Maura Johnston

Britney Spears’ Pop Legacy Goes Way Beyond Her Music

If the Britney Spears catalog turns out to be complete as it stands today, how will we look back on her career?

By Maura Johnston July 21, 2021

On Positions, Ariana Grande Is Fully in Her Feelings

Ariana Grande's sixth studio album offers a counterweight to the madness, its effervescent energy providing a saucy, danceable respite from the shouting hordes.

By Maura Johnston October 31, 2020

The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s

From Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' to Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.,' these are TIME's picks for the best albums of the decade

By Maura Johnston November 19, 2019

The 10 Best Songs of the 2010s

From Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' to Khalid's 'Young Dumb & Broke,' these are TIME's picks for the best songs of the decade

By Maura Johnston November 18, 2019

Prince Wrote These Songs for Other Stars. Now Listen to Him Sing Them

Prince's career had milestones in every direction. He released a slew of world-altering singles, from the smoldering "Little Red Corvette" to the lighters-up title track to Purple Rain. His live performances were the stuff of...

By Maura Johnston June 20, 2019

Bro Country Is Here to Stay. Just Ask Florida Georgia Line

For a large chunk of the 2010s, country music was defined by the bro. The stadium-rocking, beer-chugging subgenre dominated radio and arenas, thanks to the popularity of artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. Characterized...

By Maura Johnston February 7, 2019

50 Years in, Van Morrison Can’t Stop Making New Music

This November, Van Morrison celebrated the half-centennial of his album Astral Weeks, on which the Irish troubadour added his rousing high baritone to a watercolor landscape awash with genres so thoroughly blended it nearly rendered...

By Maura Johnston December 6, 2018

Paul McCartney’s Boundless Curiosity Is on Display on New Album Egypt Station

Paul McCartney's accumulated discography is among the most impressive in pop. But as he's demonstrated in recent years—his collaborations with Dave Grohl as well as Kanye West and Rihanna, his marathon live shows—the former Beatle...

By Maura Johnston September 6, 2018

Review: Queen Reasserts Nicki Minaj's Place

In the nearly four years since Nicki Minaj released her third album The Pinkprint, a lot has happened: the U.S. elected a chaos-inducing president, the #MeToo movement took off, Kanye West and Taylor Swift ran...

By Maura Johnston August 11, 2018

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Continue to Surprise on Joint Album Everything Is Love

Leave it to Beyoncé and Jay-Z to redefine what "pulling a Beyoncé" can be. Last Saturday, the pair headlined London Stadium as part of their joint On the Run II Tour, and at the end...

By Maura Johnston June 19, 2018

Review: Ye Is an Uneasy Look at Kanye West’s Life as a Walking Contradiction

Kanye West's projects since he teamed up with his now-wife Kim Kardashian West in 2012—the abrasive Yeezus, the sprawling The Life of Pablo, the series of personal appearances punctuated by top-of-the-head singles—have had varying stylistic...

By Maura Johnston June 2, 2018

Tom Petty’s Wisdom and Will Transformed American Music Forever

Tom Petty, who passed away on Tuesday at 66, felt like part of the rock firmament in a way that was different from your Pauls, your Micks, your Anguses. Both solo and with his storming...

By Maura Johnston October 3, 2017

Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Proves He's the Most Important Rapper in America

Kendrick Lamar has become the most important MC in America over the past few years, and the reasons are apparent on even a glancing listen to his impressive catalog—his verbal dexterity, his capacity for reflection,...

By Maura Johnston April 17, 2017

Indie Rock May Be Dislocated, but It's Far from Dead

In the mid-'oos, when a strain of rock known as indie seized America's hipper enclaves, the parameters of the genre were celebrated on the web by the blog Pitchfork and onstage by bands like Spoon,...

By Maura Johnston March 16, 2017

Little Big Town Melds Tried-and-True With Utterly New

The vocal quartet Little Big Town has been releasing country-chart-topping albums for 15 years now. But recently its members have been pushing their ambition even further. In 2015, the bruised, sparse single "Girl Crush," which...

By Maura Johnston February 16, 2017

Beyoncé's Grammy Snub Isn't Just an Oversight—It's a Real Problem

The singer was overlooked in multiple categories, a fact so startling that even the winner objected

By Maura Johnston February 13, 2017

Downcast Brits Brew Up a Quiet Storm

British group the xx were pegged as miserablists when they broke through in the late 2000s. Their beat-heavy mood music was clearly influenced by soul but was best heard on rainy afternoons behind closed doors....

