Steve Earle’s Labor of Love Steve Earle’s Labor of Love
The music on Townes, Steve Earle's tribute to Townes Van Zandt, is simple and literally homespun. There is sinew to this music, and blood in the words.
May 26, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Charles P. Pierce
Democracy, on Mic and on Camera Democracy, on Mic and on Camera
A new film offers a nuanced and inspiring portrait of the role hip-hop activists have played in the politics of Senegal.
Apr 21, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Cora Currier
The GOP’s Hip-Hop Makeover The GOP’s Hip-Hop Makeover
Michael Steele's getting funky, frantically remixing the GOP message, in hopes of reaching new generation of conservative voters. Is anybody listening?
Mar 3, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Ari Melber
Chameleon: Herbie Hancock Adapts to Lyrics Chameleon: Herbie Hancock Adapts to Lyrics
On River: The Joni Letters Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell make a remarkable collaboration.
Feb 18, 2009 / Books & the Arts / David Yaffe
Rock for Barack Rock for Barack
A concert unlike any Washington has seen unfolded Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, expressing the hopes and dreams of a nation on the cusp of enormous change.
Jan 19, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Corbin Hiar
Jazz Is?: A Power Stronger Than Itself Jazz Is?: A Power Stronger Than Itself
A new book on the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians looks at jazz as a power stronger than itself.
Jan 15, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Franklin Bruno
Eartha Kitt: An Anti-War Patriot Eartha Kitt: An Anti-War Patriot
Forty years ago, America’s cultural icons expressed the frustration of the American people with the failure of then-President Lyndon Johnson to end this country’s undec…
Dec 26, 2008 / John Nichols
Ives’s Ears: Charles Ives Reconsidered Ives’s Ears: Charles Ives Reconsidered
In songs, symphonies and sonatas, Charles Ives furnished America's musical past with a future.
Dec 17, 2008 / Books & the Arts / David Schiff
Listening to Odetta Listening to Odetta
Her voice a force of nature and her theatrical sense undimmed, Odetta-made music of extraordinary compassion, intuition and grace.
Dec 4, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Bruce Shapiro
The Kingston Trio and the Red Scare The Kingston Trio and the Red Scare
The death of Nick Reynolds, one of the Kingston Trio, last week at 75, provoked fond memories of one era and painful reminders of another.
Oct 14, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Peter Dreier and Jim Vrabel