The Pitchfork Review

The Origins and Influence of Brian Eno’s Pioneering Album Ambient 1: Music for Airports

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Following his recent Sunday Review, longtime contributor Grayson Haver Currin talks to Reviews Director Jeremy D. Larson about the story behind legendary producer Brian Eno’s 1978 touchstone Ambient 1: Music for Airports, the most influential ambient album ever made.
Read Grayson’s Sunday Review of Music for Airports.

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Jeff Tweedy Interview

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The Wilco frontman and author talks to Associate Editor Sam Sodomsky about the pitfalls of music snobbery, what he doesn’t like about rock criticism, Wilco’s recent album Cousins, and his latest book World Within a Song, in which he writes about 50 tracks that rearranged his brain.

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Dolly Parton on The New Yorker Radio Hour

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Pitchfork Review is off this week so we're sharing an episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour featuring Dolly Parton talking about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and her one-of-a-kind career.

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Replay: Boygenius Interview

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

An encore presentation of Editor-in-Chief Puja Patel’s interview with boygenius’ Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, which was recorded around the release of their debut album last spring.

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The 2023 Music Grab Bag: Trends, Scandals, and Theories; Plus an Appearance From Alvvays

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy D. Larson, Puja Patel, and Cat Zhang talk about the trends, scandals, gossip, technological moves, and industry changes that shaped the musical landscape of 2023. Plus: Alvvays’ Molly Rankin reveals the song she wishes she wrote.

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The Best, Worst, and Most Surprising Albums of 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Jeremy D. Larson, and Anna Gaca talk about some of their personal faves from Pitchfork’s 50 Best Albums of 2023 list, including records by Amaarae, ANOHNI, Sofia Kourtesis, Kara Jackson, and SZA. They also lament some of the year’s biggest disappointments, like Lil Yachty’s psych-rock experiment and Doja Cat’s rap misfire.

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The Replacements’ Tim Is the Best Reissue of 2023; Plus Tommy Stinson’s Perfect-10 Album

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy D. Larson, Puja Patel, and Ryan Dombal delve into the sordid history of beloved Minneapolis rock band The Replacements and explain why the new reissue of their classic 1985 LP Tim is such a revelation. Plus, Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson stops by to talk about an album he considers to be a perfect 10. Read Jeremy’s review of Tim (Let It Bleed Edition) here.

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Erykah Badu on The Run-Through with Vogue

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Pitchfork Review is off this week, so we're sharing an episode from our friends at The Run-Through with Vogue, where editors Chioma Nnadi and Chloe Malle talk to the legend Erykah Badu. You can also watch Badu give her Over/Under on aliens, Porky Pig and more here.

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Bad Bunny’s New Album and the Future of Puerto Rican Rap and Reggaeton

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Ryan Dombal, Isabelia Herrera, and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd talk about Bad Bunny’s remarkable rise to superstardom and how his latest record, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana, doesn’t quite live up to his own high bar. Also, we highlight a few new queer femme artists from Puerto Rico who are taking the island’s music to exciting new places. Read Isabelia's review here, and her feature story here.

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Debating the Best Songs of 2023, Part Two

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Jeremy D. Larson, and Ryan Dombal battle it out over some of their favorite songs of the year in various genres. Matchups include Troye Sivan’s “Rush” vs. NewJeans’ “Super Shy,” Wednesday’s “Chosen to Deserve” vs. Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire,” and Tinashe’s “Needs” vs. Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama.” Plus singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart stops by to talk about his dream collaboration.

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Debating the Best Songs of 2023, Part One

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Jeremy D. Larson, and Ryan Dombal take sides and debate which songs by Ice Spice, 100 gecs, billy woods, Zach Bryan, and TisaKorean deserve a spot on our upcoming year-end list.

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The Good, the Bad, and the Swiftie of Taylor’s Eras Tour Concert Film

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Amy Phillips, and Cat Zhang wade through the ups and downs of the pop superstar’s new record-breaking live movie. Read Amy's review of the Eras Tour film here.

