Louder: Adrianne Lenker isn’t scared of sadness

Plus: Kacey Musgraves, Justin Timberlake, Neil Young and more

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story March 16, 2024 By Caryn Ganz Pop Music Editor In a week of big new releases, Jon Pareles reviewed one where an artist looked refreshingly inward (Kacey Musgraves's "Deeper Well," a Critic's Pick), and Lindsay Zoladz wrote about one where an artist glanced back … and didn't do the rest of the work (Justin Timberlake's "Everything I Thought It Was"). Adrianne Lenker, a singer and songwriter who's devoted her life to looking unsparingly both inward and at the world around her, has a new solo album out March 22, and Jeremy Gordon spoke with her about "Bright Future," which he called "a renewed statement of purpose: proof that she's navigating the storms, and that her cultivated resilience somehow hasn't hardened her to an often cruel world." Jon Caramanica spent his first time in the driver's seat of The Amplifier writing about seven artists shaping the sound of 2024, including Tanner Adell, Bizarrap and Young Miko, and Jon Pareles brought us nine new songs on the Playlist, including the latest from Tierra Whack. Popcast and Popcast (Deluxe) tackled notions that have become stan talking points: the idea of the Main Pop Girl and the industry plant. And Tristan Geary introduced us to George Collier, a 20-year-old student who transcribes music on YouTube, exposing his followers to the intricacies of notation and introducing them to new artists. Erinn Springer for The New York Times Adrianne Lenker Isn't Scared of Sadness The Big Thief singer and songwriter's new solo album, "Bright Future," is a model for staying soft, and open, in an often cruel world. By Jeremy Gordon Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE CRITICS Marta Bevacqua Critic's Pick On 'Deeper Well,' Kacey Musgraves Is Closer to Fine The country singer and songwriter's fifth album of original songs is a study in quiet thoughtfulness rooted in gratitude. By Jon Pareles Will Heath/NBC, via Getty Images Critic's Notebook Justin Timberlake Looks Back but Does Not Reckon On "Everything I Thought It Was," his sixth solo album, this artist feigns new vulnerability but relies on old tricks and his 'N Sync bandmates. By Lindsay Zoladz Caroline Brehman/EPA, via Shutterstock The Playlist Becky G's Rowdy Obsession and 8 More New Songs Hear tracks by Willow, Tierra Whack, Willie Nelson and others. By Jon Pareles THE AMPLIFIER NEWSLETTER 7 Artists Shaping the Sound of 2024 Hear songs from Tanner Adell, Bizarrap and Young Miko, and more. By Jon Caramanica 9 Sunny Songs for Springing Ahead To celebrate the return of daylight saving time, here's a playlist full of songs about sunshine and daylight. By Lindsay Zoladz FEATURES Alice Zoo for The New York Times A 20-Year-Old Transcriber Is Turning Sheet Music Into Hot Content George Collier started his YouTube channel as a way to stay engaged with music during the pandemic. Now nearly a million followers tune in for his notations. By Tristan Geary Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Amir Hamja/The New York Times How 'I'm Just Ken' Won the Oscars Without Winning an Actual Oscar Working off ideas from Ryan Gosling and Greta Gerwig, the choreographer Mandy Moore created the crowd-pleasing number in days. By Nicole Sperling POPCAST Popcast Tate McRae, Dua Lipa and the Fight to Be 'Main Pop Girl' A conversation about a title that emerged from stan communities, and how it's played a role in pop singers' careers. 59 MIN LISTEN Popcast Popcast (Deluxe): What's an Industry Plant Anyway? Plus: Ariana Grande Discussing the quick ascent of the downtempo R&B singer 4batz, the new Ariana Grande album, "eternal sunshine," music at the Oscars and more. 1 HR 9 MIN LISTEN MORE CRITICS Critic's Pick 'Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus': A Parting Gift From a Master Musician The final concert of the Japanese virtuoso is captured in an aching meditation on mortality and legacy. By Alissa Wilkinson Critic's Notebook 'Illinoise': A Place of Overflowing Emotion, but Little Dance Spirit Justin Peck, who directs and choreographs a narrative dance musical to Sufjan Stevens's concept album "Illinois," resorts to his usual standby: community. By Gia Kourlas OBITUARIES Steve Rapport/Getty Images Karl Wallinger, Who Sang With World Party and the Waterboys, Dies at 66 As a songwriter and instrumentalist as well, he blended pop and folk influences into music that helped define college radio in the 1980s and '90s. By Clay Risen Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Eric Carmen, Raspberries Frontman and 'All by Myself' Singer, Dies at 74 He sang on the power-pop pioneers' 1972 breakout hit, "Go All the Way," before launching a successful solo career as a soft-rock crooner. By Ron DePasquale and Alex Williams Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS Neil Young Will Return to Spotify, Ending Protest of Joe Rogan The rock musician removed his songs from the streamer in 2022 to protest coronavirus podcast episodes, but reversed course in light of the show's wider distribution. By Ben Sisario The Charts Morgan Wallen, With Latest No. 1, Tops a Garth Brooks Record Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" notches its 19th week atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart a year after its release. By Ben Sisario Appeals Court Overturns Vybz Kartel's Murder Conviction A judge ruled that the dancehall artist's 2014 trial had proceeded improperly after a claim of juror misconduct. By Christopher Kuo Audience Snapshot: Four Years After Shutdown, a Mixed Recovery Covid brought live performance to a halt. Now the audience for pop concerts and sporting events has roared back, while attendance on Broadway and at some major museums is still down. 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 and subscribe to The Amplifier here. Continue reading the main story Need help? 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