The lyrics on “From the Spear,” the first taste of extreme-metal group Gaahls Wyrd’s upcoming debut, are mostly incoherent. At one point, frontman Gaahl growls, “I hold the spear, blood dripping”; at another, he moans, “I stare down from here.” But by and large the words’ intention is obscured, and …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: Mariah Carey, 'A No No'
For all the vocal gymnastics she’s justly known for, Mariah Carey also has a clever, biting sense of humor that not nearly enough people appreciate. You know (or maybe you don’t know?) all the memes she’s inspired, and her Instagram is full of hilarious and aspirational examples of her dedication …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: Hether Fortune, 'Sister'
Outlaws are often solitary figures — the stranger come to town, the loner on a long night drive. Just as often, though, the outlaw is part of a larger group, whether it’s a gang, a band or a family. It’s that second kind, cast out of society but far from …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: Joe Lovano, 'Rare Beauty'
“Rare Beauty,” a standout track from Joe Lovano’s new album Trio Tapestry, starts with a deep, resonant tom-tom rumble from drummer Carmen Castaldi. Lovano’s tenor saxophone and Marilyn Crispell’s piano enter with a snaking, up-and-down line, which Castaldi accompanies and answers. The way the instruments swirl together, intuitively tracing out …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: JoJo, 'Leave (Get Out) [2018]'
On December 20th, JoJo gave herself the best possible 28th birthday present: a reclaimed narrative. That day, the pop singer reissued 2004’sJoJo and 2006’sThe High Road — the early albums that made her a teenage superstar, before she plunged into what she has previously described as a “personal hell” of …
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