Listening Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet
On songs, albums, singers, songwriters, and recording artists.
I don’t write about music as often as I’d like — but when I do, I’m either reviewing albums, interviewing musicians, recommending songs, or celebrating my favorite music of the year. My approach to writing about music is different than my approach to writing about cinema. Due to the interests of readers and the invitations of publications, I have made film criticism a daily discipline. I write about all kinds of films — whether they're excellent, mediocre, or awful. When it comes to music, I write because I love. I just don't feel compelled to write about records that fail to engage my mind and win my heart. So you'll find that my music "criticism" is really about opening up wonderful recordings to consider their particular strengths.
Favorite Recordings, Year by Year
Each year, I write an epic review of my favorite albums of the year. I will be restoring archival lists going back many years as time allows. Explore the lists at the Favorite Recordings page!
Artist Highlights
Over the last 30 years, I’ve written about and interviewed many exemplary recording artists and their work. I'm working on restoring those documents here. Be patient. This list will soon grow.
- The Innocence Mission: Aug. 19, 2025
- Buddy and Julie Miller: Sept. 28, 2023
- Sinead O’Connor: July 26, 2023
- Talking Heads: Oct. 11, 2023
Christ and Pop Culture column archives
For a season, I wrote a column of personal reflections on meaningful songs at the site Christ and Pop Culture. You can access that archive here: "Listening Closer" - Column Archive.
Songlights: links to songs I've recommend
I frequently feature songs that are speaking to my head and my heart. I’ve tried different names for this feature. One series was called “The Detectorist.” You can scroll though the collection of posts, organized by year, below.
Songlights 2025
- July 19: Rhiannon! Lucinda! Sufjan! Sixpence! Plus, new Jon Batiste, Jeff Tweedy, Sunny War, Robert Plant, Deerhoof, Wet Leg, Russ Taff, and more
- June 28: Join me & Anne for Over the Rhine's 3-day music festival with Amy Helm, Jeffrey Martin, & more. Also: David Byrne laughs. Annahstasia shines. Laura Stevenson returns. Elbow shares extras.
- May 25: Urgent Springsteen. Fierce new tracks from Little Simz and Kae Tempest. The return of Wednesday. And a night with Allison Russell
- April 30: More Adrianne Lenker; Sault; Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson; Tomita; and a talk with newcomer Anna Byrde. Plus: Lucius! Suzanne Vega!
- April 15: Adrianne Lenker; Florist; Valerie June; Terry Scott Taylor; Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; Johnny Cash; and more
- April 1: Wet Leg; Lucy Dacus; Alison Russell and Annie Lennox; Djo
- March 28: Bruce Cockburn; My Morning Jacket; Tamino and Mitski; Halsey; Goat; Elbow; and more.
- March 21: Tune-Yards; Suzanne Vega; Lucius; Bon Iver; Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke; U2; Sinéad O'Connor