Category: Music
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How New Order’s Album ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’ Changed Pop Culture and Politics
New Order’s 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies boldly challenged culture and politics with its striking title. The album set a new standard for pop music, insisting that its audience recognize the world’s ethical disorder. In contrast, contemporary pop music is criticized for its lack of ethics and its focus on social-justice narcissism. New Order…
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Riccardo Muti: A Life in Music
Chicago Riccardo Muti, the renowned conductor, is often the first person that comes to mind when people think of a conductor. He embodies the popular image of a conductor with his demeanor, knowledge, charisma, and longevity. Born in 1941, Muti has conducted orchestras all over the world and has remained consistent in his approach on…
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The Last Beatles Record? AI-Assisted Vocals from John Lennon Raise Concerns
A friend recently texted me about the new Beatles record featuring AI-assisted vocals from the late John Lennon. The Wall Street Journal reports that director Peter Jackson and his team digitized a demo tape recorded by Lennon in 1978, then used artificial intelligence to extract and improve the desired parts. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr…
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How New Order’s ‘Power, Corruption & Lies’ Album Challenged Pop Music’s Social-Justice Narcissism
New Order’s 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies remains an iconic challenge to today’s pop music, which prioritizes social-justice narcissism over ethics. In contrast, the British band’s album insisted that listeners recognize the world’s ethical disorder. New Order emerged from the ashes of Manchester’s Joy Division, after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. The…
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Riccardo Muti: A Lifetime of Conducting and Musical Legacy
Editor’s Note: The following is an expanded version of an article published in the current issue of National Review. Chicago When most people think of a conductor, they think of Riccardo Muti. He embodies the popular image of a conductor in his demeanor, knowledge, charisma, and longevity. Born in 1941, he has conducted orchestras all…
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The Beatles’ “New” Record Is a Forgery
A friend texted me yesterday, asking if I had heard about the new Beatles record. Despite my unparalleled enthusiasm for the group, I felt obliged to record without hesitation that I hate it already. The Wall Street Journal reports that the “new” song “features AI-assisted vocals from the late Beatle John Lennon.” To achieve this,…
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How New Order’s “Power, Corruption & Lies” Album Set a New Standard for Pop Music
In 1983, New Order released Power, Corruption & Lies, an album whose title boldly called out the ethical disorder of the world, setting a new standard for pop music. In contrast, contemporary pop music, from Lizzo’s self-indulgence to Taylor Swift’s gender bias, Beyoncé’s tribalism, and Garth Brooks’ Bidenomics, has embraced social-justice narcissism and eschewed ethics.…
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Riccardo Muti Reflects on his Life, Music, and Beliefs
Riccardo Muti, the Italian conductor, has been a fixture in the world of classical music for decades. Born in Naples in 1941, he has conducted orchestras all over the world. He has been the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2010, but his tenure is coming to an end. After a recent concert,…
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The New Beatles Record: Why It Can’t Be Considered a True Beatles Album
A friend recently texted me about the new Beatles record. Despite my unparalleled enthusiasm for the group, I felt obliged to express my hatred for it. According to the Wall Street Journal, the “new” song features AI-assisted vocals from the late John Lennon. To achieve this, film director Peter Jackson and his team digitized a…