Steven Hyden

My Favorite Songs Of February 2026 A handy playlist for keeping up with the tunes rocking Evil Speakers lately

Hey, I made a playlist of my favorite songs of February 2026. tinyurl.com/yz44z2kp

My Favorite Songs Of February 2026 A handy playlist for keeping up with the tunes rocking Evil Speakers lately

Hey, I made a playlist of my favorite songs of February 2026. tinyurl.com/yz44z2kp

Harry Styles, "Dull 2020s Pop Guy" Archetype Also: Reviews of new releases by U2 (surprisingly good!) and Mitski (unsurprisingly good!)

I wrote about Harry Styles and the crew of 2020s interchangeable and painfully boring pop hunks he's inspired, from Benson Boone to Role Model to Sombr to Yungblud to Alex Warren.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/harry-styl...

Oh man, this brings back memories. (Upping the snark a couple notches was an AVC editor's job back then, lol.)

Harry Styles, "Dull 2020s Pop Guy" Archetype Also: Reviews of new releases by U2 (surprisingly good!) and Mitski (unsurprisingly good!)

I wrote about Harry Styles and the crew of 2020s interchangeable and painfully boring pop hunks he's inspired, from Benson Boone to Role Model to Sombr to Yungblud to Alex Warren.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/harry-styl...

Catalog Club+: Daniel Rossen In Conversation Grizzly Bear's singer/songwriter/guitarist gives his perspective on the band's work

As an addendum to my series this month on Grizzly Bear, I chatted with Daniel Rossen for 80 mins about each of their records and their place in the indie rock world of the aughts and 2010s. His candor is v. illuminating and entertaining, to say the least!
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/catalog-cl...

Catalog Club+: Daniel Rossen In Conversation Grizzly Bear's singer/songwriter/guitarist gives his perspective on the band's work

As an addendum to my series this month on Grizzly Bear, I chatted with Daniel Rossen for 80 mins about each of their records and their place in the indie rock world of the aughts and 2010s. His candor is v. illuminating and entertaining, to say the least!
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/catalog-cl...

The Best Mitski Songs, Ranked A walk through the indie star’s catalog ahead of her new album ’Nothing’s About To Happen To Me.’

Hey, I wrote about Mitski, her new album (great), and her whole catalog (also great).
uproxx.com/indie/best-m...

The Best Mitski Songs, Ranked A walk through the indie star’s catalog ahead of her new album ’Nothing’s About To Happen To Me.’

Hey, I wrote about Mitski, her new album (great), and her whole catalog (also great).
uproxx.com/indie/best-m...

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Painted Ruins" (2017) The "Gaucho" of aughts-era indie? Yes, allow me to explain

My Catalog Club series on Grizzly Bear concludes with PAINTED RUINS, the underrated (for now?) swan song that feels like the Steely Dan's GAUCHO of aughts-era indie.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/catalog-cl...

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Painted Ruins" (2017) The "Gaucho" of aughts-era indie? Yes, allow me to explain

My Catalog Club series on Grizzly Bear concludes with PAINTED RUINS, the underrated (for now?) swan song that feels like the Steely Dan's GAUCHO of aughts-era indie.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/catalog-cl...

The (Still) Confusing Saga Of Pinegrove Also: The riff-y, feel-good indie rock of Ovven's great new "Gnawing At The Cord"

I wrote about the landmark indie-rock album CARDINAL by Pinegrove, which I was inspired to revisit by @chrisdeville.bsky.social. Though I have a pretty different take on the album and their somewhat cursed career arc.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/the-still-...

I also wrote about Ovven's GNAWING AT THE CORD, an album multiple people said I would love and they were right. Probably my fave LP of early 2026.
tinyurl.com/3sm9ff26

I’ve had “Old Friends” stuck in my head since reading that @chrisdeville.bsky.social piece and no, not mad about it at all. Then Hyden nails it as usual.

The (Still) Confusing Saga Of Pinegrove Also: The riff-y, feel-good indie rock of Ovven's great new "Gnawing At The Cord"

I wrote about the landmark indie-rock album CARDINAL by Pinegrove, which I was inspired to revisit by @chrisdeville.bsky.social. Though I have a pretty different take on the album and their somewhat cursed career arc.
stevenhyden.substack.com/p/the-still-...

