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Music
Friday, November 6 2009
By Evan Sawdey
Max Bemis and co. have returned with one of the most self-referential albums to ever grace the emo-rock canon, and lo' and behold, it's one of Bemis' best.
By Ross Langager
This is not a new castle, but it's a fairly impressive renovation of the existing foundations.
By Chris Conaton
The duo from Once return with a fine new album. It's mostly about how their real-life relationship fell apart, but with strong songwriting and gorgeous singing.
By Dan Johnson
Synth pop, effects-heavy rock, and dreamlike euphoria are the driving forces behind Neon Indian’s pleasurable and bright look at pop psychedelia.
By Zach Schonfeld
Karen O’s lively soundtrack sounds best where the wild things aren’t: in the most straightforward bits of childlike indie-pop.
By Ian Mathers
This slightly unclassifiable Danish quintet are good to have on your side, like a friend whose support is rock-solid if uneffusive.
By Christian John Wikane
With generous remastering by Reel Music, the luster of Share My Love is ever-glistening. A rare gem from the Motown catalog finally gets its due.
Thursday, November 5 2009
By Adrien Begrand
Not surprisingly, World Painted Blood is, well, a Record Made Metal.
By Matthew Fiander
Few get more lonesome on record than Will Johnson (Centro-matic) and Jason Molina (Magnolia Electric Co.).
By Andrew Zender
An individual at Coca-Cola's ad agency proposes the idea of a Charlie Brown Christmas Special, with music by Vince Guaraldi. And a new American institution was born...
By Daniel Ross
Scott Kannberg's solo debut is aesthetically assured but ultimately a little empty.
By Luke McGrath
Electric pop confections by a twee Frenchman that sings like an English woman.
By Joseph Pickert
To Swift Mars samples the ‘80s pop zeitgeist to various effect, but is strongest in its least nostalgic moments.
By Sarah Moore
The American-born Canadian actor/blues musician's songs are as textured as his vocals.
Wednesday, November 4 2009
By Craig Carson
Morrissey's uneasy expression on the cover notwithstanding, Swords is a worthy collection of 18 b-sides from his last three studio albums.
By Andrew Zender
Sounds like golden outtakes from lost sessions where James Brown's backing band got together with Booker T and the MGs at the Stax studios with an insanely talented batch of unknown singers.
By Zachary Houle
Introducing might make a case for Brilliant Colors being a knock-off group, a carbon copy of the Vivian Girls with subtle differences. But Brilliant Colors are a good carbon copy.
By Michael Kabran
It's that classic biblical tale: little known DJ from suburban Michigan takes on soul god from Motown. And the winner is...
By Matt Vittone and Brady Nash
Bondy fuses imagery of moonlit nights and limitless oceans with religious mysticism to evoke a beauty in nihilism.
By Joshua Kloke
The Cave Singers attain an unheralded harmony between the back porch and the road on their sophomore masterpiece.
By Mark W. Adams
Here are 11 refreshingly earnest and brazenly straightforward anthems that both rattle your floor and stick in your head. To this reviewer's ears, Roman Candle happily play non-hyphenated, non-adjective-ized Rock and Roll.
Tuesday, November 3 2009
By Dan Raper
The singer-songwriter of the Strokes has finally released his solo debut. The wait was worth it.
By David Smith
Former Scottish noiseniks get better with age on their sixth album -- available as a free download.
By Justin Cober-Lake
This compilation offers more than its title suggests, even making an emo Christian compelling.
By Matt Gonzales
Still bleak after all these years, the Black Heart Procession has failed to, well, proceed much.
By Dan Raper
I’m sorry, I know England loves this guy, but something about him rings false.
By Steve Leftridge
Gentle-rock softy crafts a pop-standards beauty for the Paul Anka lover in your home.
By Erin Lyndal Martin
Yes, Amy Speace is another girl with a guitar. But on this album, she proves that she's more than fierce enough to rock the scowl that she bares on its front cover.
