Dreamers, Drifters, Mopers, and Defeatists Dreamers, Drifters, Mopers, and Defeatists
Adrian Tomine’s universe features a society of contingent values, ill-defined expectations, and diminishing options.
Dec 23, 2015 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu
Forget What You’ve Heard: These Were the Ten Best Albums of 2015 Forget What You’ve Heard: These Were the Ten Best Albums of 2015
In a year when sales numbers fell to an all-time low, the quality of music produced was stunningly high.
Dec 17, 2015 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu
Steve Coleman Works the Connections Steve Coleman Works the Connections
The composer and saxophonist’s hybrid jazz fuses the sounds of the world.
Dec 2, 2015 / David Hajdu
A Jazz Singer A Jazz Singer
Legendary vocalist Mark Murphy exemplified the jazz values of improvisation, swing, and in-the-moment spontaneity.
Oct 30, 2015 / David Hajdu
It’s an Old Trope, but How Well Does the Factory Model Explain Pop Music? It’s an Old Trope, but How Well Does the Factory Model Explain Pop Music?
A new book about the music industry misses the fact that we’ve already entered the post-industrial age.
Oct 29, 2015 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu
Whistleblowers Composed Whistleblowers Composed
Ted Hearne’s masterpiece The Source captures digital disorder through the sounds of Wikileaks.
Oct 6, 2015 / David Hajdu
Who Loves You? Who Loves You?
America’s ongoing fascination with Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra.
Sep 10, 2015 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu
Next to Nothing: The Economics and Aesthetics of Streaming Music Next to Nothing: The Economics and Aesthetics of Streaming Music
Apps like Spotify and Apple Music haven’t just changed the way we purchase music—they've changed the way we listen.
Aug 24, 2015 / David Hajdu
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
Theo Bleckmann’s Bazaar Theo Bleckmann’s Bazaar
A vocalist as playfully experimental as Albert Ayler or Ornette Coleman.
Jul 1, 2015 / David Hajdu