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Steven Hyden
Steven Hyden
from Wikipedia

Steven Hyden (born September 7, 1977) is an American music critic, author, and podcast host. He is the author of the books Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me (2016, on rivalries in pop music history), Twilight of the Gods (2018, on the history of classic rock), Hard to Handle (2019, co-authored with Steve Gorman about The Black Crowes), This Isn't Happening (2020, about Radiohead's Kid A), Long Road (2022, about Pearl Jam's influence on a generation), and There Was Nothing You Could Do (2024, about Bruce Springsteen's mega-selling 1984 album Born In The U.S.A.) In 2025, he announced two forthcoming books that will be critical overviews of The Strokes and U2. [1]

Key Information

He co-hosts the podcasts, Indiecast (with Ian Cohen) and Never Ending Stories (with Ian Grant and Evan Laffer), and previously hosted the podcasts, 36 From the Vault, Rivals, Break Stuff: The Story of Woodstock '99, and Celebration Rock. He is a critic for Uproxx and previously served as staff writer at Grantland and an editor at The A.V. Club. He also has appeared as a pundit in various music documentaries, and was the story producer of HBO's popular 2024 film "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary."

Early life

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Steven Hyden was born on September 7, 1977[2] in Wisconsin. He graduated from Appleton East High School,[3] then the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire[4] in 2000.[3]

Career

[edit]

Hyden began his career with The Post-Crescent in 1993; then 15 years old, he contributed to a weekly section for teenagers (his first submission, hand-written, was a review of the 1993 album Zooropa by U2).[3] He continued working for the paper as an intern while in college, and then joined the staff as a full-time reporter when he graduated in 2000.[3]

He joined UPROXX as a cultural critic in July 2016.[5] He previously worked at Grantland as a staff writer and at The A.V. Club as an editor. His music criticism has been published in several other outlets including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Slate, American Songwriter and Salon.com.[6][7][8][9][10]

Hyden has been regularly featured as a pundit in documentaries, including CNN's "The Nineties," "The 2000s," and "The 2010s," and HBO's "Billy Joel: And So It Goes." He has also worked behind the scenes on music documentaries, including "Woodstock 99: Peace, Love And Rage" (as consulting producer) and "Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary" (as story producer).[11]

Podcasts

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Celebration Rock

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From January 2016 - December 2018, Hyden hosted the Celebration Rock podcast.[12] A new episode debuted weekly on Monday afternoon and usually ran about 50–60 minutes in length. Hyden and his guests covered topics ranging from "Best Rock Albums of the '10's (so far)" to hour-long interviews with artists (Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Deftones) and hosting other critics to discuss their famous works. The podcast mostly emphasized the current rock scene, but also dove into the past with episodes and interviews about The Replacements, Cheap Trick, and others.

Break Stuff: The Story of Woodstock '99

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From July 9, 2019 to August 27, 2019,[13] Hyden hosted an eight episode podcast about the Woodstock '99 festival on the subscription podcast network Luminary. He later appeared as an expert on the HBO documentary Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, And Rage.

Rivals

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From February 6, 2020 to January 27, 2021, Hyden co-hosted Rivals, a podcast about rivalries between band-mates and contemporaries in rock, with Jordan Runtaugh.[14]

Indiecast

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In July 2020, Hyden began co-hosting Indiecast, a podcast about indie music news and trends, with Ian Cohen.[15]

36 From the Vault

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In January 2020, Hyden began co-hosting 36 From the Vault, a podcast about the Grateful Dead's live album series Dick's Picks, with co-host Rob Mitchum.[16]

Never Ending Stories

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In 2023, Hyden began co-hosting Never Ending Stories, a podcast about Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour and other live recordings, with the hosts of Jokermen, an initially Dylan-themed podcast. [17]

Books

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Inventory

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In 2009, Hyden was a co-author of the book Inventory: 16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls, 10 Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone, and 100 More Obsessively Specific Pop-Culture Lists,[18] a collection of lists from The A.V. Club.[19]

Whatever Happened to Alternative Nation?

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In 2011, Hyden published the e-book Whatever Happened To Alternative Nation?, a critical analysis and personal reflection on 1990s alternative rock that originally ran as a 10-part series at The A.V. Club.[20]

Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me

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On May 17, 2016 Hyden released Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me, published by Back Bay Books.[21] It is a collection of essays on famous pop music rivalries throughout rock history, including Oasis versus Blur, Beatles versus Rolling Stones, and Madonna versus Cyndi Lauper.[22][23][24][25]

Twilight of the Gods

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On May 1, 2018,[26] Hyden published Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock.[27][28][29][30][31] The 19-chapter book is structured to resemble a double-LP, with "tracks" divided among four "sides".[32]

Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes

[edit]

On September 24, 2019,[33] Hyden published Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes with co-author Steve Gorman about the latter's time as the drummer in the American rock band The Black Crowes.

This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" and the Beginning of the 21st Century

[edit]

On September 29, 2020,[34] Hyden published This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" and the Beginning of the 21st Century about Radiohead's 2000 album Kid A and its broader cultural context and influence.[35][36][37][38]

Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation

[edit]

Hyden's Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation, was published by Hachette Books on September 27, 2022.[39] AllMusic interviewed Hyden about his publication and enquired about Pearl Jam's decision to release a number of 2000 live shows.[40]

There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A. and the End Of The Heartland

[edit]

Hyden's There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A. and the End Of The Heartland was published by Hachette Books on May 28, 2024. It was praised by filmmaker Benny Safdie and comedian Tim Heidecker, among others, as an insightful look at Springsteen's best-selling album.

Personal life

[edit]

Hyden is married[41] and lives in Minneapolis.[3]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Steven Hyden is an American music critic, author, and podcaster renowned for his insightful analyses of rock, indie, and classic music genres. Born in , in 1977, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2000 and began his career writing music reviews and cultural commentary for outlets such as The A.V. Club, , , , and . Currently serving as a culture critic at Uproxx since 2016, Hyden has established himself as a prominent voice in music through his humorous yet incisive style that explores the cultural impact of artists and albums. Hyden has authored or co-authored six books that delve into music history, rivalries, and legacies, including Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me: What Rivalries Reveal About the People Who Listen to It (2016), which examines fan obsessions through band conflicts; Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of (2018), tracing the evolution and decline of the era; Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of (2019, co-authored with ); This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "" and the Beginning of the 21st Century (2020), analyzing the album's groundbreaking influence; Long Road: and the Soundtrack of a Generation (2022), chronicling the band's cultural footprint; and There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." and the End of the Heartland (2024), reflecting on the album's enduring resonance amid political and social shifts. These works, published primarily by imprints, highlight his expertise in connecting music to broader American experiences. In addition to his writing, Hyden is an active podcaster, co-hosting the weekly Indiecast with Ian Cohen since 2020, where they discuss indie music news, album reviews, and industry trends. He also hosts 36 From the Vault, a series dedicated to the Grateful Dead's archival live releases, and has produced earlier shows like , featuring conversations with musicians and critics. Residing in the area, Hyden continues to contribute to music discourse through his newsletter and recent projects, such as producing the documentary (2024), which explores the smooth rock subgenre of the late and early .

Biography

Early life

Steven Hyden was born on September 7, 1977, in . Growing up in the Fox Valley region, Hyden developed an early passion for music influenced by local radio station WAPL, which played and emerging alternative acts, and by discovering cassette tapes like Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. in his family's collection. Hyden attended Appleton East High School, where he graduated in the mid-1990s. During his teenage years, he engaged in extracurricular writing activities, notably contributing to the local newspaper The Post-Crescent. At age 15 in 1993, he submitted his first music review—a hand-written piece on U2's album for the paper's weekly teen section—which received positive feedback and ignited his interest in music criticism as a potential career path. In 2000, Hyden graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a in . The campus environment, situated in a region known for its , further nurtured his enthusiasm for contemporary and pop, providing opportunities to explore music writing through student publications and local events.

Personal life

Hyden is married and resides in the area with his wife and two children, having relocated there to be closer to his wife's family. This location serves as his professional base, providing access to the region's robust media and music ecosystem, including outlets like . Outside his career in music criticism, Hyden has shared personal reflections on his fandom for jam bands and live music experiences, describing them as a source of revival during periods of burnout. In a 2025 essay, he recounted how immersing himself in jam-band culture around 2013 offered an escape from professional fatigue, transforming his listening habits to prioritize bootlegs and improvisational performances in his free time. He has emphasized the personal joy of live shows, noting that recent concerts, such as one by , reaffirmed for him the enduring value of communal music experiences over recorded tracks.

