Louder: Beyoncé and Taylor Swift's New Releases: Let's Discuss

Plus: Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers, "The Blank Generation" and More

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 31, 2020 By Caryn Ganz Two powerful women with loyal fandoms released ambitious works in the past week: Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” arrived last Friday, and Beyoncé’s “Black Is King” came out in the wee hours this morning. Jon Caramanica, who’s been covering Swift closely since 2008, reviewed “Folklore,” and Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and I debated it on Popcast. We don’t agree on it, which is quite refreshing. Six of our critics analyzed “Black Is King” from different perspectives (quickly, I should add!). The visual album arrived, like all of Beyoncé’s recent releases, with little setup from the star who masterminded it. “She says less,” Treva Lindsey, an associate professor at Ohio State University said, “as she has more power.” And *Diary of a Song siren*: Joe and the always inspiring video and graphics team behind the series return with a breakdown of how Phoebe Bridgers made “Kyoto,” a standout track from her latest album. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT BEYONCÉ’S “BLACK IS KING” Andrew White/Parkwood Entertainment and Disney +, via Associated Press   Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’: Let’s Discuss Six critics on the visual album rooted in her “Lion King”-inspired record “The Gift,” a grand statement of African-diaspora pride and creative power. By Jason Farago, Vanessa Friedman, Gia Kourlas, Wesley Morris, Jon Pareles and Salamishah Tillet Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’ Is No Secret, but Still Comes With Mystery Her latest project is her first with Disney+: a visual album connected to the music she oversaw for the “Lion King” remake. And as usual, she’s captured fans’ attention by saying little. By Ben Sisario TAYLOR SWIFT’S “FOLKLORE” Beth Garrabrant   Album Review Taylor Swift, a Pop Star Done With Pop On “Folklore,” a quarantine album made largely with Aaron Dessner from the National, she swerves away from her last few releases, embracing atmospheric rock — and other characters’ points of view. By Jon Caramanica Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images   Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’: Let’s Discuss On an album made entirely in quarantine, the singer and songwriter embarks in a fresh direction. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT DIARY OF A SONG     Diary Of A Song How Phoebe Bridgers (Begrudgingly) Writes a Rock Song The singer and songwriter prefers a ballad. But collaborators yanked her out of her comfort zone for “Kyoto,” a breakout from her latest acclaimed album. Here’s how she made it. By Joe Coscarelli FEATURES His Film Is a Punk Classic, but the Credits Now Roll Without Him Amos Poe lost control of his documentary about the music scene that spawned artists like Blondie and Talking Heads after a dispute with Ivan Kral, the guitarist who made the movie with him. By Cara Buckley The Black Book Club Takes It to the Next Level Noname and other Black thought leaders have taken what Oprah built and made something new. By Iman Stevenson Eddie Chacon, a Fleeting ’90s Neo Soul Star, Returns as an Old Soul As one-half of Charles & Eddie, he had an international hit with “Would I Lie to You?” Now he’s releasing his first music in decades. By Andy Beta New York Love Story: The Submarine Officer and the Beatles Cover Band A Columbia grad student, new to the city, lost his lease. So he organized the perfect send-off. By Alex Vadukul Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE CRITICS The Go-Go’s Made History 38 Years Ago. There’s Still More to Their Story. A new documentary about the Los Angeles band explores the punk roots that came before its pop sheen, and the power dynamics that led to its split. By Lindsay Zoladz the playlist Billie Eilish’s Isolation Awakening, and 8 More New Songs Hear tracks by Laura Veirs, A.G. Cook, Bill Frisell and others. By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Giovanni Russonello critic’s notebook The Most Soothing Man on TikTok By slowing down and soaking it all in, Larry Scott makes the whole TikTok experience … nice. By Jon Caramanica OBITUARIES Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac’s Founder, Is Dead at 73 One of England’s finest blues guitarists, he wrote most of the group’s early songs. But he left the group after taking LSD, saying he wanted to change his life. By Jon Pareles Kansai Yamamoto, Designer With Ziggy Stardust as a Client, Dies at 76 Unapologetically flamboyant, he shaped the look of David Bowie’s alter ego and also worked with Elton John and Stevie Wonder. By Vanessa Friedman and Elizabeth Paton Bent Fabric, Pianist and Composer Known for ‘Alley Cat,’ Dies at 95 A simple tune with an old-time feel, it could embed itself in the listener’s ear as if on a continuous loop. In 1962, it became a worldwide hit. By Katharine Q. Seelye NEWS Yellowcard Quietly Drops Copyright Suit Against Juice WRLD The emo band had accused the rapper and singer of borrowing from “Holly Wood Died” for his hit “Lucid Dreams.” By Ben Sisario Rhiannon Giddens to Lead Silkroad’s Musical Explorations A folk virtuoso will be the artistic director of the cross-cultural exchange organization founded by Yo-Yo Ma. By Zachary Woolfe Chainsmokers Concert in Hamptons Is Under Fire Over Social Distancing The state’s health commissioner opened an inquiry after video footage of the concert showed crowds of people standing close together. By Mihir Zaveri the charts Juice WRLD Repeats at No. 1 as Taylor Swift Preps for a Big Debut The posthumous collection “Legends Never Die” spent a second week at the top of the Billboard album chart, but “Folklore” is set to unseat it. By Ben Sisario FROM CLASSICAL AND FILM critic’s notebook Drone Music, Stretched and Sliced David First’s new album, “The Consummation of Right and Wrong,” attempts to reconcile ideas about melody and sustained tones. By Seth Colter Walls ‘Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind’ Review: A Troubadour Looks Back The singer-songwriter, now 81, is frank about his own work and refreshingly open to today’s music. By Glenn Kenny Make a friend’s day: Forward this email! Get this from a friend? Sign up here. 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