The Brilliant Discontents of Lou Reed The Brilliant Discontents of Lou Reed
A new biography examines the enigma of the musician.
Jan 23, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Sasha Frere-Jones
Whose “It’s a Wonderful Life” Is It Anyway? Whose “It’s a Wonderful Life” Is It Anyway?
How everybody’s favorite Christmas movie about the perils of monopoly capitalism became a victim of monopoly capitalism.
Dec 25, 2023 / Ray Nowosielski and David Cassidy
A Measure of Justice at Last for Victor Jara A Measure of Justice at Last for Victor Jara
On December 1—just two days after the death of Henry Kissinger renewed international attention to the US role in the 1973 coup in Chile against the democratically elected governmen…
Dec 21, 2023 / Peter Kornbluh
Sasha Frere-Jones, a Life Remixed Sasha Frere-Jones, a Life Remixed
Sasha Frere-Jones is an institution of music criticism in an era when music critics are no longer institutions. Roughly over the course of the 1990s, Frere-Jones made a transformat…
Dec 19, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Piccarella
Joan Baez Looks Back Joan Baez Looks Back
I Am a Noise, a career-spanning documentary, makes it clear that the folk singer was one of the most important political musicians of her generation.
Dec 14, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Sarah M. Seltzer
Christina Sharpe and the Art of Everyday Black Life Christina Sharpe and the Art of Everyday Black Life
In Ordinary Notes, Sharpe considers Black culture “in all of its shade and depth and glow.”
Dec 13, 2023 / Books & the Arts / Omari Weekes
The “Digital Blackface” Artist Competing for a Grammy The “Digital Blackface” Artist Competing for a Grammy
Ghostwriter’s “heart on my sleeve” became a viral hit thanks to vocals by Drake and The Weeknd. But neither artist contributed to the song.
Nov 9, 2023 / Faith Branch
Louis Armstrong Gets the Last Word on Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Gets the Last Word on Louis Armstrong
For decades, Americans have argued over the icon’s legacy. But his archives show that he had his own plans.
Oct 30, 2023 / Feature / Ethan Iverson
Letters From the October 16/23, 2023, Issue Letters From the October 16/23, 2023, Issue
Island records… The West Wing… Corrections… Class grievances (web only)…
Sep 30, 2023 / Our Readers
Jann Wenner’s Blinkered Rock ’n’ Roll Revolution Jann Wenner’s Blinkered Rock ’n’ Roll Revolution
He built an empire on the foundations laid by Black musicians—but fails entirely to recognize that.
Sep 22, 2023 / Joan Walsh