Rolling Stone Music Now

In this episode, we swallow our pride and take a hard look at underwhelming – and sometimes downright mean –Rolling Stone reviews of albums that are now acknowledged classic, from Led Zeppelin I to Weezer's "Pinkerton." Also: new music from Beck, and publicity stunts gone wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rolling Stone’s David Fear, Rob Sheffield and Nathan Brackett delve into Lonely Island’s new Justin Bieber send-up, “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” and ask the bigger question: Why are the best movies about music so often mockumentaries? Plus: New music from Car Seat Headrest, Joey Purp and Hotelier; and readers weigh in on Phish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How much would you pay for a photo with Drake? Okay, now what if he throws in a goodie bag with a special “6 God” air freshener? Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene, Jason Newman and Nathan Brackett take a tour of the most deluxe – and often absurd – concert VIP packages available to superfans this summer, from Guns N’ Roses to Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato. Plus: The Magnetic Zeros hippie-folk hangover, Ariana Grande, Macy Gray and Prince’s lost music.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Simon is still restless after all these years, as he proves on his excellent new album “Stranger to Stranger”; he recently spoke to Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene about his adventurous recording process, why it’s not always easy being Paul Simon – and why he won’t being touring with Art Garfunkel anytime soon. Plus: editors Nathan Brackett and Brittany Spanos go deep into the new album from feel-good Chicago MC Chance the Rapper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Radiohead have been one of rock’s most exciting bands for decades, but many fans had mixed feelings about 2011’s The King of Limbs. Is their first album in five years a return to form? Rolling Stone’s Nathan Brackett, Brian Hiatt and Andy Greene go deep on the gorgeous A Moon Shaped Pool. Plus: Author Mark Binelli goes deep into the myth and reality of a singular Fifties rocker with his new book “Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ All-Time Greatest Hits”; and readers respond to the new Blink-182. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do you like what you like? And what does that mean? Rolling Stone executive editor Nathan Brackett sits down with Tom Vanderbilt, author of “You May Also Like: Taste in an Age of Endless Choice” (Knopf) to talk about the real roots of music taste, why people stop finding new bands at age 23, whether Pink Floyd appeals more to Republicans or Democrats, and much more. Plus: Inside the new Beyonce and Drake albums, and readers respond to Pearl Jam’s new tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many pop stars and rockers have causes - but when are they really able to make a difference, and when should they keep their mouth shut? Rolling Stone music and politics editors run down the most successful examples of pop activism, from the No Nukes concert in 1978 to Bruce Springsteen's North Carolina boycott. Plus: new music from D.R.A.M., Cate Le Bon and Pity Sex Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special all-Prince episode, writer Brian Hiatt remembers his 2014 daylong visit with the Purple One at Paisley Park for an aborted Rolling Stone cover story, and contributing editors Rob Sheffield and Jon Dolan go deep into some of their favorite Prince songs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Punk’s not dead! For the 40th anniversary of the Ramones’ first album, we took a crack at naming the greatest punk rock albums of all time, from “Never Mind the Bollocks” to Bikini Kill. In this episode, Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield, Jon Dolan, Nathan Brackett and Elisabeth Garber-Paul go deep into the moshpit. Plus: new music from Paul Simon, Schoolboy Q and rockers Whitney.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the epic life and music of Merle Haggard, the only outlaw-country superstar who actually spent time in prison and rode the rails. Plus: new music from Drake; Charles Bradley’s soul explosion; California rockers Bleached; and readers talk back to our 100 Greatest Drummers list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rolling Stone’s David Fricke talks about Iggy Pop’s new album with Josh Homme – and why it might be the Stooges great’s last. Plus: The National unleash their secret Grateful Dead obsession with an all-star album of covers; new music from Sturgill Simpson; and reader mail on our Weezer coverage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when a big rock band loses its head, figuratively speaking? We look at the best and worst case scenarios, from AC/DC to Van Halen to Stone Temple Pilots. Also: new music from Arctic Monkey Alex Turner’s side project Last Shadow Puppets, Zayn and Australian indie rockers the Goon Sax. Plus: readers respond to the death of Phife of A Tribe Called Quest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After decades of acrimony, Axl Rose and Slash are getting back together onstage. Can they pull off the rock reunion of the year? Associate editor Andy Greene and senior writer Brian Hiatt take a deep dive into the monster band’s ups and downs; plus: new music from Andrew Bird and Fiona Apple, Anohni and Big Thief; and what did Beatles producer George Martin actually do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bob Dylan just dropped a magical treasure trove of music, film footage and other archives onto the world; RS editors Rob Sheffield and Andy Greene delve deep into the heart of this Dylanologists’ dream, and explain why you will have to go to Oklahoma to see it. Plus: Kendrick Lamar and the (possible) return of jazz; Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO's new series "Vinyl" – produced by Martin Scorcese and Mick Jagger – aims to capture the wild energy of the music business in the 1970s. So what does it get right about rock and roll, and what does it gets wrong? Editors Rob Sheffield, Alex Morris and David Fear debate. Plus: we answer very emotional reader mail about our recent "Greatest Emo Albums" list, and contributors Suzy Exposito and Brittany Spanos attempt to answer, once and for all, the big question: What the hell is emo? Also: Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos talk about their favorite new songs from Car Seat Headrest, Parquet Courts and Mitski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo talks about the unusual places he looked for inspiration for Weezer’s upcoming “White Album” – among them, the beach, and … Tinder! Plus: the fabulous FKA Twigs’ new song; lost Elliott Smith tracks; and shoegaze superstars DIIV. With Rolling Stone’s Nathan Brackett, Jon Dolan, Andy Greene, Annie Licata, Jason Newman and Brittany Spanos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A deep dive into Kanye West’s pained, fragmented new album “The Life of Pablo” with Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield, Brittany Spanos, Simon Vozick-Levinson and Nathan Brackett. Plus: Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett makes ramen cool; and, in our first debate, writer David Browne mounts a passionate, lonely defense of the compact disc, as Brian Hiatt argues that it can’t get to history’s scrapheap soon enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Almost Famous" director Crowe remembers his friend Glenn Frey, whom he met as a teenage correspondent covering the Eagles for Rolling Stone in the 1970s. Also: Does every gold record have an asterisk now? Inside the new rule changes which some insiders say are cheapening the music sales award. Plus: Beyoncé's "Formation"; New York rockers Sunflower Bean, a.k.a. "the coolest band in the world"; and new music from Chairlift. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Hillary Clinton really a Lana Del Rey fan? Is Chris Christie's favorite Springsteen album really "Magic"? And why does Ben Carson like "MacArthur Park" so much? Rolling Stone writers and critics delve deep into the presidential candidates' music tastes. Plus: New music from Rostam of Vampire Weekend; the real meaning of the Grammys; and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a decade of quiet, Bowie embarked on a remarkable comeback in his final years, even as he struggled with illness; the inside story, featuring an interview with Bowie's longtime producer Tony Visconti. Also: Beck, Mick Jagger and Nile Rodgers remember Bowie; Rihanna's "Anti" and the age of the surprise album; and reader mail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices