Daniel Krikke’s ‘Scared of Revolution’ Brings Forth the Last Poet
Hip-hop, the most lasting and revolutionary contribution to popular music in the post-War period, does not exist without the Last Poets Umar Bin Hassan's work.
music
Flip It Over: An Ode to the B-Side
We determine what song is worthy of the "A" or "B" side -- not the music industry. On Will Stockton and D. Gilson's 33 1/3 B-Sides.
Peering Through the Hazy Past: Floyd Patterson and Fats Domino
Even as Black America continues to battle crime, violence, death, and a hostile political and economic policy, it can be soothing to peer through the haze and marvel at the richness of Black American stories. Two such stories: Floyd Patterson and Fats Domino.
Irving Berlin: New York Genius (By the Book)
Exploring the interplay of Irving Berlin's life with the life of New York City, noted biographer James Kaplan offers a visceral narrative of Berlin as self-made man and witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. Enjoy this excerpt of Kaplan's book, Irving Berlin: New York Genius.
Rupert Goold’s ‘Judy’ and the Queer-ing of the Biopic
Recent queer icon films Judy, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman tease their key audience while keeping one foot solidly in straight land. Is this progress?
Ted Gioia’s ‘Music: A Subversive History’ (By the Book)
"Sound," writes musician, author, and historian Ted Gioia in Music: A Subversive History, "is the ultimate source of genesis... A song can contain a cataclysm." In this beguiling excerpt, Gioia leads us to the sound of the universe itself.
Boris’s ‘LφVE & EVφL’ Rolls You within Its Slow, Tumultuous Dreamscape
New Boris album LφVE & EVφL is heavy, dreamy, and constantly in slow motion.
‘The Poetry of Pop’ Stretches the Definition of Pop Generously
Adam Bradley’s The Poetry of Pop is academic, literary, and breezy – it works well for what it obviously wants to be, a primer on American popular music.
Jenny Hval’s ‘The Practice of Love’ Is Brainy, Conceptual, and Hugely Entertaining
Jenny Hval's The Practice of Love is a playful, conceptual pop record that makes sorting through its heady themes as fun as listening to it.
By the Book: I’d Fight the World: A Political History of Old-Time, Hillbilly, and Country Music
I'd Fight the World explores the connection between country music and electoral politics, giving us a glimpse into how politicians used celebrity long before the rise of the "movie-actor president" and the "Twitter president".
A Private Revolution: Jean-Luc Godard’s Second Wave
Jean-Luc Godard's cinematic oddities First Name: Carmen, Détective, and Hélas pour moi, newly released on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, embody the vast landscape of possibilities open to the director during the '80s and '90s.
Beth Bombara’s ‘Evergreen’ Shines with Vintage Americana Vibes and Sincere Songwriting
Evergreen comes together so well because Beth Bombara's songwriting chops are so mature, her band is so seasoned, and she has something honest to say.