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Wednesday August 24, 2016

Meet The Women Behind The Chainsmokers' Chart-Topping Hits

The Chainsmokers' Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart, seen here performing in Hollywood this past February, have two Top 10 hits on their hands, thanks in large part to their guest vocalists. Christopher Polk/Getty Images hide caption

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Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The Record

Meet The Women Behind The Chainsmokers' Chart-Topping Hits

August 24, 2016 • EDM stars The Chainsmokers own the No. 1 and No. 7 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 right now, thanks in large part to the women singing their songs.

Monday August 22, 2016

Detangling Frank Ocean's 'Blonde': What It Is And Isn't

Frank Ocean's raw, bleeding, diaristic storytelling guides Blonde. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

The Record

Detangling Frank Ocean's 'Blonde': What It Is And Isn't

August 22, 2016 • We got two writers, Ann Powers and Jason King, going back and forth on what they've found in the reclusive singer's third album.

Friday August 19, 2016

After Building Anticipation, Frank Ocean Releases 'Endless'

Frank Ocean, performing at the 2012 Coachella festival. Karl Walter/Getty Images hide caption

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Karl Walter/Getty Images

The Record

After Building Anticipation, Frank Ocean Releases 'Endless'

August 19, 2016 • The singer made huge waves with his last album, 2012's Channel Orange — and he's used both conventional and surprising methods to tease Endless, which was released Thursday night.

Thursday August 11, 2016

A Nod To Soul — Or Just Stealing? Ed Sheeran Faces Another Copyright Suit

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran accepting the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Thinking Out Loud" in February 2016. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The Record

A Nod To Soul — Or Just Stealing? Ed Sheeran Faces Another Copyright Suit

August 11, 2016 • The family of the co-writer of Marvin Gaye's 1973 soul classic "Let's Get It On" is alleging that the Sheeran song "Thinking Out Loud" sounds way too familiar.

Friday August 5, 2016

In The Race For The Song Of The Summer, 'Panda' Runs On A New Track

The 19-year-old rapper Desiigner, whose song "Panda" is one of the year's biggest hits, on stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in July. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

The Record

In The Race For The Song Of The Summer, 'Panda' Runs On A New Track

August 5, 2016 • In 2016, the fact that one of the biggest pop hits of the year owes its success almost entirely to the Internet is no longer a surprise.

In The Race For The Song Of The Summer, 'Panda' Runs On A New Track

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Tuesday August 2, 2016

Just An Average (Glitter-Covered, Gender-Neutral, Utopian) Rock Band

Liv Bruce (left) and Ben Hopkins of PWR BTTM. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist

The Record

Just An Average (Glitter-Covered, Gender-Neutral, Utopian) Rock Band

August 2, 2016 • PWR BTTM uses familiar pop-punk sounds as a Trojan horse to inject inclusive, campy identity politics into rock stereotypes. No matter who you are, it's easy to feel like you're in on the joke.

Saturday July 30, 2016

Come Together (Or Not): Music At The Democratic National Convention

Over 40 Broadway performers gathered to sing "What The World Needs Now Is Love" at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The Record

Come Together (Or Not): Music At The Democratic National Convention

July 30, 2016 • A chaotic week of fractured loyalties surged into buoyant affirmations for Hillary Clinton's candidacy. But are all those left-leaning musicians just singing into an echo chamber?

Friday July 22, 2016

Cleveland, Rocked: Music At The Republican National Convention

As balloons fell after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accepted his party nomination last night, the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want' rang through the arena. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The Record

Cleveland, Rocked: Music At The Republican National Convention

July 22, 2016 • Uncovering the layers of weirdness in the many fights over the ways music was employed as theater during this week's Republican national convention.

Thursday July 21, 2016

Do Everything Yourself: The Lessons Of Punk Renaissance Woman Vivien Goldman

David Corio/Courtesy of the artist

The Record

Do Everything Yourself: The Lessons Of Punk Renaissance Woman Vivien Goldman

July 21, 2016 • Vivien Goldman, who has been a publicist, journalist, professor, author, playwright and back-up singer, is finally, at 64 years old, releasing an album of her own music and stepping to center stage.

Friday July 15, 2016

John Prine To Release New Duets Album, 'For Better, Or Worse'

John Prine. Joshua Britt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Joshua Britt/Courtesy of the artist

The Record

John Prine To Release New Duets Album, 'For Better, Or Worse'

July 15, 2016 • The sequel to 1999's album of vintage country duets, In Spite Of Ourselves, will be out Sept. 30. Hear Prine sing the opening song, "Who's Gonna Take The Garbage Out," with Iris DeMent.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Faith Under Fire: Jay Z's 'Spiritual' Is A Modern Song Of Sorrow

Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images

The Record

Faith Under Fire: Jay Z's 'Spiritual' Is A Modern Song Of Sorrow

July 13, 2016 • In Jay Z's latest song, released last week after the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, no amount of wealth or prestige allows him to forget that he is a black man, under threat.

Tuesday July 12, 2016

Maxwell performing on the opening night of Essence Festival July 1, 2016. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for 2016 Essence Festival hide caption

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Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for 2016 Essence Festival

The Record

Essence This Time: A Festival Evolving

July 12, 2016 • The familial feeling at the annual New Orleans gathering comes partly from its perennial performers, but now, 22 years in, whose nostalgia is being served?

Monday July 11, 2016

With 'In My Room,' Jazz Phenom Jacob Collier Is Bringing Jubilation Back

Jacob Collier's multi-tracked YouTube covers, recorded and filmed in his room, showed musical sophistication and adventurousness. On his debut album, In My Room, he brings the same qualities to original songs. Retts Wood/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Retts Wood/Courtesy of the artist

The Record

With 'In My Room,' Jazz Phenom Jacob Collier Is Bringing Jubilation Back

July 11, 2016 • The YouTube star's virtuosic debut album, actually recorded in his room in the house where he was raised, reveals a young artist unafraid of gleefully trying it all.

Saturday July 9, 2016

I'm Giving You Everything: A Portrait Of The Writer As A Young Spice Girls Fan

The Spice Girls in 1997, about a year after the release of the group's debut single, which topped the U.K. pop charts for seven weeks. John Stanton/Getty Images hide caption

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John Stanton/Getty Images

The Record

I'm Giving You Everything: A Portrait Of The Writer As A Young Spice Girls Fan

July 9, 2016 • On the 20th anniversary of the release of "Wannabe," the single that launched the girl power juggernaut on the world, the writer Laura Snapes recalls her pre-teen obsession with the Spice Girls.

Tuesday July 5, 2016

Dev Hynes Wants To Know What It Feels Like To Be Free

Devonté Hynes on stage in March 2016. Hynes' third album as Blood Orange, Freetown Sound, was released on June 28. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images hide caption

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Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

The Record

Dev Hynes Wants To Know What It Feels Like To Be Free

July 5, 2016 • On Freetown Sound, his latest album as Blood Orange, the producer and singer Devonté Hynes has crafted an artistic persona that knits together the complications of an uncommon star.