Hey, I made a playlist of my favorite songs of July 2026. Good tunes, good month! tinyurl.com/2wuf785z
My Favorite Songs Of July 2026
A handy playlist for keeping up with what's moving Evil Speakers lately
tinyurl.com
Steven Hyden
@stevenhyden.bsky.social
The Ween Of American Rock Critics. Author of six books. My book on The Strokes is out 9/8/26. Indiecast dude. Writing at Evil Speakers: https://stevenhyden.substack.com
Excited to announce that August is 90s Neil Month at Evil Speakers! Every Monday I’ll be talking about a 90s Neil Young album, starting with 1990’s RAGGED GLORY, one of my all time faves. Simply no other music I’d rather hear in the dog days of summer. tinyurl.com/nhe67584
Excited to announce that August is 90s Neil Month at Evil Speakers! Every Monday I’ll be talking about a 90s Neil Young album, starting with 1990’s RAGGED GLORY, one of my all time faves. Simply no other music I’d rather hear in the dog days of summer. tinyurl.com/nhe67584
OK, I'll say it: I love REALITY AWAITS! It's a v. enjoyable Strokes album! I wrote about why I feel that way, the early reactions to the record, the cyclical nature of Strokes backlashes, their current tour, and why young fans get them more than old fans. tinyurl.com/5eb2auna
"Reality Awaits" Will Be Loved By The Next Strokes Album (Which Will Be Hated)
Also: Reviews of new music by Frank Hurricane, Idle County, and Prairiewolf
tinyurl.com
just listened to this and it was really good. this book is going to kick ass
Steven Hyden@stevenhyden.bsky.social · 5d agoHey, I was on WNYC talking about my upcoming book IS THIS IT: THE NEVER-ENDING RISE & FALL OF THE STROKES (AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL).
Hey, I was on WNYC talking about my upcoming book IS THIS IT: THE NEVER-ENDING RISE & FALL OF THE STROKES (AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL).
The 25th Anniversary of 'Is This It' from The Strokes | WNYC
25 years ago, the New York band The Strokes released their debut album, Is This It.
wnyc.org
New Strokes album gets better with every listen. Great read on it by @stevenhyden.bsky.social stevenhyden.substack.com/p/reality-aw...
"Reality Awaits" Will Be Loved By The Next Strokes Album (Which Will Be Hated)
Also: Reviews of new music by Frank Hurricane, Idle County, and Prairiewolf
stevenhyden.substack.com
"What if the French electronic duo Air were produced by Daniel Lanois?" @stevenhyden.bsky.social weighs in on Prairiewolf's Zone Poems. substack.com/home/post/p-...
OK, I'll say it: I love REALITY AWAITS! It's a v. enjoyable Strokes album! I wrote about why I feel that way, the early reactions to the record, the cyclical nature of Strokes backlashes, their current tour, and why young fans get them more than old fans. tinyurl.com/5eb2auna
"Reality Awaits" Will Be Loved By The Next Strokes Album (Which Will Be Hated)
Also: Reviews of new music by Frank Hurricane, Idle County, and Prairiewolf
tinyurl.com
RIP Glen Hansard. When I heard the news this morning I thought immediately of this amazing story he told about meeting Van Morrison at a young age. “Nice songs, nice voice, blah blah blah.” youtu.be/29abxJgCyOI?...
Glen Hansard meets Van Morrison
YouTube video by bannedfromchina
youtu.be
A reader asked me to write about the best lyricists right now under the age of 40. So I came up with 10 names, plus five things I look for when it comes to lyrics generally. tinyurl.com/4ec4v5kk
Ask A Music Critic: Who Are The Best Lyricists Right Now Under 40?
Here are my top 10 picks — who are you top young-ish wordsmiths?
tinyurl.com
Deerhunter Month at Evil Speakers concludes today with a conversation about 2012’s wild and rabid MONOMANIA. Here is their infamous performance of the title track on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. open.substack.com/pub/stevenhy...
🚨 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 I have a new book coming out on Sept. 8. It's about The Strokes and the evolution (or de-evolution) of rock bands in the 21st century. And you can pre-order it now! If you would like to know more I wrote about it here. tinyurl.com/msvtk5rm
Really enjoyed this as second-generation Rush fan. Looking forward to telling my Dad, the prototypical Rush Fan™️, that Sabrina Carpenter also loves his favorite band
Steven Hyden@stevenhyden.bsky.social · 2w agoI wrote about Rush's ongoing reunion tour (it's great!) and how the language around "nerd music" has moved from the prog-rock fringes to the center of pop music. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/on-rushs-r...
I wrote about Rush's ongoing reunion tour (it's great!) and how the language around "nerd music" has moved from the prog-rock fringes to the center of pop music. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/on-rushs-r...
