Music Features
Artist Q&As: Get to know musicians | Five Essential Albums/Songs: Artists on other artists | FUV Essential Artists: Our all-time fave people and themes
Megafaun: TAS In Session
November 07, 2011|Kara Manning
Megafaun has released three albums since they formed from the ashes of DeYarmond Edison back in 2006. However, it's the...
TAS In Session: Laura Marling
September 12, 2011|Kara Manning
Laura Marling's first two albums garnered her critical huzzahs, Mercury Prize nominations and even a Brit Award, but her...
Q&A at SXSW: J. Mascis
March 18, 2011|Russ Borris
Watch: DJ Russ Borris caught up with a weary J
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
Shovels and Rope: Five Essential Brandi Carlile Songs
May 31, 2017|Kara Manning
Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent's thoughtful and descriptive explanations of their faves.
Nada Surf's Matthew Caws: Five Essential Pixies Songs
May 24, 2017|Kara Manning
The B-sides, live shows, and bonus tracks that that rocked his world.
Steve Earle: Five Essential Rolling Stones Songs
May 10, 2017|Kara Manning
Steve Earle on the Stones.
Tommy Stinson: Five Essential Rolling Stones Songs
May 09, 2017|Kara Manning
Tommy Stinson's Essential Stones.
Ted Leo: Five Essential Aimee Mann Songs
April 19, 2017|Kara Manning
Tributes from a fellow traveler
Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood: Five Essential Clash Albums
April 12, 2017|Kara Manning
"All five are essential in their own way."
Okkervil River: Five Essential Elton John Songs
March 22, 2017|Kara Manning
Will Sheff's wonderful assessment
Mike Doughty: Five Essential Police Songs
March 15, 2017|Kara Manning
Doughty points out the unsung impact of Andy Summers.
Hurray For The Riff Raff: Five Essential Lou Reed Songs
March 01, 2017|Kara Manning
Alynda Segarra also writes from the sharp perspective of a native New Yorker.
Joan Osborne: Five Essential Motown Songs
February 22, 2017|Kara Manning
"Where artistry, business acumen, political consciousness, and sheer joy met."
Bear's Den: Five Essential Fleetwood Mac Songs
February 15, 2017|Kara Manning
Bear's Den on the Fleetwood Mac songs they admire.
The Lemon Twigs: Five Essential Beatles Songs
February 08, 2017|Kara Manning
Brian Paul D'Addario on love for the Fab Four.
The Black Keys
June 05, 2017|Kara Manning
Sinewy dynamics, acerbic humor, flourishes of hip hop, and raw, dirty blasts of rock bliss. [Playlist]
The Clash
April 10, 2017|Kara Manning
A tempest of punk, reggae, funk, and sociopolitical fury. [Playlist]
The Cure
June 13, 2016|Kara Manning
The Cure have intimately bonded with their devout fans, offering a healing salve for sadness and self-doubt. [Playlist]
The Decemberists
March 19, 2018|Kara Manning
Essential milestones (and a playlist) for a band of poets and rock revolutionaries.
The Essential Music of 1968
September 20, 2018|Dennis Elsas
Essay and playlist from Dennis Elsas
The Essential Music of 1978
September 13, 2018|Paul Cavalconte
Essay and playlist from Paul Cavalconte
The Essential Music of 1988
September 06, 2018|Russ Borris
Essay and playlist from Russ Borris
The Essential Music of 1998
August 30, 2018|Rita Houston
Essay and playlist from Rita Houston
The Kinks
April 24, 2017|Kara Manning
The Davies brothers are revered to this day. [Playlist]
The National
May 16, 2016|Kara Manning
Avatars of the present and future of rock music. [Playlist]
The Police
March 13, 2017|Kara Manning
Accomplished musicians with strong, smart ideas — and a titanic clash of gifted egos. [Playlist]
The Pretenders
May 02, 2016|Kara Manning
The British-American band brought post-punk sensuality to pop radio. [Playlist]