Features
Friday, October 28 2011
The Beatles in Hamburg: The Stories, the Scene and How It All Began
When the Beatles went to Hamburg in 1960, in the company of gangsters and prostitutes they changed their sound, wore black leather, lost their bass player, sacked their drummer, developed a vast repertoire of raucous rock ’n’ roll songs, and fashioned a new hairstyle.
Wednesday, November 24 2010
There's No Heaven: The Death of John Lennon
The murder of John Lennon was more than just the end of the Beatles. It was the end of a specific segment of pop culture.
Wednesday, November 24 2010
We All Shine On: A Tribute to John Lennon
PopMatters presents our eight-day tribute to the revolutionary, the pop smart avant-garde idealist who let his art and his actions do all of the talking (even when he had lots to say personally).
Tuesday, November 16 2010
John Lennon and Paul McCartney: The Friendship Heard 'Round the World
Two unbelievably talented friends changed the world with their music, but the strain of normal life changes and out-of-control fame would test their bond. Meanwhile, most of their fans separated into two hotly debated sides that often miss the whole point.
Monday, November 15 2010
"I Don't Believe in Beatles": John Lennon's Minimalist Journey to Independence
How an audacious, daring record from a disgruntled ex-Beatle became a major musical landmark.
Columns
Monday, October 17 2011
Old Country Comfort: How the British Might Save American Music (Again)
The British saved rock 'n' roll, reignited the blues, and may just make country music more American.
Wednesday, July 14 2010
Fooled by Skepticism
Skepticism has been fueling pop culture for decades. Just ask John Lennon or Pete Townshend. Lately it’s just been fooling pop culture about science.
Wednesday, October 27 2004
Now He's 64: A Late Lennon Landmark
Sixty-four-year-olds aren't what they used to be, and if John Lennon were still alive, he would probably not be living the quaint parlour scene played out in McCartney's ditty.
Reviews
Wednesday, December 7 2011
Various Artists: The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute
Does anyone really need yet more exceedingly respectful covers of John Lennon songs? Because that’s pretty much all you’ll get here.
Wednesday, October 5 2011
Martin Scorsese Presents a Complicated Picture of George Harrison in 'Living in the Material World'
"People say I'm the Beatle that changed the most," George Harrison muses in George Harrison: Living in the Material World. "The whole thing is to change, to make everything better and better."
Wednesday, September 28 2011
"Mach Schau, Beatles!": Spencer Leigh's 'The Beatles in Hamburg'
For all those middle-agers convinced rebellious rock and outrageous behavior were invented by Nirvana. Been there, done that, have lots of black-and-white pictures to prove it.
Monday, April 18 2011
Days and Nights in the Life of the Beatles Captured in 'The Lost Beatles Photographs'
The Lost Beatles Photographs documents the sunrise of four protean talents we can’t quite let go of yet, from an era whose innocence was as short-lived as it was unlikely to happen in the first place.
Tuesday, February 8 2011
LENNONYC
Michael Epstein's moving documentary offers fresh insights into the lives of John Lennon.
Blogs
Thursday, January 5 2012
Here, There and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey
The Beatles boy wonder sound engineer Geoff Emerick reel-to-reels in the years and makes tenderloin out of some sacred cows in the process.
Friday, October 7 2011
Celebrating John Lennon’s 71st Birthday With Seven Underrated Songs
Though we instantly identify him with such hits as “Help!”, “I Am the Walrus”, “Imagine”, “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)”, and more, let’s look at seven of his lesser-known songs.
Thursday, September 29 2011
Musical Auteurism: Recognizing Genius
An album is not an insulated document, but rather something that breathes and grows within an artist's discography. I challenge music fans to not simply find songs or albums that they like (though certainly that has a completely worthwhile place), but to find entire discographies (from acknowledged classics to forgotten albums) to grow with over time.
Wednesday, July 27 2011
Tracks They'll Be Talking About: 5 Divisive Songs on Great Albums
Bon Iver's "Beth/Rest" is just the latest song that beguiles as many fans as it detracts.
Thursday, July 7 2011
Ringo Starr’s 71st Birthday: A Life In Videos
Let’s take a look at some of the career highlights of one of the most well known drummers in music history.
News
Monday, July 25 2011
Paul McCartney: Busting a few myths
CHICAGO — Paul McCartney isn't one to undermine his fans' expectations. With tickets as pricey as $250 plus service fees for his concerts July 31…
Tuesday, June 14 2011
Expect Martin Scorsese's George Harrison documentary this year, says Olivia Harrison
A documentary on the life of George Harrison directed by Martin Scorsese is nearly done and is expected to premiere this year, Harrison's widow, Olivia…
Thursday, February 10 2011
Film of Beatles' first U.S. concert to screen Feb. 11 in Hollywood for first time in 47 years
LOS ANGELES — This week is the 47th anniversary of the Beatles' first U.S. visit and their initial appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" that…
Thursday, November 18 2010
The Beatles on iTunes: Five reasons it's not all that exciting
So Nov. 16, 2010. Never forget. By now you've surely programmed the date as a yearly "event" into your iPhone, an annual reminder of the…
Wednesday, November 17 2010
Big news of iTunes deal ushers in Beatle-meh-nia
The Beatles on iTunes is big news not to get excited about. Yes, Apple finally has welcomed history's best-selling music-makers onto its digitaldownloading service after…
