‘The Gospel of the Hold Steady’ Captures Their Unhinged Magic
Michael Hann’s oral history The Gospel of the Hold Steady traces the band’s image, music, and challenges in a brilliant chronicle of the promise of rock ‘n’ roll.
Jeremy Levine
Jeremy Levine is a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he studies literacy, composition, and education policy. He is an avid musician, below-average bicyclist, and unfortunately loyal fan of the New York Mets.
‘Operation Mindfuck’ Wades into the QAnon Muck
Despite claiming that QAnon believers will never see reason, Operation Mindfuck tries, in Hunter S. Thompson fashion, to explain why they’re wrong.
In ‘Girlfriend on Mars’ a RomCom Competes with Climate Change
Girlfriend on Mars equips itself nicely on the climate change front, but subsuming that narrative and the tensions within it into the love story redirects the novel’s orbit.
Ranking the 34 ‘Ted Lasso’ Episodes
We dive into ‘Ted Lasso’ to see where the beloved AFC Richmond gaffer won and lost. Episodes were judged by their cohesion, heart, humor, and message.
The Milk Carton Kids Find Middle Ground on’ I Only See the Moon’
On their first full-length duo album since 2015, the Milk Carton Kids bring their folk sound to new heights with I Only See the Moon.
The National Find Heart on ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’
Indie rockers The National use every tool in their toolbox, from devastating lyrics to a Taylor Swift feature, to create a cohesive and expressive ninth LP.
Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson Meet in the Country on Plains’ Debut
Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield teams up with folk singer-songwriter Jess Williamson as the duo Plains, with the debut LP I Walked With You a Ways.
Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros. Reinterpret the Grateful Dead on ‘Live in Colorado Vol. 2’
Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros. are a new framework for interpreting the Grateful Dead that’s more interested in the true essence of the music.
Indigo Sparke’s ‘Hysteria’ Encapsulates Despair
Indigo Sparke’s Hysteria is an immersive, blurry mood piece of alternative songwriting that captures the confusing and fluctuating feelings inside of her.
Snarky Puppy’s Indulge Their Maximalism Yet Again on Double LP ‘Empire Central’
Snarky Puppy is America’s jazz fusion factory and Empire Central hides an album’s worth of gems amidst well-composed, well-played pieces.
Bartees Strange Offers Sophomore Tour de Force on ‘Farm to Table’
Continuing to blend hip-hop and indie rock, Bartees Strange charts a musically agile, emotionally-charged journey through his psyche on Farm to Table.
The 15 Best Indie Rock Albums of 2021
In 2021 indie rock was a guitar-led extravaganza with artists drawing from an ever-widening musical well. These are the 15 best indie rock albums of the year.