People assume a rookie won’t make a big impact during the playoffs, but then they shock the entire league with a stellar performance off the bench, clinching big wins for their team. It’s like when people assume they can’t afford great insurance, but then they discover that State Farm has surprisingly great rates. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Get a quote today.

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After two long years—hey, there were more important things going on—the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival returned last month.

The Ringer was on hand to cover it. We talked about the highlights on The Ringer Music Show and the economics on The Town With Matthew Belloni, while writer Jeff Weiss went long on how Coachella evolved from an indie proving ground to a safe space for Harry Styles to headline.

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Speaking of Harry Styles, Every Single Album’s Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard have been tearing through the One Direction catalog—listen up ahead of Styles’s new album due later this month.

The Ringer Music Show has been busy as well: Check out recent episodes on Pusha T’s It’s Almost Dry and what the future of TDE could look like without Kendrick Lamar.

And don’t forget to listen to Black Girl Songbook hosted by Danyel Smith. Recent episodes have dove deep on Billie Holiday, Donna Summer, and Denice Williams.

Steady Rotation: Your Monthly Playlist Guide
Looking for new music? Check out this month’s edition of our Check the Vibes playlist, which features the likes of Jamie xx, ScHoolboy Q, and more. And while you’re on Spotify, be sure to toss a follow to our Instrumental Essentials playlist, loaded with classic hip-hop beats. Whether you want something to write to, study to, or spit a 16 to, you can find it here.

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• Arcade Fire is back. Can they regain the form that made them indie rock’s biggest attraction? Check out Justin Sayles’s review for our take.

• Who’s competing with Pusha T? According to the legendary MC, no one. Read his conversation with Lex Pryor here.

• Thirty years ago, the L.A. Riots shocked the nation. But if people had been listening to hip-hop all along, perhaps they wouldn’t have been so surprised. Eric Harvey explains.

• Is Stephan Jenkins a misunderstood genius or an irredeemable jerk? Julia Gray sits down with the Third Eye Blind frontman to investigate.

• Elizabeth Nelson goes long on Television’s Marquee Moon, a proto-punk classic that still sounds ahead of its time.

• And last but not least, Ian Cohen caught up with fun-loving Toronto punks PUP. It’s essential reading—and listening—for anyone north of 30 balancing their existential dread with a lust for life.