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What Drake Is Doing Wrong—and How He Can Fix It

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy D. Larson, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, and Ryan Dombal talk about what made them care about Drake in the first place, why his new album For All the Dogs is so frustratingly mid, and what he should do next. Read Julianne’s review here.

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Best New Music Albums From yeule and L'Rain, Plus Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Her Perfect 10 Record

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Jeremy Larson, and Ryan Dombal dissect recent Best New Music picks by pop futurist-turned-alt rocker yeule and the evocative, genre-flouting artist L’Rain. Plus: Olivia Rodrigo stops by to talk about one of her all-time favorite records in our new segment, My Perfect 10.

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Sufjan Stevens Is at His Intimate and Uplifting Best on Javelin

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson, Sam Sodomsky, and Nina Corcoran talk about all the ghosts, anxieties, and desires that wind through the singer-songwriter's 10th album, and why he's so good at making our tear ducts start to flow. Read Sam's review of Javelin here.

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An Interview With Talking Heads

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Ahead of the release of their newly restored and iconic concert documentary Stop Making Sense, all four members of the original Talking Heads lineup get together to chat with Pitchfork’s Contributing Editor Andy Cush. Listen to David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison share stories about the film, the early days of the band, and recording one of their classic albums.

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The Nostalgic, Messy Fun of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel, Jeremy Larson, and Cat Zhang talk about the pop darling’s highly anticipated sophomore album, which is packed with hilarious one-liners, cross-generational music references, and the spectacular drama of being a girl in the world. Read Cat’s review here.

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Replay: Beyoncé's Renaissance

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:30:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to culture critic and Pitchfork contributor Julianne Escobedo Shepherd about the pop star’s immaculate dance record.

Read our review of Renaissance.

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The Hollow Spectacle of Travis Scott’s Utopia

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy D. Larson, Alphonse Pierre, and Ryan Dombal break down the many reasons why the superstar rapper’s long-awaited new album is such a disappointment.

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The Price of Pop Fandom

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel investigates the skyrocketing cost of concert tickets with Features Editor Jill Mapes and Senior Writer Marc Hogan: How did we get here, and will prices ever come back down to Earth?

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The Best and Worst Songs of the Summer

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Features Editors Ryan Dombal and Jill Mapes break down the most replayable, effervescent, and annoying songs that are vying for our attention this season alongside Senior Writer Alphonse Pierre.

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The Best of Pitchfork Music Festival, Then and Now

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Ahead of this weekend’s Pitchfork Fest in Chicago, Puja Patel, Jeremy D. Larson, and Executive Editor Amy Phillips reminisce about memorable sets from the past (Kendrick! Robyn! Animal Collective!) and what they’re looking forward to most this year (The Smile! Alvvays! Koffee!).

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Why HBO’s The Idol Is So Fascinatingly Bad

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy D. Larson discuss the near hits and wild misses of the controversial pop-star drama with Features Editor Ryan Dombal.

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Elliott Smith Like You’ve Never Heard Him Before

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Features Editor Ryan Dombal and Contributing Editor Jayson Greene about six unearthed albums Elliott Smith made with his high school friends that just might make you think a little differently about the singer-songwriter’s most well-known work.

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Fear Will Not Stop Queer Nightlife

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Puja Patel is joined by Contributing Editor Isabelia Herrera and Features Editor Jill Mapes to discuss the queer nightlife scene’s resilience amid anti-trans legislation and attacks on LGBTQ+ communities.

Read Isabelia’s story “The Fight for Queer Nightlife in an Era of Political Violence.”

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Janelle Monáe Creates a Queer Paradise on The Age of Pleasure

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Anna Gaca and Contributing Writers Julianne Escobedo Shepherd and Heven Haile discuss the pop world-builder’s fourth studio album, which abandons their sci-fi past for a more joyous future.

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Foo Fighters Rock Through the Pain Once Again

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson swaps Foo Fighters memories with Senior Writer Marc Hogan and Associate News Director Evan Misker as they discuss the healing power of the arena rock legends’ 11th album, But Here We Are.

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The Best and Worst Songs of 2023 So Far

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks with Features Editor Ryan Dombal and Associate Editor Cat Zhang about the songs from this year that they love, hate, and love to hate.

