Category: Needle Drops

Julie Byrne’s “Melting Grid”

When I first moved back to New York in the early, wintry days of 2018, I was nearly a year into working nights for Pitchfork....

Nilüfer Yanya’s Steely Mask

I’ve been retreating since the start of the new year. Part of it comes down to logistics (I’m moving to another country in just a...

The Zest of Early Mornings and Tribe

Look at me making grand proclamations about listening to softer fare in the early mornings only to have that stance tested just days later. A...

Lido Pimienta’s “Eso Que Tu Haces”

Colombian-Canadian singer Lido Pimienta‘s powerful song “Eso Que Tu Haces” builds its rhythm on cumbia, the national dance of Colombia. Cumbia first originated in Africa...

Gétatchèw Mèkurya’s Entrancing Sax

I’ve written before about attending a concert to hear one particular musician only to discover another. Recently, I experienced a distinctive version of that. In...

Flock of Dimes’ “It Just Goes On”

Last year, I wrote about Flock of Dimes’ electro-pop jaunt “Two,” which examined the strained desire of wanting companionship while prizing independence. It’s a tension...

S. Carey’s “Break Me Open”

It’s that interminable time of the year when these muted wintry days have gone on too long, the cold refusing to relax its grip. We...