Evan Sawdey

PopMatters Associate Interviews Editor

About Evan Sawdey

The first CD that Sawdey ever bought was Another Night by Real McCoy, and he got it when he was 10 years old. It may seem like an odd start for one's love of pop culture (buying an album by a run-of-the-mill techno pop act), but that disc proved pivotal towards launching Sawdey headfirst into the ever-changing landscape of entertainment media. His life would never be the same again. In recent years, Sawdey has written several plays, acted in New York, formed countless small-time indie-rock groups, worked as a theatrical sound designer, and somehow managed to recieve his B.A. in Theatre from Knox College in Galesburg, IL. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT and couldn't be more pleased to about working at PopMatters. (The location of his Real McCoy album, however, is presently unknown.)

Features

Music

"It's a Masochistic Stare-Down": An Interview With Adam Green

[12.Jun.08] :. The former Moldy Peaches frontman scored with Juno's "Anyone Else But You", but he's a busy man with a brand new solo album, getting hung up on Johnny Depp, and having French boys thank him for writing "such impersonal music".

Recent features

Music

"Megalomania Doesn't Have a Tax-Bracket": An Interview with Death Cab for Cutie

[2.Jun.08] :. Suddenly finding himself with a chart-topping album, Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard finds himself concerned with more important things than popping open a bottle of bubbly. It's just another day in the fun, crazed universe of Death Cab.

Recent features

Music

"There's Never Anything Planned": An Interview With Mark Kozelek

[8.May.08] :. Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek explains his unlikely inspiration, reflects on aging, and chooses beauty over catharsis.

Recent features

Music

"You Can Only Sweat or Spit or Kick So Many People": An Interview with Colin Meloy

[25.Mar.08] :. The Decemberist explains the virtues of cover songs, the senselessness of going solo, and that he's saving the crazy stuff for later.

Recent features

Music

Trophy Case: The 2008 Grammy Awards

[12.Feb.08] :. Somehow, Kanye West was able to make the entire evening about himself. Surprise, surprise...

Recent features

Music It's Hard to Rhyme Anything with Atchafalaya: An Interview with Chris Walla

Music The Party of the Humans Has Left Us Hungover: An Interview with the Most Serene Republic

Music Let Me Into Your Mind: How J.Ralph Changed My Life

Music Why Does the Music Have to End?: An Interview with Lou Reed

Yesterday's Jukebox Badfinger: Wish You Were Here

Music So Said the Lighthouse Keepers

Music "They Can't Write You and Me": An Intimate Chat with Kevin Drew

TV The Comebacks, The Cut-Ups, and All Cut Too Short: The 2007 VMAs

Music "I Don't Have Any Regrets": An Interview With Avril Lavigne

Music Pop Music Happens: An Interview with Graham Coxon

Reviews

Music

Meic Stevens: Gwymon

[2.Jul.08] :. 1972's Gwymon takes a more roots-based acoustic approach.

Recent Short Takes reviews

DVDs

James Joyce: So This Is Dyoublong?

[1.Jul.08] :. A cringe-inducing example of how not to honor one of the greatest writers who ever lived.

Recent DVD reviews

Music

Mochipet: Microphonepet

[1.Jul.08] :. Ultimately, Microphonepet falls apart as an album.

Recent Short Takes reviews

Music

Joseph Arthur: Crazy Rain

[30.Jun.08] :. With his own label and studio, Joseph Arthur is now free to release his own music as he wants. As these first two '08 EPs prove, Arthur's prolific nature is spreading his talents far too thin.

Recent Music reviews

Music

Dianne Reeves: When You Know

[27.Jun.08] :. Perhaps this is just a victory lap for Reeves, but even then, most victory laps aren't as needlessly bloated as this.

Recent Music reviews

Music Love Psychedelico: This Is Love Psychedelico

Music Coldplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Music The Cherry Poppin' Daddies: Susquehanna

Music Ghost Bees: Tasseomancy

Music Various Artists: 21 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

DVDs Radiohead: The Best Of [DVD]

Music Living Legends: The Gathering

Music Murder By Death: Red of Tooth and Claw

Music Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs

Music Soda Fountain Rag: It's Rag Time!

Music Various Artists: Secret Love 4

Music Mariah Carey: E=MC2

Featured Article

DVDs

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Season One

[30.Apr.08] :. Though the notion may be blasphemous to some, this proves that Heidecker and Wareheim are the rightful heirs to the sketch comedy throne that was vacated by Mr. Show years ago.

Recent DVD reviews

Music Dizzee Rascal: Maths + English

Music Tickley Feather: Tickley Feather

Music Various Artists: Dorm Sessions Volume 5

Events Explosions in the Sky + Lichens

Music Various Artists: Easy Beatles

Music Sun City Girls: You're Never Alone with a Cigarette

Music South: You Are Here

Music Spa: Spa

DVDs Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Music The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely

Music Sun Kil Moon: April

Music Kylie Minogue: X

Music Bubblegum Lemonade: Ten Years Younger EP

Music Various Artists: Be Kind Rewind

Music Kelis: The Hits

Music Chris Walla: Field Manual

Music Cave: Hunt Like Devil/JAMZ EP

Music DeVotchKa: A Mad & Faithful Telling

Music Cassettes Won't Listen: Small-Time Machine [EP]

Music Hello, Blue Roses: The Portrait is Finished and I have Failed to Capture Your Beauty

Music Various Artists: Stay in the Box 2

Music The Armed Forces: Modern Gospel for Modern Men & Women

Music Various Artists: Moods: You, the Night, and the Music

Music The Matana Roberts Quartet: The Chicago Project

Music Jacob Golden: Revenge Songs

Music The Left Outsides: And Colours In Between

Music Kate Nash: Made of Bricks

Music One Small Step for Landmines: One Small Step for Landmines

Music From Leaf to Feather: Themes on an Imaginary Winter

PopMatters Pick

Music

Shelby Lynne: Just a Little Lovin'

[1.Feb.08] :. From the delicate opening cymbal tap of the title track onward, Lynne remembers what made Dusty Springfield so great in the first place: she poured her soul into each song.

Recent Music reviews

Music Boy/Girl: Secret Secret Secret Singles

DVDs Joshua

Music The Marble Index: Watch Your Candles, Watch Your Knives

DVDs The Nines

Music Mike Ladd: Nostalgialator

DVDs Mike Patton, John Erik Kaada: Kaada / Patton Live [DVD]

Music The Jazz June: The Scars to Prove It

Music Cex: Exotical Privates

Music Blue Man Group: Canta Conmigo

Music West Indian Girl: 4th & Wall

Music Van Morrison: Still On Top

Music OneRepublic: Dreaming Out Loud

Music Angels & Airwaves: I-Empire

Featured Article

Music

Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures

[21.Dec.07] :. Anton Cobijn's movie biopic has triggered the largest revival of interest in Joy Division in nearly a decade.

Recent Music reviews

Music Paul Oakenfold: Greatest Hits & Remixes

Music Rivers Cuomo: Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

Music The Secret Handshake: One Full Year

Music She Wants Revenge: This is Forever

Music The Killers: Sawdust

Music Joe Cocker: Classic Cocker

Music MF Grimm: The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man

Music Gorillaz: D-Sides

DVDs Jonathan Creek: Season Two

Music Various Artists: Blow Your Cool

Music Soulja Boy Tellem: Souljaboytellem.com

Music You Say Party! We Say Die!: Lose All Time

Music Chris Botti: Italia

Music Dan Wilson: Free Life

Music Pat Monahan: Last of Seven

Music Collective Soul: Afterwords

Featured Article

Music

Imani Coppola: The Black & White Album

[8.Nov.07] :. Coppola's The Black & White Album is a jaw-dropping explosion of colors, textures, and sardonic wit.

Recent Short Takes reviews

Music Blaqk Audio: Cexcells

Books Prince by Morton, Brian

Music Say Anything: In Defense of the Genre

Music The Last Goodbye: Poison Kiss

PopMatters Pick

Music

The 1900s: Cold & Kind

[19.Oct.07] :. Songs that are not only top-shelf, but also timeless. By not following hipster-indie trends, the 1900s have crafted an album of indefinite shelf life.

Recent Music reviews

Music The Bird and the Bee: Please Clap Your Hands

Music Kenna: Make Sure They See My Face

Music Electric Six: I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master

Music Zeitkratzer: Metal Machine Music

Music Various Artists: Gilles Peterson Digs America Vol. 2

Music Carole King: Love Makes the World

Music Mick Jagger: The Very Best of Mick Jagger

Music The Pipettes: We Are the Pipettes

Music Hayseed Dixie: Weapons of Grass Destruction

Music Various Artists: This is Next

Music Office: A Night at the Ritz

Music Northern State: Can I Keep This Pen?

