PopMatters Contributing Editor
Christian John Wikane is a NYC-based writer and concert producer. In addition to writing liner notes and overseeing editorial content for US and UK-based record companies, his essays have appeared in various print and online outlets. He produces an annual benefit in NYC (Three of Hearts) and co-founded the UnFiltered music series with Nona Hendryx. He is currently a Contributing Editor for PopMatters.
Features
Friday, December 9 2011
The Best Rhythm and Blues of 2011
It's an interesting time to be a fan of R&B. These are commendable examples of artists continuing to push R&B into the 21st century, while also respecting and exploring its roots.
Thursday, September 8 2011
Now Hear This!: Johnnyswim / Los Angeles
What happens when a Nashville-bred duo moves to Los Angeles? They conquer New York.
Friday, March 11 2011
Melody Maker: An Interview with Darlene Love
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors the "One Woman Wall of Sound" ... at last.
Friday, July 9 2010
By the Time Jimmy Webb Got to Nashville
From Elk City to Los Angeles to Nashville, Jimmy Webb celebrates five decades of songwriting on Just Across the River with ten artists you just might recognize and tells PopMatters all about it.
Friday, April 2 2010
The Van Hunt Parlor Game: An Interview
Attention: if you don't hear your favorite Van Hunt song at his next concert, listen closer.
Labelle: Nightbirds / Phoenix / Chameleon [26.Feb.10]
Reuben Butchart [New York] [19.Nov.09]
Part Five: Defining the Legacy [21.Aug.09]
Curatorial Casablanca [20.Aug.09]
Part Four: Dancing on the Pinnacle: 1978-1979 [20.Aug.09]
Part Three: Pushing the Envelope, 1977-1978 [19.Aug.09]
Part Two: Painting the Building, 1975-1977 [18.Aug.09]
Part One: Leading the Camel to Water, 1974-1975 [17.Aug.09]
20 Questions: Crayton Robey [15.Jun.09]
20 Questions: Nona Hendryx [7.Jun.09]
Monotrematous Funk: An Interview with Platypus [16.Apr.09]
20 Questions: Grandmaster Flash [8.Mar.09]
Maya Azucena [Brooklyn, NY] [11.Feb.09]
20 Questions: Michael Franti [18.Jan.09]
20 Questions: James Morrison [6.Jan.09]
The Best R&B of 2008 [19.Dec.08]
Mandi Perkins [Los Angeles, CA] [17.Sep.08]
Janelle Monáe Is Not in Kansas Anymore [13.Aug.08]
20 Questions: Rahsaan Patterson [7.Jul.08]
She's a Rainbow: A Tribute to Donna Summer [19.May.08]
Saudade: A Conversation with Carly Simon [5.May.08]
Now Hear This: Kevin Grivois [Tahoe, California] [10.Apr.08]
Angela Johnson [New York] [31.Jan.08]
The Best R&B 2007 [13.Dec.07]
3rd Day Syndrome [London] [29.Nov.07]
Journey to the Core of Chaka Khan: The Interview [10.Sep.07]
Margie Joseph Reclaims Her Soul: The Interview [20.Aug.07]
Blondie: Eat to the Beat [29.Jun.07]
Stevie Nicks: Dreams Unwound [16.May.07]
A Long Way from Wonderland [11.Apr.07]
The Redemption of Daphne Rubin-Vega [19.Feb.07]
How Solomon Burke Got to Nashville [20.Nov.06]
Anti-Divas [30.Oct.06]
P-1's Box of Surprises [18.Oct.06]
Reviews
Wednesday, January 4 2012
Mamas Gun: The Life and Soul
Attention London: One of 2011's greatest treasures is right in your back yard.
Friday, October 28 2011
Blondie: Panic of Girls
Both instant gratification and an acquired taste, Panic of Girls finds Blondie as unpredictable as ever.
Wednesday, February 23 2011
Rahsaan Patterson - 12 February 2011, New York
Rahsaan Patterson tells the truth.
