“Frank Ocean emerged from self-imposed exile to headline Coachella Weekend 1. After a polarizing set, he won’t be returning for Weekend 2. What does his performance say about artistry in an increasingly algorithmic and AI-generated world?”
music
Posted inEditor's Pick
How Bay Area Hip-Hop Found Its Sound in the 1980s
“How is a discussion about street dancers connected to an exploration of the Bay Area hip-hop sound? It’s important to understand the conditions under which the genre emerged locally.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
“Blurred Lines,” Harbinger of Doom
“How Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I.’s cursed megahit predicted everything bad about the past decade in pop culture”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Nick Cave on the Fragility of Life
“The singer-songwriter believes that we are deeply flawed, impermanent creatures who can sometimes do extraordinary things.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
All You Touch and All You See: “Dark Side of the Moon” at 50
“A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. But what’s the legacy of the blockbuster album?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Give the Drummer Some
“As AI drum machines embrace humanising imperfections, what does this mean for ‘real’ drummers and the soul of music?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Trance Is Back—and It’s No Joke
“With Y2K aesthetics back in vogue, and post-pandemic clubbers jonesing for a hit of euphoria, the much-maligned genre is making a comeback.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Violin Doctor
“He’s trusted to repair some of the world’s most fabled — and expensive — instruments. How does John Becker manage to unlock the sound of a Stradivarius?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Kendrick Lamar’s New Chapter
“In partnership with his longtime collaborator, Dave Free, the greatest rapper of his generation is pushing himself — commercially and creatively — onto unexpected terrain.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Corner Club Cathedral Cocoon
“Against my better judgment, I found myself becoming an outlet for the resentments and niche preoccupations of the people who make speakers.”