Music
Review of the week: Cry Baby by Vince Staples
Over a foreboding rock soundtrack, the California rapper delivers hard-edged, compelling social commentary on Trump, violence, Black stereotypes and more, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
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Review of the Week: The Color of Rain by Aja Monet
The American blues poet’s new album moves from neo-soul to spiky social commentary in a thrilling, sonically inventive mix, writes Jude Rogers
Reviews
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Review of the Week: Rosalía at the O2
The Spanish star’s multifaith, multilingual live spectacular – featuring saints, sinners, an orchestra, and an incense-burner overhead – would make anyone a believer, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
Reviews
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The Recommender: Gwenno
The Welsh-Cornish singer, whose summer tour starts next month, picks her current cultural favourites
Music
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Review of the Week: The Music Is Black: A British Story at V&A East
An ambitious exhibition launching the V&A's brand new outpost shies away from the hardest parts of the social history behind the tunes, but tells its story with verve, writes music critic Damien Morris
Reviews
+2
I was a teenage Pet Shop Boys fan. Decades later, they’re always on my mind
As a 13-year-old in Saudi, Arwa Haider wore the band’s T-shirts under her abaya. Now a new book and gigs by the duo, and a major exhibition on youth culture, are shining a light on the overlooked power of fandom
Culture
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Review of the Week: Sexistential by Robyn
Babies, boobs and pop bangers! The Swedish star is back with a euphoric new album embracing the joy of motherhood and messy, middle-aged desire, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
Reviews
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The Recommender: Arlo Parks
The Mercury award-winning singer-songwriter picks her current cultural favourites
Culture
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'I realised I had to do it for women’: Hole’s Melissa Auf der Maur on Courtney Love, capitalism and sisterhood
As her new memoir is published, the Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist answers the Nerve Q&A on love, sex, the corrupting effect of money and patriarchy – and tells Kate Hutchinson how everything changed in the 90s, the ‘last analogue decade’
Q&A
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Review of the Week: Lily Allen on tour
The kitsch live version of the singer’s gut-punch breakup album West End Girl feels, appropriately, like theatre, but somehow lacks a joyful climax, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
Reviews
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The Recommender: Shabaka
The jazz star and genre-defying saxophonist who made his name with groups including Sons of Kemet shares his current cultural favourites
Culture
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Review of the Week: Sessa live at Rich Mix
As Brazilian music enjoys a resurgence in Britain, São Paulo’s rising star troubadour visits a rainy London and lifts the crowd to a higher, happier plane, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
Culture
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Review: World’s Gone Wrong by Lucinda Williams
The high priestess of Americana is getting more and more politically charged as she enters her 70s – with guest collaborators including Big Thief helping her address the moral collapse of the US on her new album, writes Nerve music critic Kate Hutchinson
Reviews
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The Recommender: Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods
The Nottingham duo's frontman picks his current cultural favourites
Culture
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Brian Eno: Let's make Together for Palestine's record this year's Christmas No 1
The artists behind this autumn's sold-out Palestine solidarity concert have just released a charity record, Lullaby. Here the musician and activist explains why it matters
Music
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Review of the Week: Jacob Alon at Koko
This year’s breakout star writes folk songs of breathtaking intimacy – but even in a venue as big as Koko, they have the power to make time stand still, writes Kate Hutchinson
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The Recommender: Peaches
The musician, performance artist and punk provocateur shares her latest (counter-)cultural discoveries
Music
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‘I’m interested in humour!’: How Isobel Waller-Bridge made her new album with Hoovers, shoes and balls
The film and classical composer talks to Kate Hutchinson about avant-garde music, ASMR and the whirlwind experience of working on Fleabag
Culture
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Musician Richard Hawley: ‘I'd abolish the role of prime minister. I'm half serious!'
The Sheffield rocker, in rehearsal for his homecoming tour, answers the Nerve Q&A - on songs, socialism, swearing ... and the joy of dogs
Q&A
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Review of the week: Wet Leg at the Royal Albert Hall
They may have started off as self-deprecating jokers, but this pulsating live show is final proof that the Isle of Wight rockers are now something much bigger, writes Kate Hutchinson
Reviews
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