I Still Like the Band. Just Skip That Song

Twenty-three seconds. That was enough.

Some songs wear out their welcome. Others never do. From “Stairway to Heaven” to “Margaritaville,” I explore why I skip some old favorites and still turn up others. Includes a companion playlist.

Who Told Us What to Listen to Before Algorithms?

This was how we discovered music before algorithms: flipping through the racks, studying album covers and sometimes taking a chance. (AI-generated illustration)

Long before Spotify knew what I listened to, my family, friends, radio DJs and the guy behind the counter at the record store were introducing me to new music. The recommendations didn’t always work, but they usually came with a story.