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Sarah ZupkoPopMatters Editor & PublisherAbout Sarah Zupko Sarah Zupko is a former Executive Producer at Tribune Media Services, the media syndication arm of the Tribune Company, and a 10-year veteran of Tribune Company. Aside from writing novels and plays, she devotes most of her time and energy to running PopMatters.com and formerly PopCultures.com, as well as research in the fields of Slavic and German history, musicology, and European cultural and intellectual history. Zupko studied musicology, film, and drama at the University of Chicago and media theory at the University of Texas, where she received her M.A. in 1995. Reviews
The Dragons: BFIA rare lost gem thankfully resurrected, perfect for the headphones and the stereo stack. [24 September 2007] 
Patrick Cleandenim: Baby Comes HomePatrick Cleandenim loves Scott Walker. That much is clear from the rich, poppy orchestrations of his '60s gazing tunes. [4 September 2007] 
Heidi Mortenson: Dont Lonely MeSultry, silly, soulful, playful, gender-bending, pop experimentalist... Heidi Mortenson is all this and more. [31 August 2007] 
The Loves: TechnicolourThis new pop collective from Cardiff, Wales has a deep, abiding love for the most sugary, candy-coated concoctions from the '60s. [30 August 2007] 
Manic Street Preachers: This is My Truth Tell Me YoursWeathering the disappearance of original primary lyricist Richey Edwards, the band has not only thrived, but also grown in new directions. [18 October 2000]
David Bowie: hours…David Bowie is much too good for this. Please David, leave the “adult-boring” charts to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and the rest of that lot. [22 October 1999]
Radiohead: Meeting People Is Easy [DVD]Ultimately, Meeting People is Easy is a disjointed film with a meandering narrative that somehow succeeds despite its real lack of focus in capturing the chaos, pressure, and frequent boredom of the celebrity lifestyle. [15 October 1999]
Ray Charles: The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986Ray Charles is one of those rare artists that can convincingly traffic in virtually any genre of music and make it sound thoroughly his own. 
The Apples In Stereo: Her Wallpaper ReverieRobert Schneider is everywhere these days, mixing the recent Dressy Bessy release and popping up as a collaborator and producer on a host of Elephant 6-related projects. [7 June 1999] 
XTC, Apple Venus Volume 1 / Transistor BlastAndy Partridge and Colin Moulding used their time off well, lavishing extra care and attention on this set of tunes that rank among the best music they have ever produced. 
The Wedding Present, Singles 1989-1991The Wedding Present amassed a brilliant body of work that was fully entrenched in the angular post-punk aesthetic. 
Doc Watson, The Best of Doc Watson 1964-1968Internationally renowned for his unique flatpicking guitar style, Doc Watson is one of the most prolific and influential guitarists of the 20th century. 
Hank Williams, Live at the Grand Ole OpryHank Williams may well have been the first rock and roll star. 
Paul Weller, Modern ClassicsWeller has written an entire catalog of memorable songs—remember The Jam. 
Travis: The Man WhoTravis is the bridge between the two dominant ends of British rock in the 1990s. 
András Schiff and Peter Serkin: Music for Two PianosPianists András Schiff and Peter Serkin are both well-known for their devotion to the fugue and Bach in particular. 
Remy Zero, Villa ElaineWith very little fanfare, Alabama-bred Remy Zero have done the near impossible—they’ve squeezed some originality and drop-dead beauty out of the standard guitar band format. 
Poster Children: DDDThe last year has been the most prolific period of Poster Children’s long and illustrious career. 
Prolapse, Ghosts of Dead AeroplanesProlapse’s post-punk, guitar noise rock is hypnotic, trance-inducing, and mind-blowing all at once. 
The Push Kings, Far PlacesFar Places is consistently superb throughout—virtually any of these songs is strong enough to be a single. 
Oasis: The MasterplanOften unfairly labelled as mere Beatle copyists, Oasis have produced some of the best rock songs of the 1990s. 
Oasis: Standing on the Shoulder of GiantsNoel Gallagher attempts to right the ship on Standing on the Shoulder of Giants by diversifying Oasis’ sound and soaking up some contemporary influences from the Beta Band to the Chemical Brothers. 
Charles Mingus; Art Blakey & Thelonious Monk; John ColtraneMingus returns to his bass on The Clown and delivers one of his finest sets of compositions. 