Music Josh Small: Tall

Music Cloak/Dagger: We Are

Music Pinback: Autumn of the Seraphs

Music Bat For Lashes: Fur and Gold

Music June Panic: Songs from Purgatory

Music Jupiter Rising: Electropop

Music C-Rayz Walz & Sharkey: Monster Maker

Music The Cult Inside My Head: Stalking Horse

Music Monument: Decades

Music Ringo Starr: Photograph

Music Matt Nathanson: Some Mad Hope

Events Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Music Meic Stevens: Sackcloth & Ashes

Music Lisa Germano: Lullaby for Liquid Pig

Music Yakuza Heart Attack: Yakuza Heart Attack

Music DJ Khaled: We The Best

Featured Article

Music

Garbage: Absolute Garbage

[3.Aug.07] :. Over the course of four albums, these alt-rock giants gradually tore themsleves apart, leaving a train of radio staples in their wake. Advice: sit back and enjoy the show.

Recent Music reviews

Music Butterfly Assassins: Butterfly Assassins EP

Music Chantal Kreviazuk: Ghost Stories

Music Various Artists: Chasing the Sun

Music Tokyo Rose: The Promise in Compromise

Music The Death of a Party: The Rise and Fall of Scarlet City

Featured Article

Music

Will Stratton: What the Night Said

[25.Jul.07] :. Not even 21, Stratton creates a folk album so good that even Sufjan Stevens had to stop by and play on it. He can expect a call from Mark Kozelek soon.

Recent Music reviews

Music Driver of the Year: Driver of the Year Will Destroy You

Music Ben Jelen: Ex-Sensitive

Music Taxi Taxi: Maps and Legends

Music Kids On TV: Mixing Business With Pleasure

Music Mochipet: Girls Love Breakcore

Music Shakes: Sister Self Doubt EP

Music I Am the Pilot: Crashing Into Consciousness

Music The Secret Handshake: Summer of 98 EP

Music Girl in a Coma: Both Before Im Gone

PopMatters Pick

Music

Justice: Cross

[2.Jul.07] :. As all our favorite '90s dance heroes release albums that are more arty than funky, Justice releases an album that not only is guarunteed party-starter, but also a signal of the back-to-basics dance revolution that's nearing.

Recent Music reviews

Music Electric Laser People: Straight Talk on Raising Kids

Music Simian Mobile Disco: Attack Decay Sustain Release

Music Various Artists: La Vie en Rose

Music Umphreys McGee: The Bottom Half

Music Cosm: 6 Song EP

Music The Bad Plus: Prog

Music The Exies: A Modern Way of Living With the Truth

Music Idiots!: Spring Is Here

Music Antennas to Heaven: The Line Between Myth and Reality Has Always Been in Finland

Music The Lapdancers: The Ghost of Alcohol and Song

Music Various Artists: 14 Songs in 28 Days

Music Cibo Matto: Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto

Music Midnight Movies: Patient Eye / Golden Hair

Music Chateau Flight: Les Vampires

Music Various Artists: Play

Music Various Artists: Dorm Sessions Volume 4

Music The Bishops: The Only Place I Can Look is Down

Music Blue Stone: Worlds Apart

Music Blackhole: Blackhole

Music Backyard Tire Fire: Vagabonds and Hooligans

Music Joy: Sailing Days

Music Treeball: I Dream of Eclectic Sheep

Music The Willowz: Chautauqua

Music These Arms Are Snakes: Easter

Music Shedding: What God Doesnt Bless, You Wont Love; What You Dont Love, The Child Wont Know

Music Gus Gus: Forever

DVDs Various Artists: Screaming Masterpice [DVD]

Music Manicured Noise: Northern Stories 1978/80

Music Lovedrug: Everything Starts Where It Ends

Music Nurse & Soldier: Marginalia

Music Lovedrug: Everything Starts... EP

Music Jill Scott: Collaborations

Music Rob Crow: Living Well

Music Cobra Starship: When the City Sleeps, We Rule the St

PopMatters Pick

Music

The Earlies: The Enemy Chorus

[24.Jan.07] :. There's a point on the Earlies’ sophomore album, The Enemy Chorus, when it stops being an album and transforms into an experience.

Recent Music reviews

Music Mark Newman: Must Be a Pony

Music Denison Witmer: Safe Away

Music Ima Robot: Monument to the Masses

Music Turn Off the Stars: Turn Off the Stars

Music The Legends: Public Radio

Music Rose Hill Drive: Rose Hill Drive

Music The Disco Students: I Beg to Differ

Music Pinback: Nautical Antiques

Music Form of Rocket: Men

Music Copeland: Eat, Sleep, Repeat

Music The Horrors: The Horrors EP

Music Whirlwind Heat: Types of Wood

Music JoJo: The High Road

Music Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum

Featured Article

Music

The Blood Brothers: Young Machetes

[3.Nov.06] :. You can call it selling out. You can call it mainstream. Just don’t call it bad. Call it the best album of their career. Scratch that: call it one of the best of 2006.

Recent Music reviews