Features » Articles

• Cap the Old Times: The Story of Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights

  Ian Cohen; November 29, 2012

  With Matador's 10th anniversary reissue in mind, Ian Cohen talks to the NYC band about their humble (yet impeccably dressed) start as well as the making of their debut album in this oral history.

• Holiday Gift Guide 2012

  Pitchfork Staff; November 21, 2012

  From M.I.A.'s art book, to Lil B-inspired apparel, to rapper headphones, to crude rock comics, to coffee-table punk tomes, to box sets collecting works by Jay Reatard and John Cage, we've got something for every music fan on your list.

• Making Cents

  Damon Krukowski; November 14, 2012

  Damon Krukowski of Galaxie 500 and Damon & Naomi breaks down the meager royalties currently being paid out to bands by music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify into plain dollars and (more likely) cents.

   

• Medium Uncool: The CD Turns 30

  Pitchfork Staff; November 9, 2012

  In the fall of 1982, the first compact disc went on sale. In this feature, our contributors recall their own rituals revolving around the shiny plastic discs, from second-hand triumphs, to pesky scratches, to insidious CD burning schemes.

• A Small Pop

  Carrie Battan; October 31, 2012

  Carrie Battan highlights a crop of singers, songwriters, and producers-- including Sky Ferreira, Solange, and Dev Hynes-- who are exposing the cracks between indie and mainstream, and coming up with a new sort of pop.

• This Year's Model

  Eric Harvey; September 21, 2012

  Eric Harvey looks at what Amanda Palmer's crowdsourcing approach says about music, marketing, and DIY in 2012. Does using social media tools to advance your music career necessitate turning yourself into a brand?

• Bob Dylan's Great White Wonder: The Story of the World's First Album Leak

  Eric Harvey; September 12, 2012

  In 1969, a Bob Dylan LP featuring unreleased material found its way into the world. Eric Harvey details how Great White Wonder predicted what we now know as the modern album leak.

• Lectures on Nothing: John Cage's Century

  Grayson Currin; September 6, 2012

  One hundred years after his birth, John Cage's ideas about the possibilities of music still inspire. Grayson Currin collects anecdotes from admirers including Julia Holter and Superchunk.

• FYF Fest 2012

  Ian Cohen; September 4, 2012

  Ian Cohen heads to L.A.'s Historic State Park for this year's FYF Fest and reports on Conor Oberst's hair, John Maus' unintentional comedy, M83's headliner bona fides, Cloud Nothings' stamina, Chairlift's translation problems, and more.

• Take Me Seriously: Why Pussy Riot Matter

  Lindsay Zoladz; August 16, 2012

  Lindsay Zoladz attends a protest concert in D.C. and examines the issues surrounding the feminist punk collective Pussy Riot's plight and why they have made such a strong impact around the world.

• Øya 2012

  Amy Phillips; August 13, 2012

  During last week's Øya festival in Oslo, Norway, Amy Phillips took an eye-opening black metal sightseeing tour, stumbled upon one of the world's worst bands, paid seven dollars for water, and saw the Stone Roses, Odd Future, Björk, and more.

• Lollapalooza 2012

  Jordan Sargent; August 6, 2012

  Jordan Sargent braves the storms and mud-diving dudes at this year's mega-festival in Chicago to report on the best and brightest acts, including Frank Ocean, Twin Shadow, SBTRKT, Chief Keef, Justice, Dum Dum Girls, and much more.

• Pitchfork Music Festival 2012

  Pitchfork; July 16, 2012

  Full coverage and photos from every set, including Vampire Weekend, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Beach House, Grimes, A$AP Rocky, and lots more. 

• Roskilde 2012

  Carrie Battan and Lindsay Zoladz; July 10, 2012

  With more than 130,000 attendees, Denmark's long-running Roskilde Festival is one of the hugest on earth. Carrie Battan and Lindsay Zoladz break down the best and weirdest from this year's fest, which featured Bruce Springsteen and Bon Iver.

• Worn Copies: Beach House, VW, and What It Means to Sell a Feeling

  Eric Harvey; June 14, 2012

  In the wake of VW using a Beach House sound-alike, Eric Harvey examines the modern relationship between pop, commerce, and the transfer of feelings between audience and vendor.