jackson balling

this could be anywhere in the world

“behold, it is I, the MEDIOCRE WHITE MAN! using all of my privilege on the way here; speeding, but still showed up late” — the guy who drove up my ass the whole way home

Happy 10 years to the most pivotal record of my life (so far, if not forever). Love you @jeffrosenstock.bsky.social

two years into doing this Blank Tapes thing and the most exciting doors yet are starting to open. I hope it never stops feeling surreal 😳

Denver folks, I’ve officially made a mark on your beautiful city

I might need a “turtle x-ing” sign in my driveway

our local diner (and the best one in Durham) has been closed for almost 2 months and reopened today, so of course I’m here for lunch walked in, saw the owner, and she said, “It’s so good to see you! Welcome home” it’s good to be a regular somewhere 🥹

let’s fucking goooooooo 😤

with these 5 spirituals reimagined with a folk-punk edge, Vito Dito and Ken Moshesh (ex-Sun Ra percussionist) lay down sounds that feel both ancient and futuristic. As our contributor Stephen Mullaney puts it, this EP deserves a packed room and a loud sound system 🔗 blanktapes.co/review-vito-...

RIP to a true ambassador for his species it may seem weird to eulogize a snake, but this boy was like a cat and dog got fused into a tube of liquid glass. truly an honor to have rescued and given him over 3 great years hope you’re snuggling up in the great hoodie pocket in the sky, bud

An amazing friend of the site is in need of financial support after battling chronic leukemia. Please consider sending some love to Corbie Hill and his family if you're able. gofund.me/cb497a68b

valentine's day is always a hard time for me because of the massacre

He does this every Friday.

what even is this world

the calender's doing the thing again, I see

IT'S HERE! Our 2025 Rewind is live and STUFFED with so much good music that you won't know what to do with it 🔗 blanktapes.co/2025-rewind/

we're barreling towards 2026 but don't let that distract you from the amazing new records of November! I've got write-ups on Abigail Dowd, Burlap Circus, MAVI, and scrape + 32 other releases to check out (so do it!) blanktapes.co/new-music-nc...

blanktapes.co just hit 100 published articles! 🥳 a few months have passed since I've done one of these "letter to the editor" columns. it felt like the best way to touch on the milestone and offer some life updates. can't wait to share what we've got in store for 2026!

how it’s going:

algorithms seem hell-bent on flooding every social media feed with articles about ICE in NC, but only to show off all the awful racists/bots who congregate in the comment sections 🤮

this man is single-handedly getting me back into chevelle

Posted for no reason

finally trying to get back into the social media groove after a chaotic few months of work/life 🫠 so here's my first interview in a hot minute with one of my favorite writers/zine creators in the Triangle check it 👉 blanktapes.co/interview-ma...

whos in the social media bubble now you gooncel freaks

looking for some new music? check out this smorgasbord of releases from local North Carolina artists over the past month! blanktapes.co/new-music-nc...

my favorite Joyce Manor song? probably “perfect sound whatever” by Jeff Rosenstock

“you ever hear of that old movie, the emperor’s new groove?” I am a thousand

WHEN THERE’S TREASURE BEHIND THE WATERFALL: Oh wow. Yes, very clever! Waterfall treasure! No one’s ever done that before. Lazy jackass WHEN THERE’S NO TREASURE BEHIND THE WATERFALL: Wow. Too stuck-up to put treasure there huh? Too much of a fucking ICONOCLAST for that? Piece of shit. FUCK you

national coming out day is tomorrow and foxing is going on hiatus, so I guess now's a great time to formally say I'm not straight

[emerges from the void to throw some good albums into your feed] [retreats]

Me at a The Wonder Years concert

such a banger of a track from another amazing @stayinsidebk.bsky.social album

between putting out a benefit compilation and getting my landlord to terminate our lease without penalty, today has already been an all-timer

RELEASE DAY BAYBEE! I can't believe this beautiful thing exists. So much love for all the artists who contributed and everyone who picks it up. All funds are going straight to The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina!

looking ahead at next weekend like

perennially disgusted

Yay Lonnie Rott! Yay anti-capitalism! Yay blanktapes.co. Another banger interview by @jax.blanktapes.co blanktapes.co/interview-lo...

I’ve been slacking on the social media game lately, but this is a great piece!

holy shit I actually bought 100 cassettes for a benefit compilation I put together 🤯 (this is box 1 of 4)

@joshsteinnc.bsky.social hint hint

funny how being busy with house-related chaos leads to me listening to fewer full albums 🥲

nothing has known pain like the trump robot in the hall of presidents dude looks like maggie thatcher in bad drag and knows it