Music

The latest news and reviews of music.

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What we're listening to: Kim Gordon and Cave In
In this installment of our audio IRL, managing editor Terrence O'Brien reminisces about Sonic Youth while taking in Kim Gordon's first solo album. Contributing writer Marc DeAngelis explains why Cave In's latest album is much more than a tribute to a member who died last year.
Spotify's podcast strategy is starting to pay off
Spotify's strategy of owning a chunk of the podcast game appears to be paying off, at least according to its latest financial report. In the third quarter of 2019, Spotify says it saw "exponential growth" in podcasts, with a 39 percent increase in listens in just three months. The US is the biggest consumer of the format, but Spotify is also seeing bumps in a number of European countries. And those people who come to Spotify for podcasts are, according to the company, more likely to sign up for premium than others.
Positive Grid's Spark amp helps you learn and jam to your favorite songs
Guitar amps are getting more connected and more flexible. Boss' latest Katana offerings simulates 10 different amp models and 60 effects. While Yamaha's THR line features a rechargeable battery and wireless connectivity. Positive Grid is taking things even further. Its upcoming Spark amplifier adds both learning and musical accompaniment features thanks to its companion mobile app.
Spotify will alert you to new music with sponsored pop-ups
Spotify is testing another way for artists to promote their music, but it's one that might annoy users. Artists and their teams will be able to sponsor the Brand New Music for You pop-ups in the mobile apps to let fans know about music they just released.
Spotify offers a free Google Home Mini to all US Premium subscribers
Spotify is bringing back its smart speaker giveaway for another year, and this time it's being considerably less picky. The streaming music service is offering free Google Home Minis to all new and existing Premium subscribers in the US "while supplies last," including individuals -- it's not reserving them for family plan members. This won't be quite so thrilling when Google just introduced the upgraded Nest Mini (this comes across as clearing out stock), but it's hard to object if you've been itching to start a smart home setup.
Fender Songs is an interactive chord book that syncs with Apple Music
Don't believe the hype: The guitar isn't dying. But the industry that surrounds the instrument is definitely in a transitional period, to put it politely. Fender has weathered a lot of the storm by focusing one thing: getting more people to play guitar. Simply building decent affordable instruments isn't enough, though. So a couple of years ago it launched Fender Play an app and subscription service that delivers guitar, bass and ukulele lessons straight to people's computers and phones. And Fender Tune (which, frankly, is a must have for any guitarist) has an encyclopedia's worth of alternate tunings, scales and chords at players fingertips, making them less likely to abandon the instrument.
Recommended Reading: The Google Stadia controller prototypes
An exclusive look at how Google designed its Stadia game controller Stan Horaczek, Popular Science We've known for months that Google built its own controller for the upcoming Stadia game streaming service. But Popular Science recently got a behind-the-scenes look at the design process, including a glimpse of the "hundreds" of prototypes for the device. "We put out rigs of cameras and filmed roughly 6,000 hours of gaming time to observe how people were holding different controllers," Google design director Isabelle Olsson explains.
Arca will use AI to soundtrack NYC's Museum of Modern Art
If you pay a visit to New York City's Museum of Modern Art in the near future, you'll be awash in artificial intelligence before you've even seen an exhibit. Electronic musician Arca (who has produced for Bjork and FKA Twigs) has announced that a piece she wrote using Bronze's AI creative tool will provide the soundtrack for MoMA's lobby for the next two years once it reopens on October 21st. Don't think that it'll be just the same tune playing on loop, though. The AI will "never make the music play the same way twice," Arca said. In that sense, it's more like one very large piece.
Phonocut will let you make your own vinyl records
As CD sales continue to fall, vinyl is becoming more and more popular of a music format. Some fans enjoy the bigger packaging and artwork while others claim vinyl playback produces a "warmer" tone compared to CDs and digital files. But vinyl doesn't have the flexibility of those formats. Phonocut hopes to change that with its home vinyl recorder, which launches on Kickstarter this week. The device's diamond stylus cuts the waveforms from an external source into a blank 7- or 10-inch vinyl disc so you can create records of compilations or your own music.
Recommended Reading: Your AirPods are going to die
Everyone's AirPods will die. We've got the trick to replacing them. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Washington Post If you hopped on the AirPod bandwagon early, your earbuds are likely near the end of their life. The Washington Post details what happens when your true wireless audio accessory stops working, including the fact that "battery service" really just means giving you a new pair and tossing your old ones in the recycling bin.
