Music Features
Q&As: Get to know musicians | Five Essentials: Artists on other artists | FUV Essentials: Our all-time fave people and themes
TAS SXSW Preview: Sharon Van Etten
February 18, 2011|Kara Manning
Singer and songwriter Sharon Van Etten quietly released one of the more extraordinary albums of the last year, the mutable...
Laurie Anderson: 2010
September 29, 2010|Kara Manning
Genre-defying musician and theatrical innovator Laurie Anderson has been one of New York's most influential artists...
TAS in Session: The Walkmen
September 20, 2010|Kara Manning
Watch and read: The Walkmen in session.
TAS in Session: Lawrence Arabia
May 24, 2010|Kara Manning
New Zealand's punchy popsters Lawrence Arabia, who will be touring with Crowded House this summer, dropped by Studio A...
TAS in Session: Shearwater
May 17, 2010|Alisa Ali
Shearwater began as a side project of Okkervil River members Will Sheff and Jonathan Meiburg. Over time the two decided to...
Monsters of Folk's Jim James and M. Ward
November 18, 2009|Alisa Ali
Listen: Studio session with Alisa Ali
Britt Daniel's Five Essential Paul Simon Songs
June 29, 2016|Kara Manning
The longtime admirer on his favorite Simon songs
Joseph Arthur's Five Essential Peter Gabriel Songs
June 22, 2016|Kara Manning
An insightful, personal list
Wild Nothing's Jack Tatum: Five Essential Cure Songs
June 15, 2016|Kara Manning
On the band that shaped his early sound.
Laura Mvula's Five Essential Prince Songs
June 07, 2016|Kara Manning
One of Laura Mvula's kindest supporters, especially as she first navigated the whirlwind of early fame, was Prince. Mvula...
Wild Belle's Natalie Bergman: Five Essential Bob Marley Songs
June 03, 2016|Kara Manning
Thoughtful, esoteric song choices
Courtney Barnett: Five Essential Bob Dylan Songs
May 25, 2016|Kara Manning
Barnett's picks shed light on her own songwriting process.
Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison: Five Essential National Songs
May 18, 2016|Kara Manning
A very personal list of favorites
Aloe Blacc: Five Essential Stevie Wonder Albums
May 11, 2016|Kara Manning
Examining one of his most important influences
KT Tunstall's Five Essential Pretenders Songs
May 03, 2016|Kara Manning
"They basically make you want to wear skin-tight jeans, lurk moodily in corners, party, and cry like you're 15"
Guster's Brian Rosenworcel: Five Essential R.E.M. Albums
April 26, 2016|Kara Manning
The men of Guster like R.E.M. quite a bit
Brian Fallon's Five Essential Springsteen Albums
April 12, 2016|Kara Manning
One NJ rocker to another
Susan Tedeschi's Five Essential Bonnie Raitt Albums
April 05, 2016|Kara Manning
Before joining forces with her husband Derek Trucks, the Boston-born Susan Tedeschi was also on her own as a solo performer...
Pearl Jam
May 15, 2017|Kara Manning
Letterman: "They're true living cultural organisms." [Playlist]
Sharon Jones
May 01, 2017|Laura Fedele
The great Miss Sharon Jones was a lover and a fighter. [Playlist]
The Kinks
April 24, 2017|Kara Manning
The Davies brothers are revered to this day. [Playlist]
Aimee Mann
April 17, 2017|Kara Manning
A master of the withering riposte, the witty jab, and the wistful aside. [Playlist]
The Clash
April 10, 2017|Kara Manning
A tempest of punk, reggae, funk, and sociopolitical fury. [Playlist]
Emmylou Harris
March 27, 2017|Laura Fedele
Harris claims a place in the high court of Americana royalty. [Playlist]
Elton John
March 20, 2017|Kara Manning
His impressive discography is an indelible part of the world's pop and rock DNA. [Playlist]
The Police
March 13, 2017|Kara Manning
Accomplished musicians with strong, smart ideas — and a titanic clash of gifted egos. [Playlist]
Joan Osborne: Five Essential Motown Songs
February 22, 2017|Kara Manning
"Where artistry, business acumen, political consciousness, and sheer joy met."