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Steven Hyden

@stevenhyden.bsky.social
13K followers 86 following 233 posts

The Ween Of American Rock Critics. Author of six books. My book on The Strokes is out 9/8/26. Indiecast dude. Writing at Evil Speakers: stevenhyden.substack.com

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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 6h
Hey, last month I was in LA to interview Josh Homme for Indiecast. Here’s the first 10 minutes, you can hear the whole thing now on Amazon Music. For everybody else: More audio/video to come! www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWCv...
youtube.com
Josh Homme Picks THE BEST ALBUM He Ever Made
YouTube video by Indiecast
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 8h
I wrote about the new Cameron Winter live album, which manages to both normalize his music a bit and mythologize his stature without seeming precious or pretentious. (Reviewed four other records as well!) tinyurl.com/487x29cz
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I mean 10/14!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The latest Taylor Swift repackage is the worst reviewed album (statistically speaking) of 2026. I used that as a starting point to write about the Covid lockdown era of music (which supercharged TS' career) and how that strange time looks and feels now. tinyurl.com/4xe46nuh
tinyurl.com
“Eddington” But It’s About “WAP” and Taylor Swift: A Survey Of Covid Era Music
A trip back to a time that wasn’t that long ago but feels like it was a long time ago
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Excited to chop it with Josh on 10/15 at Exile in Bookville in Chicago! Come thru if you're in the area!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The latest Taylor Swift repackage is the worst reviewed album (statistically speaking) of 2026. I used that as a starting point to write about the Covid lockdown era of music (which supercharged TS' career) and how that strange time looks and feels now. tinyurl.com/4xe46nuh
tinyurl.com
“Eddington” But It’s About “WAP” and Taylor Swift: A Survey Of Covid Era Music
A trip back to a time that wasn’t that long ago but feels like it was a long time ago
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Hey, next week I'm going on tour! Come see me in Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison. The Upper Heartland Tour! I'll be with @joshterry.bsky.socialin Chicago and @bymattwild.bsky.social in Milwaukee. Come thru!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I got to know Kirstin Robinson's work when she broke the Chaotic Good story earlier this year. Reached out & had a great talk aboutcovering music's "axis of evil" like AI, digital marketing, streaming, etc. (Chaotic Good is bigger than ever apparently.) tinyurl.com/y5pjfffp
tinyurl.com
A Talk About AI, Chaotic Good and Music’s “Axis Of Evil” with Kristin Robinson
I chat with the Billboard senior writer about the dark corners of the modern music biz
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I wrote about the new RUBBER SOUL box set and the fussy comparisons of various mixes (Giles Martin, 2009, 1988, etc.) and also tried to figure out where RUBBER SOUL lands in my personal Beatles albums ranking (and why ranking Beatles albums is fun). tinyurl.com/83tzu6wz
tinyurl.com
Give Me Your Ranking Of Beatles Albums (Here’s Mine)
The new “Rubber Soul” box set is a good excuse to discuss rock’s most vaunted catalog
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I wrote about the new RUBBER SOUL box set and the fussy comparisons of various mixes (Giles Martin, 2009, 1988, etc.) and also tried to figure out where RUBBER SOUL lands in my personal Beatles albums ranking (and why ranking Beatles albums is fun). tinyurl.com/83tzu6wz
tinyurl.com
Give Me Your Ranking Of Beatles Albums (Here’s Mine)
The new “Rubber Soul” box set is a good excuse to discuss rock’s most vaunted catalog
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
October is John Prine month at Evil Speakers. In honor of what would’ve been his 80th birthday on 10/10, I’ll be discussing a JP album each Monday, starting w. 1971’s self-titled, loaded with classics like “Sam Stone,” one of the saddest/best songs ever. tinyurl.com/bs6d927k
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Drew Morton @damorton.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The spouse hooked me up with the new @stevenhyden.bsky.social joint.
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
October is John Prine month at Evil Speakers. In honor of what would’ve been his 80th birthday on 10/10, I’ll be discussing a JP album each Monday, starting w. 1971’s self-titled, loaded with classics like “Sam Stone,” one of the saddest/best songs ever. tinyurl.com/bs6d927k
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
My Recommendation Corner pick this week is Wishy's NATURE PILL. One of the catchiest pure-pop guitar rock records I've heard in a minute. Blast it all weekend! tinyurl.com/5bf2yyt4
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Hey, the Wall Street Journal reviewed my book! “A deft and entertaining consideration of recent rock history and the cultural forces that have shaped it.” www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
wsj.com
‘Is This It’ Review: A Big Job for One Band
With the arrival of the Strokes’ 2001 debut album, critics predicted the band would return the best in rock history to the top of pop culture.