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The Year in Albums So Far

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Senior Editor Anna Gaca about the records, trends, and comebacks that have defined 2023.

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What Does AI Mean for the Future of Music?

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In our first-ever crossover episode, Puja Patel joins Gideon Lichfield and Lauren Goode from the Wired podcast “Have A Nice Future” to discuss how AI is changing the world of music as we know it.

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Does Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories Hold Up 10 Years Later?

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Ryan Dombal about the iconic French duo’s final album, which was recently reissued. The episode also features Random Access Memories collaborator Todd Edwards reminiscing about the making of the song “Fragments of Time.”

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A Conversation with Laurie Anderson, Kim Gordon, and Sinéad Gleeson

Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks with music legends Kim Gordon and Laurie Anderson, as well as writer Sinéad Gleeson, as part of a live event recorded last year during the Chicago Humanities Festival. The discussion revolves around an anthology of essays titled This Woman’s Work, which was edited by Gordon and Gleeson, and features a piece about Anderson.

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Jessie Ware Reaches Disco Nirvana on That! Feels Good!

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Contributing Writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd about Jessie Ware’s latest album, a loving ode to the euphoric dance sounds of the 1970s.

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Frank Ocean’s Puzzling Coachella Set

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks to Senior Writer Marc Hogan and Features Editor Jill Mapes about Frank Ocean’s performance at this year’s Coachella and its controversial aftermath.

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Weed and Music

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Contributing Editor Andy Cush about the effect and influence of marijuana on music makers and fans.

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The Ambient Anger of Yaeji’s With A Hammer

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks to Associate Editor Cat Zhang and Contributing Writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd about the Korean-American electronic artist’s long-awaited debut album, which is a generous and understated exploration of rage as a source of creative renewal.

Read Julianne’s review here.

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Lana Del Rey: Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Senior Editor Anna Gaca and Contributing Writer Olivia Horn about Lana Del Rey’s most freewheeling album yet.

Read Olivia’s review.

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Boygenius Interview

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel chats with Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus about astrology, friendship, and their debut album as Boygenius.

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An Interview With Improvisational Geniuses Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel chats with the three musical masters about the winding road of jazz history, the magic of collaboration, and their new album as a trio, Love in Exile.

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The Subversive Power of Fever Ray and Yves Tumor

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Ryan Dombal talks to Pitchfork Senior Editor Anna Gaca and Contributing Editor Phil Sherburne about new records from a couple of our favorite enigmatic eccentrics.

Read Anna’s review of Fever Ray’s Radical Romantics here.

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Tár, Elvis, and Music at the Oscars

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Jill Mapes about the Oscar-nominated music movies Elvis and Tár. Then, David Byrne and Ryan Lott of Son Lux talk about some favorite scores and their work on Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Read Jill’s article here.

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Måneskin: RUSH!

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk about the global rock sensation that is terrible at every conceivable level.

Read our review of Måneskin’s new album here.

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Lil Yachty: Let's Start Here

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Staff Writer Alphonse Pierre and Contributing Editor Dylan Green about Lil Yachty’s voyage into soul and psych-rock.

Read Alphonse’s review of Let’s Start Here.

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Caroline Polachek: Desire, I Want To Turn Into You

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Associate Editor Cat Zhang about the singer’s new album, a pop odyssey of the highest order.

Read our review here.

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Kelela: Raven

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Pitchfork Senior Editorial Producer Eric Torres and Editorial Fellow Heven Haile about the electronic R&B singer’s long-awaited new album.

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Grammy Predictions: Who Will Win and Who Should Win

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Senior Writer Marc Hogan about what we think is going to happen, what we think about the nominees, and who we think got snubbed.

Read our Grammys coverage here.

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The State of Ambient Music

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to contributing editor Andy Cush about the recent explosion of streaming ambient music, and then we open the mailbag to answer your burning questions.

Read Andy’s story, “Inside the Ambient Music Streaming Boom.”

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Overlooked Albums Roundup

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Larson talks to Pitchfork Senior Editor Anna Gaca and Contributing Editor Phil Sherburne about the best records that came in under the radar in 2022.

