bob dylan

Sprung from a $36 Ukulele: ‘Joni: The Anthology’

Sprung from a $36 Ukulele: ‘Joni: The Anthology’

If Joan Baez was the purest folkie, Judy Collins the chanteuse, then Joni Mitchell was probably the siren.
Life Lessons from a Hardcore Pettyhead

Life Lessons from a Hardcore Pettyhead

I’ve been neck-deep in the philosophy of Tom Petty, my spiritual gangster, for years now and here are the things he taught me.
‘The Poetry of Pop’ Takes a Scholarly Look at Lyrics Both Profound and Vapid

‘The Poetry of Pop’ Takes a Scholarly Look at Lyrics Both Profound and Vapid

The Poetry of Pop is a testament to the power, craftsmanship, and worthwhile intent of even the most ostensibly thin tunes.
Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Myth, Truth, and Anger

Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Myth, Truth, and Anger

Daniel Wolff examines how one tragedy in 1913 Calumet Michigan survived through the anger of topical folk music to be told by self-mythologized characters Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
The Highway Is for Gamblers: Joyce Carol Oates, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen Take a One-way Trip

The Highway Is for Gamblers: Joyce Carol Oates, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen Take a One-way Trip

How Joyce Carol Oates, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen traveled out of a small town towards the great unknown.
As a Way of Being in the World, to Be Cool Is to Be a Fascinating Asshole

As a Way of Being in the World, to Be Cool Is to Be a Fascinating Asshole

Cool seems to be a phenomenon located mainly between the end of Hitler’s war and the beginning of Kurt Cobain’s band.
Chasing the Jester’s Ghosts: “American Pie”

Chasing the Jester’s Ghosts: “American Pie”

In light of the March 2017 announcement of "American Pie" being preserved in the Library of Congress, let's not forget other songs of the '70s that matter just as much.
Feel and Form: A New Font Inspired by Miles Davis’ ‘Masqualero’

Feel and Form: A New Font Inspired by Miles Davis’ ‘Masqualero’

Like Miles Davis, the Masqualero typeface has a strong duality; there are two ways of looking at it, outside and in.
Chuck Berry Made Americans Surrender to the Rhythm

Chuck Berry Made Americans Surrender to the Rhythm

Chuck Berry was not only the true king of rock 'n' roll, the architect and originator -- he was also an astute anthropologist of American culture.
T Bone Burnett: Don’t Let the Form Distract You From the Content

T Bone Burnett: Don’t Let the Form Distract You From the Content

Lloyd Sachs explores the life, times, and endless journeys of singer-songwriter-musician T Bone Burnett.
Authenticity and Unbroken Chains in Rick Massimo’s ‘I Got a Song’

Authenticity and Unbroken Chains in Rick Massimo’s ‘I Got a Song’

This book is about true believers who kept the torch burning for “authenticity” in folk music at any cost; even if it meant cultural appropriation and commercial compromising.
Farewell Songs and New Beginnings in Late Night TV

Farewell Songs and New Beginnings in Late Night TV

How late night TV talk shows move on musically.