Troye Sivan‘s dramatic live version of “Animal” would have likely enraptured the Late Show audience – if only there’d been one. The pop singer presented a more band-oriented version of his dark Bloom ballad on Wednesday, relying on harmonized electric guitars, atmospheric synth-strings, soft piano flourishes and live drums.As the …
Read More »'Harry Potter' at 20: Artists Reveal Tattoos, Tears, Tour Stories Inspired by the Wizarding World
Led Zeppelin had Tolkien. Metallica had Lovecraft. ButSnail Mail,Dua Lipa, Taking Back Sunday, Why Don’t We, Hanson,and countless others have J.K. Rowling, and her story of the boy with a lightning-shaped scar. Released in the United States 20 years ago, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone began the seven-book saga …
Read More »Review: Two Indie Heavyweights Team Up as Big Red Machine
PEOPLE is the name of an artist collective and web platform, co-founded by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessner, that grew out of the 2016Michelberger Music series in Berlin. The idea,as explained on the site, is “to establish an independent and nurturing space in which to make …
Read More »Review: Troye Sivan Explores Innocence and Experience on 'Bloom'
It’s easy to feel charmed by Troye Sivan. The gentle lilt of his voice warmly hugs the gentle synth-pop beats he opts for in his songs. OnBloom, Sivan’s sophomore album, he adds a touch more vigor and nuance to the loveliest qualities of his debut albumBlue Neighbourhood. The tender naivety …
Read More »Flashback: Watch Devo Bring 'Satisfaction' to 'SNL'
By the time Devo rubbed their sweaty mitts all over the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” it had already been covered by everyone from soul singer Otis Redding to the singing eyeballs in the Residents. Devo‘s take on the song was rigid, mechanical and otherworldly – perhaps less …
Read More »On the Charts: Ariana Grande's 'Sweetener' Opens at Number One
Ariana Grande notched her third Number One album as her latest LP Sweetener opened atop the Billboard 200. Sweetener sold 231,000 total copies, including 127,000 traditional copies, to capture the top spot; Grande’s 2013 album Yours Truly and 2014’s My Everything also reached Number One, while 2016’s Dangerous Woman peaked …
Read More »Hear Aretha Franklin Talk About Recording 'Respect'
The new episode of our podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, is a tribute to the life and music of Aretha Franklin, starting with an interview with writer David Ritz, who co-wrote Franklin’s autobiography (Aretha: From These Roots) and also went on to write the unvarnished biography Respect: The Life of …
Read More »Flashback: Genesis Wrap Up Their Reunion Tour With a Peter Gabriel-Era Classic
The guys in Genesis are about as British as it gets, meaning they’ve never been known to get very emotional in public or even in private. But right before they played the final song at the last night of their Turn It On Again reunion tour in 2007, Phil Collins …
Read More »Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia Plot Co-Headlining North American Tour
New Orleans funk-soul group Tank and the Bangas and bounce rap pioneer Big Freedia announced a co-headlining North American tour. The joint trek, featuring support from jazz-funk outfit Naughty Professor, launches October 20th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and concludes November 9th in Berkley, California. Tickets are on sale now via Tank …
Read More »Mavis Staples on Aretha Franklin: 'She was just special'
Mavis Staples paid tribute to longtime friendAretha Franklin in her own words to the Los Angeles Times,following Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer Thursday at the age of 76. Staples, who was an important voice for civil rights in the Chicago-based family band the Staple Singers, refers to Franklin as “Ree” …
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