NPR Music’s Must-Read Articles of 2018

News moved pretty fast in 2018 – so in case you missed a few features, we've got you covered, from investigative reports to critical analysis and more.

Becky Harlan/NPR In 2018, news broke at blink-and-miss-it pace. (Remember Tide Pods? Or Lady Doritos?) But in all seriousness, you’re forgiven if you missed a few features between headlines. Before the year’s but a memory, we wanted to highlight some of the best writing NPR Music published this year: from investigative reporting and critical analysis to thoughtful interviews and heartfelt remembrances -- and then there was Weezer’s cover of “Africa” by Toto. Here’s hoping you discover something you missed or find a piece worth revisiting. No bookmarks necessary, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna   Our Must-Read Articles of 2018 “Keiji Haino, Dark Wizard Of The Avant-Garde, Enjoys A Good Snack Cake” by Grayson Haver Currin, March 27 It turns out that beneath the obsidian specs and dagger-like boots, Keiji Haino – the mysterious Japanese improviser and avant-garde icon – is human, too, and has a sense of humor to boot. “The Business Of Being Cardi B” by Sidney Madden, April 5 Question: What does it take to run the empire of the regular-degular-Bronx-girl turned mega-superstar? Answer: Blunt honesty, endearing authenticity, shrewd business sense, a handful of chart-toppers and one great nail technician. “50 Years After Johnny Cash, Los Tigres Del Norte Perform At Folsom Prison” by Felix Contreras, April 18 Five decades after Johnny Cash’s famed January 1968 performance at Folsom Prison, the Mexican norteño band Los Tigres Del Norte became the first major Latin act to play at Folsom. "We are the forgotten of society," one inmate told NPR Music’s Felix Contreras. "And to have the privilege of experiencing something like this? Well, it means we haven't been completely forgotten.” “Spotify's 'Hateful Conduct' Policy Drags The Music Industry Into The #MeToo Moment” by Andrew Flanagan, May 16  When Spotify announced its “hateful conduct” policy this spring, the streaming giant leveraged its considerable power to define and impose a moral perspective. But at the heart of the debate over the policy is a basic question: Should a distribution system have a viewpoint? “Weezer Covers Toto's 'Africa,' Taking Us Deep Into The Internet's Heart Of Beigeness” by Ann Powers, May 29 Why is a long-standing SoCal pop-punk band’s faithful rendition of a hit by an even longer-standing group of ace LA studio musicians the ultimate evidence that life online has destroyed both logic and human intuition? Ann Powers investigates. “Between The World And Black Thought” by Rodney Carmichael, May 31 After a career spent processing communal angst and pain, Black Thought is baring open his interior life for the world. Ahead of his first solo release, The Roots' emcee sat down with NPR Music’s Rodney Carmichael for a video interview that sheds light on his darkest inspiration and expanding vulnerability. “John Coltrane's 'Lost Album' Is A Window Into His Pursuit Of The Impossible” by Nate Chinen, June 27 Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album is a trove of previously unissued studio material recorded by the saxophonist and his quartet on a single day in 1963. The album’s arrival 55 years later feels like a rare celestial event, capturing a crucial moment in Coltrane’s career. “The Strange Magic Of YouTube's '80s Remix Culture” by Annie Zaleski, July 17 Search the phrase "80s version" on YouTube and you'll find dozens of present-day hits reworked with vintage synths and sax solos. Embedded in them is an emotional lesson on what's missing from the streaming era. “Women Are The Fabric Of 21st Century Pop” by Marissa Lorusso, July 30 This year, NPR Music’s Turning the Tables project focused on the way women and non-binary musicians are shaping the sound of this century. It’s an attempt to interrupt the history-making process, to question whose voices matter and to celebrate the greatest jams of the era. “Aretha’s Bridge” by Daphne Brooks, August 18 Aretha Franklin’s luminous cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” carries within it the weight of pop, soul and gospel history. “Appreciating The Unfinished Legacy Of Mac Miller” by Bobby Carter and Sidney Madden, September 11 The rapper, who died this year at the age of 26, was an ever-evolving maker of music whose support of up-and-coming artists will continue to impact the genre. NPR Music’s Bobby Carter and Sidney Madden reflected on Miller's legacy and lasting influence. “I Hope We Both Die: How The Mountain Goats Wrote The Ultimate Anthem To Dysfunction” by Daoud Tyler-Ameen, October 10 "No Children" began as a darkly funny song about divorce. For NPR’s American Anthem series, NPR Music’s Daoud Tyler-Ameen spoke with songwriter John Darnielle about how the song became something more: a vessel for raw-throated catharsis and a safe place to be your worst self. “She Was Poised To Be A Star — Instead, She Spent 60 Years In Her Apartment” by Anastasia Tsioulcas, October 23 Annapurna Devi could have been famous around the world — possibly on par with her first husband, Ravi Shankar. Instead  — for reasons that vary, depending on whom you ask — she stayed at home for more than six decades. “Raising The Dead — And A Few Questions — With Maria Callas' Hologram” by Tom Huizenga, November 6 The legendary opera diva is on tour with a live orchestra. Of course, it’s not the real Callas; the electrifying soprano died over 40 years ago. It’s a hologram. And behind the dramatic music, truth and fiction are blurred. “Why Is The Chinese Government Trying To Buy A School In New Jersey?” by Anastasia Tsioulcas, November 29 An elite music college in Princeton, N.J., is up for sale. Its prospective buyer? A for-profit Chinese company — which is partially owned by the Beijing municipal government. Tiny Desk Cameron Pollack/NPR Once a year, the NPR Music team decks the Tiny Desk for the holidays and hosts a holiday-themed concert. This year, we asked Nashville pop singer Amy Grant to perform some favorites from her four (!) holiday albums. She even wore festive reindeer antlers. One More Thing For the past two summers, NPR Music has soundtracked our summers with roséwave: the genre-turned-lifestyle made for living your best life, no matter the season. This winter, think pink (and red, green and white): Our new Poolside Yuletide playlist features Bruce Springsteen's good cheer, Bright Eyes' Christmas blues, Big Freedia’s twerkin' reindeer and more. You received this message because you're subscribed to our NPR Music emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002