Poem: It is Easier to Imagine the End of the World Than the End of Capitalism A poem about which comes first. And it’s neither chicken, nor egg, just the price increase for both.

We should dance as if everyone
is about to raise a middle finger.
We should raise ours first.
We should pool our resources.
We should pull a giant middle
finger; we should leave
that to always linger

simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-it-is...

The Autism Diaries?! (Part 78) A new occasional series here at “Sounds Good“

When I was eight, my school report said I did not suffer fools gladly. Over the years, I was made to feel bad about that. But I think it’s the greatest compliment you could get in a place like a primary school — but then I would say that. open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...
The Autism Diaries?! Pt. 78

Editing Season Be Like:

Only CDs Is Sounding Like These # 63: Moby, “18” (2002) A new occasional series — CDs are coming back baby! And I’m here for it. BIGTIME! Also, some albums just REALLY suit the format, right

Here’s an example of an album I hated at the time, but have learned to kinda love: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/only-cds-i...

With the year's best film and a new novel about to hit the shelves, hot young scribbler Thomas Pynchon is having his moment

Watch: Christopher Luxon defends cuts to benefits for youth The prime minister says businesses are 'crying out for young people' as advocates decry the changes as a punishment.

18 & 19 year olds with no income support should “just go where the jobs are” said the Prime Minister who famously had his limo deliver him across the road.

“Good luck with the train-hopping, you plucky young hobos,” he added, suggesting hedge-&-ditch as an affordable alternative to bed-&-breakfast.

YouTube video by Peter McLennan Chris Knox: Songs Of You And Me - a documentary about Chris Knox (1995)

There's a biography of Chris Knox out this week - the author Craig Robertson contacted me a few years ago, as back in 1995 when I was at Ak Uni, I made a half hour documentary on Chris and he wanted to see it.
Anyway, I dug out the digital file and it's now online, enjoy! youtu.be/VQjvic02S8M?...

The Film of The Year is Here Monday is about movies, and sometimes TV. Today, the film of the year for me has arrived. No spoilers though. So in fact I list my Top 5 (6) of 2025…

I’m calling it (slightly) early — the film of the year is here: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-film-o...

Here’s my Top 5 in fact.

A Breath Of Fresh Air With Brian Eno #interview #podcast www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/o...

The Autism Diaries?! (Part 77) A new occasional series here at “Sounds Good“

I only catch myself being really blunt after, but I sometimes don’t have time for silly questions…

Chapter 77 of The Autism Diaries?!

open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

Gig Review: King Missile’s Dada Poetry Hits! Bringing Back gig reviews, one gig at a time. Remember gig reviews? Remember journalism? Remember arts reporting? We had those things. You maniacs. You blew it up!

Gig reviews. Remember them? I sure do. Here’s a new one I just did of seeing King Missile in Wellington on Thursday night. It was quite fun, I think! open.substack.com/pub/simonswe...

The Dick Slessig Combo Plays Wichita Lineman Friday is fun, because it’s about music. So links and playlists, etc.

The meditation that is the Dick Slessig Combo playing Wichita Lineman as an instrumental for 45 minutes. Enjoy.

The Autism Diaries?! (Part 76) A new occasional series here at “Sounds Good“

When the snare drum hits at two minutes and thirty four seconds into the song Drive The Last Spike I feel as alive as when people suddenly decide they should show their holiday photos to you: simonsweetman.substack.com/p/the-autism...

The Autism Diaries?! (Part 76)

Only CDs Is Sounding Like These # 62: David Bowie, “1. Outside — The Nathan Adler Diaries: A Hyper-cycle” (1995) A new occasional series — CDs are coming back baby! And I’m here for it. BIGTIME! Also, some albums just REALLY suit the format, right

Belated Happy 30th to one of my favourite David Bowie albums, recently found on CD once again, thanks to the library book sale:

I'm so sick of hearing - 'sometimes the sun doesn't shine and sometimes the wind doesn't blow'. Surely solar and wind-powered systems don't just *stop* when this happens? Lots of things interrupt coal and hydro-power generation don't they? Also, coal is killing our planet.

Poem: Doomscroll-Prepping a poem about the tiny moments that ruined tiny minds and built huge arseholes

DOOMSCROLL-PREPPING :
those wrecking ball parodies, & lana del rey singing like she just left the dentist, & that all-girl ghostbusters — made men’s eyeballs twitch; men there as boys when ghostbusters started so it was somehow serious bitch! simonsweetman.substack.com/p/poem-dooms...

Abortion is a bread-and-butter economic issue. We need to treat it that way | Rebecca Solnit Parenthood, criminality or death: these are now the all-too-expensive options for many women in the wake of the Dobbs decision

Just want to add that reproductive rights are an economic issue and for many women a survival issue. If you can't control your body, you can't control your life.