RSSPlayboy Columns
Robert Christgau wrote short reviews for Playboy magazine's Music section from 1985 to 2002. These reviews appeared along with similar reviews from other critics (primarily Vic Garbarini, Nelson George, Dave Marsh, and Charles M. Young). The columns below only include Christgau's reviews. The columns up through 1988 are organized by issue date. From 1989 on, the dates given are when the reviews were actually written--typical 2-4 months prior to actual publication.- Aug. 1985: Hüsker Dü, Katrina and the Waves, Duke Ellington/Paul Gonsalves
- Sept. 1985: George Strait
- Sept. 1985: Beverly Hills Cop, Vision Quest, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies
- Nov. 1985: Fishbone, Ready for the World
- Dec. 1985: Leonard Cohen, Mofungo, The Scene Is Now, Howard Jones
- Jan. 1986: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, Memphis Jug Band, Fats Waller, Bob Wills, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Louis Jordan, Hank Williams
- Feb. 1986: Thompson Twins, ZZ Top, Tom Waits
- Mar. 1986: Lost in the Stars, Marti Jones, Golden Palominos
- Apr. 1986: Ras Michael, Yabby You, Gregory Isaacs, Joe Higgs
- May 1986: Jesus & Mary Chain, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Mack
- June 1986: Force M.D.s, Loudon Wainwright III, Aaron Neville
- July 1986: Rolling Stones, Laurie Anderson, Gap Band
- Aug. 1986: Merle Haggard, Katrina and the Waves
- Sept. 1986: Lou Reed, Ramones
- Oct. 1986: Run-D.M.C., Pet Shop Boys
- Nov. 1986: El DeBarge
- Dec. 1986: Ashford & Simpson, Bonnie Raitt, Phil Alvin
- Jan. 1987: Tina Turner
- Feb. 1987: Budd Johnson/Phil Woods, Frank Morgan, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Chico Freeman, Leaders, Abdullah Ibrahim, Don Pullen/George Adams
- Mar. 1987: Boston, the Woodentops
- Apr. 1987: Debbie Harry, Beastie Boys
- May 1987: Reissue Roundup
- June 1987: XTC, the Housemartins
- July 1987: Linda Ronstadt/Dolly Parton/Emmylou Harris, Al Green
- Aug. 1987: David Bowie, the Cult
- Sept. 1987: Warren Zevon, Kool Moe Dee
- Oct. 1987: Ornette Coleman
- Nov. 1987: Rosanne Cash, Joe Ely
- Dec. 1987: Marianne Faithfull, Sonic Youth
- Jan. 1988: Michael Jackson
- Feb. 1988: Bruce Springsteen
- Mar. 1988: Madonna, Billy Idol, New Order, Earth Wind & Fire
- Apr. 1988: Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode
- May 1988: Salif Keita, King Sunny Ade, Thunder Before Dawn, Heartbeat of Soweto
- June 1988: Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Cover Girls
- July 1988: Sonny Sharrock, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Power Tools
- Aug. 1988: Heartbeat Soukous, Hurricane Zouk, Franco & Rochereau
- Sept. 1988: Prince
- Oct. 1988: Astor Piazzolla
- Nov. 1988: Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Maurice John Vaughn
- Dec. 1988: Arto Lindsay, Pere Ubu
- Jan. 1989: Jon Hassell
- Feb. 1989: Replacements, De La Soul
- Mar. 1989: Neville Brothers, Fine Young Cannibals
- Apr. 1989: Thelonious Monster, Too Much Joy
- May 1989: Beastie Boys
- June 1989: Jody Watley, Neneh Cherry
- July 1989: Marshall Crenshaw
- Aug. 1989: Van Morrison, Al Green
- Sept. 1989: Randy Travis, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Keith Whitley, Lorrie Morgan
- Oct. 1989: George Clinton, Neil Young
- Nov. 1989: Laurie Anderson, Queen Latifah
- Dec. 1989: Jungle Brothers, 3rd Bass
- Jan. 1990: Deborah Harry, Exene Cervenka, Transvision Vamp
- Feb. 1992: Technotronic
- Mar. 1990: Lounge Lizards
- Apr. 1990: Sister Carol, Ram Dancehall
- May 1990: Beautiful South, Beats International
- June 1990: Bell Biv Devoe, Saffire
- July 1990: Soul II Soul, Deighton Family
- Aug. 1990: Eric B. & Rakim, Salt-n-Pepa, L.L. Cool J
- Sept. 1990: Neil Young, Bob Dylan
- Oct. 1990: Pixies, Rosanne Cash
- Nov. 1990: Pretenders, Heavy on the Highlife!