Amazon Music now streams tunes to your Apple TV
Spotify isn't the only large music service to launch on Apple TV this week. Amazon Music is now available on Apple's media box in 13 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Pair the app through your browser and you can listen to Prime Music or Music Unlimited in the living room even if you're in an otherwise Apple-centric household. You'll have access to all your purchased and imported music, complete with (increasingly common) synced lyrics.
Boss’ new Katana guitar amps offer more tones than ever
A few months back a reader asked us what the best connected guitar amp was for beginners. And there are a few solid options, including Yamaha's THR line. But, one amp topped the rest: Boss' Katana 50. And now Katana line is getting major refresh that makes it an even better bang for your buck than before. This most immediate change is the number of amp simulations available. The original Katanas had five, the Katana MkIIs add a variation of each, for a total of 10 amp models. You can also use more of the built in effects simultaneously now. Where as before you were limited to three, the MkII line lets you chain up to five together. And it's still pulling from the same library of over 60 excellent Boss effects (after all, Boss is better known for its effects pedals than its amps).
Tidal brings its streaming music and videos to Roku
For streaming music listeners who prefer Tidal and its commitment to high-quality lossless audio, now its experience is available via Roku. Subscribers can already access it on a number of home theater receivers and other equipment, and with Roku getting into the soundbar / wireless subwoofer game later this year, it makes sense to have more music services ready to go -- and just in time. A look at the platform's catalog reveals thin pickings after the likes of Pandora, Spotify and Amazon Music. There are tons of apps for streaming radio-types of stations, but when it comes to the premium music services that are popular right now, Roku only offers access to a few of them.
Anker unveils six affordable AirPod alternatives
Today, Anker added six new Bluetooth earbud models to its Soundcore audio lineup. The additions include follow ups to its Liberty Air music-centered wireless earbuds and three new sports-focused options. The "crown jewel" of the new products is the Liberty 2 Pro, which Anker says has a first-of-its-kind coaxial driver tuned by Grammy winning audio engineers.
Tesla owners start seeing a data usage counter with a 50GB cap
Tesla last year started splitting data into standard and premium tiers, but it's now hinting that it might watch how much data you're using, too. Some owners have noticed a data use counter showing up on their cars with a seeming 50GB cap. It's not yet clear what this cap is for or what happens if you chew up more than 50GB of data. However, Tesla is displaying this to people with the Premium Connectivity package, not just Standard.
Apple Music for Android finally works with Chromecast
Apple's been busy adding new elements to Music, including a dark mode and real-time lyrics. Now, one of the most frequently-requested features finally has support: the music streaming service on Android now works with Chromecast. After becoming available with the beta version last month, the feature has now rolled out to the stable app, and users can start listening to music through Chromecast devices soon.
Spotify's Repeat playlists highlight your musical obsessions
Spotify is tapping into the songs you listen to over and over again for its latest personalized playlists. On Repeat stays up to date with the songs you've had on loop the most over the last 30 days. It automatically updates with your current obsessions -- for me, that's the Sayonara Wild Hearts soundtrack.
Relive Yamaha's synth history without leaving the couch
From the '70s onward, synthesizers have been just as integral to pop music as electric guitars. Yamaha (along with a handful of other brands like Roland, Korg and Sequential) has served as an industry innovator, and in turn has helped shape the sonic characteristics of various genres. To celebrate Yamaha's latest flagship synth, MONTAGE White, the brand has created a virtual museum of sorts, which recaps 45 years of iconic designs.
YouTube Music counters Spotify with its own 'Discover Mix'
Google might not have as many YouTube Music subscribers as Spotify, but it has way more software engineers. It's now applying some of those smarts to better compete against its rival with a new automated playlist called "Discover Mix," spotted by 9 to 5 Google and some Reddit users. It's very similar in concept to Spotify's "Discover Weekly," in that it helps you find new songs and artists in line with your taste and listening history.
Erica's modular synth helps you make music with preset cards
Modular synths are incredibly flexible, but convenient? Not so much -- switching sounds frequently means wiring up patch cords, and that makes it harder to use for live gigs and other on-the-fly uses. Erica Synths has a straightforward solution to that: put everything on a card. Its upcoming Pico System III uses "voice cards" with preset patches -- you just plug in and go. There are five pre-configured cards in the box, but you'll also get five DIY cards if you're handy with a soldering iron.

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