Bob Dylan Rings in His Ears
Music theorist Steven Rings helps readers understand Bob Dylan the performer, not the lyricist or songwriter, in a welcome and indispensable addition to Dylan scholarship.
biography
Ella Jenkins’ Biography Sings Her Song
Gayle F. Wald’s Ella Jenkins’ biography sings Jenkins’ commitment to social justice and her important multicultural and participatory approach to teaching children music.
Ray Brown Was an Elder Statesman of Jazz
Bassist Ray Brown navigated changing trends in jazz while upholding high standards, creating some of the finest music in the jazz repertoire.
How the Remarkable Tom Wilson Shaped Jazz and Rock
With his taste and track record, music producer Tom Wilson deserves the kind of fame afforded to his contemporaries Phil Spector and George Martin.
‘The Story of ABBA’ Neglects to Tell the Story of ABBA
In a typical biography, I’d permit ten pages that are completely unrelated to the subject. The Story of ABBA has about 100 such pages.
Marsha P. Johnson’s Story of Community and Solidarity
Tourmaline’s biography of Marsha P. Johnson urges readers to witness the complexity and collective power of Black trans life.
Erich Von Stroheim and Cecil B. DeMille’s Fetishistic Films
Erich Von Stroheim’s films fetishised a scandalous poke to the public’s eye, whereas Cecile B. DeMille’s films obsessed over middle-class verities.
In New Directors/New Films Ideas Bubble from the Cultural Magma
New Directors/New Films presents a cross-section of ideas and styles bubbling from today’s cultural magma, and elements and themes resonate from film to film. It’s our zeitgeist, baby.
Berlinale Part 3: The Best Films You Usually Don’t See Coming
After 10 days of fanfare and celebrity mayhem, the 75th edition of the Berlinale closes with some poignant, idiosyncratic releases from directors Richard Linklater and Radu Jude.
David Lynch Nailed and Skewered Us
On the passing of legendary director David Lynch, we share five films that nailed us in our hearts and guts and skewered us to our soft, squishy, emotional cores.
Lollapalooza Is an Artifact That Will Never Be Replicated
Lollapalooza dragged alternative culture into the sunlight, created a safe space with Mötley Crüe-level hedonism, and became an artifact that will never be replicated.
10 Brilliant Music Books on the Art & Industry
From rock to hip-hop to country to punk to emo, here’s a list of superb music books to deepen the education for you or the music lover in your life.