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  • Wesley Morris

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Lady Gaga Was Always Gothic. Now the World Has Caught Up to Her.

At a moment when other pop stars are flirting with dark spectacle, Gaga’s “Mayhem” tour shows that she has perfected it.

D’Angelo’s Pleasure Principle

The singer and songwriter’s art of elegant seduction never required him to raise his voice, or lose his desperation, humor or awareness.

Sly Stone and the Sound of an America That Couldn’t Last

The influential musician, who died on Monday at 82, forged harmony — musical and otherwise — that he wasn’t able to hold together on his…

‘Sinners’ and Beyoncé Battle the Vampires. And the Gatekeepers, Too.

This moment might call for excessive, imaginative Black art that wants to be gobbled up. That’s Ryan Coogler’s new movie. That’s “Cowboy Carter.” Let’s throw…

‘Misericordia’ Review: Danger Always Hides in the Bushes

The French director Alain Guiraudie’s latest film, a bent kind of murder mystery, presents life at its basest and gamiest.

Oscars 2025: There’s Something Weird About the Best Picture Nominees

Or with the 10 best picture nominees, at least. But what seems clear is that Hollywood is celebrating the kinds of movies it doesn’t make….

‘Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)’ Review: Struggling to Transmit

Questlove’s new documentary aims to dissect the forward-looking brilliance of Sly Stone and his band, but mostly it traces their downward arc.

“Nosferatu” Review: Robert Eggers Takes on Dracula

The director Robert Eggers dares you to feel seduced in his take on the classic vampire tale, starring Bill Skarsgard and Lily Rose Depp.

Quincy Jones Orchestrated the Sound of America

Jones, who died at 91, erased boundaries, connected worlds and embraced delight. As a producer, he coaxed ingenuity from his players and singers.

Cissy Houston Saw Music’s Peaks and Life’s Valleys

The singer, who died this week, was the mother of Whitney Houston and a contender for the greatest voice of the country, our critic says.