📖 Overview
Ben Ratliff served as a music critic for The New York Times from 1996 to 2016, where he wrote extensively about jazz, rock, metal, and other genres. During his tenure, he published approximately 7,000 pieces including reviews, interviews, and essays.
Ratliff authored several influential books on music, including "The Jazz Ear: Conversations Over Music" (2008) and "Every Song Ever: Twenty Ways to Listen in an Age of Musical Plenty" (2016). His 2007 book "Coltrane: The Story of a Sound" was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in criticism.
As a professor, Ratliff has taught cultural criticism and music journalism at New York University and the City University of New York. His writing style combines deep musical knowledge with cultural analysis and an ability to describe complex musical concepts in accessible terms.
He continues to contribute to various publications including The New York Review of Books and writes about music's role in contemporary culture. Ratliff holds degrees from Columbia University, where he studied literature and American Studies.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Ratliff's ability to analyze music without getting too technical or academic. His book "Coltrane: The Story of a Sound" receives particular praise for focusing on Coltrane's musical development rather than biographical details.
What readers liked:
- Clear explanations of complex musical concepts
- Deep knowledge across multiple genres
- Thoughtful cultural context for musical analysis
- Engaging interview style in "The Jazz Ear"
What readers disliked:
- "Every Song Ever" struck some as too abstract
- Some found his New York Times reviews overly intellectual
- Occasional tendency to overanalyze simple musical elements
Ratings:
Goodreads:
- Coltrane: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings)
- The Jazz Ear: 3.9/5 (200+ ratings)
- Every Song Ever: 3.6/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Coltrane: 4.3/5
- The Jazz Ear: 4.1/5
- Every Song Ever: 3.8/5
Several readers noted that while Ratliff's writing demands attention, it rewards careful reading with new ways of understanding music.
📚 Books by Ben Ratliff
Every Song Ever: Twenty Ways to Listen in an Age of Musical Plenty (2016)
An analysis of how digital-era listeners can approach the vast amount of available music through specific listening strategies focusing on elements like speed, repetition, and density.
Coltrane: The Story of a Sound (2007) A biography examining John Coltrane's musical development and lasting influence on jazz, focusing on his evolving sound rather than personal life details.
Jazz: A Critic's Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings (2002) A chronological examination of 100 key jazz recordings from the early 20th century through modern times, with historical context and musical analysis.
The Jazz Ear: Conversations over Music (2008) A collection of interviews with jazz musicians including Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman, structured around listening sessions of their chosen music.
The New York Times Essential Library: Rock Music (2002) A critical analysis of 100 rock albums selected by the author during his tenure as chief popular music critic at The New York Times.
Coltrane: The Story of a Sound (2007) A biography examining John Coltrane's musical development and lasting influence on jazz, focusing on his evolving sound rather than personal life details.
Jazz: A Critic's Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings (2002) A chronological examination of 100 key jazz recordings from the early 20th century through modern times, with historical context and musical analysis.
The Jazz Ear: Conversations over Music (2008) A collection of interviews with jazz musicians including Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman, structured around listening sessions of their chosen music.
The New York Times Essential Library: Rock Music (2002) A critical analysis of 100 rock albums selected by the author during his tenure as chief popular music critic at The New York Times.
👥 Similar authors
Alex Ross writes about classical and contemporary music history with a focus on cultural context and artistic development. His work examines how music interacts with broader societal movements and technological changes, similar to Ratliff's analytical approach.
Ted Gioia explores jazz and popular music through historical and cultural lenses, combining musician profiles with musical analysis. His books trace the evolution of musical forms and their impact on society.
Gary Giddins writes biographical and critical works about jazz musicians and the development of American music. His research methods and attention to musical detail mirror Ratliff's examination of how artists shape their craft.
Amanda Petrusich investigates music collecting culture and the ways people connect with recorded sound. Her work combines personal narrative with research about how music appreciation evolves over time.
John Szwed produces biographical works about jazz musicians that balance personal histories with technical musical analysis. His books examine how individual artists develop their voices within larger musical traditions.
Ted Gioia explores jazz and popular music through historical and cultural lenses, combining musician profiles with musical analysis. His books trace the evolution of musical forms and their impact on society.
Gary Giddins writes biographical and critical works about jazz musicians and the development of American music. His research methods and attention to musical detail mirror Ratliff's examination of how artists shape their craft.
Amanda Petrusich investigates music collecting culture and the ways people connect with recorded sound. Her work combines personal narrative with research about how music appreciation evolves over time.
John Szwed produces biographical works about jazz musicians that balance personal histories with technical musical analysis. His books examine how individual artists develop their voices within larger musical traditions.