So many variables determine what makes an artist or band “essential” — longevity, impact, influence, history. On-air and online, we celebrate the musicians who have shaped our cultural soundtrack for the past fifty years. Let’s love these FUV Essential artists while they’re here, and honor those who have departed too soon.
It's fair to say that Scott Devendorf, of The National and LNZNDRF has been living and breathing the music of the Grateful Dead for a lifetime. The bassist, who wrote about his "Five Essential Grateful Dead Songs" for FUV, worked with his bandmates from the National on the epic, five-hour, 59-track Day of the Dead covers compilation which came out in the spring of 2016.
The National (courtesy of the band, Facebook.com, PR)
Earlier this year, Courtney Barnett kindly found time to pull together a list of her Five Essential Bob Dylan Songs for FUV. Her selections stretch from 1964 to 1970 and shed light on her own songwriting process too.
Courtney Barnett (photo by Danny Clinch)
Australian singer and songwriter Julia Jacklin, who is already shouldering comparisons to Courtney Barnett and Angel Olsen, is a big fan of the late Leonard Cohen and wrote about her "Five Essential Leonard Cohen Songs" for FUV Essentials.
Julia Jacklin (photo by Shervin Lainez, PR)
Leave it to a mostly Canadian band — with the most basic, universal moniker — to lay down one of the most influential and sophisticated cornerstones in American folk, blues, and roots rock 'n' roll. The Band, a group that strove to embrace freedom, empathy, human rights activism and inclusiveness, is one of our FUV Essentials.
FUV Essentials: The Band (illustration by Andy Friedman)
The spring of 2017 will mark the 40th anniversary of the release of Elvis Costello's "Less Than Zero," his first single for Stiff Records. Nearly 25 albums later (not counting his collaborative releases with The Roots, Burt Bacharach, Allen Toussaint and others), Costello's cerebral, crafty lyrics, whiplashed pop rage, acerbic humor, reedy croon and ferocious bark have traveled a full spectrum of love and life conflicts.
Elvis Costello (illustration by Andy Friedman)
For her irresistible sing-along voice, for her lyrical prowess, and for her natural independence, Natalie Merchant is an FUV Essentials artist.
Natalie Merchant (illustration by Andy Friedman)
Update: Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82.
Leonard Cohen (illustration by Andy Friedman)
[October 2019 update: The death of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Be
Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (original photo by Danny Clinch, PR)
FUV Essentials artist Van Morrison has a brand new album called Keep Me Singing, his 36th studio release. It marks another chapter in the five-decade career of this Northern Irish singer, songwriter, and soul man.
Van Morrison (illustration by Andy Friedman)
It's been 25 years since Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" erupted with volcanic rage on radios and MTV in the prehistoric, pre-internet Nineties, altering the trajectory of American music. The lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind, which was released on September 24, 1991, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became the mainstream manifesto of grunge, Seattle's fiery, flannel-cloaked scene of rock 'n' roll angst, anger, isolation, and too many drugs.
Nirvana (illustration by Andy Friedman)
