David Hajdu

David Hajdu is the music critic of The Nation and a professor at Columbia University.

The Genre of Post-Genre

The Genre of Post-Genre The Genre of Post-Genre

William Brittelle has drawn from classical music, punk rock, and electronica to produce music that is at once free-ranging and a thrill to experience.

Mar 13, 2018 / David Hajdu

David Lang’s Collaborators

David Lang’s Collaborators David Lang’s Collaborators

Many musicians have mined the Internet for lyrics—what Lang has done with The Day is make it memorable.

Feb 26, 2018 / David Hajdu

The Marvel of Cécile McLorin Salvant

The Marvel of Cécile McLorin Salvant The Marvel of Cécile McLorin Salvant

How wonderful, and strange, that a jazz singer can achieve such stardom nowadays.

Dec 26, 2017 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu

The Best Albums of 2017

The Best Albums of 2017 The Best Albums of 2017

This year, no common thread unifies all the albums of high quality—except for the obvious fact that they were released at a time of profound anxiety, looming danger, and enveloping...

Dec 20, 2017 / David Hajdu

Sheeran, Malone, Mars

Songs of Aggression Songs of Aggression

A review of popular music reveals striking and distressing similarities in the way men talk about and deal with women in today’s society.

Dec 8, 2017 / David Hajdu

The Satisfactions of St. Vincent

The Satisfactions of St. Vincent The Satisfactions of St. Vincent

There’s a full band’s worth of talent in that name.

Nov 1, 2017 / David Hajdu

From Jazz Clubs to Classrooms

From Jazz Clubs to Classrooms From Jazz Clubs to Classrooms

Recent releases by two jazz-program graduates, Ryan Keberle and Tyshawn Sorey, make potent cases for whatever educational methods work.

Aug 31, 2017 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu

Wired Up and Let Loose

Wired Up and Let Loose Wired Up and Let Loose

Two new releases bring to light the remarkable prescience of Raymond Scott’s sonic experimentation.

Jul 31, 2017 / David Hajdu

The Spirit of Prog Rock

The Spirit of Prog Rock The Spirit of Prog Rock

Its creative ambitions were engulfed by its pretensions. 

Jul 13, 2017 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu

Adapting ‘Angels in America’

Adapting ‘Angels in America’ Adapting ‘Angels in America’

Sometimes, adaptation is a form of redundancy. This new opera, based on Tony Kushner’s 1992 play, is something stirring in its own way and unexpectedly timely.

Jun 16, 2017 / David Hajdu

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