Barrett Strong Wrote America’s Most Urgent Anti-War Song Barrett Strong Wrote America’s Most Urgent Anti-War Song
The Motown legend, who died last weekend, cowrote “War,” one of the most electrifying protest songs in American history.
Feb 1, 2023 / John Nichols
Kyrie Irving and the Fraught History of Our Collective Liberation Kyrie Irving and the Fraught History of Our Collective Liberation
Kyrie's anti-Semitism isn’t new, but his allies are. And that’s terrifying.
Nov 1, 2022 / Dave Zirin
Which Version of Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” Reigns Supreme? Which Version of Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” Reigns Supreme?
Is the latest posthumous addition to his canon released today the Holy Grail?
Oct 22, 2021 / Column / Ethan Iverson
#FreeBritney Is Damn Right #FreeBritney Is Damn Right
The law has failed Britney Spears and likely many others—young, old, often female. Now it’s time to change it.
Jun 25, 2021 / Elie Mystal
How Many Movies About Billie Holiday Does it Take… How Many Movies About Billie Holiday Does it Take…
to capture her immense contribution to music? Apparently more than three.
Mar 11, 2021 / Ethan Iverson
How Bob Dylan Wrote the Second Great American Songbook How Bob Dylan Wrote the Second Great American Songbook
The sale of the singer-songwriter’s catalogue is a reminder of his massive cultural legacy.
Dec 11, 2020 / Jeet Heer
Stanley Crouch, 1945–2020 Stanley Crouch, 1945–2020
Even many of those who at times wanted to throttle Crouch will miss him now that he’s gone.
Oct 12, 2020 / Gene Seymour
Neil Young’s Journey Through the Past Neil Young’s Journey Through the Past
As he prepares to vote in his first American election, the eccentric singer-songwriter’s Archives project unearths his own lost history.
Aug 14, 2020 / John Semley
How the CIA Learned to Rock How the CIA Learned to Rock
A new podcast illuminates why the spy agency preferred pop music in the cultural Cold War.
May 29, 2020 / Jeet Heer
The Coronavirus Has Imposed a Fermata on the Music World The Coronavirus Has Imposed a Fermata on the Music World
What can musicians do now? We can play to wash away some of the pain and grief.
Apr 24, 2020 / Christian McBride