Louder: Lou Reed’s Folky Demos and 9 More New Songs

Plus: My Chemical Romance, Megan Thee Stallion, Rivers Cuomo and More

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 16, 2022 By Caryn Ganz Pop Music Editor In June, Ben Sisario told us about a special discovery uncovered just a few years ago: a package Lou Reed mailed himself in 1965 that contained some of the earliest recordings of Velvet Underground songs. The sound? Acoustic fingerpicked and folky. On Friday, 11 cuts from that discovery arrived on "Words & Music, May 1965," and you can listen to "I'm Waiting for the Man" on the Playlist. Last week, an album of recordings by the influential but under-known Chicago producer Charles Stepney arrived; Marcus J. Moore explained why they're worth a listen. This week, a new book and album from Terri Lyne Carrington addresses the lack of sheet music by women jazz composers; she made her own compilation of 101 works, and recorded 11 of them. Rivers Cuomo expounded on the power of mouth-taping, Jon Caramanica reviewed My Chemical Romance's arena show and hosted a conversation about Megan Thee Stallion on Popcast, and Ben Sisario reported on a chart milestone for a man whose career seemed over a year ago: Morgan Wallen. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Adam itchie/Redferns, via Getty Images The Playlist Lou Reed's Folky Velvet Underground Demo, and 9 More New Songs Hear tracks by Weyes Blood, Kelela, Mightmare and others. By Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz Album Review For the Gloriously Over-the-Top Rina Sawayama, Less Is Less The pop singer and songwriter's first album was a master class in maximalism. Its follow-up, "Hold the Girl," still carries weighty subjects, but largely without its chaotic edge. By Lindsay Zoladz Live Review My Chemical Romance, Reunited and It Feels So Bruised Back on the road after more than a decade, emo's most theatrical outfit let its songs and fans provide the drama as it revisited its anthems about fearlessness and individuality. By Jon Caramanica 'Moonage Daydream' Review: David Bowie's Sound and Vision Brett Morgen's new documentary about the singer uses archival material, not talking heads. But the film is more séance than biography. By A.O. Scott Books of the Times For Jann Wenner, the Music Never Stopped In his memoir, the co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine is serenaded by Springsteen, nursed by Midler and breaks bread with Bono. There's journalism, too. By Alexandra Jacobs POPCAST Ricardo Moraes/Reuters The Perseverance of Megan Thee Stallion The rapper's rise has been accompanied by outside noise. How has she grown on record, and how have extra-musical narratives shaped her career? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT FEATURES It Was Hard to Find Sheet Music by Women Jazz Artists. So She Fixed It. The jazz drummer and educator Terri Lyne Carrington's latest project is "New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers," a book due Friday, and an album featuring 11 of its selections. By Ayana Contreras 46 Years After His Death, the Producer Charles Stepney Shines Again The Chicago musician made his mark with Minnie Riperton and Earth, Wind & Fire at Chess Records. A new collection explores his previously unreleased solo work. By Marcus J. Moore They Translated 'Hamilton' Into German. Was It Easy? Nein. For the musical's Hamburg premiere, a team wrestled with language and cultural differences to bring the story alive for a new audience. By Michael Paulson Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images My Ten Rivers Cuomo's Very Complicated, Highly Organized Life Preparing to release a new EP in Weezer's "Sznz" series, the band's leader explained how he keeps himself on track — and how he learned to say "Are you ready to rock?" in any language. By Jeremy Gordon NEWS Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images The Charts Morgan Wallen's Career Seemed Over. Now He's Broken a Billboard Record. The country singer was rebuked by the music industry after using a racial slur. Still, "Dangerous: The Double Album" has logged 86 weeks in the Top 10 of Billboard's 200 chart. By Ben Sisario Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT R. Kelly Convicted in Sex Abuse Case Involving Videos of a Teenage Girl A Chicago federal jury found the singer, who is already serving a 30-year prison sentence, guilty of charges related to videos he made of himself sexually abusing a 14-year-old. By Julia Jacobs and Robert Chiarito Hip-Hop Mogul and Gap Officially End Their Partnership The Yeezy Gap apparel line deal, announced with much fanfare in 2020, was supposed to last 10 years and generate $1 billion in annual sales. By Jordyn Holman and Vanessa Friedman Cardi B Pleads Guilty to Two Misdemeanors in 2018 Strip Club Attacks Four years after being charged, the Bronx rapper, 29, was sentenced to 15 days of community service for her role in two fights at a Queens club. By Joe Coscarelli OBITUARIES Ramsey Lewis, Jazz Pianist Who Became a Pop Star, Dies at 87 His 1965 recording of "The 'In' Crowd" brought him to a place few jazz musicians reached in that era: the Top 10. By Peter Keepnews Mable John, Soul Singer With a Star-Studded Résumé, Dies at 91 She was one of the first female acts signed to Motown, and her career later intersected with Isaac Hayes and Ray Charles. But she eventually heeded a higher calling. By Alex Williams Paul T. Kwami, Fisk Jubilee Singers' Longtime Director, Dies at 70 He took the storied Black musical group to new heights, including its first Grammy win and a National Medal of Arts. By Clay Risen Rapper PnB Rock Is Killed in Robbery in South Los Angeles Atlantic Records described the killing of the Philadelphia rapper, whose name was Rakim Allen, as a "senseless loss." By Derrick Bryson Taylor and Christine Hauser Art Rosenbaum, Painter and Preserver of Folk Music, Dies at 83 As an artist and exponent of American traditional songs, he sought to blur the lines between outsider and insider art. By Richard Fausset THE MAGAZINE Photo illustration by Bráulio Amado Talk Nick Cave Lost Two Sons. His Fans Then Saved His Life. "People say, How can you go on tour?," says the musician and co-author of a new book, "For me it's the other way around. How could I not?" By David Marchese STYLES Billy McFarland Is Out of Jail and Ready for His Next Move Five years after the Fyre Festival, the convicted fraudster is planning a comeback. By Jacob Bernstein With … Jann Wenner Wants to Reveal It All The Rolling Stone founder talks about LSD, not reading the magazine anymore and how the Stones now look like "Lord of the Rings" characters onstage. By Maureen Dowd Make a friend's day: Forward this email! Get this from a friend? Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter @nytimesmusic. Send your feedback on Louder at theplaylist@nytimes.com. Check out our full range of newsletters. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Louder from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. 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