Album
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Newyork
John Koerner, Bluesman Who Inspired a Young Bob Dylan, Dies at 85
A spindly guitarist nicknamed Spider, Mr. Koerner was Mr. Dylan’s first friend in the scruffy world of Minneapolis bohemia where he learned about folk music.
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Books
Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift Race for No. 1
The two pop music titans, locked in a close contest for the top of next week’s album chart, are stoking fans’ competitive spirit with a variety of digital tactics.
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Newyork
David Sanborn, Saxophonist Who Defied Pigeonholing, Dies at 78
He was best known as a jazz musician, but his shimmering sound was also heard on classic albums by David Bowie, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.
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Books
On Andra Day’s ‘Cassandra (Cherith),’ a Soaring Voice Reaches Inward
After playing Billie Holiday onscreen, the singer brings jazz virtuosity to songs of her own.
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Books
Taylor Swift Has Given Fans a Lot. Is It Finally Too Much?
Swift has been inescapable over the last year. With the release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” her latest (very long) album, some seem to finally be feeling fatigued.
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Books
Taylor Swift’s ‘Poets’ Arrives With a Promotional Blitz (and a Second LP)
The pop superstar’s latest album was preceded by a satellite radio channel, a word game, a return to TikTok and an actual library. For her fans, more is always welcome.
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Books
Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Avoided a Collision on the Charts. (Again.)
Pop’s two reigning queens are often cast as rivals, but they have continually supported each other — and spaced out their album releases.
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Books
Beyoncé’s Country Is America: Every Bit of It
On the bold, sprawling “Cowboy Carter,” the superstar plays fast and loose — and twangy — with genre.
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Newyork
Dissecting the ‘Cowboy Carter’ Cover: Beyoncé’s Yeehaw Agenda
On Tuesday, the pop star revealed her new album’s cover, a constellation of country signifiers reminding fans of her Texas roots.
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Books
Vampire Weekend Did Not Make a ‘Doom and Gloom Record’
From the first seconds of Vampire Weekend’s new album, “Only God Was Above Us,” it’s clear that something has changed. “Ice Cream Piano” starts with hiss, buzz, feedback and a hovering, distorted guitar note — the opposite of the clean pop tones that ...