Bill Monroe, Live From Mountain StageBill Monroe is one of those rare figures in the history of music credited with inventing a genre. 
Patty Loveless, ClassicsLoveless has recorded a mountain of great music over the course of her career. 
Happydeadmen, After the SiestaThis quartet from a small burgh in Sweden is relentlessly jangly even though they often pen ironically maudlin lyrics. 
Fountains of Wayne, Utopia ParkwayIf Juilliard were to offer a course on composing the perfect pop melody, Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood should be the first folks they call for instructors. 
Ella Fitzgerald, Rhythm Is My BusinessIt is a non-stop, up-tempo swing fest sure to delight the hard-core jazz aficionado, as well as the 1990s retro hipsters. 
Blur: 13Proving they have the goods of a truly exceptional band, Blur has done what the greats have done before them—evolved. 
The Beatles: White AlbumBetter known as The White Album, it's the 30th anniversary of the seminal 1968 Beatles record and Capitol Records is celebrating with a limited edition... 
Bablicon: In A Different CityIt's so refreshing to hear a record you can't figure out in about 30 seconds. 
Tal Bachman: Tal BachmanThe surname may have a familiar ring - Tal Bachman is in fact related to Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. 
Belle and Sebastian: The Boy With The Arab StrapSelf-imposed publicity hermits that they are, it's a minor miracle that Scottish octet Belle & Sebastian is known in the U.S. at all. 
The Aluminum Group: PlanoBrothers John and Frank Navin lead the Aluminum Group through a veritable delight of summery pop music on Plano, named after a small town outside of Chicago. 
Dot Allison: AfterglowDot Allison's blend of dub and torchy pop made One Dove one of the more intriguing acts to come out of Scotland in the 1990s. 
The American Analog Set: The Golden BandNicking the melody from Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart for lead-off track Weather Report is a sure way to grab a listener's attention. Art of Noise: The Seduction of Claude DebussyIt's really getting old - this obsession that so many electronica artists have with sampling and sucking the life out of every blasted beat and rhyme ever spun or rapped by a hip-hop act in the last three decades. 
Louis Armstrong: An American IconThe consummate entertainer, Louis Armstrong was an equally gifted trumpet player and jazz vocalist. 
The Adjusters: Before The RevolutionRather like 1980s Paul Weller, Chicago's Adjusters have embraced all things mod, from Stax and Motown to reggae and socialism. BlogsConsuming Consumables: Lost: The Complete Fifth Season Dharma Initiative Orientation Kit [28 November 2009]Consuming Consumables: Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong [25 November 2009]Mixed Media: This Week in Pop Past: ‘The Sound of Music’ Premieres on Broadway (videos) [17 November 2009]Mixed Media: This Week in Pop Past: Doug Sahm Passed Away (video)Mixed Media: The Herbaliser - Live @ Jazz à la Villette (video) [4 November 2009]Mixed Media: Anya Marina - “Satellite Heart” (video)Mixed Media: The xx - “Island” (Live on Jools Holland) (video) [5 October 2009]Mixed Media: Hush Arbors - Yankee Reality (new album / MP3) [27 September 2009]Sound Affects: New CDs This Week: Pearl Jam, Basement Jaxx, Guy Clark… [22 September 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Patty Loveless - Mountain Soul II (new album / MP3 / video) [18 September 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Spiral Beach - “Dominos” (Live) (video) [20 August 2009]Sound Affects: New CDs This Week: Richard Thompson, Joe Henry, Terence Blanchard… [18 August 2009]Mixed Media: Guy Clark - Somedays the Song Writes You (new album / stream) [13 August 2009]Mixed Media: Luke Jackson - “Goodbye London” (video) [5 August 2009]Mixed Media: William Shatner Poetry Slams Sarah Palin (video) [30 July 2009]Mixed Media: Cornershop - Who Fingered Rock ‘N’ Roll (video) [20 July 2009]Mixed Media: Paul McCartney - “Get Back” / “Sing the Changes” (Live on David Letterman) (video) [17 July 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Arlo Guthrie - Arlo Guthrie: Tales of ‘69 (new album / MP3) [16 July 