In honor of the Queen of Soul, who died today at 76: What’s your favorite Aretha Franklin song?

Mitski makes music about inexpressible emotions—urgent, intimate dispatches that seem to come from her very soul. At least, that’s how many, including this writer, have characterized her past work. And there’s something romantic about the idea that someone has captured the secret fears and desires that perch on the…

What Are You Listening To? is a weekly run-down of what A.V. Club staffers are streaming. Listen to these songs and more on our Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new stuff.

Foxing reaches for the skies on its biggest and best record, country singer Shooter Jennings fires off a spotty but enjoyable new collection, and more in this roundup of new releases.

What Are You Listening To? is a weekly rundown of what A.V. Club staffers are streaming. Listen to these songs and more on our Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new stuff.

I’m not entirely sure what the question is here, Otto. But I’m happy to put in my two cents about band names. I am one of those folks that didn’t realize The Beatles wasn’t about bugs. I found out really recently, this year I think.

YG stays dangerous, while Helena Hauff’s Qualm is her rawest collection to date, and The Nature Of Imitation is a glorious return to chaos for Dorian Concept. These, plus Mac Miller and GAIKA in this week’s notable new releases.

What Are You Listening To? is a weekly rundown of what A.V. Club staffers are streaming. Listen to these songs and more on our Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new stuff.

The last weeks of summer may be fast approaching, but at least they’ll have a stellar soundtrack. In addition to Nicki Minaj’s overdue Queen, August brings new releases from Interpol, Blood Orange, Mitski, YG, Steve Hauschildt, Animal Collective, Wild Nothing, and many more. These are the 31 new albums we’re most…

1. The Beatles, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”
2. The Beatles, “She Loves You”
3. Louis Armstrong, “Hello, Dolly!”
4. Roy Orbison, “Oh, Pretty Woman”
5. The Beach Boys, “I Get Around”
6. Dean Martin, “Everybody Loves Somebody”
7. Mary Wells, “My Guy”
8. Gale Garnett, “We’ll Sing In The Sunshine”
9. J. Frank Wilson & The…

What Are You Listening To? is a weekly run-down of what A.V. Club staffers are streaming. Listen to these songs and more on our Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new stuff.

There wasn’t much—an occasional fight maybe. Once in a while some guys would get kicked out.

Chicago’s weather this weekend felt like a hug from a very large, sweaty man, with rain looming over nearly every set at Pitchfork Fest; and when the sun made a rare appearance, it was brutal. Fortunately, it didn’t stop anyone from taking the stage: Acts big and small blew us away this weekend, from hometown hero…

In this week’s notable new releases: Hive Mind is a step forward for The Internet, while Devouring Radiant Light glimpses a more refined Skeletonwitch, and Ty Segall & White Fence mostly go folk on Joy.

Thanks to tight chemistry, killer hooks, and a distinctive sound that’s both lo-fi and retro-pop smooth, New Jersey’s Dentist have managed to stand out amid a sea of like-minded musical acts. The band’s sunny indie-surf sound and energetic, four-on-the-floor rock belies the subtle and dark lyrics often hiding beneath…

The venue’s security checked the guest list one more time. HG Locks wasn’t on it. It slowly began to sink in: No one was expecting him to perform; he had been scammed.

What Are You Listening To? is a weekly run-down of what A.V. Club staffers are streaming. This week, we’re looking at tracks by artists we’re excited to see at the Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend. Listen to these songs and more on our Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new stuff.

A couple of years ago, a strange blip appeared on the music-sales matrix. Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” an infectious dollop of alt-rock ear candy that hit the radio like a sugar rush a decade and a half prior, was suddenly back in heavy rotation. There it was, sitting pretty at No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs…

Dirty Projectors’ Lamp Lit Prose calls to mind the band’s late-’00s peak, while Deafheaven reach higher on album No. 4, and Lotic softens their approach on debut Power. These, plus Pram’s first album in 11 years in this week’s notable new releases.

Reggie Watts is a performer that defies categorization. He’s an actor, comedian, game-show host, late-night band leader, improvisational musician, and now, electro-pop star. Earlier this year, Watts dropped Casual High Technology, the debut album from his collaborative side project Wajatta with DJ and producer John…