By Maura Johnston January 12, 2017

George Michael

Pop icon

By Maura Johnston January 5, 2017

How George Michael Transformed Pop Music

His career was studded with proof of his deep respect for the art of pop

By Maura Johnston December 26, 2016

Frank Ocean's New Look Could Last

Singer-songwriter Frank Ocean's legend only grew as he dragged his feet on a follow-up to Channel Orange, his Grammy-winning 2012 collection of stretched-out bummers and tender love songs. But in the late hours of Aug....

By Maura Johnston August 25, 2016

Frank Ocean's Visual Album Endless Is the Year's Most Curious Work in Progress

The singer-songwriter's new release is a sketchbook from an artist at work—which is what makes it so compelling

By Maura Johnston August 19, 2016

Here Are the Best Songs of 2016 So Far

From heavy hitters to emerging voices

By Maura Johnston June 30, 2016

Here Are the Best Albums of 2016 So Far

From Beyoncé to David Bowie

By Maura Johnston June 30, 2016

Brandy Clark Has an Eye for Small Town Details

Brandy Clark isn't a household name, but she's given Nashville some of its most memorable hits of the decade. The co-writer of smashes like Kacey Musgraves' provocative "Follow Your Arrow," Clark has a knack for...

By Maura Johnston June 16, 2016

Review: Radiohead's A Moon-Shaped Pool Is Gloomy, Anxious and Gorgeous

The band's new record may not be much of a departure—but it's still sonically thrilling

By Maura Johnston May 9, 2016

Review: Drake Offers a Snapshot of His Messy Relationships on Views

The album isn’t perfect, but it will still influence artists and audiences

By Maura Johnston May 5, 2016

Review: Beyoncé Makes Lemonade From Romantic Strife on Her New Album

The album soars when Beyoncé is at her most aggrieved

By Maura Johnston April 24, 2016

Review: Kendrick Lamar Exposes His Creative Process on untitled unmastered.

Lamar's technical prowess and willingness to speak truth to power blossom in his new collection

By Maura Johnston March 7, 2016

Review: More Is Always More on Kanye West's Sprawling The Life of Pablo

At times West's album looms too large for its own good, but it succeeds on its moments of beauty, surprise and vulnerability

By Maura Johnston February 16, 2016

Tim McGraw Stays Country Strong

His 14th album is Damn Country Music

By Maura Johnston November 5, 2015

Carrie Underwood Returns to Her Roots on Storyteller

Reviewing the country star’s new album

By Maura Johnston October 22, 2015

How Fetty Wap Became a Hip-Hop Sensation

In July 2014, the New York City DJ Mister Cee was ecstatic about a new single from a rapper in nearby Paterson, N.J. "I want to get this record on before it gets to the...

Maura Johnston

Britney Spears’ Pop Legacy Goes Way Beyond Her Music

If the Britney Spears catalog turns out to be complete as it stands today, how will we look back on her career?

On Positions, Ariana Grande Is Fully in Her Feelings

Ariana Grande's sixth studio album offers a counterweight to the madness, its effervescent energy providing a saucy, danceable respite from the shouting hordes.

The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s

From Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' to Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.,' these are TIME's picks for the best albums of the decade

The 10 Best Songs of the 2010s

From Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' to Khalid's 'Young Dumb & Broke,' these are TIME's picks for the best songs of the decade

Prince Wrote These Songs for Other Stars. Now Listen to Him Sing Them

Prince's career had milestones in every direction. He released a slew of world-altering singles, from the smoldering "Little Red Corvette" to the lighters-up title track to Purple Rain. His live performances were the stuff of...

Bro Country Is Here to Stay. Just Ask Florida Georgia Line

For a large chunk of the 2010s, country music was defined by the bro. The stadium-rocking, beer-chugging subgenre dominated radio and arenas, thanks to the popularity of artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. Characterized...

50 Years in, Van Morrison Can’t Stop Making New Music

This November, Van Morrison celebrated the half-centennial of his album Astral Weeks, on which the Irish troubadour added his rousing high baritone to a watercolor landscape awash with genres so thoroughly blended it nearly rendered...

Paul McCartney’s Boundless Curiosity Is on Display on New Album Egypt Station

Paul McCartney's accumulated discography is among the most impressive in pop. But as he's demonstrated in recent years—his collaborations with Dave Grohl as well as Kanye West and Rihanna, his marathon live shows—the former Beatle...

Review: Queen Reasserts Nicki Minaj's Place

In the nearly four years since Nicki Minaj released her third album The Pinkprint, a lot has happened: the U.S. elected a chaos-inducing president, the #MeToo movement took off, Kanye West and Taylor Swift ran...

