Haim and the UK Success of Quintessentially California Bands
Following the sisters' third Glastonbury performance, we consider the lineage of SoCal bands faring better commercially across the pond.
View ArticleTechno Pioneers Porter Ricks Return, As Philosophical As Ever
With the German duo’s first album in 18 years out this week, we discuss the non-verbal language spoken on the dancefloor.
View Article11 Great DJ Mixes for 4th of July Weekend
This month’s selections have one thing on their mind: summer, in all its glorious modes.
View ArticleThe Best Metal Albums of 2017 So Far
From Power Trip to the Ruins of Beverast, these heavy records have defined 2017 so far.
View ArticleBehind the Music of Baby Driver, With Director Edgar Wright
An action film as jam-packed with musical easter eggs as car chases deserves a dissection from its maker.
View ArticleLCD Soundsystem’s Gavin Russom On Coming Out as Transgender
“Now it’s time to become a whole person,” says DFA Records’ longtime synth expert
View ArticleWhat’s Up with Kanye West and Tidal?
Kanye West’s dispute with JAY-Z’s streaming service may be less about money and more about the trend away from windowed album exclusives
View Article6 Nina Simone Songs Brilliantly Sampled by Rappers
JAY-Z built an entire track around “Four Women” on 4:44, but he’s far from the first hip-hop iconoclast to borrow Nina’s political insight.
View ArticleOG Hip-Hop Director Allen Hughes on Cracking Dre in “The Defiant Ones“
The Menace II Society director’s newest project, the HBO docuseries about Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine’s partnership, finds him encountering ghosts of his rap past.
View ArticleMaking a Serious Case for Prog Rock
We talk to Washington Post political reporter turned author David Weigel about humanizing prog’s virtuosic excess in his new book.
View ArticlePSY’s “Gangnam Style” Changed Pop Music, Whether You Like It Or Not
It’s still not a good song, but five years later, there’s no denying that PSY’s pony dance rewrote the rules of both viral success and K-pop around the world.
View ArticleIs Lana Del Rey the American Morrissey?
It’s there in the melancholia, the vintage trappings, and the fervent cults of personality.
View ArticleTNT’s Ridiculous ‘Will’ and the Problem With Reframing History as Punk
You can’t just dress Shakespeare up in black eyeliner and refashion him as the 16th century’s Malcolm McLaren.
View ArticleFlying Lotus’ Kuso Is the Most Vile Body Horror Film Ever Made
A visual orgy of pus and perversion that you probably couldn’t sit through even if you wanted to.
View ArticleZola Jesus Turns Tragedy into a Torrential Sound on Her New Album *Okovi*
“I needed to write these songs,” she tells us, “and I can’t say that about every song I’ve written.”
View Article“Insecure,” “The Young Pope,” and Music Supervision as Character Devel
Issa Rae’s semi-autobiographical comedy and Paolo Sorrentino’s religious drama use music to show not just who their protagonists are, but the shape they take over time.
View ArticleFrank Ocean Finally Played a U.S. Show. Was It Worth the Wait?
Frank Ocean has canceled festival appearance after festival appearance with little explanation. At FYF, he showed up but stayed true to his mysterious ways.
View ArticleWhy Ticket Scalping Won’t Go Away
Here’s a handy breakdown you can resell for a vastly inflated price (plus service fees).
View ArticleThe SoundCloud You Loved Is Doomed
Amid rumors of bankruptcy, SoundCloud finds itself where many of its forebears have: slouching unsuccessfully towards scale and profitability.
View ArticleWhat to Stream From Drag City’s Catalog, Now on Apple Music
As the streaming rollout of Drag City’s catalog finishes this week, we have some ideas of where to start.
View Article