Independent music journalism. No algorithms. We promise.
The Vampire Lestat is the perfect avatar for an old-school rocker who’s delusional about his importance but also in mourning over rock’s fading cultural hegemony (which is to say, his own)
The Last Immortal Rock StarHow ‘The Vampire Lestat’ is resurrecting the archetype of the sexy, sweaty rock frontman.www.hearingthings.coCome to this week's Five Albums for Jill's thoughts on Charli's rock-soundtracked struggles between music, fashion, and film stardom; stay for albums powered by cello compositions, hi-fi field recordings, deconstructed footwork, and new-age Memphis hip-hop.
Charli XCX Wants to Run With the Big DogsPlus an ultra-rare hi-fi audio collage, a dispatch from a rising Memphis rap star, and deconstructed footwork meant to approximate the chaos of the timelinewww.hearingthings.coGatekeeping for taste and quality is a more sound approach than for whether or not someone figured out how to re-create specific hi-hat patterns or what button to press to add the vinyl crackle.
How I Became A Beatmaker (By Watching Other People Make Beats)A first-time beatmaker’s case for the nuances of developing style and gatekeeping within rap production.www.hearingthings.coA first-time beatmaker’s case for the nuances of developing style and a counter to Kenneth Blume's (fka Kenny Beats) recent comments about gatekeeping within rap production.
How I Became A Beatmaker (By Watching Other People Make Beats)A first-time beatmaker’s case for the nuances of developing style and gatekeeping within rap production.www.hearingthings.coFinding your own style as a beatmaker is important, but gatekeeping knowledge on the process isn't the answer you think it is. Just ask Dylan--or read his blog about his first 10 months of being a producer
How I Became A Beatmaker (By Watching Other People Make Beats)A first-time beatmaker’s case for the nuances of developing style and gatekeeping within rap production.www.hearingthings.coA legend of underground rap and one of the best new MCs out team up for an album that feels like a friend spitting truths outside the bar after doing a line of coke and a shot of tequila. Its name? 𝘉𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴, of course.
Nia Archives Has the RangePlus Four Tet’s un-Googleable new album, Syd’s grown-woman swagger, and a high-wire act of underground rapwww.hearingthings.coOn the latest ep of our podcast Waste or Taste, we go in on our controversial fav songs of 2026, from Drake to Ella Langley www.hearingthings.co/debating-our...
Debating Our Most Controversial Faves of 2026 So FarThe whole HT crew reconvenes for a podcast episode about songs that just might piss some people off.www.hearingthings.co"People protesting the use of generative AI isn’t going to end it. It’s here. We’re under control."
Alt-Pop Trickster 1010Benja Is Not Scared to Admit He’s Using Generative AI“If you have it broken down as organic versus AI, the AI is gonna win our world. The good guy doesn’t win this one.”www.hearingthings.coThis week we've got a "Drunk in Love"-era throwback from the queen, the newest signee to one of the world's coolest labels, "a list of problems longer than The Irishman," and more. www.hearingthings.co/post-punk-wi...
Post-Punk With a Touch of Steely DanPlus sepia-toned sample loops and a Beyoncé loosie.www.hearingthings.coMalesa’s new album is like a nightmare you can’t shake, treacherous and seductive and primal in its madness
A Future Classic for Alt Black Queer FolksPlus: Cain Culto shredding on the fiddle like the devil went down to Lexington, and vocals that sound like a gremlin suffocating inside a steel box.www.hearingthings.coIn the latest installment of our music theory column In Theory, Horse Lords talk about polyrhythm, just intonation, and conveying liberatory politics through sound
Horse Lords' Perpetual Motion MachineThe beloved avant-rock band on polyrhythm, just intonation, and conveying liberatory politics through sound.www.hearingthings.coOn the Hearing Things podcast, we dig into new music from Phoebe Bridgers and Tierra Whack, plus a head-scratcher from a controversial former Love Island cast member
Where Does Phoebe Bridgers Go From Here?Podcast dissections of the biggest indie-rock comeback of the year, a rap comeback we didn’t know we needed, and a reality-TV comeback we might not want at allwww.hearingthings.coFor the latest edition of our Words Matter series, we spoke to rapper-producer, model, and skateboarder Navy Blue about how songs by Vashti Bunyan, Broadcast, and Ka inspired his latest album, the searingly reflective Sir Render
Navy Blue on The Lyrics that Changed His LifeThe rapper-producer, model, and skateboarder breaks down songs from Vashti Bunyan, Broadcast, and the late Brooklyn rapper Kawww.hearingthings.coFrom Olivia Rodrigo's overly polished third studio album to IDK's trite suburban trap to Slayyyter's too-little-too-late copy/paste of indie sleaze, these are the Hearing Things staff's picks for the most overrated albums of 2026 (so far)
The Five Most Overrated Albums of 2026 (So Far)Others frothed over these. We did not.www.hearingthings.co
