album review
Dec. 5, 2023
Peter Gabriel Is Trying to Keep It Together i/o is a series of lofty ideas for the future.
best of 2023
Dec. 5, 2023
The Best Albums of 2023 The year’s top releases surveyed disorder, sought companionship, and offered glitzy escapism.
album review
Nov. 22, 2023
André 3000’s Solo Album Is a Breath of Fresh Air New Blue Sun isn’t the esteemed return to form rap fans hoped for. It’s something more.
a long talk
Nov. 17, 2023
‘I Don’t Care What People Want Out of Me. I Care About Myself’ Danny Brown on leaving Detroit, getting sober, and finding happiness.
album review
Nov. 14, 2023
PinkPantheress Is Remastering the Y2K Aesthetic Heaven Knows sounds like lightning striking a 160 GB iPod.
fall preview 2023
Oct. 20, 2023
Sampha’s Circle of Life His first album tackled loss and made him a star. On his follow-up, Lahai , he writes from a happier place: fatherhood.
movie review
Oct. 16, 2023
The Eras Tour Film Is Sequined Asset ManagementTaylor Swift’s big-screen adaptation is almost too much movie.
album review
Oct. 11, 2023
Sufjan Stevens Tours the Garden of Heartbreak His new album Javelin urges us to embrace life’s beauty while we still can.
album review
Sept. 22, 2023
Doja Cat Is Fighting Fires of Her Own Creation On Scarlet , the rapper, singer, and internet terror channels negative comments into some of the best work of her career.
album review
Sept. 8, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo Would Rather Go Through It On Guts, the pop star sidesteps her winning formula.
album review
Aug. 11, 2023
Noname Shakes the Table On Sundial , the rapper is pushing back against everyone — including herself.
album review
Aug. 2, 2023
Travis Scott Is Raging Into Oblivion On Utopia , the rapper is too scared to mess with the blueprint.
album review
July 21, 2023
Blur’s Return Is a Fitting Evolution for a Once-Chaotic Band On their beautiful, occasionally plodding new album, the Britpop legends embrace stillness.
This Should Have Been a No-Brainer The Weeknd and Sam Levinson aimed for greatness with The Idol. The result was as subtle as a Lifetime film.
a long talk
June 11, 2023
Killer Mike Said What He Said Is the Southern rap legend a truth teller or a capitalist in activist’s clothes?
album review
June 9, 2023
Janelle Monáe Lets Go of Her (and Our) Anxiety On her breezy new album, she abandons perfectionism.
album review
June 2, 2023
The Foo Fighters Reach for the Light Their new album isn’t for getting over tragedy. It’s about learning to live beside it.
Tina Turner Bet on Herself When the industry turned its back, she refused to give in.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Taps the Ceiling of What Switch Can DoIt’s a god game with the patina of a ronin story that makes you wonder, This is good, but is this as good as it gets?
Andy Rourke Paid His Dues The Smiths’ late bassist was the band’s driving force even as he fought for credit.
vulture lists
May 22, 2023
The 100 Hardest Video-Game Levels of All Time Dizzying shooters, agonizing puzzles, and water stages (ugh) that raise the question: Continue?
billy woods Is on an Indie-Rap Hero’s Journey He’s running an acclaimed record label, resurrecting old weed strains, and releasing the best music of his career.
comedy review
May 9, 2023
Hannah Gadsby Feels Good In Something Special , the comedian strives toward a new balance.
The Ed Sheeran Formula Hits a Roadblock His grief-stricken new album is personal, messy, and necessary.
remembrance
Apr. 26, 2023
Harry Belafonte Dragged Us Into the Future The late legend ditched stardom for something far greater.
album review
Apr. 24, 2023
Lighten Up and Listen to Everything But the Girl The duo’s new album eases the pain without sacrificing pleasure.
album review
Apr. 14, 2023
Metallica Vanquish Their Demons Their new album conquers the present by conversing with the past.
album review
Apr. 4, 2023
Boygenius Is Here to Blunt Whatever Life Throws Our Way Their debut album is about finding strength in themselves.
Mo’Nique Says It Loudly The comedy veteran’s new special is a reintroduction: “It lets you understand why I fight the way that I fight.”
‘We Were Obsessed’ Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda didn’t plan to revisit the band’s 2003 album Meteora — until he found a lost demo.
album review
Mar. 27, 2023
Lana Del Rey Has Come to Confess On Ocean Blvd , the singer sets her fears on fire.
album review
Mar. 16, 2023
Miley’s Californication Is Complete Endless Summer Vacation showcases a more unified and refined version of Cyrus, but is almost too meticulously crafted to soundtrack summers.
the industry
Mar. 7, 2023
De La Soul’s Music Is Here to Stay (For Now) The seminal trio’s albums have emerged from the streaming rights wilderness.
album review
Feb. 28, 2023
Just Give In to the New Gorillaz Album Damon Albarn’s earnest, schmaltzy Cracker Island is restless enough to work.
album review
Feb. 23, 2023
Skrillex Is Reinventing Himself Vibes shift, and the wub man endures.
eldorado ballroom
Feb. 16, 2023
Solange and Saint Heron Are Honoring Black Innovation at BAM In a rare interview, Solange talks about bringing together a lineup of Kelela, KeiyaA, the Clark Sisters, and more.
Liv.e Isn’t Afraid to ’Shroom at the Club “I’m an edgy bitch regardless. That’s just how I’ve always been.”
Rihanna’s Halftime Show Was More Than Enough It hit the points it needed to — and then got going.
album review
Feb. 10, 2023
Kelela Knows How to Interrupt a Groove Her first album in six years wages war on a world that wrings artists dry.
album review
Jan. 31, 2023
Lil Yachty’s Great Gig in the Sky The rapper’s surprising new psych-rock album delights in sensory overload.
album review
Jan. 27, 2023
Sam Smith Toes the Line on Gloria The singer’s new album is sharp, occasionally cringe-y, and full of heartfelt schmaltz.
a long talk
Jan. 20, 2023
The John Cale Challenge The prolific singer and producer could have made things easier on himself — but easy “is not very interesting.”
don’t bless this mess
Dec. 23, 2022
Let’s Not Do This Again Too many musicians spent the year gleefully abandoning their better judgment.
album review
Dec. 12, 2022
SZA Wants It All SOS processes loss and success and pain and desire from the middle of millions of ogling eyes.
best of 2022
Dec. 7, 2022
The Best Albums of 2022 The question of how to find peace hung heavily over the year’s most impactful records.
a long talk
Nov. 30, 2022
’Tis the Season for Sufjan The singer-songwriter on what he’s learned about the holidays after releasing 100 Christmas songs.
Fousheé Is Done Sulking and Wants to Rage “I would encourage people to stop being a bitch,” says the newly Grammy-nominated artist. “Embrace different. Be a part of the renaissance.”
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