August 16, 1977: Elvis Presley Dies August 16, 1977: Elvis Presley Dies
The myth of the King “allows us to cling to the notion that art is pure and society is corrupt and corrupting.”
Aug 16, 2015 / 150th Anniversary / Richard Kreitner
U2 and the Art of Digital Compromise U2 and the Art of Digital Compromise
How social media brought its own set of troubles to U2’s latest tour.
Aug 7, 2015 / David Hajdu
Elements of Style Elements of Style
The legendary Balanchine dancer Violette Verdy embodies the alchemy that turns music into meaning.
Jul 30, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Marina Harss
The Fierce Urgency of Nina Simone Now The Fierce Urgency of Nina Simone Now
Perhaps her real audience was not her contemporaries in the civil rights generation, but their grandchildren.
Jul 2, 2015 / Syreeta McFadden
Patti Smith’s Summer of Rebellion Patti Smith’s Summer of Rebellion
The veteran rocker is giving Europe “a masterclass in focused protest rock that puts younger artists to shame.”
Jul 2, 2015 / John Nichols
A History of Hate Rock From Johnny Rebel to Dylann Roof A History of Hate Rock From Johnny Rebel to Dylann Roof
One of the most powerful tools white power groups use to spread their ideology to young people is music.
Jun 23, 2015 / Zoë Carpenter
Cover Me Cover Me
Today's Altercation features interesting and relatively obscure cover songs.
Jun 19, 2015 / Eric Alterman
Strange Worlds Strange Worlds
Maybe action movies, like youth itself, are wasted on the young.
Jun 17, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans
Finding Nearly Forgotten Music Finding Nearly Forgotten Music
Why the musician and filmmaker John Cohen still thinks that true objectivity is an elusive beast.
Jun 2, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Joanna Pocock
The Underrated List The Underrated List
Sometimes the best things are the least appreciated.
Jun 1, 2015 / Blog / Eric Alterman