Active Listening

Active Listening

Home
Notes
Archive
Leaderboard
About
The Dizzy Reece Album That Won’t Sit Still
Neither free nor fixed, 'From In To Out' documents a musician who learned to thrive beyond the traditional jazz narrative.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Masayuki Takayanagi and the Refusal of Jazz Comfort
The Japanese guitarist rejected tradition, turning jazz into a raw confrontation with sound itself.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Julia Holter’s Sonic Aviary: A Journey Through Noise and Light
The L.A. singer-songwriter helped me deal with some heavy grief.
 • Marcus J. Moore
‘Mama’s Gun’ at 25: Erykah Badu’s Revolution of Self
An honest chronicle of heartbreak and becoming, the singer's second LP was a masterwork of creative intent.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Demae Is Building a World of Her Own
As her music grows more intricate and assured, an artist shaping new terrain emerges.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Stevie Wonder's Vision of Black Life in Motion
More than 50 years later, the symphonic “Living for the City” endures.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Rashied Ali and the Infinite Pulse
Somewhere between the mainstream and the outer limits of free jazz, the drummer turned chaos into communion.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Jeanne Lee, A Voice That Contorted Time
The singer's groundbreaking 1975 album, "Conspiracy," is a visionary blend of jazz and poetry that redefined the possibilities of human sound.
 • Marcus J. Moore
How Kassa Overall Turned Rap Into New Jazz Standards
On his new album "CREAM," the drummer closes the gap between two cornerstone genres.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Mndsgn's Radiant Soul
Released in 2021, "Rare Pleasure" was a fascinating album that deserves more attention.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Sylvia Robinson's Revolutionary R&B
Singers like Sylvia, Betty Davis and Millie Jackson were pioneers of '70s sultry soul.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Earl Sweatshirt Will See You Now
On his new album, "Live Laugh Love," the cult rapper ascends from grief and self-doubt, taking stock of his journey.
 • Marcus J. Moore
Active Listening
Active Listening
A journey through the archives of experimental sound, with a deep appreciation for landmark figures and music from years gone by.
Recommendations
View all 49
Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches
Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches
Hank Shteamer
Fluxblog: Music Blog
Fluxblog: Music Blog
Matthew Perpetua
GOOD MOVIE
GOOD MOVIE
Shea Serrano
Such Great Heights
Such Great Heights
Chris DeVille
First Floor
First Floor
Shawn Reynaldo

Active Listening

AboutArchiveRecommendationsSitemap
© 2026 Marcus J. Moore · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture