Clever folk-rocker Richard Thompson makes minimalism for the masses; the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a story of O; dance music from Japan—and Asian England.

Hip-hop luminaries take on police brutality.

One of rock’s greatest ever, R&B-loving Talking Heads deserve a better retrospective; Kelis’s second album stays her oddly endearing course.

The British rapper Mike Skinner, a.k.a. the Streets, lets us back into his weird, obsessive life on his surprisingly powerful sophomore record.

The Afghan Whigs and the Screaming Trees are hardly worth remembering, but their former front men have reemerged with the best work of their careers.

Forget Eminem and Avril Lavigne: In 2002, the major labels were upstaged -- and outclassed -- by the indies.

The folky songsmith discusses great artists and synchronicity. Just don’t call her a poet.

Summons for everyone! Is Bloomberg waging an anti-quality-of-life campaign?

Missy ElliottÂ’s decidedly retro fourth album, 'Under Construction', contrasts hip-hopÂ’s current seriousness with its more joyful past. Plus, Rock and Roll 1.