A critic can be a presence that builds a community.
Making things up is a foundation of songwriting. But there's a person making it up at the base of it all, pulling from life or reacting to it or rejecting it.
Attention Must Be Paid
An exquisite woman and musician tortured with addiction
Year of the Month
The Gorillaz’s dorky grandpa hits the charts.
Music Countdown
Our author's first annual countdown of his favorite songs of the year
“For once, almost was good enough” and “so much closer than love”: timeless messages by two essential records of the early-20th century
Year of the Month
Everclear's breakthrough album is raw, painful, and brutally honest in a way that few albums are-- and that their own work never reached again
Celebrating the Living
A composer whose music you've heard whether you realize it or not.
Year of the Month
The debut album of Scotland's great power-pop trio is every bit as good now as it was in 1991
Intrusive Thoughts
1991 was a powerful year for me and for music, and they coincided strongly.
Year of the Month
In their penultimate studio album, The Police take a look at the darkness and try to find the light.
Year of the Month
The Big Star songwriter died in 1978; nearly fifteen years after his death, Rykodisc gave his only solo album a proper release