On Rush's Reunion Tour and Why All Music Is "Nerd Music" Now
Also: New music by Miles Hewitt and a review of the new Deadhead doc "Summer Tour"
stevenhyden.substack.com
I wrote about “Summer Tour,” a new Gen Z Deadhead documentary screening in theaters nationwide for one-night only tonight. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/on-rushs-r...
I wrote about Rush's ongoing reunion tour (it's great!) and how the language around "nerd music" has moved from the prog-rock fringes to the center of pop music. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/on-rushs-r...
On Rush's Reunion Tour and Why All Music Is "Nerd Music" Now
Also: New music by Miles Hewitt and a review of the new Deadhead doc "Summer Tour"
stevenhyden.substack.com
In my latest Ask A Music Critic column, a reader asked for my opinion about Rick Beato and whether a music critic not knowing about the technical aspects of playing music is disqualifying. My answer probably won't surprise you! stevenhyden.substack.com/p/ask-a-musi...
Ask A Music Critic: Should A Music Critic Actually Know How To Play Music?
I can't play "Stairway." Should I even be publishing this newsletter?
stevenhyden.substack.com
This fall at Boswell Book Company! Preorder the book and reserve your spot now! @stevenhyden.bsky.social
Steven Hyden will discuss his new Strokes book with Matt Wild at Boswell Book Company in October
The October 15 event is free to attend, though spots are limited. Reserve your spot NOW.
milwaukeerecord.com
I wrote about the latest albums by the Rolling Stones and Jack White, playing blues as a way to stop time, how to survive your middle-aged "wilderness" period, and more. Plus reviews of Twisted Teens, Ultra Lights and John R. Miller! stevenhyden.substack.com/p/through-th...
Through The Past, Bluesily: The Rolling Stones and Jack White Ride On
Also: New music by Twisted Twins, John R. Miller, and Ultra Lights
stevenhyden.substack.com
I wrote about the latest albums by the Rolling Stones and Jack White, playing blues as a way to stop time, how to survive your middle-aged "wilderness" period, and more. Plus reviews of Twisted Teens, Ultra Lights and John R. Miller! stevenhyden.substack.com/p/through-th...
Through The Past, Bluesily: The Rolling Stones and Jack White Ride On
Also: New music by Twisted Twins, John R. Miller, and Ultra Lights
stevenhyden.substack.com
Deerhunter Month at Evil Speakers continues with a conversation about two great 2008 albums and the larger “normal” vs. “weird” indie rock divide that was growing at the time and this band transcended. open.substack.com/pub/stevenhy...
Catalog Club: Deerhunter's "Microcastle" and "Weird Era Cont." (2008)
Two great albums that encompass indie's "weird vs. normal" divide in the aughts
open.substack.com
Deerhunter Month at Evil Speakers continues with a conversation about two great 2008 albums and the larger “normal” vs. “weird” indie rock divide that was growing at the time and this band transcended. open.substack.com/pub/stevenhy...
Catalog Club: Deerhunter's "Microcastle" and "Weird Era Cont." (2008)
Two great albums that encompass indie's "weird vs. normal" divide in the aughts
open.substack.com
On July 24 Miles Hewitt will release VAINGLORY, an LP I've loved since I heard it a month or so ago. It's an American spin on spooky 70s British-style folk, with lyrics about AI and the end of the world. Heady stuff but gripping. I talked to him about it. uproxx.com/indie/miles-...
Miles Hewitt Makes Songs For The End Of The World
’Vainglory’ finds Hewitt achieving peak grandiosity.
uproxx.com
Hey, congrats to Charlotte Cornfield, who was just shortlisted for the Polaris Prize. Check out this interview, she's great!
Steven Hyden@stevenhyden.bsky.social · 4w agoHey, I hopped on Zoom and had a great conversation with Charlotte Cornfield, whose album HURTS LIKE HELL is one of my favorites of 2026 so far. I asked her why so many great songwriters come from Canada and I think we figured it out! stevenhyden.substack.com/p/in-convers...
I wrote about taking my son to see Bob Dylan for the first time. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/something-...
For the 30th anniversary of ODELAY, I did an overview of Beck's career, a fascinating journey from 20th century hipsterdom to 21st century Grammy bait. An allegory for so many cultural institutions, honestly. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/something-...
For the 30th anniversary of ODELAY, I did an overview of Beck's career, a fascinating journey from 20th century hipsterdom to 21st century Grammy bait. An allegory for so many cultural institutions, honestly. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/something-...
Hey, I hopped on Zoom and had a great conversation with Charlotte Cornfield, whose album HURTS LIKE HELL is one of my favorites of 2026 so far. I asked her why so many great songwriters come from Canada and I think we figured it out! stevenhyden.substack.com/p/in-convers...
In Conversation: Charlotte Cornfield's Canadian Excellence
I chat with the Toronto native about what Jeff Tweedy and Lucinda Williams taught her
stevenhyden.substack.com