American Songwrighter : Review: Kris Kristofferson—A Songwriter for All Seasons (by Lee Zimmermann) →

At age 86, Kristofferson is getting up in years now and he’s no longer the young insurgent he once was. Yet his resolve remains intact—in the music he’s shared and the spirit that he brings to bear here. One can almost feel the electricity that was evident in the room that night, and it’s to the credit of New West Records that they chose to preserve it for posterity. Clearly, this was—and remains—a particularly inspiring encounter.

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Houston Press : BOOKS Reelin' in the Years (and Peelin' Back the Layers) of Steely Dan's Donald Fagen (by Bob Ruggiero) →

The Steely Dan co-founder has long been wary of the press and gave relatively few interviews during the band’s prime. And when he did deem to do so, sometimes answered in riddles (albeit pretty humorous ones). Even his own memoir, Eminent Hipsters, is less revealing than even Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Vol. 1, with much of it is carping in his trademark curmudgeonly voice. But despite not having the participation of his subject, Jones' Nightfly: The Life of Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen (368 pp., $30, Chicago Review Press) is an insightful, detailed, heavily researched and wonderfully well-written tome.

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Highway 81 Revisited : TAJ MAHAL’S LONGTIME PHANTOM BLUES BAND HONORS LATE KEYBOARDIST ON ‘BLUES FOR BREAKFAST’ (by Michael Lello) →

The anecdote illustrates why the Phantom Blues Band — who got their start backing Taj Mahal and continue to play with the septuagenarian on occasion — was missing more than a keyboard player when they began work on what would become their new CD on Little Village records, “Blues for Breakfast,” which bears the words “In Memory of MF” on its cover.

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Hot Press : U2 share reflections on Ukraine's Independence Day →

"Today is the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, and we stand with them," the Irish band have stated. Today is Ukraine's Independence Day – but it also marks six months since the Russian invasion of the country began. U2 are among those sharing their thoughts and reflections today, with a post on social media that considers the role of creatives during times of war and conflict.

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Provincetown Independant : The Blind Boys of Alabama Have a Vision The celebrated gospel singers believe you can be what you want to be (by Eve Samaha →

Eric McKinnie, who is known as Ricky, has been a member of the Blind Boys of Alabama since 1989. But the renowned gospel group launched 50 years before that. Clarence Fountain and his friends at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind formed the group in 1939. For more than eight decades, the Blind Boys have persevered and thrived in the music industry. They will perform at the Payomet Performing Arts Center in North Truro on Saturday, Aug. 20.

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Distorded Sound : Anti-Flag release new music video for ‘THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES’ (by Ellis Heasley) →

The new music video, for the track THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES, is taken from the American political punk band’s upcoming album LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN, which is scheduled to be released in January next year via Spinefarm Records. It features guest appearances from RISE AGAINST‘s Tim McIlrath and BAD RELIGION‘s Brian Baker. Speaking about the new song, the band comment, “To us, this song is a unique demonstration of the power of community.”

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Forbes Africa : THE PLAYLIST: An Exclusive Interview with Five-Time Beninese Grammy Award Winner Angélique Kidjo on Closing The Cultural Gap (by Renuka Methil) →

The winner of five Grammys with 14 albums to her name, Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today. Time Magazine has called her “Africa’s premier diva” and she has cross- pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. She recently released Queen of Sheba – it’s on Spotify – with Ibrahim Maalouf from Lebanon. In an exclusive interview with FORBES AFRICA from Paris, Kidjo says she is right now, in a moment where “things are blooming in her inspiration zone”. She talks life, work and the road ahead for her – and African music.

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Rolling Stone : Série musicale de l’été : Lucile Commeaux raconte Marianne Faithfull sur France Culture →

Cap sur la culture pop et rock cet été sur la radio publique. Jusqu’à la fin août, France Culture propose, en partenariat avec Rolling Stone, une série hebdomadaire déclinée en épisodes quotidiens. Cette semaine, Lucile Commeaux revient sur l’icône rock par excellence, Marianne Faithfull.

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