Songlights Songlights for a New Start: Part Two — Wednesday, Sarah McLachlan, Big Thief, Spyboy, Kae Tempest, Ezra Furman, Ashley Monroe, and more Here is Part Two of the miniature music festival that I'm hosting to kick off my music coverage on this new platform.
On Music Songlights for a New Start: Part One — featuring Peter Gabriel As the Songlights series continues here, on this new platform, we kick things off with a special song that captures something of the vision I have for this website.
On Songs & Albums From the archives: a conversation with Don and Karen Peris of The Innocence Mission Look what I found! An interview with one of my favorite bands that is now (checks notes) almost 25 years old.
On Songs & Albums Songlights: Rhiannon! Lucinda! Sufjan! Sixpence! Plus, new Jon Batiste, Jeff Tweedy, Sunny War, Robert Plant, Deerhoof, Wet Leg, Russ Taff, and more. [UPDATE: New from Mike Reid & Joe Henry!] Here's a flight of flavors that have been helping me drink down a difficult week.
On Songs & Albums Songlights: 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. I'll keep updating this post with new music that moves me between June 28 and July 4. So, check back! Share a song that's deeply moving you right now—I'll add a link to it at the end of the post.
On Songs & Albums Songlights: Urgent Springsteen. Fierce new tracks from Little Simz and Kae Tempest. The return of Wednesday. And a night with Allison Russell. This week, a lot of new music plays as desperate appeals for conscience, for action, for justice as it seems the last pillars of American democracy are being smashed by hate-driven fascists.
On Songs & Albums Songlights: More Adrianne Lenker; Sault; Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson; Tomita; and a talk with newcomer Anna Byrde. Plus: Lucius! Suzanne Vega! Songs for April 27–May 10: Check back for new specials I'm adding to the menu.
Amos Lee Songlights: Adrianne Lenker; Florist; Valerie June; Terry Scott Taylor; Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; Johnny Cash; and more Songs that are lighting my weeks: Aprill 6–April 19, 2025.
Bruce Cockburn Songlights: Bruce Cockburn; My Morning Jacket; Tamino and Mitski; Halsey; Goat; Elbow; and more. Songs that lit my week: Sunday, March 23–29, 2025.
Mark Pritchard Songlights: Tune-Yards; Suzanne Vega; Lucius; Bon Iver; Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke; U2; Sinéad O'Connor Songs that lit my week: Sunday, March 16–22, 2025.
Favorite Recordings Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Six — The Top Ten I'm grateful for those who support this journal, and I'm grateful for the artists who made these ten records in 2024. Here, I sing the praises of the music that gave me strength and got me through.
Favorite Recordings Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part Two — Honorable Mentions (veterans and legends; big-deal divas who don't really need more attention, and divas who deserve to be very big deals)
Anna Byrde Favorite Recordings of 2024: Part One — Honorable Mentions (Instrumental, New Discoveries)
Favorite Recordings of 2023: Part Three — The Top 20 I will keep updating this list of my 20 favorite albums of 2023, one album at a time, until it is complete. Keep checking back as the list is slowly revealed!
On Songs & Albums Favorite Recordings of 2021: Part Two (#25–#16) For those who love year-end lists like this, and those who also love the Insta... I bring you good tidings of great joy! Okay — maybe that's a bit hyperbolic. I bring you some unremarkable tidings that might interest you? Looking Closer now has an Instagram account: @OverstreetReviews. Follow
On Songs & Albums Favorite Recordings of 2021: Part One (Honorable Mentions and #36–#26) It has finally begun! On January 20, Looking Closer's look back at favorite recordings of 2021 has begun! Keep watch for Part Two and Part Three, coming soon.
