Rolling Stone May 18, 2018

REVIEW TAYLOR SWIFT LIVE! It’s been three years since Swift has staged a full-scale stadium tour. World-class Swiftologist Rob Sheffield travels to Glendale, Arizona, to report on opening night of the superstar’s hotly anticipated Reputation summer run. MUSIC LIZ PHAIR ON ‘GUYVILLE’ The singer-songwriter breaks down every song on Exile in Guyville in anticipation of a new 25th-anniversary reissue. MOVIES SUMMER FILM PREVIEW From action flicks to slapstick comedies, we guide you through the biggest titles of Hollywood’s hot season. TV ‘LEGION’ AND TV’S FUTURE How the psychedelic series is reinventing the superhero drama – and redefining what’s possible on the small screen. ROLLING STONE MUSIC NOW PODCAST: DESMOND CHILD As Bon Jovi enter the Rock Hall, the legendary songwriter joins host Brian Hiatt to discuss co-writing the band’s hits, and tales of working with Aerosmith, Kiss and Ricky Martin. Rolling Stone Music…

Jack White’s Blues White’s perspectives and observations [“Jack White’s New Stripes,” RS 1309/1310]. He is forthcoming when he doesn’t know something, he does his homework, and he makes it a point to understand history. You’ve come a long way, Jack. E-Times, via the Internet much, but White got my complete respect when I read that he requires that cellphones be checked at the door at his concerts – a huge favor for those who hate having dozens of little plastic screens up in their view. Carl LaFong, via the Internet the creative process might be helped by doing things the old way. It’s not that digital stuff is not real, just that some of the greatest music and even art is created by wonderful mistakes. George Pappas, via e-mail Free Meek Mill Brinkley is looking through the wrong…

1. Tove Styrke “On the Low” Swedish pop singer Styrke deserves to be the next Robyn. Her unduly slept-on single “Say My Name” was one of 2017’s best songs, and “On the Low” is just as great. Over a spare beat, she coolly airs out a lover who’s taking her for granted. It’s the sound of someone who knows she’s worth our time. 2. Octavian “Hands” Drake recently went on the record as a fan of this London-based French rapper – and for good reason. Nothing in hip-hop sounds like “Hands”; the track is spacey and futurist, but the ache in Octavian’s forlorn rasp feels as ageless as vintage doo-wop. 3. Anne-Marie “2002” Ed Sheeran co-wrote this Britney-tinged, Nelly-referencing country-flavored ode to falling in love back in the ’02. It’s peak, perfect early-Aughts nostalgia. 4. Prince “Nothing Compares 2 U” Six…

The Yo La Tengo singer is digging a diverse group of tunes at the moment. “They aren’t really by acts that get mentioned in ROLLING STONE much,” he says. The Afro Blues Quintet “There Is a Mountain” Donovan’s “There Is a Mountain” is so cool that it can be turned into a 35-minute jam by the Allman Brothers [“Mountain Jam”] and this beautiful Afro-Cuban stomper. Benny Spellman “I Feel Good” This is an uptempo R&B song with Allen Toussaint on backing vocals. He’s not discussed much as a singer, but his voice comes through here. Antietam “Birdwatching” This is an instrumental, which is exciting because Tara [Key] just wails on the guitar. She goes nuts. Ray Bryant “Pata Pata” A stunning record. It’s an Afro-pop instrumental of a Miriam Makeba song recorded by a jazz trio. Gastr del Sol “The Seasons Reverse” I almost can’t…

FOR AVICII, IT WAS A CHANCE TO RELAX. ON APRIL 8TH, after an extended period of recording, the Swedish DJ traveled to Oman, a country east of Saudi Arabia, where he would visit friends in the country’s royal family. But Avicii seemed too excited about his work to take a break entirely. A day after arriving, he held a conference call with members of his management team, talking about which guest artists he wanted to recruit for new music. The conversation continued on e-mail over the following days. “All his notes were in happy mode,” says Per Sundin, the head of Universal Music Sweden, who was lining up meetings with possible collaborators. “He loved what he had created.” Avicii also posed for photos with fans at a resort and went…

EARLY THIS SPRING, MOST OF Fleetwood Mac – Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood – gathered at a theater on the Hawaiian island of Maui with their future in doubt. The band had secretly parted ways with Lindsey Buckingham, the voice and guitar behind many of its most enduring songs. According to the group, the split came down to a scheduling conflict surrounding an upcoming tour. “We were supposed to go into rehearsal in June, and he wanted to put it off until next November,” says Nicks. “That’s a long time. I just did 70 shows [on a solo tour]. As soon as I finish one thing, I dive back into another. Why would we stop? This is what we do.” So the bandmates invited Mike Campbell, former…