Friday, January 28 2011
Mother's Finest - 16 January 2011, New York
Mother's Finest brings southern fried metal-gospel to New York.
Friday, December 10 2010
Mamas Gun: Routes to Riches (Deluxe Edition)
Need a contender for one of 2010's most essential albums? Start here.
Liza Minnelli: Confessions [29.Oct.10]
Chris Bennett: Sail Away: The Tahiti Sessions [14.Oct.10]
Greta's Bakery: The Edge of Everything [30.Aug.10]
Shawn Lee: Sing a Song [27.Aug.10]
Joan Armatrading: This Charming Life [25.Aug.10]
Angela Johnson: 26 July 2010 - New York [9.Aug.10]
Jamie Lidell: Compass [18.May.10]
Keane: Night Train [14.May.10]
Was (Not Was): Pick of the Litter 1980-2010 [30.Apr.10]
Bad Rabbits: Stick Up Kids [7.Apr.10]
Bill Withers: +'Justments [11.Mar.10]
Sade: Soldier of Love [10.Feb.10]
Roberta Kelly: Zodiac Lady [5.Feb.10]
Maiysha: 23 January 2010 - New York [26.Jan.10]
Deborah Harry: Koo Koo/Def, Dumb & Blonde [20.Jan.10]
The Motels: All Four One / Little Robbers [18.Jan.10]
Anjulie: Anjulie [9.Nov.09]
Gloria Jones: Share My Love [6.Nov.09]
Gordon Staples and The String Thing: Strung Out [28.Oct.09]
Mika: The Boy Who Knew Too Much [23.Sep.09]
Bill Champlin: No Place Left to Fall [3.Sep.09]
Gloria Scott: What Am I Gonna Do [1.Sep.09]
Van Hunt: Use in Case of Emergency [4.Aug.09]
Stevie Nicks: The Soundstage Sessions [31.Jul.09]
Maxwell: BLACKsummers' night [24.Jul.09]
Vanessa Williams: The Real Thing [19.Jul.09]
Annie Lennox: The Annie Lennox Collection [20.Mar.09]
The Jacksons: Destiny / Triumph [30.Jan.09]
Various Artists: Verve Remixed Christmas [11.Dec.08]
SugaRush Beat Company: SugaRush Beat Company [8.Dec.08]
Rahsaan Patterson: The Ultimate Gift [30.Nov.08]
Maiysha: This Much Is True [17.Nov.08]
Rod Stewart: The Definitive Rod Stewart [14.Nov.08]
Seal: Soul [11.Nov.08]
Bette Midler: Jackpot [7.Nov.08]
Maysa: Metamorphosis [31.Oct.08]
George Tisdale: Liberation Phase 1 [28.Oct.08]
Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It [18.Sep.08]
Heston: Storyteller [3.Sep.08]
Mutlu: Livin' It [27.Aug.08]
Brothertunes: A Million Things to Say [14.Aug.08]
Richie Havens: Nobody Left to Crown [13.Aug.08]
Donna Summer: Crayons [15.Jul.08]
Blondie: Parallel Lines [3.Jul.08]
Incognito: Tales from the Beach [26.Jun.08]
Solomon Burke: Like a Fire [11.Jun.08]
Bobby Womack: The Best of Bobby Womack [6.Jun.08]
Cyndi Lauper: Bring Ya to the Brink [5.Jun.08]
Carole King: Tapestry [25.Apr.08]
Paddy Casey: Addicted to Company [23.Apr.08]
Ashford & Simpson: The Warner Bros. Years [4.Apr.08]
Gnarls Barkley: The Odd Couple [25.Mar.08]
Missy Higgins: On a Clear Night [26.Feb.08]
k.d. lang: Watershed [5.Feb.08]
RAMP: Come Into Knowledge [20.Dec.07]
The Pointer Sisters: Special Things [17.Dec.07]
Darlene Love: Its Christmas, Of Course [30.Nov.07]
Deborah Harry [21.Nov.07]
Ike & Tina Turner: The Ike & Tina Turner Story [12.Oct.07]
Bee Gees: Bee Gees Greatest [8.Oct.07]
