Mitski has collaborated with Spotify on a striking new video for her song “A Pearl.” The surreal animated video begins with a barefoot woman in a white dress walking across a surreal landscape. The mysterious figure runs through an ornate living room and, as guitar riffs carry the song into a …
Read More »Flashback: Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash Sing 'To Beat the Devil'
The story of former military man Kris Kristofferson piloting a helicopter onto Johnny Cash’s lawn to deliver his demo tapes to the Man in Black, while essentially true, has often been told without certain details present. Mainly that Kristofferson had already been working for two years as janitor at Columbia …
Read More »A$AP Rocky Felt 'Emotionally Discouraged' After Tepid Album Response
A$AP Rocky’s Testing didn’t fare as well as his previous solo albums both critically and commercially. The project was another creative left turn for Rocky after the psychedelic, LSD-inspired experimentation of his sophomore album, At. Long. Last. ASAP. In an interview with GQ after the fourth annual Yams Day, Rocky …
Read More »Y La Bamba Throw a Dreamy Dance Party in New 'Boca Llena' Video
Y La Bamba have unveiled a dizzying, psychedelic clip for their new track, “Boca Llena.” The song is the third single off the group’s upcoming LP,Mujeres, out February 8th on Tender Loving Empire Records. Fronted by Mexican-American singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza, Y La Bamba suffuse their dream-pop soundscapes with beguiling …
Read More »The Two Woodstock Anniversary Fests: What Legacy Acts Might Return?
The Woodstock festival has been on ice since the disastrous one back in 1999 nearly ruined the brand forever, but now that the 50th anniversary is almost upon us, two competing events are trying to bring back the spirit of the 1969 original.One is being organized by original Woodstock co-creator …
Read More »Calboy's 'Envy Me' Is Only Two Minutes Long and a Wrenching Listen — It's Still Going to Be a Hit
To understand the mechanics of hip-hop in 2019, one could start by looking atCalboy‘s “Envy Me.” It is currently one of the most successful rap records in the country, though I’m still a little unsure whether to refer to Calboy asCalBoy, 147 Calboy or 147Calboy. Despite any potential confusion, “Envy …
Read More »Real Life Rock Top Ten: Sharon Van Etten, Van Morrison, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“RealLife Rock Top Ten” is a monthly column by cultural critic and RS contributing editorGreil Marcus. 1. Dirty Denim, “Meant to Be,” from Dirty Denim Demo Tape (7″ EP). This is the most arresting thing I’ve heard come out of the radio — in this case, KALX, the University of …
Read More »Dino d'Santiago Is Bringing Funaná to the World
As music streaming has become widespread, global attention has become fixed on Spanish-language performers, and rightly so: That language fueled eight of the ten most-viewed music videos on YouTube in 2018. But music with lyrics in Portuguese has also experienced a major boost — the baile funk hit “Bum Bum …
Read More »Bad Bunny Plays 'Mia,' Leads Parade in Streets of Puerto Rico on 'Fallon'
Bad Bunny performs his single “Mia” while marching through the streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico in a pre-filmed segment from Tuesday’s Tonight Show. Jimmy Fallon and the Roots‘ Black Thought and Questlove join the rapper, banging around on timbale sticks, maracas and a tambourine. The piece opens with …
Read More »Review: Maggie Rogers Makes Good on Pop-Phenom Promise with 'Heard It in a Past Life'
“I found myself,” Maggie Rogers sings on her major-label debut, “when I was going everywhere.”In 2016, Rogers played her song “Alaska” for Pharrell Williams at an NYU undergraduate seminar. A video of the performance went viral, resulting in a major-label deal, an EP and a sold-out headlining tour all within …
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