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Continue to Surprise on Joint Album Everything Is Love

Leave it to Beyoncé and Jay-Z to redefine what "pulling a Beyoncé" can be. Last Saturday, the pair headlined London Stadium as part of their joint On the Run II Tour, and at the end...

Review: Ye Is an Uneasy Look at Kanye West’s Life as a Walking Contradiction

Kanye West's projects since he teamed up with his now-wife Kim Kardashian West in 2012—the abrasive Yeezus, the sprawling The Life of Pablo, the series of personal appearances punctuated by top-of-the-head singles—have had varying stylistic...

Tom Petty’s Wisdom and Will Transformed American Music Forever

Tom Petty, who passed away on Tuesday at 66, felt like part of the rock firmament in a way that was different from your Pauls, your Micks, your Anguses. Both solo and with his storming...

Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Proves He's the Most Important Rapper in America

Kendrick Lamar has become the most important MC in America over the past few years, and the reasons are apparent on even a glancing listen to his impressive catalog—his verbal dexterity, his capacity for reflection,...

Indie Rock May Be Dislocated, but It's Far from Dead

In the mid-'oos, when a strain of rock known as indie seized America's hipper enclaves, the parameters of the genre were celebrated on the web by the blog Pitchfork and onstage by bands like Spoon,...

Little Big Town Melds Tried-and-True With Utterly New

The vocal quartet Little Big Town has been releasing country-chart-topping albums for 15 years now. But recently its members have been pushing their ambition even further. In 2015, the bruised, sparse single "Girl Crush," which...

Beyoncé's Grammy Snub Isn't Just an Oversight—It's a Real Problem

The singer was overlooked in multiple categories, a fact so startling that even the winner objected

Downcast Brits Brew Up a Quiet Storm

British group the xx were pegged as miserablists when they broke through in the late 2000s. Their beat-heavy mood music was clearly influenced by soul but was best heard on rainy afternoons behind closed doors....

George Michael

Pop icon

How George Michael Transformed Pop Music

His career was studded with proof of his deep respect for the art of pop

Frank Ocean's New Look Could Last

Singer-songwriter Frank Ocean's legend only grew as he dragged his feet on a follow-up to Channel Orange, his Grammy-winning 2012 collection of stretched-out bummers and tender love songs. But in the late hours of Aug....

Frank Ocean's Visual Album Endless Is the Year's Most Curious Work in Progress

The singer-songwriter's new release is a sketchbook from an artist at work—which is what makes it so compelling

Here Are the Best Songs of 2016 So Far

From heavy hitters to emerging voices

Here Are the Best Albums of 2016 So Far

From Beyoncé to David Bowie

Brandy Clark Has an Eye for Small Town Details

Brandy Clark isn't a household name, but she's given Nashville some of its most memorable hits of the decade. The co-writer of smashes like Kacey Musgraves' provocative "Follow Your Arrow," Clark has a knack for...

Review: Radiohead's A Moon-Shaped Pool Is Gloomy, Anxious and Gorgeous

The band's new record may not be much of a departure—but it's still sonically thrilling

Review: Drake Offers a Snapshot of His Messy Relationships on Views

The album isn’t perfect, but it will still influence artists and audiences

Review: Beyoncé Makes Lemonade From Romantic Strife on Her New Album

The album soars when Beyoncé is at her most aggrieved

Review: Kendrick Lamar Exposes His Creative Process on untitled unmastered.

Lamar's technical prowess and willingness to speak truth to power blossom in his new collection

Review: More Is Always More on Kanye West's Sprawling The Life of Pablo

At times West's album looms too large for its own good, but it succeeds on its moments of beauty, surprise and vulnerability

Tim McGraw Stays Country Strong

His 14th album is Damn Country Music

Carrie Underwood Returns to Her Roots on Storyteller

Reviewing the country star’s new album

How Fetty Wap Became a Hip-Hop Sensation

In July 2014, the New York City DJ Mister Cee was ecstatic about a new single from a rapper in nearby Paterson, N.J. "I want to get this record on before it gets to the...

Review: Janet Jackson’s New Album Unbreakable

The singer preaches resilience in her ecstatic new songs

Review: Beirut Treads Lightly on No No No

The group’s new album floats

Review: It’s Overcast Season at Beach House

The group is out with a new album, Depression

Grace Potter Puts the Pop in Pop-Rock

Reviewing her new album, ‘Midnight’

Review: Compton Draws Listeners Back Into Dr. Dre's World

The surprise album features Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and other boldfaced names

Soundtrack for Summer’s Open Roads

Ashley Monroe releases her second album, The Blade

Review: The Third Time’s the Charm for Miguel

His new album borrows from many genres

Review: Nate Ruess Puts His Big Voice to Big Use on Grand Romantic