Jon Young currently contributes to Consequence of Sound and No Depression and has previously been a regular contributor to such publications as Trouser Press, Crawdaddy, Music and Sound Output, Request, Launch, SonicNet, Creem, Harp, Musician, Blender, Spin, Paste and Mother Jones. His preferred listening includes The Byrds, Billy Fury, Wynonie Harris, Billie Holiday, Howlin’ Wolf, The Kinks, Barbara Lynn, METZ, Thelonious Monk, Norma Jean, Charlie Parker, Doug Sahm, Raymond Scott, Del Shannon, Connie Smith, Speedy Ortiz, Dusty Springfield, Toots and the Maytals, Caetano Veloso and Hank Williams, among others. His career highlights include interviewing Del Shannon and meeting Doug and Bob McKenzie.
The fiery METZ frontman edges out of his comfort zone.
The lesser-known back pages of a Phil Spector star.
Ron and Russell Mael’s overlooked 21st-century gems.
Peerless dream pop from a Filipino-Argentinian magician.
Sly folk-pop trickster from New Zealand plays intriguing head games.
Glimmers of baroque pop brilliance, decades after “Walk Away Renee.”
A country legend rolls with changing times and reaffirms her greatness.
The King circa ‘71, still in fine voice, at a creative crossroads.
A big voice infuses old soul sounds with modern urgency.
A pastel psychedelic haze, seasoned with notes of modern angst.
The long and winding road of the Fab Four’s most troubled album.
Soulful stars and wannabes, from Lloyd Price and The Clovers to Baby Dee and TNT Tribble.
Dylan chases inspiration every which way, never pausing to rest.
Elegant instrumental gems from the impeccably funky Memphis quartet.
Country cousins take a snort of disco and funk. Get out on the floor!
A Los Angeles institution crafts affectionate covers of hometown faves.
Worlds and generations collide, with breathtaking results.
A 2000 psychedelic gem from Argentina resurfaces in the material world.
Jay Som + Palehound = a gentle, idiosyncratic gem.
The Swamp Fox receives a thoughtful assist from Dan Auerbach.
Merrill Garbus mixes itchy music and restless social commentary to spark a revolution of the mind.
Copyright protection produces more enticing revelations from Bob’s endless back pages.
Stark, confessional tunes plus Omnichord equal unsettling intimacy.
A British pop great teams up with American producers to make timeless music.
An underrated album from a Big Apple provocateur gets refurbished.
James Osterberg through the years, profound and profane.
Gospel titans rock the house with spirit and soul, and everyone’s invited.
Jimi’s errant tangents yield fruit more than a half-century later.
Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and friends make beautiful, exotic noise.
The King meets the Nashville Cats in Music City. Fine country-pop ensues.
Richard Penniman goes to church, ‘80s style.
A freaky Argentine spellcaster conducts a dizzying head trip.
Two rascals conspire to create funny, touching character studies.
A roaring Toronto trio turns raw noise into severe, thrilling beauty.
The best in Memphis synth-punk, direct from a crumbling future.
An introspective bedroom-pop star grows up gracefully.
An innovative maverick fires up his exhilarating 1940s big band.
The Speedy Ortiz leader uncorks a bracing solo effort.
An Americana heroine serves up prime leftovers.
The piano genius in fine form, direct from a high-school auditorium.
An unsparing singer-songwriter gets back to basics, brilliantly.
The Man in Black, looking back and still memorable.
Two old masters take a leisurely stroll through an imaginary past.
The first family of gospel rolls with the times on four secular ‘70s albums.
A transfixing Irish singer crafts modern folk tales of vulnerability and strength.
A well-traveled Texas troubadour offers reassurance in tough times.
Christina Schneider takes a journey to the center of the mind.