Ricky Monahan Brown

YouTube video by Lance The Scorpion Neil Sedaka - "Solitaire" (1972)

A hugely talented Brooklyn guy is gone. I always enjoyed seeing Neil Sedaka’s plaque on the Celebrity Path @brooklynbotanic.bsky.social, not least because of my love for this magnificent song.

youtube.com/watch?v=U4-u...

Album cover of LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem

Album cover of Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Album cover of Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut

Album cover of The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

Just posted my picks for Richard Shaw’s poll of the best debut albums of 2005-09:

1. LCD Soundsystem: s/t (2005)
2. Vampire Weekend: s/t (2007)
3. Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005)
4. The Last Shadow Puppets: The Age of the Understatement (2008)
5. The Horrors: Strange House (2007)

Call of the Isles Call of the Isles – A Scottish anthology

I'm in the new anthology from Tantallon Tìr: tantallontir.com/product/call...

"From St Kilda to Samoa, Call of the Isles sails into islands beset with grief, violence, hope, regret, and recovery. A stunning set of stories from the best Scottish and Scotland-based writers in the world."

You’re both very kind, @junegemmell.bsky.social and @deneholm26.bsky.social. Thanks for reading! 🙏

Duilleagan - Scottish Mountaineering Press

My first attempt at poetry in Gaelic (together with my English translation) has just seen the light of day. Thanks to Scottish Mountaineering Press for the prompt and opportunity.

scottishmountaineeringpress.com/creatives/pu...

Album cover of Scott by Scott Walker

Album cover of Jacques Brel et ses chansons

Album cover of Songs of Leonard Cohen.

Album cover of Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Just posted my 5 debut albums of the 50s & 60s for Richard Shaw’s latest poll:

1. Scott Walker: Scott (1967)
2. Jacques Brel: Jacques Brel et ses chansons (1954)
3. Leonard Cohen: Songs of LC (1967)
4. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (1967)
5. The Velvet U’ground: The VU & Nico (1967)

Covers for The Grey Coast, The Serpent and Blood Hunt all by Neil M. Gunn and publishing on the 21st May 2026 from North House Press.

We're delighted to reveal the covers for three titles by the great Scottish novelist Neil M. Gunn, including a centenary edition of his remarkable debut, The Grey Coast.

Read more about each book and pre-order information on our website:

www.northhousepress.co.uk/books

#Booksky
📚💙

Album cover of Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement

Album cover of Gallon Drunk by Gallon Drunk

Album cover of Pod by The Breeders

Album cover of Grace by Jeff Buckley

Just cast my votes for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best debut albums of the period 1990-94:

1. Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted (1992)
2. Gallon Drunk: You, the Night… and the Music (1992)
3. The Breeders: Pod (1990)
4. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
5. Babes In Toyland: Spanking Machine (1990)

Brilliant live, and Fontanelle was a cracker, too. I must be getting old… 👴

Knew I’d miss something from that fertile period!

*quickly amends vote*

Very much looking forward to participating in this discussion of poetry, language, languages and style at the Edinburgh Literary Salon on Tuesday.

Copies of DoL will be available for purchase, signing and dedication.

Come along! Have a chat!

I was right the first time, @junegemmell.bsky.social. Looks like I'm slated to talk about DoL and poetry with some other poets at the 27 Jan Salon!

Or, it’s the one after. I’ll have to check my correspondence, too!

Such a privilege to have readers who are willing to journey into a poem with you.

Thanks, June. That means a lot, not least since I think it’s even more important for poetry than (most) prose that the reader is willing to enter into a collaboration of sorts with the writer.

I *think* that I might be talking about language, particularly, with some other poets at the next salon… 🤔

YouTube video by minkepouss Jimmy Nail Ain't No Doubt

Thanks to whichever end of year show earwormed me with this deathless banger youtu.be/4iF47M3YDlg

Album cover of Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin

I didn’t get the irony of the title first time around, partly because next to, say, En Trance To Exit, this is an ambient album. #5DebutAlbums9094

youtu.be/S8-n8vE7kSM

Gutted I never got to see them. Was meant to see them supporting PJ Harvey in Glasgow, but for whatever reason, they were a no-show 😢

Nice one. The #5albums community is good for getting turned on to stuff, isn’t it? I’ll have to check out that Cardiacs album…

Re: HMHB, if you’re not all over them already, I’d say that Trouble Over Bridgewater and Cammell Laird Social Club are the absolute high-water marks 🤞

Album cover of Gallon Drunk’s You, the Night ... and the Music (1992)

Probably the monster that is most responsible for the nature of my artistic temperament and tastes 😱

Gallon Drunk: You, the Night ... and the Music (1992)

#5DebutAlbums9094

Ricky Monahan Brown reading from his pamphlet Drawer of Letters for an online launch event

Broadcasting C21st poetry from the 80s for NY2026 via the magic of @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social!

Tonight’s readers for the latest Broken Sleep launch event prove that contemporary poetry is alive and thriving. Check out their Best of 2025 anthology for the evidence!

Thanks, June! Hope you find something worthwhile in it.

TODAY!!!

Broken Sleep Books December 2025 Launch Readers: Liza Costello ,Patrick Davidson Roberts, Katie Hale, Stuart McPherson, Ricky Monahan Brown, Róisín Ní Neachtain,and Eleni Philippou

I’ll be reading from my new poetry pamphlet at Broken Sleep Books' – @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social – online launch for their latest releases tomorrow, FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, at 8pm GMT.

You can register for a link to the event for as little as £1. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/broken-sle...

Album cover of Good Dogs Will Never Die by Gutterblood

Album cover of Bleeds by Wednesday

Album cover of Earthstar Mountain by Hannah Cohen

Album cover of Escalate by VLURE

Just posted my selections for Richard Shaw’s best 5 albums of 2025 poll, as follows:

1. Gutterblood –Good Dogs Will Never Die
2. Wednesday – Bleeds
3. Hannah Cohen – Earthstar Mountain
4. VLURE – Escalate
5. HMHB – All Asimov & No Fresh Air

Raymond Chandler relaxing at home with his pipe.

Glad to hear on the radio this morning that “hot streaks” of impactful creative output aren’t tied to starting young.

Sounds perfect! Ordered.
@rickyballboy.bsky.social

Thanks, June! I’m quite proud of it.

The elves tell me that anyone who turns up with a copy at the next lit salon will get a personalised dedication from the poet!

My debut poetry pamphlet is available to order now from @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social.

Find out more in the thread below 👇

A pale, speckled watercolour background with the title Drawer of Letters and the author name Ricky Monahan Brown in muted maroon at the top. Centre-right is a detailed botanical illustration of a lady’s slipper orchid: a bright yellow-green pouch with deep burgundy petals and a tall green stem and leaf. ‘Broken Sleep Books’ appears at the bottom in grey.

Drawer of Letters by Ricky Monahan Brown is a wry, elegiac and formally varied collection that navigates illness, grief, intimacy and reinvention with intelligence and bite. @rickyballboy.bsky.social

www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...