Category Archives: Featured Articles
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Modern Composition
Modern composition is arguably the most upscale of our categories, and often includes music composed for film, dance and theatre. The genre lends itself well to conceptual projects and is strong enough to incorporate a great deal of experimentalism without
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Modern Composition
Modern composition is arguably the most upscale of our categories, and often includes music composed for film, dance and theatre. The genre lends itself well to conceptual projects and is strong enough to incorporate a great deal of experimentalism without
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Field Recording & Soundscape
In 2020, the global soundscape changed quicker and more significantly than it had at any point in history. The work of field recording artists was given added significance, as they documented sounds that had never been heard before, had not
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Field Recording & Soundscape
In 2020, the global soundscape changed quicker and more significantly than it had at any point in history. The work of field recording artists was given added significance, as they documented sounds that had never been heard before, had not
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Experimental
A surprising fact about this year’s experimental picks: nearly every entry contains an aspect of spoken word. This unusual combination may reflect our desire for narrative as opposed to lyric. The world is a jumble right now; can anyone make sense
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Experimental
A surprising fact about this year’s experimental picks: nearly every entry contains an aspect of spoken word. This unusual combination may reflect our desire for narrative as opposed to lyric. The world is a jumble right now; can anyone make sense
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Electronic
One of 2020’s greatest ironies was a surge in dance music ~ while clubs were being shuttered across the globe. The surge reflected the desire to dance, and people didn’t stop dancing, happily demonstrated by Berlin’s drive-in raves. Others danced
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Electronic
One of 2020’s greatest ironies was a surge in dance music ~ while clubs were being shuttered across the globe. The surge reflected the desire to dance, and people didn’t stop dancing, happily demonstrated by Berlin’s drive-in raves. Others danced
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Drone
Fewer drone releases came in this year than ever before. The world was so dark, it seemed that even recording artists weren’t in the mood to record dark music. But by the end of the year, we began to notice
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Drone
Fewer drone releases came in this year than ever before. The world was so dark, it seemed that even recording artists weren’t in the mood to record dark music. But by the end of the year, we began to notice
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Ambient
A Closer Listen received over 10,000 submissions this year, 7000 of them valid, and we listened to at least a segment of every one. Now we’ve chosen 70 of them ~ one percent ~ to include in our year-end lists. The competition has never
ACL 2020 ~ Top Ten Ambient
A Closer Listen received over 10,000 submissions this year, 7000 of them valid, and we listened to at least a segment of every one. Now we’ve chosen 70 of them ~ one percent ~ to include in our year-end lists. The competition has never
*Press A* 2020 ~ The Year’s Best Videogame Soundtracks
2020 has been difficult for everyone. We skipped our usual list covering the first half of the year given the global unease and relatively low amount of VGM released. However, shortly after June there was a surge of excellent and
*Press A* 2020 ~ The Year’s Best Videogame Soundtracks
2020 has been difficult for everyone. We skipped our usual list covering the first half of the year given the global unease and relatively low amount of VGM released. However, shortly after June there was a surge of excellent and
ACL 2020 ~ The Year’s Best Winter Music
Winter music is more than a seasonal score; it also represents a state of mind. We’ve all been wintering this year: hunkering down, staying in, waiting for the storm to pass. Will we simply survive, or will we be able
ACL 2020 ~ The Year’s Best Winter Music
Winter music is more than a seasonal score; it also represents a state of mind. We’ve all been wintering this year: hunkering down, staying in, waiting for the storm to pass. Will we simply survive, or will we be able
a closer listen 