Stephen Thomas Erlewine
@sterlewine.bsky.social
Music writer and journalist, a founding editor of Allmusic now freelancer for hire. Bylines at Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Mojo Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and more. Subscribe to my Newsletter: sterlewine.substack.com
All this discourse about the music of 1989 and nobody has mentioned the most 1989 album of them all.
October 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
All this discourse about the music of 1989 and nobody has mentioned the most 1989 album of them all.
I’m always amazed when an album cover that’s 50-some years old—in this case, Live-Evil by Miles Davis—gets flagged as “adult content.”
October 29, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I’m always amazed when an album cover that’s 50-some years old—in this case, Live-Evil by Miles Davis—gets flagged as “adult content.”
The answer is clear.
October 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The answer is clear.
There is apparently a market for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion reaction videos.
September 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
There is apparently a market for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion reaction videos.
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore the way they were meant to be heard: as an opening act playing to a half-full arena.
September 24, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore the way they were meant to be heard: as an opening act playing to a half-full arena.
Jamie Spears: Matchmaker to the Stars.
August 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Jamie Spears: Matchmaker to the Stars.
"The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John's Version)"
August 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John's Version)"
The Beatles Anthology receives a long overdue upgrade: the documentary is expanded with a ninth episode focusing on the 1994/95 reunion premiering on Disney+ on November 26, while the accompanying album receives an Anthology 4. "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" both get new mixes, too.
August 21, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The Beatles Anthology receives a long overdue upgrade: the documentary is expanded with a ninth episode focusing on the 1994/95 reunion premiering on Disney+ on November 26, while the accompanying album receives an Anthology 4. "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" both get new mixes, too.
I was thinking the other week how I took those Rhino double-disc comps for granted back in the 90s. This may have been my inspiration.
August 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I was thinking the other week how I took those Rhino double-disc comps for granted back in the 90s. This may have been my inspiration.
The Replacements deluxe edition series finally winds its way to Let It Be this October 24, when the album gets expanded to 3-CD/4-LP sets. Each box features a disc of rarities/alternate takes and a disc with a Chicago concert from March 1984, plus liner notes from @paranoiacs.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The Replacements deluxe edition series finally winds its way to Let It Be this October 24, when the album gets expanded to 3-CD/4-LP sets. Each box features a disc of rarities/alternate takes and a disc with a Chicago concert from March 1984, plus liner notes from @paranoiacs.bsky.social
My toddlers were obsessed with Flashbeagle a couple of years ago, a special I never knew existed. It’s a remarkable artifact, complete with Snoopy doing the walk of shame
July 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My toddlers were obsessed with Flashbeagle a couple of years ago, a special I never knew existed. It’s a remarkable artifact, complete with Snoopy doing the walk of shame
At least they switched to chronological order for the Blue guide (retained the copy and ignored the albums that came out in the interim but the order makes sense).
July 23, 2025 at 2:19 PM
At least they switched to chronological order for the Blue guide (retained the copy and ignored the albums that came out in the interim but the order makes sense).
After carefully considering the whole situation, I’ve gotta say Beethoven (and that this poster was clearly printed before 2016, since David Bowie, Prince and Tom Petty aren’t here).
June 30, 2025 at 2:59 AM
After carefully considering the whole situation, I’ve gotta say Beethoven (and that this poster was clearly printed before 2016, since David Bowie, Prince and Tom Petty aren’t here).
Farewell to Brian Wilson, the lead Beach Boy and one of the giants of 20th Century popular music.
June 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Farewell to Brian Wilson, the lead Beach Boy and one of the giants of 20th Century popular music.
Cheating was Moe Bandy’s brand (until the Moe & Joe records anyway)
May 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Cheating was Moe Bandy’s brand (until the Moe & Joe records anyway)
Couldn’t help but be amused every time the camera cut to the giant Clutch sticker looming over John Fogerty.
March 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Couldn’t help but be amused every time the camera cut to the giant Clutch sticker looming over John Fogerty.
Delighted to see that John Fogerty is still peddling my favorite piece of merchandise ever: an expensive blue flannel shirt.
(In the background, you can see that an autographed copy of Green River goes for $300.)
(In the background, you can see that an autographed copy of Green River goes for $300.)
March 12, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Delighted to see that John Fogerty is still peddling my favorite piece of merchandise ever: an expensive blue flannel shirt.
(In the background, you can see that an autographed copy of Green River goes for $300.)
(In the background, you can see that an autographed copy of Green River goes for $300.)
The Black Keys open up to Rolling Stone about their annus horribilis.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
February 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The Black Keys open up to Rolling Stone about their annus horribilis.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
I was lucky enough to attend an event promoting the publication of David Lynch’s Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, And Creativity. His enthusiasm was boundless, infectious and inspiring.
January 16, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I was lucky enough to attend an event promoting the publication of David Lynch’s Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, And Creativity. His enthusiasm was boundless, infectious and inspiring.
“Top 0.001% of listeners worldwide”
December 4, 2024 at 9:56 PM
“Top 0.001% of listeners worldwide”
This post prompted me to search out J.D. Considine's review of ABWH for Musician in 1989, which I had a vague memory of for some reason. I was not expecting this lede.
November 22, 2024 at 4:26 PM
This post prompted me to search out J.D. Considine's review of ABWH for Musician in 1989, which I had a vague memory of for some reason. I was not expecting this lede.
I'm curious to see how the filmmakers wring drama out of the mastering and release of an album.
variety.com/2024/film/ne...
variety.com/2024/film/ne...
November 7, 2024 at 7:47 PM
I'm curious to see how the filmmakers wring drama out of the mastering and release of an album.
variety.com/2024/film/ne...
variety.com/2024/film/ne...
Terrible news: the great Phil Lesh, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, died today at the age of 84.
October 25, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Terrible news: the great Phil Lesh, one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead, died today at the age of 84.
"Number One Best Seller in Biographies of Comedians"
October 17, 2024 at 6:30 PM
"Number One Best Seller in Biographies of Comedians"