Sunny War Refutes Complacency and Embraces Defiance
Sunny War’s music and lyrics stand in resistance and vulnerability, evoking a reminder of music’s powerful ability to inspire change.
Elisabeth Woronzoff
Elisabeth earned her doctorate in American Culture Studies at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green Ohio. Her research identified eighteenth century women who used music as a trade. She wrote her master thesis on the Smiths and Morrissey and published a chapter in the book "Morrissey: Fandom, Representations and Identities." Her areas of interest include gender, music, history, and popular culture. You can find her on Twitter @cupcakeharborer
The Slavic Fairytale’s Baba Yaga Upends Japanese Yakuza Culture
In Akira Otani’s thriller The Night of Baba Yaga, the Slavic Fairytale’s Baba Yaga refuses to conform to women’s roles in patriarchial Japanese yakuza culture.
Mindy Smith’s ‘Quiet Town’ Is a Meditative World
Mindy Smith’s Quiet Town is introspective and critical as she longs for a time when individual rather than societal narratives define self-authenticity.
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The 10 Best Folk Albums of 2024
The year’s best folk albums transcend genre boundaries, yet each entry remains firmly grounded in the folk ethos of connection and storytelling.
Max Richter’s ‘In a Landscape’ Connects Nature and Humanity
In a Landscape reconciles nature with humanity through lush soundscapes, and it feels like a revelation for newcomers to composer Max Richter’s oeuvre.
Kishi Bashi’s ‘Kantos’ Is a Sonic Exploration Into Philosophy
Kishi Bashi’s Kantos blends philosophy, identity, and the human condition with genre-defying music and introspective lyrics.
Antonia Hylton’s ‘Madness’ Illuminates the Shadows of Racial Injustice
Madness is a scathing indictment of how Black Americans are disproportionately affected by mental health stigmas, inadequate care, and systemic neglect.
Los Bitchos’ ‘Talkie Talkie’ Is a Genre-Defying Celebration
Los Bitchos’ Talkie Talkie builds an immersive experience with a larger narrative. They challenge the conventions of rock through sound and representation.
Championing Change: Eddie Ahn’s Graphic Memoir ‘Advocate’
With his graphic memoir Advocate, Eddie Ahn invites readers to contemplate the complexities of pursuing social justice within a profit-driven world.
Tommy Orange Testifies to the Power of Cultural Reclamation
In Wandering Stars masterful storyteller Tommy Orange shifts our lens from historically imposed assimilation to contemporary cultural reclamation.
The 20 Best Folk Albums of 2020
The artists in this year's list all use their music to create a sense of unity. Whether it is the acknowledgment of shared oppression, or in contrast, the visibility of identity, Best of Folk Music 2020 is defined by its ability to form a musical common ground.
The 25 Best Americana Albums of 2020
In 2020, Americana artists empathetically dealt with the things that bind us together and keep us apart. The albums on this list encourage hope for the future based on a belief in the human spirit.