Career

Music journalism

After graduating from college, Steven Hyden began his professional career in at , initially serving as city editor for its edition before advancing to music editor in February 2011. During his early tenure, he contributed to the site's signature "Inventory" feature, which compiled quirky, list-based essays on pop culture; this work culminated in his co-authorship of the 2009 book Inventory: 16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls, 10 Great Songs Nearly Ruined by , and 100+ More Obsessively Specific Pop-Culture Lists, a curated collection of such lists spanning music, , and more. Hyden's most notable A.V. Club project was the 2010–2011 series "Whatever Happened to ?", a 10-part retrospective tracing the evolution of from its underground roots to mainstream dominance and eventual decline, drawing on personal reflection and cultural analysis. The series, which explored key events like the rise of and nu-metal's ascent, was expanded into the 2011 e-book Whatever Happened to ?, including an exclusive introductory essay and serving as an extension of his journalistic explorations into the era's music scene. In June 2012, Hyden joined as a , where he honed his voice through long-form essays on culture until the site's closure in October 2015. His contributions there included the multi-part "Winners' History of Rock and Roll" series, which examined how bands like Metallica and achieved commercial breakthroughs while navigating artistic integrity, and the "American Band Championship Belt" column, a playful yet insightful tracking of dominance among U.S. rock acts across decades. He also penned annual "Year in " overviews, dissecting trends like the resurgence of R&B and paradoxes in pop stardom. Following Grantland's shutdown, Hyden transitioned to Uproxx in 2016 as , a role he continues to hold, focusing on reviews, profiles, and broader cultural commentary. His Uproxx work often highlights and legacy acts, such as ranking the best albums of the 21st century or analyzing recent releases from veterans like , while maintaining an emphasis on how intersects with personal and societal narratives. He has also freelanced for outlets like , , and Spin, often delving into 1990s and pop dynamics. For , he reviewed albums emblematic of the era, including Guided by Voices' lo-fi classic as a postmodern take on songcraft and the Violent Femmes' self-titled debut for its raw, cult-favorite appeal in the alt scene. His pieces covered reunion tours and emerging narratives, such as the Promise Ring's 2012 comeback show and Field Report's path to a breakout folk-rock debut, underscoring themes of revival in alternative and indie traditions.

Books

Steven Hyden has established himself as a prominent critic through a series of books that delve into rock 's cultural and personal dimensions, often blending personal reflection with broader historical analysis. His works, published primarily by major houses like Hachette and , evolved from essay collections rooted in his journalism—including the 2009 co-authored and the 2011 e-book Whatever Happened to ?—to in-depth album and band studies, reflecting a shift toward more narrative-driven solo projects after an early co-authored . Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me: What Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life, published on May 17, 2016, by , consists of essays examining pop music rivalries such as Oasis versus Blur and versus . These pieces explore how fans' allegiances shape personal identity and aesthetic preferences during formative years, using rivalries as metaphors for life's deeper conflicts. The book received praise for its entertaining and insightful approach, with critics noting its appeal to music enthusiasts through witty cultural commentary. In Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of , released on May 8, 2018, by Dey Street Books, Hyden structures a history of the era as a double-LP , tracing the genre's from the through its quasi-religious rituals involving drugs, , and mortality. The book questions classic rock's ongoing vitality amid shifting musical landscapes, blending personal anecdotes from Hyden's life with critiques of icons like Led Zeppelin and . Reviewers lauded its humorous and provocative tone, highlighting its role in demystifying the genre's enduring personal appeal. Co-authored with Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes—A Memoir, published on September 24, 2019, by Hachette Books, provides an insider biography of the Southern rock band, focusing on the Robinson brothers' sibling rivalry, internal conflicts, substance issues, and the group's rise in the 1990s followed by its dissolution. Drawing on Gorman's experiences, the narrative details album creations, tours, and the band's supernova stardom, portraying a tale of greed and self-destruction. The memoir was acclaimed as a soulful, detailed tell-all that captures the chaotic essence of rock band dynamics. This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "" and the Beginning of the 21st Century, issued on September 29, 2020, by , analyzes the 2000 album as a pivotal marking millennial anxieties, with themes of , , and post-9/11 unease. Hyden interweaves the album's creation, Radiohead's mystique, and its influence on subsequent media like films and social platforms, positioning it as a for early 21st-century malaise. Critics praised the book's blend of and for its dry humor and enduring relevance to contemporary disconnection. Hyden's Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation, published on September 27, 2022, by , offers a mix-tape-style examination of 's career, using 18 key songs to explore the band's evolution, fan culture, and role in defining Generation X's emotional landscape amid grunge's rise. It reflects on themes of longevity, activism, and personal connection, avoiding rote history in favor of universal stories tied to the music. The work was commended for its clever references and appeal to longtime fans, emphasizing the band's soundtrack-like impact on aging listeners. Most recently, There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." and the End of the Heartland, released on May 28, 2024, by , dissects the as a capture of mid-1980s American contradictions, blending isolation, societal divides, and heartland myths in songs that alternate between anthemic and underlying despair. Hyden combines , , and anecdotes to argue the record's centrality to on its 40th anniversary. The book earned positive reviews for its enjoyable readability and affectionate analysis of Springsteen's thematic depth. In January 2025, Hyden secured a two-book deal with for critical overviews of , titled Is This It: The Never Ending Rise and Fall of the Strokes (and Rock ’n’ Roll), slated for 2026, and , titled U2: The Last Biggest Band in the World, expected in 2028; these works continue his focus on iconic bands' cultural legacies. This progression from co-authored memoirs and essay-based origins in his music journalism to standalone album and band narratives underscores Hyden's maturation as a rock chronicler.