- Dec. 1990: Frank Sinatra
- Jan. 1991: Songs That Got Us Through World War II, Red Hot + Blue
- Feb. 1991: Yalla: Hitlist Egypt, Abed Azrié
- Mar. 1991: Digital Underground, Lifers Group
- Apr. 1991: Morrissey, Go-Betweens
- May 1991: Ziggy Marley, Linton Kwesi Johnson
- June 1991: Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka
- July 1991: The La's, KLF
- Aug. 1991: Abyssinian Baptist Choir, Golden Gate Quartet, Staple Singers
- Sept. 1991: Public Enemy
- Oct. 1991: Garth Brooks
- Nov. 1991: John Prine, Chris Smither, Marty Brown, John Lee Hooker
- Dec. 1991: Michael Jackson, Guitar Paradise of East Africa, New Edition
- Jan. 1992: Risqué Rhythm, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker
- Feb. 1992: P.M. Dawn, My Bloody Valentine, Digital Underground, Pixies
- Mar. 1992: Body Count, Beastie Boys, Giant Sand, Mzwakhe Mbuli
- Apr. 1992: David Murray, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Dennis Alcapone
- May 1992: Kriss Kross, Marky Mark, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
- June 1992: L7, Roches, Yo Yo, Rosie Flores
- July 1992: Deee-Lite, PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Christine Lavin
- Aug. 1992: Robert Cray, Antone's Women, Joe Houston
- Sept. 1992: Motorhead, Ministry, Luna, Dennis Robbins
- Oct. 1992: Sugar, Ride, Stacy Dean Campell, Dennis Robbins
- Nov. 1992: Madonna, Ya Ntesa Dalienst, Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique
- Dec. 1992: The Goats, Neneh Cherry, Hoosier Hot Shots
- Jan. 1993: Only for the Headstrong, Rave 'til Dawn, Utah Saints, MTV Party to Go, Pete Johnson
- Feb. 1993: Freedy Johnston, Thelonious Monster, Vaselines, Eugenius
- Mar. 1993: Digable Planets, Trespass, South Central, CB4
- Apr. 1993: PJ Harvey, Shanté, Kanda Bongo Man, Auteurs
- May 1993: Aerosmith, Butthole Surfers, Popinjays, Saint Etienne
- June 1993: Suede, RuPaul, Liz Phair
- July 1993: Mbuki Mvuki, Putumayo Presents, Jive Nation
- Aug. 1993: Loudon Wainwright III, Van Morrison, John Prine
- Sept. 1993: Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Pioneers, Calypso Breakaway, Calypso Carnival
- Oct. 1993: Moby, Aural Ecstasy, Futurhythms, Welcome to the Future
- Nov. 1993: Tougher Than Tough, The Best of Ace Records: The R&B Hits, Black Uhuru
- Dec. 1993: Joan Jett, Bratmobile, Bikini Kill, Janis Joplin, Sue Foley
- Jan. 1994: Salt-n-Pepa, HWA, John Forster, Born to Choose
- Feb. 1994: Shams, Heavenly, Afghan Whigs, Huun-Huur-Tu
- Mar. 1994: Pavement, Beck
- Apr. 1994: Hüsker Dü, Afghan Whigs, Les Thugs
- May 1994: Dave Alvin, David Byrne, Iris DeMent
- June 1994: Ahmad, Nas, Warren G.
- July 1994: Spin Doctors, El DeBarge, Slim Gaillard, Etta James
- Aug. 1984: L7, Seven Year Bitch, 5 Royales, Drifters
- Sept. 1994: Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Cachao
- Oct. 1994: Liz Phair, Victoria Williams, Cranberries
- Nov. 1994: Walter Becker, Dan Hicks, The Jazz Age
- Jan. 1995: Archers of Loaf, M People, Digable Planets, FU-Schnickens
- Feb. 1995: Elastica, Grant McLennan, Leon Parker
- Mar. 1995: Tricky, John Prine, Dance Hits U.K.
- Apr. 1995: Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Hi Times, Sleeper
- May 1995: Shane MacGowan, Warren Zevon, Boukman Eksperyans
- June 1995: Yo La Tengo, M People, Real McCoy
- July 1995: Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks, Ini Kamoze, Carla Marshall
- Aug. 1995: Marshall Chapman, Don White, The Who
- Sept. 1995: Whale, Garbage, Oruj Guvenc, Pipes of Pan at Jajouka
- Oct. 1995: Randy Newman, Prince
- Jan. 1996: Waiting To Exhale, Jo Carol Pierce, Al Green
- Feb. 1996: Los Lobos, Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins, the Highwaymen
- Mar. 1996: Fugees, Pulp, Tabu Ley Rochereau
- Apr. 1996: Ani DiFranco, Raincoats, Local H
- May 1996: Charlie Parker
- June 1996: Patti Smith, Stereolab, Sammy
- Aug. 1996: Sex Pistols, Amy Rigby
- Sept. 1996: Iris DeMent, Thomas Mapfumo, Kate & Anna McGarrigle
- Oct. 1996: DJ Shadow, Tricky
- Nov. 1996: Oumou Sangare, Tshala Muana, Joseph Chege, Kwanzaa Party!