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Hopes, Dreams, and Predictions for 2023

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Ryan Dombal about what they want to see and hear this year.

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SZA: SOS

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to culture critic and Pitchfork contributor Julianne Escobedo Shepherd about SZA’s long, ambitious and luxurious new album.

Read our review of SOS.

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2022 in Rap

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks to staff writer Alphonse Pierre and Pitchfork contributor Dylan Green about the year in rap music.

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Beyoncé: Renaissance

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to culture critic and Pitchfork contributor Julianne Escobedo Shepherd about the pop star’s immaculate dance record.

Read our review of Renaissance.

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The Best (and Worst) of 2022: Part Two

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Ryan Dombal about the music of 2022.

Read our Best 50 Albums and Best 100 Songs of 2022 lists.

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The Best (and Worst) of 2022: Part One

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Ryan Dombal about the music of 2022.

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Weyes Blood and Dream Unending

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Associate Editor Sam Sodomsky about new releases from Weyes Blood and Dream Unending.

Read our interview with Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering and our Best New Music review of Dream Unending’s Song of Salvation.

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Best New Music: Alvvays and Special Interest

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks to Jeremy Larson about Alvvays’ latest album Blue Rev and to Staff Writer Madison Bloom about Endure by Special Interest.

Read our reviews of Endure and Blue Rev.

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Björk: Fossora

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Staff Writer Jazz Monroe about the experimental pop icon, digging deep into her new album.

Read Jazz’s cover story.

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Taylor Swift: Midnights

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel talks to Pitchfork Editor Anna Gaca and Staff Writer Quinn Moreland about the highs, lows, surprises, and disappointments of the new Taylor Swift album.

Read our review of Midnights.

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The 1975: Being Funny in a Foreign Language

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Puja Patel and Jeremy Larson talk to Pitchfork Features Editor Ryan Dombal about the polarizing band’s latest album, hanging with frontman Matty Healy, and what makes them charming, fun, and more than a little absurd.

Read our review of Being Funny in a Foreign Language and our 1975 cover story.

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The Pitchfork Review: New Season Preview

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Brought to you by the music critics at Pitchfork, The Pitchfork Review is a show for music fans/obsessives who can’t wait to talk about the latest releases. Hosted by Pitchfork editor-in-chief Puja Patel, this podcast pulls back the curtain on our reviews and scores, dives deep into new music, and gives an expert guide to what's exciting, what’s great, and what’s just plain terrible.

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The Best and Worst of Everything Else

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:01:00 -0000

Everything else aside, 2020 was a banner year for music. In addition to some truly stellar albums and songs, there was also plenty of sillier stuff to dig into: misguided anthems about the pandemic, casual covers and collaborations, good and bad tweets galore, and of course, Bernie Sanders introducing the Strokes and Soccer Mommy. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Associate Editor Anna Gaca and News Editor Matthew Strauss for a senior superlatives-style rundown of the best and worst in these categories and more. Thanks for listening to the Pitchfork Review this year! We’ll be back with new episodes in 2021.

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Fiona Apple’s Perfect 10

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 05:10:00 -0000

Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters isn’t just the best album of 2020, it’s the sort of masterpiece that defines an entire era. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Contributing Editor Jenn Pelly, who wrote Pitchfork’s 10 Fetch the Bolt Cutters review and spent the year in communication with Apple for a series of follow-up pieces, and Features Editor Ryan Dombal, who wrote Pitchfork’s previous 10 review a decade ago—for Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy—and worked closely with Pelly on her Apple coverage. The three discuss the brilliance of Fetch the Bolt Cutters, and Apple’s unorthodox approach to making it; as well as the process of deciding that an album should receive a perfect score, and what a 10 really means.

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Staff Picks: The Year in Rock and Rap

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 05:01:00 -0000

In the latest installment of our year-end podcast coverage, we’re talking about 2020’s best rock and rap albums. Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by News Editor Evan Minsker, Contributing Editor Jayson Greene, and Staff Writers Alphonse Pierre and Madison Bloom, who argue in favor of their personal favorites, from Yves Tumor and U.S. Girls to Westside Gunn and Jay Electronica. They also get into some broader discussions about the state of the genres more generally, including: Which old heads or new kids ruled rap in 2020? And what does “rock” even mean these days?