Podcasts

Steven Hyden has hosted and co-hosted several podcasts focused on rock and indie music history, rivalries, and cultural moments, often blending interviews, analysis, and personal commentary. His podcasting work began in 2016 and continues today, emphasizing deep dives into albums, festivals, and artists through episodic formats that appeal to music enthusiasts. Hyden launched Celebration Rock in January 2016 as a weekly solo-hosted series exploring history, featuring interviews with musicians, writers, and fans alongside deep dives into specific albums and eras, such as celebrations of influential records like ' . The podcast ran until 2018, providing accessible discussions on rock's cultural impact through Hyden's solo narration and guest conversations. In July 2019, Hyden hosted the eight-episode limited series Break Stuff: The Story of Woodstock '99 for Luminary (later distributed via The Ringer and Spotify), which recapped the 1999 festival's chaotic events, including riots and assaults, while examining its cultural fallout and ties to the nu-metal era through archival audio, survivor interviews, and historical context. The series highlighted the festival's role as a flawed social experiment, drawing widespread attention for its investigative audio storytelling. Hyden co-hosted Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds with Jordan Runtagh starting February 26, 2020, for , producing episodes until January 2021 that dissected notable music rivalries like versus and Biggie Smalls versus , using interviews and archival material to explore their artistic and personal tensions in an audio adaptation of rivalry themes from Hyden's writing. The emphasized how these conflicts shaped , with each episode focusing on a single feud for engaging, debate-driven listening. From January 2020, Hyden co-hosted the limited series 36 From the Vault with Rob Mitchum for Osiris Media, offering episode-by-episode analysis of the Grateful Dead's Dick’s Picks live releases, breaking down historical context, setlists, and improvisational elements from specific shows to chronicle the band's prolific archiving of performances. The series appealed to Deadheads by combining journalistic insight with fan-oriented breakdowns of the volumes' musical evolution. Since July 2020, Hyden has co-hosted the ongoing weekly Indiecast with Ian Cohen for Uproxx, covering contemporary indie music , emerging trends, artist interviews, and retrospectives on the genre's canon, such as discussions of or ' influence. The maintains a conversational tone, blending current events with historical nods to keep listeners updated on indie's dynamic landscape. In 2023, Hyden began co-hosting Never Ending Stories: Bob Dylan & the Never Ending Tour with Ian Grant and Evan Laffer, an ongoing series examining Dylan's post-1988 touring era through analysis of live recordings, setlist variations, and performance evolutions, supported by for extended episodes and fan discussions. The focuses on the tour's improvisational nature and Dylan's enduring stage presence, appealing to dedicated followers with detailed bootleg explorations.

Other media work

Hyden has appeared as an expert commentator in several music-focused documentaries, providing insights into key eras of history. In CNN's 2017 miniseries The Nineties, he contributed analysis on the decade's music culture, drawing from his expertise as an author and critic. Similarly, in the 2025 HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, Hyden offered commentary on the artist's career and influence, highlighting Joel's evolution from piano man to rock icon amid personal and professional challenges. Beyond on-screen roles, Hyden served as story producer for HBO's 2024 documentary Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, which chronicles the smooth West Coast sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring artists like Steely Dan, Toto, and Michael McDonald. In this capacity, he helped conceptualize the project by emphasizing the genre's roots in a collaborative Los Angeles studio scene influenced by jazz and R&B, arguing that Steely Dan laid foundational groundwork for many yacht rock musicians. Hyden's personal connection to the theme stems from his appreciation for its enduring appeal to middle-aged audiences, describing the collective of yacht rock artists as "the middle-aged White-guy Wu-Tang Clan" due to their interconnected session work and cultural revival. Hyden has extended his media presence through his Substack newsletter Evil Speakers, where he publishes essays blending cultural commentary with personal reflections on . A notable 2025 piece, "How Listening to Jam Bands Revived Me," explores his renewed engagement with live experiences, arguing that in the current era, memorable concerts rival iconic songs in cultural significance, particularly for high-grossing acts like and . This written work complements his visual media contributions by delving into themes of musical revival and audience connection outside traditional formats.

References

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