Tuesday, December 13 2011
The Best Hip-Hop of 2011
Newcomers, giants, throwbacks, and collaborators -- 2011 was the year of diversity, in which rap fans were faced with enough variety to find whatever flavor of hip-hop they wanted.
The Book of Mormon: Contemporary Christian Album of 2011
Contemporary Christian Music could take a page or two out of The Book of Mormon.
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.
This is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl
This definitive biography tells the epic story of a singular career that includes Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Them Crooked Vultures.
Thursday, December 8 2011
The Best Jazz of 2011
Jazz is ready to go just about anywhere these days, and our list this year travels a good distance from free playing to fusion, controlled singing to daring solo piano.
The Best Producers of 2011
Noah "40" Shebib, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo provide a welcome reminder that a talented rapper or a gifted singer isn’t all it takes to create memorable, moving hip-hop or R&B.
Wednesday, December 7 2011
The Best Country Music of 2011
At first it seemed like an especially quiet year in country music, and in some ways it might have been. At the same time, country is country: it rolls on.
The Best Bluegrass of 2011
While last year was distinguished by a heavy dose of newgrass, jamgrass, and progressive bluegrass, 2011 was defined by a return to traditionalism.
Tuesday, December 6 2011
The Best Indie-Pop of 2011
Perhaps some of the bands on this list aren’t indie-pop in a literal way, but they most definitely are in heredity, influence, or spirit. They prove that our most interesting musicians can express themselves within the essential form of a pop song, while also changing how we think about songs and what they do to us.
The Best Canadian Albums of 2011
Canadians seeking to understand the identity crisis which plagues the Great White North need look no further than the musical class of 2011.
Monday, December 5 2011
Ben Folds Does the Best Imitation of Himself: An Interview
When not reforming bands, judging a cappella groups on TV, or collaborating with Nick Hornby, Ben Folds somehow found time to not only look back on his entire career, but also sit down with PopMatters to tell us all about it ...
Friday, December 2 2011
The Best World Music of 2011
The best of this year's world music proves there's energy surging everywhere around music, this human-made fight to find an approximation of the inexpressible.
The Last Sultan: The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun
Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun signed and/or recorded many of the greatest musical artists of all time. Always hip, he lived in the grand manner but was never happier than when he found himself in some down-and-out joint listening to music late at night.
Thursday, December 1 2011
The Best Progressive Rock of 2011
In 2011, there were only a few high-quality progressive rock releases, but those that managed to stand out are some of the best the genre has seen in awhile.
The 25 Best Re-Issues of 2011
The year's best reissues are highlighted by a massive re-issue campaign for the kings of English prog rock, a soul giant, and the masterwork of one of America's finest ever pop bands.
Wednesday, November 30 2011
Contrary Opinions: An Interview with Rob Crow
Pinback co-founder Rob Crow dislikes dogs, the Beatles, and people who copy other people's songs, and he's not afraid to tell you about it.
Tuesday, November 29 2011
The Past Is Calling: Reconsidering The Who’s ‘Quadrophenia’
Everything Pete Townshend did up until 1973 set the stage for Quadrophenia. It’s all in there: the pre-teen angst, the teenage agonies and the post-teen despondency.
Monday, November 28 2011
Down the Rabbit Hole and Back Again: An Interview with Vanessa Carlton
Removing herself as far from the impositions and constraints of the music industry machine as possible, Carlton relocated to rural England, and settled into Peter Gabriel’s Real World studio with legendary producer Steve Osborne.
Wednesday, November 23 2011
The Revolution Will Be Amplified: Is the Occupy Movement Liberating Music?
Forty years from now, people will be writing books on the art and music, literature and culture that came out of the Occupy Wall Street / Occupy Everything movements.
Monday, November 21 2011
Persevering Through the Confusion: An Interview with The War on Drugs
The War on Drugs have always been a highly-regarded band in critical circles, but with this year's Slave Ambient, Adam Granduciel finally started breaking through. As the Album of the Year accolades start to pile up, Granduciel takes PopMatters through the creation of his masterwork step-by-step ...
