First Listen: Pixies, 'Head Carrier'
The inspired Head Carrier reaffirms all the spark, wit and weirdness, tempered by the occasional burst of emotional rawness, that made people fall in love with the Pixies in the first place.
Music & Culture
Composer Julia Wolfe Awarded MacArthur 'Genius Grant'
The New York composer is one of 23 individuals picked this year for the prestigious annual prize, which comes with $625,000.
1966 Vs. 1971: When 'Rock 'n' Roll' Became 'Rock,' And What We Lost
Two books about two crucial years in the story of rock and roll, taken together, reveal how the genre shrank to become the playground of white men with guitars.
The Words Are Made Up, But Alcest's 'Kodama' Sure Is Pretty
"There are no lyrics," Neige says of the gracefully savage track. "It's just vocal improvisation like Cocteau Twins or Dead Can Dance were doing back in the day."
First Listen: John Adams, 'Scheherazade.2'
Violence against women, and a smart storyteller from the Arabian Nights, inspired John Adams' "dramatic symphony," featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz.
First Watch: LVL UP, 'The Closing Door'
The New York band's new video for "The Closing Door" tells a sunny coming-of-age story.
Blue Man Group Is Coming To The Tiny Desk!
They came, they measured, they built and plotted. But first, they had to borrow a few things from the office. Watch a teaser for Blue Man Group's Tiny Desk Takeover, set to feature new instruments.
First Listen: Drive-By Truckers, 'American Band'
American Band, the long-running rock band's 11th album, lives up to its name in how it digests, understands and challenges the notions of what it means to be American.
First Listen: Jenny Hval, 'Blood Bitch'
On her sixth album, the Norwegian singer Jenny Hval aims for impact, surrounding her vulnerable voice with spiky, disarming instrumentation that bolsters the intensity and intimacy of her songs.
First Listen: Bob Weir, 'Blue Mountain'
On this long-awaited solo album, the Grateful Dead veteran showcases his songwriting gifts with the aid of collaborators such as Josh Ritter and The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner.