Best Music Journalism: October 2014
We’re music nerds at Red Bull Music Academy, but we’re also music journalism nerds. Continuing on from Jason Gross’ collection of his favorite music journalism of 2013, we’ve decided to put together a monthly round-up of some of the best pieces we come across. This month: In search of folk music, Run The Jewels, and more.
Kind of Blue: Hunting for the Source of the World’s Most Beguiling Folk Music (Amanda Petrusich, New York Times Magazine)
Folk-music archeology that originates in the hunt for old-time records is a fascinating pursuit. Consider all the sounds and styles which disappeared pre-recording era. Now put that energy into tracing ancient traditions once “popularized” as pieces of early-20th century media, the breadcrumbs towards incredible stories (as collectors of private-press singles have been saying for years). In this field, Amanda Petrusich’s radar is on-lock at the moment, and her story of a trip to the Greece-Albania border after discovering a 78 by violinist Alexis Zoumbas, is first class.
The Author of White Noise Reviews Taylor Swift’s White Noise (Megan Garber, The Atlantic)
For anybody who still thinks music criticism has been reduced to grade-numbers, or that music journalism is merely a narrative scavenger hunt, here’s a delightful koan, taking advantage of a digital moment, and creatively building a world out of it. If it really is possible to project any idea upon the blank canvas of modern pop stardom, why not take inspiration from its reigning (non-animated) ice princess. Even – or, especially – if you’re only taking the piss. (Point furthered by same week’s release of David Rees’ Aphex Swift project.)
Run the Jewels: How 2014's Brashest Rap Duo Came Back From Oblivion (Christopher R. Weingarten, Rolling Stone)
Frankly, fuck major-magazine artist profiles where you can smell the pandering from three ad-buys away! Oh, and fuck the “odd couple” archetype as well - at least as old as Huck and Jim, and decomposing at ever-faster Internet speeds. But if Christopher “Weiney G” Weingarten’s great long tale of how rap “old farts” Killer Mike and El-P found each other, then founded Run the Jewels, and are now on their way to old-fashioned stardom doesn’t warm any of your cold-hearted cockles…frankly, fuck you!
The First Days of Disco (Douglas Wolk, Wondering Sound)
Leaving sociology out for a second, Wolk goes searching for the birth of the disco sound and finds not only Jerry Butler’s 1972 cover of the O’Jays’ “One Night Affair,” but the group of musicians and arrangers who worked on many of the records that begat a genre. This is a roll call of those initial individuals, a round up of some great stories (Patrick Adams re: the birth of Bumble Bee Unlimited), and a great selection of tunes you can still hear played at The Loft.
Honorable Mention
Cuepoint
Launched around late August, Medium.com’s all-music-writing Cuepoint section has become an incredible depository of personal stories (Michael Gonzales on the Baltimore disco Odell’s), secret histories (Robbie Ettelson on bassist Larry Smith), and book excerpts (Alan Light on Purple Rain, Brian Coleman on hip hop).
The Story of UK DIY: 131 Experimental Underground Classics From 1977-85 (Jon Dale, FACT Magazine)
If this archeology is less storied than the one practiced by Petrusich (and has the misfortune to come in listicle form), Dale’s immersion into the world of England’s DIY recording movement, which exploded after punk, is no less impressive. Please un-friend/-follow anyone who’d claim to know all of these artists. (Either they’re lying, or you’re better off.)
Who Rules Hip Hop’s Past? (Leon Neyfakh, Boston Globe)
An exploration of what we mean when we say “classic hip hop” – without claiming a right answer. With the musical genre reaching a healthy middle age (41 this past August), this conversation has begun to come up more and more often in contexts as diverse as radio formats and university lecture halls. Who gets to define it: the music’s historians or fans?
André 3000 Channels Hendrix (Miles Marshall Lewis, Ebony)
If you read only one interview Andre gave around the release of his Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side, this might be a good choice. In addition to Hendrix, topics include: Prince, dating white girls, Outkast and Atlanta.
Image credits: New York Times: Andrea Frazzetta, Run The Jewels: Zach Wolfe, First Days of Disco: Mirrorplx / Courtesy Everett Collection
