The New York Times - Louder: Prince’s Vault Opens Again

July 30, 2021

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

We’ve told you about releases from Prince’s storied vault before — an expanded version of “1999,” a reissue of “Sign o’ the Times,” a collection of demos for hits he gave away to other artists — but “Welcome 2 America” is different, Jon Pareles writes. It’s “a complete, stand-alone album” Prince recorded and shelved in 2010, “a disillusioned statement that sounds all too fitting in 2021.” It’s a Critic’s Pick.

Also out this week: “Stand for Myself,” the latest from Yola, a singer and songwriter who picked up four Grammy nominations last year and is returning with an even stronger statement. Plus new music from Silk Sonic (the team-up between Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) on the Playlist, Dave Renard on the African group Les Filles de Illighadad, major news in the Britney Spears conservatorship case and more.

Kevin Mazur, via The Prince Estate

Critic’s Pick

Prince Made ‘Welcome 2 America’ in 2010. It Speaks to 2021.

A full album has emerged from Prince’s vault that balances hard insights with visceral joys.

By Jon Pareles

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Silk Sonic’s Retro Roller Jam, and 12 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Bomba Estéreo featuring Yemi Alade, Saint Etienne, Dry Cleaning and others.

By Jon Pareles, Isabelia Herrera, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz

INTERVIEWS

Alysse Gafkjen for The New York Times

After Two Decades in Music, Yola Expands Her Powers

Last year, the English powerhouse singer and songwriter was nominated for four Grammys. Now she’s returning with “Stand for Myself,” an album made on her own terms.

By Jeremy Gordon

Mesmerizing Sounds From the Sahara, Live in Brooklyn

The album “At Pioneer Works” captures performances by Les Filles de Illighadad, a band started in a village in Niger by a trailblazing woman guitarist.

By David Renard

FROM BIZ

corner office

The Tao of Snoop Dogg

“Companies that get down with me know how I get down.”

By David Gelles

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Britney Spears Files to Remove Her Father From Conservatorship

More than 13 years after a strict legal arrangement gave James P. Spears control of the singer’s affairs, a new lawyer for Ms. Spears asked the court to remove him from the arrangement.

By Joe Coscarelli, Liz Day and Samantha Stark

OBITUARIES

Dusty Hill, Long-Bearded Bassist for ZZ Top, Dies at 72

The band, known for its hard-charging, blues-inflected rock, was one of the biggest acts of the 1980s, selling more than 50 million albums.

By Clay Risen

Johnny Ventura, Who Created the Sound of Modern Merengue, Dies at 81

The “Elvis of Merengue” released more than 100 albums and won six Latin Grammys. For a time, he was mayor of the capital of the Dominican Republic.

By Gavin Edwards

Joey Jordison, Slipknot Drummer, Dies at 46

Mr. Jordison’s explosive, virtuosic playing and elaborate solos, sometimes performed atop a hydraulic riser, made him a fan favorite.

By Christine Hauser

Elliot Lawrence, Award-Winning Conductor, Dies at 96

He led a big band, conducted on Broadway, collected Emmys and for nearly 50 years led the orchestra on the annual Tony Awards broadcast.

By Richard Sandomir

NEWS

A Starry Lineup Joins a Central Park Concert for the Vaccinated

LL Cool J, Elvis Costello, Andrea Bocelli, Carlos Santana and the New York Philharmonic will join Bruce Springsteen in performances Aug. 21 on the Great Lawn.

By Laura Zornosa

U.S. Sells One-of-a-Kind Wu-Tang Album to Cover Martin Shkreli’s Debt

Prosecutors did not announce who purchased the album, or for how much, but a lawyer for Mr. Shkreli said the sale price appeared to be at least $2.2 million.

By Jonah E. Bromwich

Little Island Unveils Free Monthlong Festival With Over 450 Artists

The festival, which runs from Aug. 11 to Sept. 5, features a flurry of music, dance, and comedy performances from both established and emerging artists.

By Julia Jacobs