Sun Ra

Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Albert Ayler, the Velvet Underground, Eric Dolphy, Dusty Springfield, and the other artists who changed music forever

From 10cc to XTC, from London to Lagos, from 7” singles to side-long epics, and from punk to prog to ambient to disco, our list of the greatest songs from one of music’s greatest decades

How the space jazz icon’s radical and regal garments projected a hopeful realm outside of the very troubled real world.

Andy Beta explores Sun Ra and Afrofuturism's sphere of influence on modern day artists, from the astral techno of Hieroglyphic Being to the jazz-influenced eclecticism of Afrikan Sciences.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra's birth, and his interstellar take on jazz and funk continues to live on and inspire to this day. Jason Heller chronicles the pioneering Afrofuturist's career and offers a playlist of highlights.

Unflinching artist autobiographies, early masters of rock criticism, and scene-defining oral histories—these books about bands could be your life

Stereolab's Tim Gane tells us about the best sound check he's ever heard, brags about his new turntable with the funny name, and will take a classic pinball machine over a video game any day. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]

The magisterial King Khan mouths off on the Canadian welfare system, Little Richard, Germany, racism, black metal, having sex with cheese-- pretty much everything except his latest release, The Supreme Genius of King Khan & the Shrines, a Vice Records compilation that collects tracks from obscure singles and mostly European-only releases.

Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning tells us the best bands to see abbreviated sets by, laments the firing of his favorite radio DJ, and explains why his new dog has a Judas Priest theme song. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]

Jamie Lidell speaks to us from the privacy of some venue's restroom, trying unsuccesfully to avoid picking his favorite songs, bands, and movies-- a feat that requires him to stretch his memory to fantastically retro lengths. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]

You can look for good advice out there everywhere-- from your friends, from strangers, from movies or from books. In ...

From exhaustive genre surveys to examinations of a single song, here are some music-related books to enjoy over Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer.