Mike Ayers

Recent Articles

Father John Misty’s Old Quirks Get New Heart in God’s Favorite Customer

You don't have to be in on the joke to appreciate it

By Mike Ayers

Courtney Barnett Proves She's Indie Rock’s Shining Light on Tell Me How You Really Feel

When the Grammy nominees for Best New Artist were announced for 2016, alongside mega pop star (and eventual winner) Meghan Trainor was the Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett. The nomination came, seemingly, out of nowhere,...

By Mike Ayers

Kacey Musgraves Proves Herself One of Country Music’s Worthiest Stars on Golden Hour

Look at Kacey Musgraves’ résumé and you’d think the 29-year-old country singer would be more famous than she is: her debut album, 2013’s Same Trailer Different Park, won her two Grammys as well as New...

By Mike Ayers

Tune-Yards' New Album Brings a Political Message to the Dance Floor

The Oakland, Calif.–based artist Merrill Garbus has earned acclaim as the frontwoman of the musical project Tune-Yards, developing an eclectic, percussive sound that incorporates everything from Afrobeat to the ukulele.On their fourth album, I Can...

By Mike Ayers

With Soul of a Woman, Sharon Jones Sings One Final Joyful Note

Sharon Jones never thought she would be around to see the release of her Grammy-nominated 2014 album, Give the People What They Want. You can see it in her eyes, hear it in her quivering...

By Mike Ayers

Beck's Colors Finds Joy In Its Time

An odd thing happened when Beck’s Morning Phase won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2015: he got Kanye’d. As he was walking up to accept his gramophone trophy from Prince, the outspoken...

By Mike Ayers

Three Alt-Country Stars Align With New Albums

Nashville has kept busy and profitable since the 1990s with artists like Toby Keith, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood ascending to pop-country royalty. All the while, though, another genre has quietly gained traction in rock...

By Mike Ayers
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