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Hey, I put together a playlist of favorite songs from September 2026! tinyurl.com/5df3hnnz
tinyurl.com
My Favorite Songs Of September 2026
A handy playlist to keep up with the music currently moving Evil Speakers
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Hey, the Wall Street Journal reviewed my book! “A deft and entertaining consideration of recent rock history and the cultural forces that have shaped it.” www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
wsj.com
‘Is This It’ Review: A Big Job for One Band
With the arrival of the Strokes’ 2001 debut album, critics predicted the band would return the best in rock history to the top of pop culture.
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In my big weekly column I wrote about musical “wilderness” periods, i.e. those eras when you’re not considered as cool or genius or popular as you used to be. Which happens to be the parts of the career arc I find most fascinating! tinyurl.com/5bf2yyt4
tinyurl.com
The Most Interesting Musical “Wilderness” Periods, Ranked
A tribute to mid-career crises! Also: Reviews of new albums by Greg Freeman and Wishy
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I wrote about the album out this week by Greg Freeman, who has made one of the year's great "indie rock-sounding" indie rock records. tinyurl.com/5bf2yyt4
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
There are 24 more wilderness eras discussed after this. tinyurl.com/5bf2yyt4
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In my big weekly column I wrote about musical “wilderness” periods, i.e. those eras when you’re not considered as cool or genius or popular as you used to be. Which happens to be the parts of the career arc I find most fascinating! tinyurl.com/5bf2yyt4
tinyurl.com
The Most Interesting Musical “Wilderness” Periods, Ranked
A tribute to mid-career crises! Also: Reviews of new albums by Greg Freeman and Wishy
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Reposted by Steven Hyden
Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wrote about seeing Johnny Blue Skies aka Sturgill Simpson this weekend, almost exactly two years to the day after he played my favorite live gig of the 2020s so far. This recent night was special, too, though the arena was only about 2/3rds full. tinyurl.com/ccv8ewz9
tinyurl.com
Scene Report: Johnny Blue Skies Is The Best Live Arena Act Going Right Now
The question is: Can Sturgill Simpson actually sell out these arenas on his current tour?
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Rob Mitchum @robmitchum.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Saw Sturgill last night and agree with all of this. Some of it sounded almost exactly like '97 Phish, and I don't say that lightly!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wrote about seeing Johnny Blue Skies aka Sturgill Simpson this weekend, almost exactly two years to the day after he played my favorite live gig of the 2020s so far. This recent night was special, too, though the arena was only about 2/3rds full. tinyurl.com/ccv8ewz9
tinyurl.com
Scene Report: Johnny Blue Skies Is The Best Live Arena Act Going Right Now
The question is: Can Sturgill Simpson actually sell out these arenas on his current tour?
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I've interviewed Craig Finn several times over the years and it's always a great conversation. I was honored to be on the other side of equation this time, as a guest on Craig's great podcast, talking about my book IS THIS IT. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com
Steven Hyden
Podcast Episode · That's How I Remember It · September 30 · 56m
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For my latest Ask A Music Critic column, a reader inquired about Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" and the recent conversation about what it means to be totally unfamiliar with the most popular song in America for about six months running. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/ask-a-musi...
stevenhyden.substack.com
Ask A Music Critic: Does It Matter That I Haven’t Heard The Year’s Most Popular Song?
Or: What does it mean to have a No. 1 song for almost six months in 2026 anyway?
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Joel Reamer @pettyintrigues.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Steven missed a nice ouroboros (or whatever) here: the boyfriend who Chooses Texas in the video is played by Luke Grimes, star of the mentioned TV comparison “Marshals.”
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Jamie Fantana @jamiefantana.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
read the new @stevenhyden.bsky.social book “is this it?” took me a week, which for someone with severe adhd is a miracle. i devoured it and it made me spin off into thoughts on rock, the aughts, time, aging, and how charming the music video for “someday” is. may do a substack about it later
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
For my latest Ask A Music Critic column, a reader inquired about Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" and the recent conversation about what it means to be totally unfamiliar with the most popular song in America for about six months running. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/ask-a-musi...
stevenhyden.substack.com
Ask A Music Critic: Does It Matter That I Haven’t Heard The Year’s Most Popular Song?
Or: What does it mean to have a No. 1 song for almost six months in 2026 anyway?
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Southern Accents @southernaccentspod.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We sat down with the hardest working man in rock criticism to chat about his new book, "Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise And Fall Of The Strokes (And Rock 'N' Roll)". Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome @stevenhyden.bsky.social to the program. 🔗👇
Patreon thumbnail for "Is This It (with Steven Hyden) episode of the Southern Accents Podcast.
