David Yaffe

A student remembers the great literary critic, who died this week at 89

When the voice of a generation became the man of a thousand masks, and what we—and he—lost

What one writer learned spending decades listening, and talking to, the legendary singer

It has never been easy, even with all the accolades, to be Paul Simon. A new album, ‘Stranger to Stranger,’ shows the popular bridge-builder is still crazy after 74 years.

Why the Israeli child of Holocaust survivors was the right person to hear the reclusive artist out and tell her tale

Starting a two-week stand at the Village Vanguard, the lyrical master interprets song for his own purposes

In an interview, Rivka Galchen—who has a new collection out this week—channels Kafka, posing complex questions to herself, and us

New ‘Morning Phase’—six years after his last album and 21 since becoming a loser, baby—shows the Gen-Xer just getting started

An encounter with legendary rock star Lou Reed, who died this weekend at 71

He can still give you earworms and warm fuzzy retro feelings. But at 71, is Macca now finally a man?

The genius of Steely Dan talks blacks, Jews, and Lenny Bruce—and his new record, Sunken Condos