Colin McGuire is the Music Reviews Editor here at PopMatters, as well as a blogger and copy editor for the Frederick News-Post newspaper in Frederick, Maryland. He has worked in newspapers for five years, writing columns, editing stories and trying to make sure the medium doesn’t completely fall off the Earth anytime soon. You can follow him on Twitter @colinpadraic.
Features
Thursday, January 5 2012
Somehow You Love Me: An Interview with Saves the Day
With the influential emo-rockers closing out a long-in-the-works album trilogy, Saves the Day's Chris Conley speaks openly and candidly to PopMatters about who he was, who he wants to be, and the event that changed everything for him ...
Tuesday, January 3 2012
"I've Never Been the Coolest Kid in School": An Interview with Jack's Mannequin
He graduated from high-school piano-rock outfit Something Corporate into a mature pop songwriter who also hangs out with Tommy Lee. Andrew McMahon sits down to talk with PopMatters, explains his blog posts, and why he recorded his most recent album twice ...
Wednesday, May 11 2011
"You Can't Blame Those Who Have Tried": An Interview with Cedella Marley
In this revealing and open interview, Cedella Marley discusses her father's legacy, the planned bootleg series ahead, and what's currently missing in the current state of reggae music ...
Friday, December 24 2010
Our Lady Peace Look Back at 'Spiritual Machines' a Decade Later
The impact the release of Spiritual Machines had on the legacy of Our Lady Peace is simply immeasurable. PopMatters talks with the band ten years on about the difficult birth and curious life of their high-concept masterpiece.
Monday, December 13 2010
A Lifeless Ordinary: An Interview with Motion City Soundtrack
Prepping for the December 18th launch of Motion City Soundtrack's own Popsickle Festival in Minneapolis, MCS frontman Justin Pierre discusses the time when he phoned it in, the greatness of Shudder to Think, and how the band had to nix the snowboarders ...
Reviews
Wednesday, November 23 2011
Rufus Thomas: Do The Funky Chicken
Rufus Thomas's finest achievement gets the reissue treatment and proves to stand the test of time.
Friday, November 11 2011
Thelonious Monk: Thelonious Alone in San Francisco
A jazz classic that still stands today as one of a brilliant mind's best.
Monday, October 17 2011
Mayer Hawthorne: How Do You Do
No sophomore slump as Michigan soul man finally lives up to his fullest potential.
Friday, October 7 2011
Buddy and the Juniors: Buddy and the Juniors
One of the most classic, underrated blues recordings gets the reissue treatment and, boy, does it deserve it.
Friday, September 30 2011
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass: Easy Living
This re-issue reminds us of how great Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass truly were when they decided to combine powers.
Blogs
Monday, August 8 2011
Hip-Hop’s Heartbreak: Kanye West – "Coldest Winter" and "Pinocchio Story"
808s & Heartbreak -- and this Between the Grooves series -- wraps up with a two-song tandem that exemplifies everything Kanye West's masterpiece-before-the-masterpiece is about.
Monday, August 1 2011
Hip-Hop’s Heartbreak: Kanye West – "See You in My Nightmare"
West consciously kept the guest spots and big-name collaborations at a minimum when constructing his fourth album. That mantra allowed this particular joint effort to stand firmly on its own among some of the best work he has ever been a part of.
Monday, July 25 2011
Hip-Hop’s Heartbreak: Kanye West – "Bad News"
Don't discount "Bad News" because of its placement on 808s & Heartbreak. It's still one of the best art-pop compositions of our time.
Monday, July 18 2011
Hip-Hop’s Heartbreak: Kanye West – “Street Lights”
Kanye kicks off 808s & Heartbreak's home stretch with a song often over-looked, though never discredited.
Monday, July 11 2011
Hip-Hop’s Heartbreak: Kanye West – “Robocop”
If 808s & Heartbreak is the lost Kanye West record, then the songs that make up the second half of the album are the true forgotten masterpieces. And, all things considered, there isn’t a better track than “RoboCop” to begin that undervalued stretch of criminally-forgotten tracks.
