'The Voice' has lots of singers who fit the 'Idol' mold of young, innocent ingenues with psycho stage moms. But it also has long-suffering adult pros, with a whiff of thirtysomething despair in their voices. That adds an edge of realness.

It was bewildering and humbling to keep discovering how many brave things people can fail to talk themselves out of doing.

It's always that one song that gets to you. You can hide, but the song comes to find you.

There are all kinds of mix tapes. There is always a reason to make one.

I've built my whole life around loving music. I'm a writer for 'Rolling Stone,' so I am constantly searching for new bands and soaking up new sounds.

I didn't know what I was. I didn't have a noun.

Ronnie Spector's hair was taller and meaner and scarier than all four Shangri-La's combined, plus the drummer from the Honeycombs. You just know her rat-tail comb was a switchblade.