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Afrobeats’ Global Takeover

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:01:00 -0000

Over the last several years, American listeners have grown more and more attuned to the sounds of West African pop music—also known as Afrobeats–whether it’s the swaggering Nigerian Afro-fusion of Burna Boy, the playfully genre-bending anthems of Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae, or the enthusiastic dabbling of stateside superstars like Drake and Diplo. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Nigerian journalist Joey Akan, publisher of the Afrobeats Intelligence newsletter, and Mankaprr Conteh, Pitchfork Editorial Operations Associate, for a discussion about the music’s global rise and the West’s complicated rush to embrace it, as well as the fraught nature of the term “Afrobeats” itself.

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The Great Year-End Songs Debate

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0000

Building Pitchfork’s year-end lists of the best albums and songs is a lengthy and painstaking process, involving careful consideration of the 1,000-plus releases we review each year, and others we may have missed. We include innumerable factors in our decision-making, but sometimes it’s a matter of following instincts: with a gun to your head, which would you choose? On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Reviews Editor Jeremy Larson and Contributing Editor Andy Cush for some good-natured arguments about which songs by some of our favorite artists—like Waxahatchee, Phoebe Bridgers, Destroyer, and Moses Sumney—should make the cut this year.

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Request Line: How to Deal With 2020

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0000

A few months ago, we launched the Pitchfork Request Line, asking listeners to call in with requests for music to soundtrack whatever is going on in their lives. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is answering your requests along with Contributing Editors Rawiya Kameir and Philip Sherburne. They take calls from a midwestern transplant who’s nostalgic for her suburban D.C. hometown, a Mancunian looking to recapture the feeling of his city’s famously vibrant live music scene, and a father who’s teaching his kids music history by way of Willie Nelson. They also discuss the music they’ve been turning to for comfort during a difficult year.

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When Music Becomes Political Protest

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0000

In a year of historic protests, on the eve of a critical election, we’ve been thinking a lot about the place of music in movements for social and political change. In this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel speaks with Jason King, professor at NYU and founding faculty member of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, and Allison Hussey, Pitchfork Associate Staff Writer, about the changing role of protest music across American history, from 19th-century Black spirituals to Public Enemy, Lady Gaga, and Janelle Monáe. They also touch on the secret history of a Bob Dylan classic, and the new ways pop stars have engaged with activism in the social media era.

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Adrianne Lenker Digs Deep

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0000

A global pandemic hasn’t slowed the prolific output of Adrianne Lenker, who released her gorgeous solo collections songs and instrumentals this week, not long after making two of 2019’s most celebrated albums with her band Big Thief. On this episode, Lenker chats with Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel about the music that accompanied her occasionally turbulent journey from childhood as a musical prodigy to adulthood as one of her generation’s greatest songwriters. She touches on an early fascination with jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, a teenage encounter with the songs of Elliott Smith, and the story behind her Leonard Cohen tattoo.

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100 gecs and the Mystery of Hyperpop

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

What is hyperpop? A movement? A meaningless label? A Spotify playlist? Whatever the answer, it surely has something to do with 100 gecs, the duo of Laura Les and Dylan Brady, whose songs sometimes sound like the last three decades of popular music happening all at once. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel interviews Les and Brady about their conflicted relationship to the genre they’ve come to embody, as well as their influences—ranging from PC Music to Lil Wayne to John Zorn to Britney Spears—and a new wave of artists who are taking their cues from gecs themselves.

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Will We Ever See Live Music Again?