- Jan. 1997: Mark Chesnutt, John Anderson
- Feb. 1997: Roots of Jazz Funk, Sleater-Kinney, Fountains of Wayne
- Mar. 1997: Frank Sinatra, Chemical Brothers, Sally Timms
- Apr. 1997: Ani DiFranco, That Dog, Corey Harris
- May 1995: Bis, Tiger, Latyrx
- June 1997: Luna, Arto Lindsay, Red Hot + Rio
- July 1997: Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton, Wyclef Jean, Strip Jointz
- Aug. 1997: Whiskeytown, Bottle Rockets, John Anderson
- Sept. 1997: Patsy Cline, Cornershop, the Murmurs
- Oct. 1997: Spring Heel Jack, Lonesome Bob, Finley Quaye
- Nov. 1997: Mase, Usher, Next
- Dec. 1997: Ali, ESPN Slam Jams, Ruben Gonzalez
- Jan. 1998: Shania Twain, Blondie, Common
- Feb. 1998: Victoria Williams, Chumbawamba, Smash Mouth, Grateful Dead
- Mar. 1998: Madonna, Buster Poindexter, Billy Swan, Percy Sledge
- Apr. 1998: Cappadonna, Killah Priest, Chris Knight
- May 1998: James Blood Ulmer, Sonic Youth, Sarge
- June 1998: Rancid, Afro-Latino, Bulworth
- July 1998: Liz Phair, Jermaine Dupri, Huey "Piano" Smith
- Aug. 1998: Amy Rigby, John Forté, Sunz of Man
- Sept. 1998: Soul Coughing, Butch Thompson, Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here
- Oct. 1998: Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Canibus, MC Lyte
- Nov. 1998: Beck, Jay-Z
- Dec. 1998: R. Kelly, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Hard Rock Cafe: Party Rock
- Jan. 1999: Latin Playboys, Cesar Rosas, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt
- Feb. 1999: Imperial Teen, Cadallaca, Sleater-Kinney
- Mar. 1999: Eminem, Prince Paul, Roots
- Apr. 1999: Tom Waits, Wilco, Old 97's
- May 1999: Mandy Barnett, Millennium Hip-Hop Party, Soundbombing II
- June 1999: Moby, Chemical Brothers, Salif Keita
- July 1999: Wu-Tang Clan, GZA/Genius, RZA, Natacha Atlas
- Aug. 1999: John Prine, Estrellas de Arieto
- Sept. 1999: Comedian Harmonists, Magnetic Fields
- Oct. 1999: Pet Shop Boys, Blink-182, Charlie Burton
- Nov. 1999: Mos Def, Genaside II, Aphrodite, Slick Sixty
- Dec. 1999: A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, MTV: The First Thousand Years: R&B
- Jan. 2000: Drive-by Truckers, Modest Mouse, Baby Gramps
- Feb. 2000: Steely Dan, Common, Continental Drifters
- Mar. 2000: Chumbawamba, MC Paul Barman
- Apr. 2000: Joni Mitchell, M2M, Fatboy Slim
- May 2000: Elastica, Pink, Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos
- June 2000: Harry Smith, Billy Bragg & Wilco, Puerto Rico, Tropicália Essentials
- July 2000: De La Soul, Lil' Kim
- Aug. 2000: Kwaito, Youssou N'Dour, Rokia Traore
- Sept. 2000: Go-Betweens, XTC, Ian Dury
- Oct. 2000: Kasey Chambers, Dancehall 101, Los Van Van
- Nov. 2000: Roni Size/Reprazent, Ghost Dog, Loud Rocks
- Dec. 2000: Everclear, Rage Against the Machine
- Jan. 2001: Augustus Pablo, Big Youth, King Tubby, Select Cuts from Blood & Fire
- Feb. 2001: Black Box Recorder, Stephen Malkmus, Klezmer Brass Allstars, Khevrisa
- Mar. 2001: Old 97's, Nils Petter Molvaer, Maria Muldaur, Etta James
- Apr. 2001: Kirsty MacColl, Atmosphere, Bosavi
- May 2001: Lucinda Williams, Cachaito, Afrika Bambaataa
- June 2001: Franco, Samba Mapangala, Girl Group Greats
- July 2001: St. Lunatics, Ass Ponys, Clem Snide
- Aug. 2001: Rachid Taha, Pernice Brothers
- Sept. 2001: Bob Dylan, Babyface
- Oct. 2001: Tea in Marrakech, The Beat
- Nov. 2001: Bullfrog, Mush Filmstrip, Aesop Rock
- Dec. 2001: OutKast, Dungeon Family, Pink
- Jan. 2002: Aesop Rock, Brun Campbell
- Feb. 2002: Cornershop, Brun Campbell, Highlife Allstars
- Mar. 2002: Wish You Were Here, Big Lazy
- Column Notes
- (No Date): Snap
For more details, see the Notes file.