10 of 2019’s Best Albums 10 of 2019’s Best Albums
The hybrid work of Julia Wolfe’s oratorio Fire in My Mouth, FKA twigs’s Magdalene, and Kris Davis’s Diatom Ribbons all showcase the experimental spirit of this year’s most exc...
Dec 30, 2019 / David Hajdu
The 2010s Radicalized Video Games—and the People Who Make Them The 2010s Radicalized Video Games—and the People Who Make Them
As an increasing number of games began to critique 21st century capitalism, their designers in the US battled for unionization.
Dec 19, 2019 / Lewis Gordon
Do Auxuman’s AI Singers Herald the Shape of Music to Come? Do Auxuman’s AI Singers Herald the Shape of Music to Come?
A new company started by British Iranian interdisciplinary artist Ash Koosha is making the musicians of the future using artificial intelligence technology.
Dec 12, 2019 / David Hajdu
FKA Twigs, High Priestess of Pop Music’s Avant-Garde FKA Twigs, High Priestess of Pop Music’s Avant-Garde
Mixing sacred imagery and snatches of memoir, the British artist’s new album is Magdalene a beautiful and eerie statement.
Dec 2, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Julyssa Lopez
The Songs of Canceled Men The Songs of Canceled Men
A new book revisits the lives of artists like James Brown, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra and asks how music criticism can reckon with the lives of immoral artists.
Nov 19, 2019 / Joe Bucciero
Liz Phair on Everyday ‘Horror Stories’ Liz Phair on Everyday ‘Horror Stories’
The Grammy-nominated musician speaks to The Nation about her new memoir.
Nov 14, 2019 / Dave Zirin
30 Years Ago Eastern Europeans Tore Down Walls. Now They Write Pop Songs to Putin. 30 Years Ago Eastern Europeans Tore Down Walls. Now They Write Pop Songs to Putin.
How crony capitalism and crippling austerity turned democracy into a dirty word.
Nov 8, 2019 / Lev Golinkin
The Queerness of Bruce Springsteen The Queerness of Bruce Springsteen
The Boss’s songs of self-discovery and longing find an unexpected home with queer people.
Nov 6, 2019 / Naomi Gordon-Loebl
Ambient Music Started as an Ode to the Suburbs Ambient Music Started as an Ode to the Suburbs
In 1975, Ernest Hood released a tender sound portrait of all-American idyll called Neighborhoods.
Nov 5, 2019 / Simon Reynolds
Chrissie Hynde Sets a New Standard Chrissie Hynde Sets a New Standard
Valve Bone Woe uses Tin Pan Alley classics, musical theater numbers, jazz tunes, and more to show the Pretenders singer as the top of her game
Oct 11, 2019 / David Hajdu