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

It’s been six months since the live music industry operated under any semblance of normalcy in the U.S., thanks to COVID-19. Which means most of us haven’t seen a proper show in at least that long. When will concerts come back, and what needs to happen before they do? Are outdoor events and reduced-capacity venues safe and financially viable options? Can a livestream really match the energy of an in-person performance? On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by two veterans of putting on shows—Kristen Kaza, co-founder of Chicago’s beloved Slo ‘Mo series of queer dance parties, and Adam Krefman, Pitchfork’s own Executive Director of Festivals—to discuss those questions, as well as their own experiences with navigating the pandemic’s challenges

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The Quiet Return of Fleet Foxes and Sufjan Stevens

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

This week brought new albums from a pair of beloved artists who emerged a little over a decade ago as purveyors of artful indie folk: Fleet Foxes, who announced their fourth full-length Shore on Monday and released it 24 hours later, and Sufjan Stevens, whose eighth solo album The Ascension arrives today, September 25. Each has navigated listeners’ weighty expectations in their own way: Fleet Foxes by eschewing promotion and embracing the vibrant simplicity of their early songwriting, and Stevens by avoiding the character sketches and personal narratives of his past albums in favor of broader questions about the state of the world. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Features Editor Ryan Dombal and News Editor Matthew Strauss for a discussion of both albums and the artists who made them.

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The National’s Matt Berninger on the Music That Made Him

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Next month, Matt Berninger of The National will release Serpentine Prison, his first solo album, produced by the legendary Memphis multi-instrumentalist Booker T. Jones. On this episode, Berninger chats with Pitchfork Staff Writer Sam Sodomsky about the songs that shaped him as a musician and informed the new album, touching on his childhood infatuation with Olivia Newton-John, The Smiths and U2 records he blasted while getting pelted with golf balls at his first job, and The National’s early aspirations to emulate the Silver Jews.

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It’s Time to Take Enya Seriously

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

For years, Enya’s music was treated as a cultural punchline, the eerily soothing soundtrack to countless crystal shops and Pure Moods commercials. But lately, a new generation of artists—from Weyes Blood to Nicki Minaj—is proudly claiming the misunderstood Irish auteur as an influence. On this episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Contributing Editor Jenn Pelly, a recently converted Enya fanatic, for a discussion about the depth and complexity of Enya’s artistry and the ways she maintained creative control of her music and image in a male-dominated industry. Next week, Pitchfork will publish Pelly’s longform written feature on Enya's blooming influence in 2020, featuring interviews with many of the artists who look to her as a guiding light.

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Pitchfork Request Line: Road Trips & Campfires

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

After its launch a few weeks ago, the Pitchfork Request Line is still ringing off the hook with listeners calling in for recommendations of music to soundtrack their lives. This week, we’re taking requests from an aspiring metalhead, a road tripper making a move from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and someone who just wants to get the hell out of 2020, if only for the length of a song.

If you want to get a recommendation of your own, give us a call at (917) 524-7371 and tell us a story about what’s going on in your life right now.

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Pitchfork Request Line: New Love & Major Heartbreak

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

A few weeks ago we launched the Pitchfork Review hotline, asking our listeners to call in if they want help finding music to soundtrack their lives. Thank you to everyone who’s called in. It’s been pretty great going through all the voicemails that we’ve gotten in from all over the country and hearing a little bit about what’s going on with you. In this episode, we answer requests for music to get over an ex and music for falling in love, and we also share our personal love and heartbreak stories.

If you want to leave us a message to get a recommendation of your own, give us a call at (917) 524-7371.

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Songs of the Summer of Our Discontent

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

By this time of year, there’s usually consensus around what the “Song of the Summer” is. But 2020 isn’t like any other summer in so many ways, including the pop charts. The Billboard Hot 100 has been all over the place for the past several months, with a new artist rising to the top most weeks, including Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, the Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and DaBaby. In this episode, we’re going to break down what makes a song of the summer and take a look at our favorites from 2020.

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Lianne La Havas's Bittersweet Memories

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

British singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas recently released her third album, a self-titled collection of songs about love, heartbreak, and independence. Pitchfork editor Puja Patel recently spoke with Lianne at home in London over video chat for Pitchfork’s Listening Club. They talked about the nostalgia of breakup songs, staying true to yourself, Lianne’s cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes,” and the advice she took from Prince.