Monday, November 2 2009
By Evan Sawdey
Weezer are now writing nothing but unabashed pop songs, aiming for nothing but the top of the charts and hoping you'll come along for the ride to multi-platinum glory. Word of advice: don't.
By Dan Raper
Fat Cat reissues Max Richter's debut album from 2002.
By Matthew Collins
Psychedelic experiments from Paw Tracks up-and-comer.
By Andrew Dietzel
Deftly incorporates a multitude of rhythmic structures and vocal styles that are distinctly Middle Eastern, hip-hop, or, as the case may be, both.
By Steve Leftridge
Don't look so sad. Kris Kristofferson keeps on turning out warm and tender songs, like the shadows on the wall.
By Jayson Harsin
For partiers, perverts, and the girl power posse, Greatest Hits: Volume 16 is a must have. For everyone else -- well, if you don't love them by now, this ain't gonna hook your gills.
By Will Layman
The full-throated bluegrass singer in her first studio outing with her wonderful touring band.
more  Short Reviews
Friday, November 6 2009
Wednesday, November 4 2009
Tuesday, November 3 2009
Monday, November 2 2009
more Features
Thursday, November 5 2009
By AJ Ramirez
Starting with Nevermind, Kurt Cobain intentionally simplified his compositions in order to emphasize their pop components. Less song-focused than later Nirvana works, Bleach acts as an interesting showcase of the band’s musical chops.
Tuesday, November 3 2009
By Jer Fairall
Upon the release of the Mountain Goats' latest album, the band's founder and songwriter talks about the literary influences on his prolific output and the biblical theme of his latest opus.
Monday, November 2 2009
By PopMatters Staff
Though several bands demanded double-takes, and many impressed, there were no obvious standouts at this year's CMJ. Instead, our writers found bands that exemplified standards for success, and failure, putting together ten rules on how to sink or swim at CMJ.
Sunday, November 1 2009
By Evan Sawdey
Stealing Kurt Vonnegut books? Getting choked up during M*A*S*H? Appleseed Cast frontman Chris Crisci talks about all of these things and more as his folk-affected side-project releases their second album.
Friday, November 6 2009
By Michael Brett
The Rockist attends his most eagerly anticipated metal show in over a decade only to find... the Banana Splits?
(more The Rockist)
Wednesday, November 4 2009
By Juli Thanki
In the late '30s and '40s, Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys were the biggest stars in country music, but when he appeared onstage at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, he did so after a number of years spent toiling in relative obscurity.
(more Torch & Twang)
Monday, November 2 2009
By Bob Proehl
At a time when country music was shining like a new dime, John Hartford and his collaborators were digging into old time music to find something new.
(more Pickin' Down the Line)
Friday, November 6 2009
By Ben Schumer
To cap off their stellar year, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs captivated a massive hometown crowd at the legendary Radio City Music Hall.
Thursday, November 5 2009
By Rory O'Connor
Even in the moments when they seem to be teetering on the edge of control, like during one of Ira’s guitar tirades, every single note and squall of feedback feels necessary.
Wednesday, November 4 2009
By Caroline Shadood
Mirah established her versatility as a musician while unintentionally proving that song choice truly can make or break an entire performance.
more DVD Reviews
Tuesday, November 3 2009
By Thomas Britt
This more often than not pays proper attention to the artistic prowess on display, which saves it from playing too laboriously like someone else's vacation slideshow.
Sunday, October 25 2009
By Christel Loar
This DVD enthusiastically shows a collaborative collective at the peak of its prowess, melding many musical traditions with swift, deft fingers into its own interwoven representation of Irish culture.
Monday, October 19 2009
By David Gassmann
Gogol Bordello's live DVD/CD might not win new converts, but it's wild enough to be one hell of a show.
Friday, November 6 2009
Thursday, November 5 2009
more Tour Dates
Friday, November 6 2009
Sunday, October 25 2009
Tuesday, October 20 2009
Monday, October 19 2009
Sunday, October 18 2009
Friday, November 6 2009
Wednesday, November 4 2009
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