Every spring for the past eight years, I’ve been sharing a mix series dedicated to spring and the universal feeling of gratitude and rejuvenation — a timeless theme that can be found in music of all cultures, eras, genres. I select about 30 to 40 records that have a spiritual quality without necessarily being religious […]
I met Dan Sartain at the merch table after his November 8, 2004 show at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan. I bought two copies of Sartain Family Legacy 1981-1998 and we made small talk. He complimented me on the suit I was wearing (I’d come straight from my grandpa’s funeral) and me saying I […]
Article by Matt Kumma Neil Finn has been my king of rock n’ roll for nearly 35 years. He’s written some of the best songs I’ve ever heard, has several slots on my top-albums-of-all-time list, was invited to join one of the greatest rock bands ever, and always has good hair. I was a Split […]
The Oscar-winning 2013 documentary 20 Feet From Stardom shone a light on legendary backing vocalists such as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill, all of whom have collaborated with some of music’s biggest names. Another vocalist that could’ve easily been profiled in the film is Venetta Fields. Born in 1941, the Buffalo native spent […]
Take a moment to learn more about some of the women of punk who pioneered the style in the 1970s and ‘80s. Jayne County Jayne County (b. 1947) is a queer and trans punk trailblazer who is often considered the first openly transgender singer in rock. Although she is a rock legend, she is also […]
Northern soul is about two-minute songs with a fast, pounding Motown beat or plaintive soulful ballads about heartache and break-up. Northern soul is about dancing – side steps, spins, flips – and the power of the A or B side of a 7-inch single bought for a few or a few thousand dollars. What constitutes […]
Though the past year has been devoid of clubs in their typical states, labels have continued to push scenes forward. The only dance floor you may be visiting is that of your living room and kitchen, but there has been no shortage of tunes to power you through. What follows is a selection of some […]
Take a moment to learn more about some of the important women who developed early electronic music in the 20th century and join the conversation on Instagram. Johanna Magdalena Beyer Johanna Magdalena Beyer (1888-1944) is the first female composer to create work for electronic instruments back in the 1930s. Although she did not reach notoriety […]
It may not be Halloween, but everyone is still entitled to a good scare, which is why we’ve decided to treat ourselves with a list of the most-collected horror movie soundtracks of all time. “Horror is a reaction; it’s not a genre,” as John Carpenter so eloquently said to Interview Magazine in 2015. To craft […]
Our regular roundup of the most popular new albums is determined by how many Discogs users added the release to their Collections throughout each month. To be featured on the genre-specific lists, the album must have been released in 2021 in a physical format (meaning vinyl, CD, or cassette), so it won’t take into consideration digital streams. […]
