Music Lists

The DJ and producer Louie Vega compiled a 91-song playlist, one for each year that New York's controversial Cabaret Law was on the books, to celebrate its recent repeal.

Music & Culture

Everybody Dance Now! A Musical Celebration Of New York's Cabaret Law Repeal

2:43pm December 15, 2017

by Felix Contreras

A law prohibiting unlicensed dancing in New York City lived long past its original intent. DJ and producer Louie Vega celebrates its repeal with a 91-song playlist, one for each year of its lifetime.

Music & Culture

Stephen Thompson's Top 10 Albums Of 2017

11:54am December 14, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

It's been a year of complacency deferred and sleeping giants roused. So it's only natural that much of 2017's best music would reflect that tumult, albeit in radically different ways.

Feist's Pleasure was one of Robin Hilton's favorite albums this year.

Music & Culture

Robin Hilton's Top 10 Albums Of 2017

10:51am December 14, 2017

by Robin Hilton

2017 was a year of chronic whiplash, not only for the ceaseless horror show of news headlines, but for the overwhelming number of great albums and songs that were released.

St. Vincent's Masseduction was one of Talia Schlanger's favorite albums this year.

Music & Culture

10 Albums That Made 2017 Brighter

10:36am December 14, 2017

by Talia Schlanger

World Cafe's Talia Schlanger picks 10 records that made the world feel more colorful. They aren't happier records necessarily — they do infuse the grayscale of newsprint with the chroma of dreams.

Princess Nokia's 1992 Deluxe was one of Ann Powers' favorite records this year.

Music & Culture

Ann Powers' Top 10 Underheard Albums Of 2017

10:19am December 14, 2017

by Ann Powers

Here's a list of 10 albums that deserve more year-end love than they're generally getting, a counter to an age where music has taken on an introspective function.

Three of Ron Miles' works were among Nate Chinen's favorites of the year.

Music & Culture

Nate Chinen's Top 10 (Actually 21) Albums Of 2017

10:18am December 14, 2017

by Nate Chinen

The best albums of 2017 delivered both comfort and challenge — both salve and spur. (That also applies to the honorable mentions listed, any of which could easily have come off the bench.)