Ken Tucker

It's the year's best critical appraisal of pop stardom disguised as a fan's ecstatic notes. Finally, I want to remind you of a woman who is not a hitmaker, whose 2024 work was among the year's finest. Arriving in an election year, Carsey Blanton's glowingly political collection, After the Revolution, tried to imagine a better world after a period of upheaval and chaos.

Where the other artists I played locate their feminism in dance pop, Carsey Blanton mixes folk and rock distinctively. And her version of sexual politics is broad enough to encompass a class critique as well.

Where the other artists I played locate their feminism in dance pop, Carsey Blanton mixes folk and rock distinctively. And her version of sexual politics is broad enough to encompass a class critique as well.

Where the other artists I played locate their feminism in dance pop, Carsey Blanton mixes folk and rock distinctively. And her version of sexual politics is broad enough to encompass a class critique as well.

While Blanton is singing from the sidelines of superstardom, some stars might do well to listen to her for an example of how to make good music that also refers to subjects other than self-care. Nothing wrong with expanding your already huge base by being even more ambitious in the new year.

While Blanton is singing from the sidelines of superstardom, some stars might do well to listen to her for an example of how to make good music that also refers to subjects other than self-care. Nothing wrong with expanding your already huge base by being even more ambitious in the new year.

While Blanton is singing from the sidelines of superstardom, some stars might do well to listen to her for an example of how to make good music that also refers to subjects other than self-care. Nothing wrong with expanding your already huge base by being even more ambitious in the new year.

Coming up, we hear some new Christmas songs. This is Fresh Air.

Coming up, we hear some new Christmas songs. This is Fresh Air.

Coming up, we hear some new Christmas songs. This is Fresh Air.

There are two ways to go when recording Christmas music, devout or irreverent. By devout, I don't mean somberly religious as much as I mean sincere and respectful. Few pop performers do devout sincerity more assiduously than Ben Folds, whose earnest tone is ideal for holiday songs.

There are two ways to go when recording Christmas music, devout or irreverent. By devout, I don't mean somberly religious as much as I mean sincere and respectful. Few pop performers do devout sincerity more assiduously than Ben Folds, whose earnest tone is ideal for holiday songs.

There are two ways to go when recording Christmas music, devout or irreverent. By devout, I don't mean somberly religious as much as I mean sincere and respectful. Few pop performers do devout sincerity more assiduously than Ben Folds, whose earnest tone is ideal for holiday songs.

There are two ways to go when recording Christmas music, devout or irreverent. By devout, I don't mean somberly religious as much as I mean sincere and respectful. Few pop performers do devout sincerity more assiduously than Ben Folds, whose earnest tone is ideal for holiday songs.

There are two ways to go when recording Christmas music, devout or irreverent. By devout, I don't mean somberly religious as much as I mean sincere and respectful. Few pop performers do devout sincerity more assiduously than Ben Folds, whose earnest tone is ideal for holiday songs.

Folds has a new album called Slayer, as in Christmas Slay, though I'm sure, given his puckish sense of humor, he meant the title to echo the name of the thrash metal band Slayer, spelled differently, and authors of albums such as Rain in Blood. Ben Folds, by contrast, wants to reign in heaven, blessed to sing his new would-be Christmas standard called Christmastime Rhyme.

Folds has a new album called Slayer, as in Christmas Slay, though I'm sure, given his puckish sense of humor, he meant the title to echo the name of the thrash metal band Slayer, spelled differently, and authors of albums such as Rain in Blood. Ben Folds, by contrast, wants to reign in heaven, blessed to sing his new would-be Christmas standard called Christmastime Rhyme.

Folds has a new album called Slayer, as in Christmas Slay, though I'm sure, given his puckish sense of humor, he meant the title to echo the name of the thrash metal band Slayer, spelled differently, and authors of albums such as Rain in Blood. Ben Folds, by contrast, wants to reign in heaven, blessed to sing his new would-be Christmas standard called Christmastime Rhyme.

Folds has a new album called Slayer, as in Christmas Slay, though I'm sure, given his puckish sense of humor, he meant the title to echo the name of the thrash metal band Slayer, spelled differently, and authors of albums such as Rain in Blood. Ben Folds, by contrast, wants to reign in heaven, blessed to sing his new would-be Christmas standard called Christmas Time Rhyme.

Folds has a new album called Slayer, as in Christmas Slay, though I'm sure, given his puckish sense of humor, he meant the title to echo the name of the thrash metal band Slayer, spelled differently, and authors of albums such as Rain in Blood. Ben Folds, by contrast, wants to reign in heaven, blessed to sing his new would-be Christmas standard called Christmas Time Rhyme.