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Shonen Knife - Super Group (new album / MP3) [15 July 2009]Sound Affects: New CDs This Week: Dinosaur Jr., The Mars Volta… [23 June 2009]Mixed Media: BeauSoleil - Live at the Louisiana Music Factory (videos) [20 June 2009]Mixed Media: The Defibulators - “DumDum” (live) (video) / “Ol’ Winchester” (MP3) [19 June 2009]Mixed Media: The Maccabees - “Love You Better” (live) (video)Mixed Media: The Maccabees - “Can You Give It” (video) [18 June 2009]Mixed Media: Fame dir. Kevin Tancharoen (trailer)Mixed Media: Blur - “Popscene” / “Song 2” (live) (video) [16 June 2009]Mixed Media: Camera Obscura - “French Navy” (live) (video)Mixed Media: Cursive - “I Couldn’t Love You” (video)Mixed Media: Adele - “Hometown Glory” (live) (video)Sound Affects: New CDs This Week: Major Lazer, Ha Ha Tonka…Mixed Media: Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture (book trailer) [12 June 2009]Mixed Media: Animal Collective - “Summertime Clothes” (video)Mixed Media: Rancid - “Last One to Die” (Live on Conan O’Brien) (video) [11 June 2009]Mixed Media: Basement Jaxx - “Raindrops” (video) [9 June 2009]Mixed Media: God Help the Girl - “Funny Little Frog” (video)Mixed Media: Steve Earle - “Colorado Girl” (Live on Letterman) (video) [5 June 2009]Mixed Media: Dixie Chicks - “Goodbye Earl” (music of 1999) (video) [4 June 2009]Mixed Media: The Clean - Mister Pop (new album / MP3)Mixed Media: MGMT - “Kids” (video)Mixed Media: Passion Pit - “The Reeling” (Miike Snow Remix) (MP3) [3 June 2009]Mixed Media: Regina Spektor - “Eet” (video)Mixed Media: The Sounds - “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake” (video) [2 June 2009]Sound Affects: New CDs This Week: Rancid, Elvis Costello, Ryan Bingham…Mixed Media: “The Beatles: Rock Band” (trailer)Mixed Media: Clinic - “Oboe Round” (video)Mixed Media: Cornershop - “The Roll Off Characteristics (Of History in the Making)” (video) [21 May 2009]Mixed Media: New CDs This Week: Eminem, Tori Amos, Jarvis Cocker… (stream) [19 May 2009]Mixed Media: “Nine” directed by Rob Marshall (trailer) [14 May 2009]Mixed Media: Miranda Lambert - “Dead Flowers” (stream)Mixed Media: Roger Daltrey with the London Symphony Orchestra - “I’m Free” (MP3) [13 May 2009]Mixed Media: Ryan Bingham - Roadhouse Sun (album stream) [12 May 2009]Mixed Media: Kermit Ruffins - “Treme Mardi Gras” / “Holy Cow” (MP3) [11 May 2009]Mixed Media: MIRROR - “Nostalgia” (featuring Dave Gahan) (video) [6 May 2009]Mixed Media: New CDs This Week: Conor Oberst, New York Dolls, Fischerspooner… [5 May 2009]Mixed Media: Tiga - “Shoes” (MP3 / video) [4 May 2009]Mixed Media: William Elliott Whitmore - “Old Devils” (live) / “Who Stole the Soul” (live) (video) [30 April 2009]Mixed Media: British Sea Power - “Come Wander With Me” (MP3)Mixed Media: New CDs This Week: Bob Dylan, Wilco and more… (Streaming) [28 April 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Miss Kittin & The Hacker - “Electronic City” (MP3) [27 April 2009]Mixed Media: Dizzee Rascal - “Bonkers” ft. Armand Van Helden (video) [24 April 2009]Mixed Media: Tom Waits - “Mule Variations” Video Collection (video) [22 April 2009]Mixed Media: New CDs This Week: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys and more… (Streaming) [21 April 2009]Mixed Media: Jarvis Cocker - “Angela” (MP3) [20 April 2009]Mixed Media: Steve Earle - “To Live Is to Fly” (MP3)Mixed Media: M. Ward - “Rave On” (Featuring Zooey Deschanel) (video) [19 April 2009]Mixed Media: The Streets - “I Love My Phone” / “Trust Me” (MP3) [15 April 2009]Mixed Media: Dale Watson - “Truckin’ Man” (MP3) [14 April 2009]Mixed Media: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - “Nikorette” / “One of My Kind” (MP3 / video) [8 April 2009]Mixed Media: XTC as the Dukes of Stratosphear - “My Love Explodes” / “Brainiac’s Daughter” (MP3 / video) [7 April 2009]Mixed Media: Cryptacize - “Blue Tears” / “One Block Wonders” / “Tail & Mane” (MP3) [3 April 2009]Mixed Media: Leonard Cohen - “Everybody Knows” (Live in London) (video) [31 March 2009]Mixed Media: Fever Ray - “When I Grow Up” (video) [26 March 2009]Mixed Media: M.I.A. - “Arular” Video Collection (video) [24 March 2009]Mixed Media: Blur - “13” Video Collection (video) [18 March 2009]Mixed Media: Manic