Year in review
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The 14 tours we’re anticipating most in 2022, starring Olivia Rodrigo
Clockwise from top right: Olivia Rodrigo, Shawn Mendes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chris Stapleton, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, HAIM, Roger Waters, Tyler, The Creator, Billie Eilish, Lorde and John Mayer. After the pandemic canceled concerts in 2020, we crossed out fingers that our favorites would be rescheduled. Slowly, they’re…
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22 albums we’re anticipating in 2022
Row 1: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello, The Weeknd, Khalid, Weezer. Row 2: Janet Jackson, Vince Staples, SPOON, GZA, Sky Ferreira, Row 3: Meg Myers, Rina Sawayama, Eddie Vedder, Black Country, New Road, and My Bloody Valentine. Row 4: Elvis Costello, BROCKHAMPTON, Alt-J, Avril Lavigne, Lykke Li. Not pictured: The…
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Our favorite concerts of 2021, starring Jon Batiste and Beck
Clockwise from top left: Jon Batiste, Beck, Run The Jewels, Tinashe, The Eagles, The Black Angels, Jayhawks, Lucy Dacus, Eyelids and Fred Armisen. Staff and courtesy composite. Concerts began returning in 2021 as artists cautiously hit the road, still balancing their safety and health with their livelihoods. Some of…
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RIFF’s best concert photography of 2021, starring Lil Baby and Lindsey Stirling
RIFF photographers’ best work in 2021 included these shots of (clockwise from top left) Lil Baby, Lindsey Stirling, J Balvin, Murs, Black Veil Brides, Tinashe, Bleachers, MisterWives, J. Cole, Korn, Megan Thee Stallion and KISS. Concerts returned, first tentatively and then in full force. We asked our photographers to…
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Bennett: ‘Blue Weekend’ by Wolf Alice; the album that moved me in 2021
Wolf Alice, “Blue Weekend.” “I am what I am and I’m good at it/ And you don’t like me, well that isn’t fucking relevant.” Of all the moments of swagger on Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice–and there are quite a number those to choose from–singer Ellie Rowsell’s honest assessment…
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Rachel Goodman’s top 35 alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021
Rachel Goodman’s top alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021. L to R; Row 1: Paul McCartney and Phoebe Bridgers; Maxïmo Park; Kings of Leon; Black Country, New Road; Wet Leg, The War on Drugs. Row 2: BC Camplight, Cannons, Strand of Oaks, Hovvdy, Ladyhawke, Fences, Sea Wolf, Courtney Barnett.…
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In Memoriam: DMX, Charlie Watts and 30 other artists we lost in 2021
Row 1: DMX, Biz Markie, Dusty Hill, Charlie Watts, Joey Jordison, Nanci Griffith and B.J. Thomas. Row 2: Mary Wilson, George Wein, Michael Nesmith, Terence “Astro” Wilson, Tom T. Hall, Stephen Sondheim and Graeme Edge. Row 3: Chick Corea, Gift of Gab, Bunny Wailer, Shock G and Sylvain Sylvain.…
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The 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021
Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021 includes (L to R): Row 1: Lil Nas X, Polo G, Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole, Nas. Row 2: Little Simz, Meek Mill, Isaiah Rashad, Czarface & MF DOOM, Backxwash. Row 3: Vince Staples, Wale, Your Old Droog, BROCKHAMPTON,…
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The 108 best albums of 2021: 10-1
The best albums of 2021 include Billie Eilish, Brandi Carlile, Tyler, The Creator, Little Simz, Olivia Rodrigo, Wolf Alice, Gojira, Rise Against, Yola and Lord Huron. We’ve made it to the end! These are our absolute favorite 10 albums of the year. What we discovered as a team was…
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The 108 best albums of 2021: 20-11
The best albums of 2021 include Adele, Chvrches, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo de Augustine, Halsey, Lil Nas X, J. Cole, Orla Gartland, Black Country, New Road, Aesop Rock and Blockhead, and Black Veil Brides. Down to the top 20. Whew! Now’s a good time for you to let us…
