Why Tokyo Has So Many Record Stores
In a country where curation itself has long carried economic value, the identities of Tokyo’s record stores are inseparable from the owners’ personal obsessions.
Music
Features, reviews, interviews, and lists about music, covering the latest as well historical topics.
Laurie Anderson Helps Us Face Catastrophe on Live LP
Laurie Anderson has created a rare live album worth listening to from start to finish, both for the music and all the interstices.
Social Distortion Return with Their Teeth Bared
Born to Kill is new yet vintage Social Distortion, a greatest-hits package of new material that is authentic, fresh, and retrospective all at once.
Chris Potter Tells the Story of Abolitionist John Brown
Chris Potter always plays jazz with a combination of respect for its traditions and an urge to push the sound forward. It is an audible balance on this new recording.
Weird Nightmare’s Power Pop Is Hard-Rocking and Catchy
Weird Nightmare’s take on classic power pop is hard-rocking and catchy, but the songwriting is rarely distinct enough to rise above the level of pastiche.
SUSS Unleash More Quietly Atmospheric Beauty
Often imitated but rarely duplicated, SUSS’ “ambient country” sound is unmistakable, and with their latest album, they haven’t slowed down a bit.
Did Drake and Kendrick Lamar Kill Battle Rap?
The biggest rap battle in history between Drake and Kendrick Lamar blurred the line between victory and cultural collapse. Has hip-hop killed itself?
Braxton Keith Finds the ‘Real Deal’ in Classic Country
Braxton Keith’s charm lies in part in his ability to keep things light. Let’s sing about love, cheating, drinking, and forget about our heavy concerns.
Wendy Eisenberg Strikes the Perfect Songwriting Balance
Wendy Eisenberg knows not only the art but the craft of songwriting, they bring their truest self, never compromising, never pushing, always being. Absolutely stunning.
Matt Evans Creates “Zone Poems” on This Inventive LP
Matt Evans takes listeners on a journey that includes light, darkness, quiet, and loudness. It’s a holistic experience, deserving of deep contemplation.
The Sound on ‘Bill Evans at the BBC’ Is Badly Distorted
Much of the material on Bill Evans at the BBC, as played by this lineup, is available on better-sounding releases, including a couple of producer Zev Feldman’s own.
‘Recomposed’ Performs a Fundamental Interpretation of the Music Industry
Recomposed explores how musicians and entrepreneurs of the “great recomposition” attempt to reconcile ecological responsibility with financial self-preservation, revealing the difficulty of pursuing climate action within market logic itself.