Monday, June 17 2013
The Fearless Trumpeter: An Interview with Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard is more than a brilliant jazz trumpeter. His long-standing quintet is one of the most flexible groups in jazz, and his work as a composer of film soundtracks is distinctive.
Wednesday, June 12 2013
Hip-Hop, Hashtags, & Hope: The Power of Rap & Social Media in Arab Protests
For the past three years, Arab world dictators have been confronted by a new generation of tech savvy youth armed with hip-hop and Twitter.
Friday, June 7 2013
Good Intentions But No Imagination: The Schlock of ‘Accidental Racist’
In "Accidental Racist", history is a generic blob, a "back then" that can safely take the blame for vague injustices while more recent history is overlooked in order to soothe one's own ego. 'Cause these days, it's All About You.
Wednesday, June 5 2013
In Defense Of ... Music Festival Fatigue
With the summer music festival season upon us, it's time to question how relevant these large gatherings are as the multi-band concert industry continues to expand to obnoxious heights.
Tuesday, June 4 2013
Wrote a Song for Everyone: Slim Dunlap’s Art/Roots Marriage
Former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap's roots run deeper than punk rock, but he's got an arty flare you might not expect from a man who loves Hank Williams and Chuck Berry.
Monday, June 3 2013
Tomorrow Belongs to Her: The Art That Rose Against Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher is dead, yet her influence is stronger than ever. What lessons can be drawn from the cultural response to Thatcherism, and can they be applied again?
Friday, May 31 2013
The Groove Is Everything
Digital music makes sense to me. But dragging a needle through the grooves of a slab of vinyl and Led Zeppelin IV coming out? Now that's witchcraft befitting the Devil's music.
Thursday, May 30 2013
In Defense Of… Kanye West
On the heels of his sixth solo studio album, it's time to take a look at why Yeezy remains relevant, and why his antics, obnoxious as they can be, never grow old.
Thursday, May 23 2013
In Defense Of ... New Orleans Gospel Music
Despite its rich tradition, the future of gospel music in various parts of the world has been an issue of contention and heartbreak in recent years, but the Electrifying Crown Seekers make a case that the genre is still going strong.
Monday, May 20 2013
Got a Song Request? There’s an App for That
In a Kickstarter world where consumers can basically will anything they want into existence, and everything is interactive, it makes sense that we should want to control our concerts, too
Friday, May 17 2013
Latitudes and Longitudes of Darkness: Four Remarkable 2013 Black Metal Albums
Black metal's compass may be spinning in many different directions in 2013, but at its best, the genre remains neither safe nor accommodating.
Wednesday, May 15 2013
David Sanborn May Not Be Cool—But He’s Sure Copied a Lot
David Sanborn may be the most imitated man in instrumental music. His ripe rasp on alto saxophone has been aped a thousand times over. Yet he's gotten little respect in true jazz circles.
Wednesday, May 8 2013
Pink Floyd: The Prog Rock Archetype
Although they became hugely successful, Pink Floyd championed a type of integrity that seems uniquely associated with progressive rock: they never imitated anyone else or copied their own previous efforts.
Monday, May 6 2013
Same Old Song: Tributes to Kris Kristofferson
There are at least four various artists tribute albums to Kris Kristofferson, all released in the last 11 years. Why him? Is it about the songwriter or the songs? The musicians or the listeners? The present or the past? The albums themselves might provide the answers.
Wednesday, May 1 2013
In Defense Of ... The Music Collector
With the rise of streaming services and viral videos, many argue that the art of collecting may be facing its imminent demise sooner than later. For true believers, however, the digital age may be the single most convenient time in the history of music consumerism.
Thursday, April 25 2013
The Death Knell Sounds Again: The History of Music Industry Whining
A business which makes billions a year can’t stop whining about how illegal downloading, streaming, and Internet radio is sending it to the poor house.
Tuesday, April 23 2013
In Defense Of ... The Rock Drummer
Bobby Gillespie once said it best: You can't have a good band if you don't have a good drummer. As rock music has proved over the years, that adage is far more true than one might think.
Friday, April 19 2013
How to (Be a French Pop Band and) Make It in America
Through an analysis of Daft Punk and Phoenix’s recent careers, a recipe for success may be unearthed for those French bands aspiring to win a Grammy or two.
Thursday, April 18 2013
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: Gospel Music in a Secular World
Critically, commercially and historically, gospel is the great overlooked American music, maybe because few genres of music force you to confront your beliefs so immediately.
Wednesday, April 17 2013
Ode to the Return of the Clarinet
Why did you leave jazz, O Clarinet? Did you ask too much of us, or did we ask to much of you? Either way, you've returned with a sleek, expressive vengeance!