If you want some help finding new music, leave us a voicemail at ‪(917) 524-7371. Tell us a story about what's going on now in your life that you need a soundtrack for. We’ll take a listen and pick a few to feature on an upcoming episode, where Pitchfork's music critics will recommend you something new.

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Why Do We Even Listen to New Music?

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Listening to new music is what we do all day here at Pitchfork. But it isn’t always easy. Sometimes (OK, a lot of the time) it can be tempting to just throw on an old favorite rather than dig into something fresh. On this week’s episode of our podcast, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Reviews Editor Jeremy Larson to talk about the science behind why it’s difficult to engage with music you’re unfamiliar with–and also why it’s worth it.

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Taylor Swift Loves Indie, Too

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Last week, Taylor Swift surprised her fans with the announcement of the imminent release of a new 16-track album, entitled folklore. The National’s Aaron Dessner co-wrote or co-produced 11 of the songs, and it also features collaborations with Bon Iver and Jack Antonoff. “Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen,” Taylor’s announcement said of the making of the album. At its best, folklore reinforces something that has been true throughout Swift’s career: her biggest strength is her storytelling. On this week’s episode, Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Senior Editor Jillian Mapes and Associate Editor Anna Gaca to discuss everything Taylor Swift—and her most recent release.

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The Endurance of Bob Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

On June 19th, Bob Dylan released his 39th album, Rough and Rowdy Ways -- his first full length album of original songs in nearly a decade. Throughout his career, Dylan has followed moments of silence with something wholly new. In the mid-sixties, after a motorcycle accident brought Dylan’s creative and popular explosion to a halt, he retreated for a year and a half. Then, he released John Wesley Harding -- a stark and simple album with standouts like “All Along the Watchtower” and “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine.” Thirty years later, Dylan released Time Out of Mind, after years of doing mostly folk cover albums. Time Out of Mind, produced by Daniel Lanois, had an atmospheric and dark quality never heard before in Dylan’s previous work. Similarly, Rough and Rowdy Ways sees Dylan breaking new ground again. Pitchfork Editor Puja Patel is joined by Staff Writer Sam Sodomsky and Contributing Editor Andy Cush as they break down Dylan’s comeback albums and discuss his most recent album.

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Pop Smoke’s Legacy and the Sound of Brooklyn Drill

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 03:45:00 -0000

On February 19th, 2020, Pop Smoke’s life was tragically cut short, when he was shot and killed at the age of 20. At the time of his death, the rapper was a leading light of Brooklyn drill, the hyper-local scene that had quickly become the premier NYC hip-hop subgenre. With hits like “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior,” Pop had helped reinvigorate interest in New York hip-hop overall. His posthumous album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon was released on July 3. Listen to this week’s episode of The Pitchfork Review as Editor Puja Patel sits down with Pitchfork Staff Writer Alphonse Pierre and Contributing Writer Sheldon Pearce to discuss Pop Smoke’s come up and legacy, Brooklyn drill and its intersections with policing and protests, and the new album.

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The Revolution Will Be TikTok'd

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 04:10:09 -0000

TikTok, the omnipresent fifteen-second video platform, has taken over social media. The app has also changed the landscape of the music industry, churning out chart-topping hits like Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and DaBaby and Roddy Ricch’s “Rockstar” in the process. This summer, following the killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests, activists have co-opted dance and music TikToks in the name of racial justice. But can a supercapitalist app like TikTok really be a force for social change? Listen to this week's episode of The Pitchfork Review as Editor-in-Chief Puja Patel discusses this question, and more, with Pitchfork staffer Cat Zhang.

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Teaser: “The Revolution Will Be TikTok’d”

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

From the upcoming episode “The Revolution Will Be TikTok’d”, Pitchfork Staffer Cat Zhang shows us what it takes to make a TikTok hit—and why the music industry is taking notice.

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Introducing The Pitchfork Review

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 14:00:00 -0000

Introducing The Pitchfork Review -- the music podcast you’ve always wanted, from the most trusted voice in music. Hosted by Puja Patel, editor in chief of Pitchfork, our brand new podcast launches on July 10th. Subscribe to get episodes right when they drop at midnight.

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