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chris @yrpalchris.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I stopped the episode partway through to listen to the albums again so there's a chance Steven mentions this but you can really hear on Strangeways how easy it was for Johnny Marr to make a sideways move to The The almost immediately afterwards
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
We have reached the end of Smiths-tember at Evil Speakers. We conclude with two 1987 releases, LOUDER THAN BOMBS and STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME, that portended the end of the band, right down to the song titles, including this song. tinyurl.com/a2uucwss
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Hope you liked the rest of it!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
We have reached the end of Smiths-tember at Evil Speakers. We conclude with two 1987 releases, LOUDER THAN BOMBS and STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME, that portended the end of the band, right down to the song titles, including this song. tinyurl.com/a2uucwss
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Music Maps Podcast @musicmaps.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Why did The Strokes attract so much media attention back in 2001? join @stevenhyden.bsky.social on Music Maps Podcast - listen: tinyurl.com/36dzdcd8 #thestrokes
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Live look at Rob Mitchum when I ask him to talk about 20 CDs worth of live Grateful Dead from 1985. x.com/BrickCenter_...
x.com
BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) on X
The Packers are playing SO BAD this fan had to check if she still had a pulse 😭
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Crazy mail day: Seven 85’s From The Vault!
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I wrote about the new reissue of Ben Folds Five's 1995 debut, an outlier sonically in the grunge nineties and a deceptively poppy example of the era's "nice guy" toxicity. tinyurl.com/9suby5hm
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I wrote about the new reissue of Ben Folds Five's 1995 debut, an outlier sonically in the grunge nineties and a deceptively poppy example of the era's "nice guy" toxicity. tinyurl.com/9suby5hm
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Big fan of Gilla Band's PUGNELLO, which is out today, my car-stereo album of the year thus far. tinyurl.com/9suby5hm
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Hey, my monthly Jukebox Jury column is back, where I review and grade 15 recent songs and albums, including The War On Drugs, U2, Gilla Band, Twisted Teens, Greta Van Fleet and 10 more. Also reviewed the recent reissue of Ben Folds Five's very mid-90s debut. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/jukebox-ju...
stevenhyden.substack.com
Jukebox Jury #7: Pink River Dolphin Blues
Reviews of The War On Drugs, U2, Greta Van Fleet, Twisted Teens, Gilla Band and 10 more new and recent releases, plus thoughts on a Ben Folds Five reissue
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Hey, my monthly Jukebox Jury column is back, where I review and grade 15 recent songs and albums, including The War On Drugs, U2, Gilla Band, Twisted Teens, Greta Van Fleet and 10 more. Also reviewed the recent reissue of Ben Folds Five's very mid-90s debut. stevenhyden.substack.com/p/jukebox-ju...
stevenhyden.substack.com
Jukebox Jury #7: Pink River Dolphin Blues
Reviews of The War On Drugs, U2, Greta Van Fleet, Twisted Teens, Gilla Band and 10 more new and recent releases, plus thoughts on a Ben Folds Five reissue
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I recorded a podcast with Chuck Klosterman about his great new book ROCK*, a fake history of 20th century rock with real insight! We talked about how he satirized rock criticism in the book, whether rock criticism has a future, & the future of media in general tinyurl.com/3fzzmbs6
tinyurl.com
Rock* Of Ages: Chuck Klosterman In Conversation
Watch now (65 mins) | I talk with the best-selling author about his new fake history of 20th century rock music
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I recorded a podcast with Chuck Klosterman about his great new book ROCK*, a fake history of 20th century rock with real insight! We talked about how he satirized rock criticism in the book, whether rock criticism has a future, & the future of media in general tinyurl.com/3fzzmbs6
tinyurl.com
Rock* Of Ages: Chuck Klosterman In Conversation
Watch now (65 mins) | I talk with the best-selling author about his new fake history of 20th century rock music
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The new Neil Young album SECOND SONG is one of 2026's most pleasant surprises – not quite a return to form, but his best in some time. But how long, exactly? I parsed thru Neil's very patchy 21st century work & wrote about why SECOND SONG stands out. tinyurl.com/44s9ytc8
tinyurl.com
Let’s Rank 21st Century Neil Young Albums
The new “Second Song” is his best in years — but what does that mean, exactly?
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Marc Masters 🌵 @marcissist.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New episode of the Music Book Podcast, talking to @stevenhyden.bsky.social about his great new book "Is This It: The Never-Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock ‘n' Roll)," out now on Da Capo. themusicbookpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2120946/epis...
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The new Neil Young album SECOND SONG is one of 2026's most pleasant surprises – not quite a return to form, but his best in some time. But how long, exactly? I parsed thru Neil's very patchy 21st century work & wrote about why SECOND SONG stands out. tinyurl.com/44s9ytc8
tinyurl.com
Let’s Rank 21st Century Neil Young Albums
The new “Second Song” is his best in years — but what does that mean, exactly?
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Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club @rnrbook-club.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
NEW MUSIC MAPS PODCAST @stevenhyden.bsky.social on @thestrokes.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/6obr... @musicmaps.bsky.social
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Also, this is a great blurb: “For Hyden, rock ― like all music ― isn’t just filler we might use as diversion during our commutes and workouts. It’s a lens for looking at our world and ourselves … Can the book-as-friend be saved? Maybe. Reading Is This It, I found myself hoping so.”
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Steven Hyden @stevenhyden.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Hey, I was psyched to open the New York Times this morning and see the print version of their very kind review of my new book IS THIS IT.
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