By: Greg Rowland

Jilted John’s “JIlted John” : parodic yet profound.

By: Stephanie Burt

Altered Images’ “Happy Birthday” — should we trust its promise of happiness?

By: Elina Shatkin

Marianne Faithfull’s “Broken English” — an excoriation of all ideologies?

By: Douglas Wolk

Family Fodder’s “Savoir Faire” — not a hostile gnarl, but a joy.

By: Devin McKinney

Suicide’s “Frankie Teardrop” — nihilism with a hungry heart.

By: Joanne McNeil

Gary Numan’s “Metal” — what, exactly, is a “mallory heart”?

By: Mark Kingwell

Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” — New Age blues, and bliss.

By: Joshua Glenn

Introducing this summer’s ENTHUSIASM series — on New Wave music!

By: Flourish Klink

The music is pretty damn enjoyable; and the music is not at all the point.

By: Devin McKinney

Her tone invited, enfolded, and accepted you.

By: Brian Berger

A multifaceted composer and critic.

By: Brian Berger

An exceptional jazz pianist and memoirist.

By: Brian Berger

A child of coincidence and Harpo Marx.

By: Amanda French

His legacy precedes him.

By: Brian Berger

“It will get you. You can’t keep still.”