The inaugural issue of Metal Music Studies is now out. C. Riley Snorton (Cornell): On the Question of “Who's Out in Hip Hop”. Is American indie rock fighting a war it can’t win, or is it just not fighting anymore? Dan Kubis on the shrinking power of punk. A river runs through it: Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah on a biography of Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios, its ownership, and other black memories. Michelle Jaworski on how a Stairway to Heaven theory refuses to die on the Internet. Why do so many musicians act like terrible people online? Meredith Graves wonders. White echoes: Chris Richards on rap, race and Iggy Azalea. Kashann Kilson on how Iggy Azalea gets away with reverse minstrelsy: There's a market for it. Stop hating on Iggy Azalea’s “blaccent” — she’s not hip-hop’s real problem. Kelsey McKinney on how Sleater-Kinney became one of the last great rock bands. The privileged are taking over the arts — without the grit, pop culture is doomed. DJ CIA: Belen Fernandez on how the Central Intelligence Agency tortured captives by playing everything from Marilyn Manson to songs from Sesame Street. They've had more sex, done more drugs, and cranked out more rock 'n' roll than any other metal band on earth this side of Led Zeppelin — but now, after thirty-three years, Motley Crue are calling it quits. In music, uniformity sells: Lenika Cruz on more evidence that, historically, albums featuring less complex instrumentation have enjoyed greater popularity.
