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- Best of Chicago, Music & Nightlife Mar 17, 2021
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Bedroom-pop newcomer Serena Isioma finds a trajectory to stardom
Their idiosyncratic but radio-ready songs sound like the work of a seasoned veteran, and they’re already going viral.
- Music, The Listener Oct 5, 2020
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The mystery punk from The Dead Next Door
Is there a better place to find a pseudonymous hardcore song than a low-budget 80s zombie movie?
- Music, Music Feature Aug 5, 2020
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The Reader has 56 places to start your shopping this Bandcamp day
Just in case you’ve been waiting to spend your monthly music budget till more of it would go to artists and labels
- Music, Music Feature Jun 17, 2020
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Why do indie musicians put up with penny payouts?
Streaming your favorite artists’ music is the least helpful way to support them. But they can’t abandon those platforms, because we won’t.
- Music, In Rotation Apr 2, 2019
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Latham Zearfoss of Chances Dances on a Solange album for the ages
Plus: artist Jen Delos Reyes on the messages in her automated Favorites Mix, Reader music listings coordinator Salem Collo-Julin on the best memorial to Moo & Oink, and more
- Music, In Rotation Mar 11, 2019
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DJ and producer Ariel Zetina on a beautifully transgressive Portuguese beat genius
Plus: photographer Julia Dratel on a sound artist with an ear for ecology, Reader associate editor Jamie Ludwig on a documentary that gives Sam Cooke’s death the close look it deserved, and more
- Music, Music Feature Feb 15, 2019
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How to support the local music scene without leaving your nice, warm home
Even when winter weather and winter malaise raise the bar for going out, you can still play an important role in sustaining DIY Chicago music.
- Arts & Culture, Feature Dec 13, 2017
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An ear to the ground at the Third Coast International Audio Festival
A trip to “the Sundance of radio” in the golden age of podcasting
- Food & Drink, Restaurant Review Jul 11, 2017
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The K-pop is awesome at Daebak
But the tabletop Korean barbecue isn’t exactly a big success.
- Music, Music Feature Nov 2, 2016
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Why little rappers still believe in big radio
The Internet has eroded commercial radio’s usefulness for music discovery, but DJs like Nehpets at Power 92 have stayed connected enough to their communities to break up-and-coming local artists on the air.
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 27, 2016
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Chicagoans Appleby and Elias Abid dig up nouveau-pop gold on the Down Dance EP
Rapper-singer Appleby and producer-singer Elias Abid strike it rich on the supple, playful single "Castles."
- Music, In Rotation Feb 5, 2016
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Alexander Fruchter of Closed Sessions on a musical Band-Aid in a fucked-up world
Plus: Hip-hop songwriter Kweku Collins on his favorite album of 2015, the Reader’s Kevin Warwick on Iggy’s perfect pairing with Bowie, and more
- Blogs, Bleader Oct 5, 2015
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What Jamie XX plays in a DJ set might show up on his frequently updated Spotify playlist
Today's 12 O'Clock Track is one song from that playlist, the Durutti Column's "Otis."
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 5, 2015
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Dr. Dre, Tink, and the latest wrinkle in the streaming-music wars
Dr. Dre's unexpected new album Compton: A Soundtrack is the latest in a string of hip-hop releases that spread the listening public out among a growing number of streaming services.
- Blogs, Bleader Jan 29, 2015
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Father John Misty is here to make fun of every digital music service at once
The songwriter takes aim at Pono and Spotify with a satirical streaming music service called SAP.
- Blogs, Bleader Nov 7, 2014
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Spotify, Soundcloud, and the web's leaky music infrastructure
Taylor Swift just sold more than a million albums the same week she yanked all her music from Spotify. What's the state of streaming for everyone else?
- Blogs, Bleader Jan 22, 2014
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Listen to Bobby Conn's mix for his daughter
The avant-pop singer made a mix of pop songs for his seven-year-old daughter as she's getting hooked on Katy Perry.
- Blogs, Bleader Jun 10, 2013
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Jukebox update: Koko Taylor, Vybz Kartel, Mikal Cronin, and more
Our latest round of staff picks for the Reader's Interactive Jukebox (jukebox.chicagoreader.com)
- Music, Music Feature May 30, 2013
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Why mixtapes don't hit the charts
It's not because they aren’t a vital format or the fuel for a parallel music economy—it’s because Billboard and the RIAA ignore them.
- Blogs, Bleader May 20, 2013
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Jukebox update: Kiss, Jorge Ben Jor, and more
Our latest round of staff picks for the Reader's Interactive Jukebox (jukebox.chicagoreader.com)
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 22, 2013
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This week's Reader Jukebox update: Hank Williams, Isaac Hayes, and other staff requests
Head over to the Reader's interactive jukebox to hear the latest additions.
- Blogs, Bleader Dec 28, 2012
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My Best of 2012 Spotify playlist—five hours of the year's most pleasure-inducing music
Where else can you hear ZZ Top's "I Gotsta Get Paid" and E-40's "I'm Laced" in the same place?
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 30, 2012
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Spotify playlist: Chicago Jazz Festival 2012
A Spotify playlist to go with our coverage of the 2012 Chicago Jazz Festival
- Music, In Rotation Jul 3, 2012
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In Rotation: Pitchfork developer Andrew Gaerig on Stevie Nicks's burgeoning mystical bullshit
Plus: the Reader's Tal Rosenberg on Gwen Guthrie's uncategorizable Padlock and DJ Sparkletone on the cutting-edge dance-music radio of Rinse FM
- Blogs, Bleader Jun 14, 2012
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Mr. Lee on Chic-a-Go-Go and a Spotify playlist for "Spoon's Last Dance"
A Spotify playlist and video of Mr. Lee lip-synching to "Love and Happiness" on Chic-a-Go-Go to accompany Jake Austen's story "Spoon's Last Dance"
