PopMatters
216 articles
‘Crisis Actor’ Appears Deceptively Simple » PopMatters
Lily Platt's album ‘Crisis Actor’ is a nuanced exploration of addiction, presenting a complex narra…
Erik Hall Brings an Eloquent Minimalist Trilogy to a Close » PopMatters
Erik Hall is an accomplished minimalist artist who skillfully crafts music that appeals to a wide a…
Devin Maxwell's ‘Megadrought’ Is Ambitious and Inspiring » PopMatters
Devin Maxwell creates a musical exploration of humanity's attempts to control weather through an am…
In Taroug's “1995”, Menace Lurks Childlike Wonder » PopMatters
Taroug's new single ‘1995’ from the upcoming album Chott explores the dark undercurrents beneath ch…
2025 Marks Pop Music's Gilded Age » PopMatters
Pop music in 2025 is characterized by a sophisticated blend of artistic craftsmanship and emotional…
Bob Weir Rides Into the Sunset for the Last Time » PopMatters
Bob Weir, co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at age 78, marking a significant loss fo…
Leisure Process Deliver Treasure From the Vaults » PopMatters
Leisure Process is a post-punk band known for their distinctive sound blending post-disco rhythms, …
Julian Lage Teams with John Medeski for Impeccable LP » PopMatters
Julian Lage collaborates with John Medeski on a sophisticated musical project that offers a nuanced…
Sammy Brue Finds Inspiration in Earle's Journals » PopMatters
The article explores the connection between Justin Townes Earle and Sammy Brue through their shared…
Kula Shaker Rally the Poets of Light on ‘Wormslayer’ » PopMatters
Kula Shaker's new album ‘Wormslayer’ is a musical journey that appeals to seekers and adventurers, …
M(h)aol's ‘Something Soft’ Is a Post-#MeToo Gut-Punch » PopMatters
M(h)aol's ‘Something Soft’ is a powerful feminist punk album that explores the experiences of inhab…
Craig Taborn Is at the Apex of Contemporary Jazz » PopMatters
Craig Taborn represents the pinnacle of contemporary jazz improvisation, showcasing an elevated and…
Sotto Voce's Lo-Fi Pop Is Filled with Melodic Twists » PopMatters
Sotto Voce, the musical project of Ryan Gabos, releases ‘The Sound of Trying’, a complex and melodi…
Amy Grant's “The 6th of January” Tells What's Going On » PopMatters
Amy Grant's song ‘The 6th of January’ is a powerful political critique, drawing a comparison to the…
Justin Townes Earle’s Unrealized Future
Rolling Stone editor Jonathan Bernstein's biography of Justin Townes Earle, What Do You Do When You…
A Conversation with Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard » PopMatters
Robert Pollard discusses the consistency of Guided By Voices, attributing their musical quality to …
Louis Tomlinson Takes a Sunny New Direction » PopMatters
Louis Tomlinson's third solo album, ‘How Did I Get Here?’, showcases a creative vision influenced b…
Isobel Waller-Bridge Revels in Radical Stillness » PopMatters
Isobel Waller-Bridge's album ‘Objects’ is an experimental musical exploration of ‘radical stillness…
How the Beatles Hindered American Folk Music » PopMatters
The Beatles and the British Invasion of 1964 negatively impacted the development of American folk m…
Girls Against Boys’ Scott McCloud Discusses Conversations » PopMatters
Scott McCloud of Girls Against Boys has released a solo project exploring themes of time, memory, a…
Sonetos del Amor Oscuro Brilliantly Set Lorca to Music » PopMatters
Sonetos del Amor Oscuro is a musical adaptation of seven works by Federico García Lorca, transformi…
The 25 Best Space Disco Songs of 1976-1986 » PopMatters
The article explores the best space disco songs from 1976-1986, highlighting tracks that blend oute…