Janelle Monae: Metropolis [2.Oct.07]
Bettye LaVette: The Scene of the Crime [27.Sep.07]
Ledisi: Lost and Found [29.Aug.07]
Arthur Alexander: Lonely Just Like Me [24.Aug.07]
Thelma Houston: A Womans Touch [20.Aug.07]
Maya Azucena: Junkyard Jewel [6.Aug.07]
Donnie: The Daily News [24.Jul.07]
Grand National: A Drink and a Quick Decision [11.Jul.07]
Paula Cole: Courage [3.Jul.07]
Beth Arentsen: Sap [27.Jun.07]
The Dynamics: First Landing [13.Jun.07]
Various Artists: Motown Remixed [12.Jun.07]
CéU: CéU [1.Jun.07]
Three5Human: A Swig from the Acid Bottle [4.May.07]
Joan Armatrading: Into the Blues [3.May.07]
Feist: The Reminder [1.May.07]
Various Artists: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell [27.Apr.07]
Bebel Gilberto: Momento [26.Apr.07]
Mika: Life in Cartoon Motion [26.Mar.07]
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black [12.Mar.07]
Lewis Taylor: The Lost Album [1.Mar.07]
Madonna: The Confessions Tour [14.Feb.07]
Various Artists: Queer Noises 1961-1978 [8.Feb.07]
Jamiroquai: High Times: Singles 1992-2006 [18.Jan.07]
Carly Simon: Into White [9.Jan.07]
Incognito: Bees+Things+Flowers [3.Jan.07]
George Michael: Twenty Five [20.Dec.06]
Boz Scaggs: Hits! [5.Dec.06]
Diana Ross: I Love You [28.Nov.06]
Diana Ross: The Definitive Collection [9.Nov.06]
Lindsey Buckingham: Under the Skin [7.Nov.06]
Tim Buckley: The Best of Tim Buckley [5.Nov.06]
Nina Simone: Remixed and Reimagined [26.Oct.06]
Chic: Definitive Groove [20.Oct.06]
Solomon Burke: Nashville [12.Oct.06]
Amos Lee: Supply and Demand [11.Oct.06]
Scissor Sisters: Ta-Dah [3.Oct.06]
Lionel Richie: Coming Home [18.Sep.06]
Shawn Colvin: These Four Walls [13.Sep.06]
Sam Moore: Overnight Sensational [12.Sep.06]
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Stranger Things [18.Aug.06]
Aretha Franklin: Live at Fillmore West [17.Aug.06]
Grace Jones: The Grace Jones Story [11.Aug.06]
Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy: Adieu False Heart [27.Jul.06]
The Brand New Heavies: Get Used to It [12.Jul.06]
Corinne Bailey Rae: Corinne Bailey Rae [28.Jun.06]
Diana Ross: blue [20.Jun.06]
Blogs
Wednesday, December 14 2011
She's a Wanderer: 10 Reasons Why Donna Summer Belongs in the RRHOF
Icon, music innovator, and trailblazing artist: Donna Summer epitomizes what rock and roll is all about, and that's why she belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Tuesday, December 13 2011
Bubbling Under the 75 Best Albums of 2011: Lalah Hathaway
This week we presented our Best 75 Albums of 2011. Here are several more just bubbling under the top 75...
Thursday, October 20 2011
Van Hunt Lets the Pink Elephants Out to Play
Through words, music, and images, Van Hunt speaks the unspoken.
Wednesday, September 21 2011
Flame Dancer: Martha Davis and the 'Twisted Pop' of the Motels
What happened when Motels founder Martha Davis stepped into a row of flames? Thirty years later, Apocalypso holds the answer.
