In September of 1996, R.E.M. followed their fuzzy, grungy, glammy album Monster with the relatively expansive and immersive LP New Adventures In Hi-Fi. The band worked on the album's tracks while on the road, following the example of their young friends in Radiohead, and they came up with a set of songs that worked as a transitional document for...

Last month, the troubled movie star Sean Penn’s new movie Flag Day had its premiere at Cannes, where it reportedly didn’t get booed. Penn directed Flag Day, and he stars in the small-scale crime drama alongside his daughter Dylan. It looks like Penn called in some serious favors for the soundtrack, which features Cat Power, E...

Forty years ago today, R.E.M. released their debut single “Radio Free Europe.” That’s a pretty big deal — the first release by what would become the most important college rock/alternative/indie band of the ’80s — and the band is commemorating the anniversary with appropriate fanfare. T...

While continuing to kick out her own original material, alt-rock legend Juliana Hatfield has in recent years begun releasing full-length tribute albums to iconic artists from her youth. In 2018 it was Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John. In 2019 it was Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police. And although a covers project hasn't emerged in 2020,...

Song Exploder has long been one of the most interesting music podcasts around, an engaging venue for artists like Tame Impala, St. Vincent, Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, and many others to take listeners under the hood and explain how their music works. Now creator Hrishikesh Hirway -- whose own music as The One AM…