In 2010, the unthinkable occurred. I was 35, and I had never been so excited about electronic dance music. That's not usually how it works - dance music's turnover rate often leads to early burnout even among diehards, and particularly among diehards over 30. But throughout the past half-decade, dance music has been both cutting-edge and conscious of its own legacy; an irresistible combination for anyone who wants to have a good time first and… more »
It used to be easier to pretend that an album was its own perfectly self-contained artifact. The great records certainly feel that way. But albums are more permeable than solid, their motivations, executions and inspirations informed by, and often stolen from, their peers and forbearers. It all sounds awfully formal, but it's not. It's the very nature of music — of art, even. The Six Degrees features examine the relationships between classic records and five… more »
Now well into its second decade, the days during which South By Southwest - and the bands it attracts - could count novelty as a chief draw are long over. And with blogs and social media sites having likewise moved from fad to institution, the odds that anyone would be hearing a band for the first time in Austin is also significantly reduced. And so the thousands of bands looking to make an impression at… more »
