Synopsis
New York Times music critics Jon Pareles, Ben Ratliff, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen talk each week about the latest pop music news, the top songs, the best albums, the biggest stars — and the up and coming stars you haven't heard of yet.
Episodes
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Kamasi Washington and the West Coast Get Down
24/04/2015 Duration: 26minBen Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the tenor saxophonist and his roots in the thriving Los Angeles jazz scene. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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How Much Festival Is Too Much Festival?
17/04/2015 Duration: 33minJon Caramanica, Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss the vicissitudes and artistic value of music festivals. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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The Ongoing Evolution of Charles Lloyd
10/04/2015 Duration: 27minJon Pareles and Nate Chinen discuss the jazz saxophonist, flutist and band leader Charles Lloyd. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Kendrick Lamar, Dissenting From the Mainstream as He Influences It
27/03/2015 Duration: 26minDiscussing the rapper’s new album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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On ‘Empire’: The Show, the Music and the Calamitous Finale
20/03/2015 Duration: 47minJon Caramanica and Gilbert Cruz, of The Times, and Justin Charity, of Complex, discuss “Empire.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Blurred Legal Lines
13/03/2015 Duration: 32minBen Sisario, Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the “Blurred Lines” copyright trial. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Madonna is Still Madonna On ‘Rebel Heart’
06/03/2015 Duration: 19minJon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss “Rebel Heart,” the new album by Madonna. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Who Is Boots?
20/02/2015 Duration: 22minBen Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss the 28-year-old singer, songwriter and producer. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Grammys Post-Mortem
10/02/2015 Duration: 30minJon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Kanye West, Beck, Iggy Azalea, Papa John’s and other stars of the show. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Björk Gets Personal
30/01/2015 Duration: 26minJon Pareles tells Ben Ratliff about club-hopping with Björk in Iceland and listening to her new album, “Vulnerica,” which was released last week. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Departed Tastemakers: ASAP Yams and Kim Fowley
23/01/2015 Duration: 21minJon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss two connectors with keen ears, who died last week. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Sleater-Kinney Returns
16/01/2015 Duration: 23minBen Ratliff and Jon Pareles are joined by Caryn Ganz, of RollingStone.com, to discuss “No Cities to Love,” the new album by Sleater-Kinney. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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All About Meghan Trainor
09/01/2015 Duration: 23minBen Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss Ms. Trainor as surprise, as a formula, as contrivance and as a product of Nantucket, hip-hop and Nashville. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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The Year in Jazz 2014
02/01/2015 Duration: 36minJon Pareles, Nate Chinen and Ben Ratliff discuss the movements of jazz in 2014. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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The Year in Pop 2014
19/12/2014 Duration: 29minBen Ratliff, Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen discuss pop music’s dominant themes, lessons and preoccupations in 2014. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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The Best Albums of 2014
12/12/2014 Duration: 43minThe pop critics of The New York Times discuss their lists of the Top 10 albums of the year. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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The Pop Savvy of ‘Beyond the Lights’
05/12/2014 Duration: 27minJon Caramanica and A.O. Scott discuss what this modern update of “The Bodyguard” gets right about the music business. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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London Calls Mary J. Blige
21/11/2014 Duration: 31minJon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Mary J. Blige and her new album, “The London Sessions.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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How Bobby Shmurda Danced Into the Hot 100
14/11/2014 Duration: 27minThe 20-year-old East Flatbush rapper Bobby Shmurda has just jumped from No. 8 to No. 6 on the Billboard chart. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Dave Grohl’s ‘Sonic Highways’
07/11/2014 Duration: 33minBen Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss “Sonic Highways,” the new album and HBO mini-series by Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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