A music criticism newsletter featuring short, witty reviews of albums and singles from around the world, from Brazilian throwbacks and Filipino budots remixes to Benin brass bands and current pop hits. It also publishes periodic lists such as favorite singles by year.
Website: https://bradluen.substack.com
Greil Marcus publishes a recurring Real Life Rock Top 10 of music, video and cultural oddities, plus an Ask Greil column answering reader questions about music and culture. Each issue is a personal, essayistic take on concerts, songs and found objects.
Michael Angelo's newsletter reviews DJ mixes and sets in roundups, with close listening notes on specific timestamps, tracklists and time slots. It also republishes older music journalism, such as a piece on the 2016 Prince tribute concert.
Mikal Gilmore's reader-supported Substack series revisits his long-form interviews and essays about musicians and writers, currently covering Anne Rice and Leonard Cohen. Readers get literary-musical portraits built on Gilmore's reporting, personal reflection and close reading of the work.
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