There Was Nothing You Could Do A thought-provoking exploration of Bruce Springsteen’s iconic album, Born in the U.S.A.—a record that both chronicled and foreshadowed the changing tide...

featuring the god @stevenhyden.bsky.social, legit springsteen scholar and 'the rising' skeptic; buy his bruce book THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO now, it rules www.dacapopress.com/titles/steve...

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Shields" (2012) Is this their peak? Or the beginning of the end? Or both? Or neither?

My Catalog Club series on Grizzly Bear continues this month with a conversation about a great album and a transitional year for indie rock.
tinyurl.com/4yfzpkzj

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Shields" (2012) Is this their peak? Or the beginning of the end? Or both? Or neither?

My Catalog Club series on Grizzly Bear continues this month with a conversation about a great album and a transitional year for indie rock.
tinyurl.com/4yfzpkzj

1st Annual* Power Ranking Of Middle-Aged Indie Singer-Songwriters Also: Recommendation Corner on a new (bonkers) Beach Boys box set

I wrote about the forthcoming Bill Callahan album (it is of course v. good) and the taxonomy of a genre I know very well: Middle-Aged Indie Singer-Songwriter Music (MAISSM).
tinyurl.com/yvsxv483

I wrote about the fascinating new Beach Boys box set.
tinyurl.com/yvsxv483

"Bill Callahan could sing the ingredients of Stove Top Stuffing and make it feel like he was revealing the sorriest thing he ever did, long ago, in a different life."

1st Annual* Power Ranking Of Middle-Aged Indie Singer-Songwriters Also: Recommendation Corner on a new (bonkers) Beach Boys box set

I wrote about the forthcoming Bill Callahan album (it is of course v. good) and the taxonomy of a genre I know very well: Middle-Aged Indie Singer-Songwriter Music (MAISSM).
tinyurl.com/yvsxv483

36FTVQ: Dave's Picks Vol. 57 Steven and Rob discuss the new Grateful Dead live release from Chicago in 1978

Happy to be back doing one of my favorite things: Talking about Grateful Dead live albums that have "Picks" in the title with my best pal Rob Mitchum.

tinyurl.com/52m65emf

36FTVQ: Dave's Picks Vol. 57 Steven and Rob discuss the new Grateful Dead live release from Chicago in 1978

Guess who's back?

36FTVQ: Dave's Picks Vol. 57 Steven and Rob discuss the new Grateful Dead live release from Chicago in 1978

Happy to be back doing one of my favorite things: Talking about Grateful Dead live albums that have "Picks" in the title with my best pal Rob Mitchum.

tinyurl.com/52m65emf

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest" (2009) A deep dive on one of the best indie-rock albums of the early 21st century

This month's Catalog Club (the book club for albums) series on Grizzly Bear continues today with a conversation about one of the best indie albums of the 2000s, VECKATIMEST.
tinyurl.com/4btbrhfb

Catalog Club: Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest" (2009) A deep dive on one of the best indie-rock albums of the early 21st century

This month's Catalog Club (the book club for albums) series on Grizzly Bear continues today with a conversation about one of the best indie albums of the 2000s, VECKATIMEST.
tinyurl.com/4btbrhfb

Jukebox Jury #2: Mama, I'm Not Coming Home Reviews of 16 recent singles — the good, the bad, and the ugly (two out of three ain't bad, Jelly Roll!). Plus: Appreciation for Ratboys and Joyce Manor

For the latest Jukebox Jury column I wrote about 16 recent songs and graded them, Christgau Consumer Guide style. The hits, the misses, and the in-betweens!
tinyurl.com/y43nvurk

Jukebox Jury #2: Mama, I'm Not Coming Home Reviews of 16 recent singles — the good, the bad, and the ugly (two out of three ain't bad, Jelly Roll!). Plus: Appreciation for Ratboys and Joyce Manor

For the latest Jukebox Jury column I wrote about 16 recent songs and graded them, Christgau Consumer Guide style. The hits, the misses, and the in-betweens!
tinyurl.com/y43nvurk