Articles in Music


The Case for Ska

The genre is often used as a punchline, but sneering at ska discounts its long and uplifting history as “the people’s music.”


The Year Everyone Dropped Bad Albums

From Taylor Swift to Lil Wayne, beloved musical acts have been releasing albums way below their usual standard. As usual, it’s the big labels and streaming platforms to blame.



Did Bob Dylan Betray Left Politics?

The new Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" examines the singer’s shift away from the political folk scene and into rock-and-roll stardom. It underlines the difficult tension between using art for political force and individual expression.

Opera is for Everyone

Although opera has a reputation as an antiquated pastime for rich people, this thrilling art form ought to be enjoyed by all.