Tuesday, May 14 2013
Ben Watt - “North Marine Drive” (1983)
Ben Watt's rain-soaked number of pop-folk melodrama, "North Marine Drive", didn't exactly make him a household name when he released it a long time back. But it leaves behind the lingering air of cold nostalgia decades later.
“My Philosophy” Is Still Fresh After 25 Years
On Boogie Down Productions' "My Philosophy", rapper KRS-One was as lyrically poignant as he's ever been, delivering rhymes that are just as relevant today as they back in 1988.
In Defense Of ... The Return of ‘Arrested Development’
In theory, it shouldn't be hard for those who care about Arrested Development's comeback to actually root for it to succeed, even as today's interconnected and advanced world is far more critical than it was a decade ago, when the Bluths first graced our TV screens.
“Good Intentions Evaporate Under Hot Lights”: An Interview with the Breeders
They started out under the shadow of the Pixies, but Kim Deal's band the Breeders not only became a beloved indie-rock staple, they also broke wide into the mainstream with Last Splash, now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Josephine Wiggs walks us through the album's creation, its new live legacy, and her feelings towards that little classic known as Pod.
Now Hear This!: Aufgang - ‘Istiklaliya’ (album premiere)
PopMatters premieres Istiklaliya, the new album by hybrid classical-electronic trio Aufgang.
Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City
The New York-based indie juggernaut Vampire Weekend hits a masterful peak with its third LP, Modern Vampires of the City. It’s the kind of album that indie bands aim at but so often miss as it captures an old soul sporting new clothes.
Dungeonesse: Dungeonesse
A pair of indie rockers set out to make a pop/R&B album. Jenn Wasner's vocals are strong, but a lack of hooks and a lack of bass hold Dungeonesse back.
Clutch: Earth Rocker
Clutch may well have been seeking to shed some of its veneer on Earth Rocker, but that leanness only emphasizes what we already knew: that Clutch craft addictive and contagious songs, no matter their density.
Monday, May 13 2013
Frustration and Lack of Respect: ‘The Stone Roses: War and Peace’
The story of the biggest British band to never make it in America gets a thorough, honest, and fair recounting.
The Moving Pixels Podcast Explores Minimalism in Video Games
This week, it's minimalism. It's video games. What more can we say?
