Punks, Up Against The Wall
The new book Burning Down the Haus fastidiously traces the self-discovery of punks in the socialist dictatorship of East Germany, and the violence and repression they endured on the way to freedom.
Music Features
'The Planets' At 100: A Listener's Guide To Holst's Solar System
Take an interplanetary trek through the English composer's symphonic blockbuster with the help of a conductor and an astronomer.
'Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.' Documents A Complex Life In Pop Atop An Unrelenting World
In the new documentary Matangi / Maya / M.I.A., director Steve Loveridge examines the development, rise and oppositional success of the iconoclastic pop star — who was always something else entirely.
Taylor Swift Is The 21st Century's Most Disorienting Pop Star
Many people have surmised the mega-star learned her knack for extensive personalization from her country roots. But there's another genre that is perhaps equally responsible for her sound: hip-hop.
The Five Lives Of 'Tha Carter V'
After years of mystery, excitement and public tumult, Lil Wayne's long-delayed album is nearly here. As you prepare to listen, here are a few things to keep in mind about where the rapper's been.
Jeremy Dutcher, The Newest Light In Canada's Indigenous Renaissance
Dutcher spent five years researching, writing and recording his brilliant and ambitious debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa -- now, it has earned one of Canada's most prestigious prizes.
'The Times They Are A-Changin" Still Speaks To Our Changing Times
The Bob Dylan classic came out in 1963 and was embraced by the civil rights and anti-war movements. Decades later, young people are finding it vibrates with new meaning.
Meg White Is The 21st Century's Loudest Introvert
White's drumming made her one of the loudest musicians of this century, yet she's often remembered for being a quiet person — setting a no-apologies template for letting her work speak for itself.
The Anthemic Allure Of 'Dixie,' An Enduring Confederate Monument
Despite its origins in the popular music of the North, the song became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy during the Civil War and still endures as a divisive symbol in modern America.
Hayley Williams Is The 21st Century's Pop-Punk Prophet
There is no precedent for the Grammy-winning, chart-busting, Hot Topic-surviving Williams, who didn't offer permission so much as show a generation of emo girls they did not have to ask for it.