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Simon Le Bon: Why Duran Duran Never Complains

Kristi Wooten

Mar 10, 2016

Simon Le Bon: Why Duran Duran Never Complains

Only Duran Duran can get away with a seven-minute title track that offers electro grooves, hand-waving harmonies, and upbeat lyrics about...

Kristi Wooten

Feb 10, 2016

My White-Label Copy of "September"

In homage to Maurice White, co-founder of Earth, Wind and Fire, who died February 3, 2016. #EarthWindandFire #featured #MauriceWhite...

Kristi Wooten

Jan 26, 2016

The Bowie Brigade

Atlanta’s Bowie Parade, in honor of David Bowie, who died January 10, 2016. Photo by Kristi York Wooten #Atlanta #DavidBowie #featured...

You Can Make It There: Alabama Chanin and the Muscle Shoals Makers

Kristi Wooten

Jan 8, 2016

You Can Make It There: Alabama Chanin and the Muscle Shoals Makers

Artists in the Quad Cities of Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Florence — all along the Tennessee River — suppose it’s something...

Kristi Wooten

Jan 4, 2016

Why We’re Still Watching That Video of Aretha Franklin at the Kennedy Center

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen the viral video of the Queen of Soul singing for the Obamas and songwriter Carole King at the Kennedy Center...

Kristi Wooten

Jan 4, 2016

Why We're Still Watching That Video of Aretha Franklin at the Kennedy Center

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen the viral video of the Queen of Soul singing for the Obamas and songwriter Carole King at the Kennedy Center...

The Best Albums of 2015: Did Your Favorite Make the List?

Kristi Wooten

Dec 20, 2015

The Best Albums of 2015: Did Your Favorite Make the List?

This year, traditional songwriting went head-to-head with algorithm-based formulas, leaving our brains confused about what makes a good...

Kristi Wooten

Dec 20, 2015

The Best Albums of 2015: Did Your Favorite Make the List?

This year, traditional songwriting went head-to-head with algorithm-based formulas, leaving our brains confused about what makes a good...

Hardcover Rock: Do Music Memoirs Matter?

Kristi Wooten

Dec 14, 2015

Hardcover Rock: Do Music Memoirs Matter?

THIS Christmas, booksellers are featuring several memoirs by rock musicians in their product queues. The authors are not all household...

Elvis Costello's Hardcover Rock: Why Music Memoirs Matter

Kristi Wooten

Dec 14, 2015

Elvis Costello's Hardcover Rock: Why Music Memoirs Matter

THIS Christmas, booksellers are featuring several memoirs by rock musicians in their product queues. The authors are not all household...

The Endless Dance: Spending My Birthday With Spandau Ballet

Kristi Wooten

Dec 8, 2015

The Endless Dance: Spending My Birthday With Spandau Ballet

A woman checks my ID at ATL TSA and hands me my driver’s license. “Make it a good one,” she says. I walk to T Gates and fill my water...

Can Miley Cyrus Educate Millennials About the Fight Against AIDS?

Kristi Wooten

Dec 4, 2015

Can Miley Cyrus Educate Millennials About the Fight Against AIDS?

At Carnegie Hall this past Tuesday night, Miley Cyrus joined U2’s Bono and The Edge, Hozier and Jessie J for a World AIDS Day event...

Kristi Wooten

Dec 3, 2015

Can Miley Cyrus Educate Millennials About the Fight Against AIDS?

At Carnegie Hall this past Tuesday night, Miley Cyrus joined U2’s Bono and The Edge, Hozier and Jessie J for a World AIDS Day event...

Ready and Worthy: Glen Hansard on Love, Money and Why Artists Should Never Give Up

Kristi Wooten

Sep 23, 2015

Ready and Worthy: Glen Hansard on Love, Money and Why Artists Should Never Give Up

Every great songwriter has a “bird on the shoulder” moment now and then. Glen Hansard says the melody of the lead track from his new...

U2’s Disappearing Act: Age Against the Machine

Kristi Wooten

Aug 27, 2015

U2’s Disappearing Act: Age Against the Machine

LAST September U2 released its 13th album, “Songs of Innocence.” Critics lauded the collection’s lush ballads and rhythmically angular...

Kristi Wooten

Aug 27, 2015

U2's Age Against the Machine

BY KRISTI YORK WOOTEN FOR THE ECONOMIST Many of today’s top touring artists, including Taylor Swift, One Direction, the Rolling Stones,...

Kristi Wooten

Jul 13, 2015

The Legacy of Live Aid, 30 Years Later

On July 13, 1985, Africa became a brand. The image of a starving Ethiopian girl named Birhan Woldu flickered across TV screens as Paul...

Kristi Wooten

Jul 13, 2015

The Legacy of Live Aid

On July 13, 1985, Africa became a brand. The image of a starving Ethiopian girl named Birhan Woldu flickered across TV screens as Paul...

Why We Love Brian Wilson’s Melodies (and Matzo Ball Soup)

Kristi Wooten

Jun 11, 2015

Why We Love Brian Wilson’s Melodies (and Matzo Ball Soup)

After seeing the new movie, Love & Mercy, we’ll never hear The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” the same way again. During a scene in which...

Kristi Wooten

Jun 11, 2015

Why We Love Brian Wilson's Melodies (and Matzo Ball Soup)

After seeing the new movie, Love & Mercy, we’ll never hear The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” the same way again. During a scene in which...