Folk Music

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All-Americana girl All-Americana girl
The author of "It Still Moves" discusses her road trip through America's musical past and future -- and why we still yearn for the music of yore.
I'm a stage manager with an unmanageable partner I'm a stage manager with an unmanageable partner
We're working together but she's so flaky it feels like she's working against me.
The music lover The music lover
Why the dark and madly poetic Destroyer is my favorite rock band in ages.
Song of the Day: "Rabbit in a Log," the Stanley Brothers Song of the Day: "Rabbit in a Log," the Stanley Brothers
Quintessential American music.
Exclusive Song of the Day: "In the Evening," Nina Nastasia and Jim White Exclusive Song of the Day: "In the Evening," Nina Nastasia and Jim White
A Zeppelin-esque riff anchors this simple but effective song.
Song of the Day: "Spitting at the Cameras," Wooden Wand Song of the Day: "Spitting at the Cameras," Wooden Wand
Dylanisms and rusticisms abound on this modern folk song.
Exclusive Song of the Day: "Wildwood Flower," Loretta Lynn Exclusive Song of the Day: "Wildwood Flower," Loretta Lynn
One country legend pays tribute to another.
Folk revival Folk revival
The spirit of folk was everywhere this year, with a slew of tribute albums to various new hybrid forms -- from freak-folk to folk-punk and beyond.
Love is red, death is blue Love is red, death is blue
Greil Marcus and Sean Wilentz discuss their amazing new anthology of writing about the American ballad -- and wonder whether Republicans sing better songs of passion and murder than Democrats do.
His body (of work) is a wonderland His body (of work) is a wonderland
Sure, critics make fun of him. But sensitive-guy singer-songwriter John Mayer has put the soul back in folk and the sex back in vanilla.
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
English singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore, at just 23, is the genuine heiress to the Bob Dylan-Leonard Cohen-Tom Waits legacy of dark, brilliant indie folk-rock.
"A Mighty Wind" "A Mighty Wind"
Christopher Guest and his "Best in Show" cohorts are back, mocking the survivors of '60s folk music in this work of sideways comic genius.
Don't look back Don't look back
Two new books make it clear why Bob Dylan had to ditch the phony, self-righteous Greenwich Village folk scene.
Links on the chain
Broadside published songs by writers who wanted to change the world -- including a young Bob Dylan. A five-CD set marches through the great folk mag's past.
Sharps & Flats
Woody Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Ballads" drew the road map for Bob Dylan and Ramblin' Jack. A reissue recaptures the parched glory.
Nick Drake's post-posthumous fame
The English folkie left behind three perfect records when he died of an overdose in 1974. It took a recent Volkswagen commercial for them to find an audience.
Uncertain, unfair and bloodthirsty Uncertain, unfair and bloodthirsty
Mystic and record collector Harry Smith knew life was cruel, yet his folk "Anthology" promised a way to "see America changed by music."
Sharps & Flats
English folkie David Gray is a star in the U.K. Can some electronic blips and an endorsement from Dave Matthews win him an audience in the States?
Sharps & Flats
Zen cowboy Jimmie Dale Gilmore expresses the beauty of sadness and the perfection of sorrow.
Sharps & Flats
"Guarapero: Lost Blues 2" collects Will Oldham's stream-of-consciousness rants and odd tales of sexual dysfunction.
Sharps & Flats
Forget the solipsistic neurotica of Fiona Apple. On "To the Teeth" righteous babe Ani DiFranco feels the funk and represents Buffalo, N.Y.
Hot licks
Guitarist and "All Things Considered" commentator Adrian Legg tells funny stories, but his guitar playing is no laughing matter.
Sharps & flats
Mimi Fariña was tempting jailbait. Her husband, Richard, fought alongside Castro, sold guns and called Thomas Pynchon a pal.
Musician in a dangerous time
Bruce Cockburn talks about land mines, "adult" entertainment and being an '80s musician in the '90s.
Sharps & flats
Utah Phillips tells Old West tales and hardscrabble anecdotes. But don't call him a folk singer.
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