Tuesday, August 23 2011
Something Real: In Memory of Nickolas Ashford
In life, in words, and in music, Nickolas Ashford never gave less than the real thing. Where does 50 years of music go? They conduct symphonies of memories in the mind.
20 Questions: Femi Kuti (Sound Affects) [5.May.11]
Xavier Makes Your (Valentine's) Day (Mixed Media) [14.Feb.11]
David Pilgrim Preps New Album for February Release (Mixed Media) [9.Feb.11]
Sudano 360: An Interview with Bruce Sudano (Sound Affects) [28.Sep.10]
Stories to Tell: A Conversation with the Family Stand (Sound Affects) [21.Sep.10]
Maya Azucena Finishes Up New Album (video) (Mixed Media) [10.Sep.10]
Donna Summer: To Paris With Love (new single) (Mixed Media) [16.Aug.10]
'The Magic Garden' Revisited: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. on Jimmy Webb (Sound Affects) [25.Jun.10]
20 Questions: Alex Cuba (Sound Affects) [7.Jun.10]
Lena Horne and the Power to Believe (Sound Affects) [10.May.10]
Janelle Monae: 9.April.2010 - New York (Notes from the Road) [19.Apr.10]
20 Questions: Russell Taylor (Sound Affects) [31.Mar.10]
20 Questions: Carole Pope (Sound Affects) [19.Mar.10]
Dionne Farris: 26.Feb.2010 - Brooklyn (Notes from the Road) [14.Mar.10]
Nona Hendryx - "The Ballad of Rush Limbaugh" (video) (Mixed Media) [22.Feb.10]
Jomama Jones: 9.Feb.2010 - New York (Notes from the Road) [18.Feb.10]
Res Rocks: Res on Res (Sound Affects) [16.Feb.10]
20 Questions: Martha Davis (Sound Affects) [26.Jan.10]
Maiysha: 23.Jan.10 - New York (Notes from the Road) [25.Jan.10]
20 Questions: Bruce Sudano (Sound Affects) [6.Jan.10]
Slipped Disc: Basement Jaxx - Scars (Mixed Media) [15.Dec.09]
Angela Johnson - "Better" (video) (Mixed Media) [1.Dec.09]
The History of Casablanca Records (video) (Mixed Media) [20.Aug.09]
Beth Arentsen - "He Knows (My Heart)" (video) (Mixed Media) [22.Jul.09]
Brooklyn Dreams 2.0: A Conversation with Bruce Sudano and Joe "Bean" Esposito (Sound Affects) [7.May.09]
Van Hunt - "Attention!" (Stream) (Mixed Media) [23.Apr.09]
Giuseppe Spoletini: "Didn't It Rain Children" (stream / video) (Mixed Media) [30.Mar.09]
Felipe Rose - "From the East to the West" (stream) (Mixed Media) [25.Mar.09]
Her Best Is Yet to Come: The Return of Gloria Scott (Sound Affects) [18.Mar.09]
Taj Mahal Hearts The Pointer Sisters (Sound Affects) [6.Mar.09]
The Pointer Sisters - 14 February 2009: Bronx, NY (Notes from the Road) [4.Mar.09]
Jean Millington: An Interview with a Rock and Roll Survivor (Sound Affects) [26.Feb.09]
20 Questions: Cyndi Lauper (Sound Affects) [19.Feb.09]
Billy Porter - 7-8 December 2008: Joe's Pub, New York (Notes from the Road) [10.Dec.08]
Maiysha - 1 November 2008: New York (Notes from the Road) [4.Nov.08]
Donna Summer - 3 June 2008, New York (Notes from the Road) [9.Jun.08]
Ike & Tina Turner - The Ike & Tina Turner Story (1960-1975) [$39.98] (Consuming Consumables) [13.Dec.07]
Darlene Love - It's Christmas, of Course [$15.98] (Consuming Consumables) [10.Dec.07]