Street Preachers - Know Your Enemy video collection (video) [17 March 2009]Mixed Media: Seth Walker - “Rewind” (MP3) [16 March 2009]Mixed Media: PREMIERE: Mike Farris - SHOUT! Live featuring the McCrary Sisters EPK (video) [12 March 2009]Mixed Media: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - “Zero” (video) [11 March 2009]Mixed Media: Handsome Furs - “I’m Confused” (MP3/video)Mixed Media: TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes video collection (video) [9 March 2009]Mixed Media: Turin Brakes - The Optimist LP video collection (video) [6 March 2009]Mixed Media: MSTRKRFT - “Bounce” feat. N.O.R.E & Isis (video) [3 March 2009]Mixed Media: Justin Townes Earle: “What I Mean to You” / “Mama’s Eyes” (MP3) [2 March 2009]Mixed Media: Various Artists - Ram on L.A. (MP3s)Mixed Media: Gipsy.cz - “Benga Beating” (video) [26 February 2009]Mixed Media: The Avett Brothers - “Glory Days” (Bruce Springsteen cover) (video) [24 February 2009]Mixed Media: Laura Barrett - “Bluebird” (MP3) [19 February 2009]Mixed Media: Plushgun - “How We Roll” (MP3 Premiere) [18 February 2009]Mixed Media: Easy Star All-Stars - “With a Little Help From My Friends” (MP3) [13 February 2009]Mixed Media: Elizabeth Willis - “One” (MP3) [12 February 2009]Mixed Media: Marissa Nadler - “River of Dirt” (MP3/video)Mixed Media: Raul Malo - “Lucky One” (MP3)Mixed Media: Ladytron - “Tomorrow” (video) [11 February 2009]Mixed Media: Hot Panda - “Cold Hands, Chapped Lips” (MP3) [10 February 2009]Mixed Media: The Lovetones - “Journeyman” (MP3)Mixed Media: POP PAST… this week in music history [9 February 2009]Mixed Media: U2 - “Get on Your Boots” live at the Grammys (video)Mixed Media: Bishop Allen - “Dimmer” / “The Ancient Commonsense of Things” (MP3) [5 February 2009]Mixed Media: The Bran Flakes - “Stumble Out of Bed” / “What It’s All About” (MP3) [4 February 2009]Mixed Media: Oasis - “Falling Down” (video)Mixed Media: Gretchen Phillips - “Red State/Blue State” (MP3)Sound Affects: Ticketmaster and Live Nation to merge? [3 February 2009]Sound Affects: Everyone’s a TwitterMixed Media: The Duhks - “Fast Paced World” (video)Mixed Media: K’naan - “ABC’S” (video)Mixed Media: Future Clouds and Radar - “The Epcot View” (MP3/video) [30 January 2009]Mixed Media: John Forté - “Homecoming” (MP3/video)Mixed Media: Don’t Be a Stranger - “Mon-chi-chi” (MP3/video)Mixed Media: Lafayette Afro-Rock Band - “Time Will Tell” (MP3)Mixed Media: Grails - Acid Rain (video/MP3)Mixed Media: Staff Benda Bilili - “Polio” (video) [29 January 2009]Mixed Media: Southeast Engine - “Black Gold”Mixed Media: Ben Kweller - “Fight” (video)Sound Affects: Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel (MP3 and video)Mixed Media: Strand of Oaks - “End in Flames” (MP3)Consuming Consumables: London [17 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: American Experience: The Presidents CollectionConsuming Consumables: Cobain Unseen [16 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: slotMusic Player and slotMusic cards [15 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Casablanca: Ultimate Collectors Edition [13 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: The Clash [12 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Art of the Modern Movie Poster [11 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: The Cosmos Rocks Collectors Edition Vinyl Box SetConsuming Consumables: Psycho/Rear Window/Vertigo [9 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Alfred Hitchcock Premiere CollectionConsuming Consumables: Mad Men: Season OneConsuming Consumables: Apple iPod touch [8 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Creepy Archives Volume 1Consuming Consumables: The BBC Natural History Collection [7 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: The Rough Guide to the Best Music You’ve Never Heard [5 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Vinyl LPs of Classic Rock from the Capitol Records Vaults [4 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary [3 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: Handel - Oratorios (Saul / Messiah)Consuming Consumables: The 60s Collection [2 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: LPs and CDs from Hometapes Records [1 December 2008]Consuming Consumables: 1001 Foods/Wines You Must Taste Before You Die [30 November 2008]Consuming Consumables: The Flavor Bible [26 November 2008]Consuming Consumables: Star Wars: Luke Skywalker, Last Hope for the Galaxy [25 November 2008]Consuming Consumables: Two Dudes One Pan: Maximum Flavor for a Minimalist KitchenConsuming Consumables: Style File: The World’s Most Elegantly Dressed [24 November 2008]Consuming Consumables: Nintendo DS Lite Gold with Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Bundle) [$159.99] [19 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: The X-Files: The Complete Collector’s Edition [$329.98]Consuming Consumables: Engineering an Empire: The Complete Series [$59.95] [18 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music [$32.98] [17 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: The History Channel Presents Modern Marvels - Technology [$20.99]Consuming Consumables: Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer by Chris Salewicz [$30.00] [16 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: James Bond Ultimate Collector’s Set [$289.98] [14 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Various Artists - Number 1’s [$13.98 each] [13 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lover’s Companion to the South by John T. Edge [$14.95] [11 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Hue Are U? A Deck: A Deck for Discovering Your True Self Based on the Dewey Color System [$16.95] [10 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection [$29.99] [6 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Biography - Legends of the Silver Screen [$44.95] [5 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: The Lives of Others (dir. Florian von Donnersmarck) [$26.96]Consuming Consumables: Limited Edition Fender Die-Cast Replica Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Bass Guitars [$49.00] [3 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: TV Guide Books of Lists [$14.95] [30 November 2007]Consuming Consumables: The Noël Coward Collection [$79.98] [29 November 2007]Consuming Consumables: The Practice, Volume 1 [$39.98] [27 November 2007]Consuming Consumables: ESPN 21st Century Sports Trivia [$29.99] [26 November 2007]Consuming Consumables: Rock and Roll by Lynn Goldsmith [$50.00] [20 November 2007]Consuming Consumables: Various Artists: Flower Power: The Music of the Love Generation [$149.95] [19 November 2007]Re:Print: EXCLUSIVE Podcasts: Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer [12 June 2007]Mixed Media: Tribute to Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007) [27 April 2007]Consuming Consumables: New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund [18 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: In a Cajun Kitchen by Terri Pischoff Wuerthner [$29.95] [17 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: The Book of Cool [13 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: LISTEN - Frank Sinatra - Sinatra: Vegas [12 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - SKYMAUL: Happy Crap You Can Buy from a Plane [8 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: LISTEN - Various Artists: The Greatest Songs Ever [7 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: PLAY - Will Shortz Presents the Little Black Book of Sudoku [5 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: LISTEN - Various Artists: Rockabye Baby! [3 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - The Grand Ole Opry: The Making of an American Icon [30 November 2006]Consuming Consumables: WATCH - Seinfield: Season 7 [29 November 2006]Consuming Consumables: The West Wing: The Complete Series [$299.98] [27 November 2006]Mixed Media: VIDEO: Sam Moore [12 September 2006]NewsThe Beatles remind us why CDs are great [9 April 2009]Muzak is bankrupt and Sirius XM just might be [11 February 2009]Tunes on the Tube… best music on TV this week [9 February 2009]Beastie Boys classic ‘Paul’s Boutique’ gets re-release [4 February 2009]Langerado 2009, a victim of the recession [3 February 2009]Radiohead tries to change the music biz with digital album [1 October 2007] |
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