MetalMatters: July 2019 - It's Never Too Hot for Dark, Heavy Music

Unconventional rock albums, from poppy sludge outfit Torche, noise rock masters Uzeda and post-hardcore outcasts Cherubs, along with the black metal fury of Falls of Rauros, False, Arkhaik, Celestial Grave and Sanguine Eagle and uncategorized extremists Immortal Bird are among this month's extreme output.

Fear the Capitalists, Not the Pagan Witch: William McGregor on His Film, 'Gwen'

Recent

Farewell to the "Father of Montalbano", Sicilian Novelist Andrea Camilleri

The beloved character Salvo Montalbano, like its author, the late Sicilian novelist Andrea Camilleri ("il padre di Montalbano"), can be brusque and ornery, but he has a strong ethical code and passionate commitment to justice.

Books

Tycho Incorporates a Vocalist Into His Electronic Dream Pop on 'Weather'

On Weather, chillwave's Tycho proves he can incorporate all of his signature elements into a traditional pop song structure without having to compromise the core.

Music

Imperial Teen Are Masters of Catchy Hooks

Imperial Teen's Now We Are Timeless shows what a veteran band can do when they are locked in together. Highly recommended for fans of the kind of pop-rock that doesn't make the mainstream charts anymore.

Music

Matt Mitchell Rocks Out Impressively with New Jazz on 'Phalanx Ambassadors'

The most versatile pianist in jazz, Matt Mitchell makes a fiery album of new music that definitively rocks even in its intricacy.

Music

MetalMatters: July 2019 - It's Never Too Hot for Dark, Heavy Music

Unconventional rock albums, from poppy sludge outfit Torche, noise rock masters Uzeda and post-hardcore outcasts Cherubs, along with the black metal fury of Falls of Rauros, False, Arkhaik, Celestial Grave and Sanguine Eagle and uncategorized extremists Immortal Bird are among this month's extreme output.

Music

Fear the Capitalists, Not the Pagan Witch: William McGregor on His Film, 'Gwen'

Director William McGregor reflects on how his fantastical period film, Gwen, began as a reaction to mainstream television, and how the capitalist antagonist will allow the film to continue to resonate with audiences in the future.

Film

Does Cao Fei's Art of Chinese Industrialization and Globalization Work in a Time of Censorship?

Some might think that the influence of politics and economics in a censored art world might harm Chinese artist Cao Fei's efforts to provide real critique.

Culture

Taylor Hollingsworth Tells the Tale of "Tap Dancin' Daddy" (premiere)

Mystic Valley Band man Taylor Hollingsworth steps out for the first album under his own name since 2011. "Tap Dancin' Daddy" tells of the struggles of parenthood and the struggles of staying true to one's self.

Music

Ecstatic Vision Declares That It's Time To "Shut Up and Drive" (premiere)

Ecstatic Vision's "Shut Up and Drive" challenges notions of heavy rock as it adds acoustic guitar and synthesizers to the spectrum.

Music

Natalie Gelman's "The Lights Upstairs" Is an Uplifting Ode to Those with Alzheimer's (premiere)

Written after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, folk-pop songstress Natalie Gelman's "The Lights Upstairs" shines a message of love in the face of a terrible disease.

Music

'Delphi' Is Antwood's Electronic Take on Love and Technology

With Delphi, Canadian electronic artist Antwood releases an ambitious collection of brash electronic music and a whole slew of genre pastiches yet to be invented.

Music

Body of Work: On Burt Lancaster's Physicality in Film

The key to understanding Burt Lancaster's contribution to film lies in the physicality of his portrayals. Film Forum, New York, showcases many of his films starting today.

Film

A Good Lie: Lulu Wang on the Real Lie Behind Her Film, 'The Farewell'

Why don't we have more immigrant stories in film? Lulu Wang talks with PopMatters about fighting to tell her story, her way, and how that came to fruition in her latest film, The Farewell.

Interviews

House and Land Breath New Life Into Folk and Ballad Songs While Honoring the Past

Folk duo House and Land's Across the Field is a collection of songs that consider historical context as much as modern relevance.

PM Pick

Ranky Tanky Deliver a 'Good Time'

Ranky Tanky honor the Gullah culture of their South Carolina ancestors, even as they update that culture for the 21st century on Good Time.

Music

Khruangbin Go All-Out Summer with New Dub Mix, 'Hasta El Cielo'

If Khruangbin's Con Todo El Mundo was a sweltering Texas night drive, then Hasta El Cielo is a beachfront sunset. No longer on the attack, Khruangbin relax at last.

Music

A Biography Worthy of 'Hiroshima' Author John Hersey

John Hersey covered Hiroshima and America's race riots with empathy, courage, and profound humility. Jeremy Treglown's biography, Mr. Straight Arrow, should bring a new generation of readers to Hersey's work.

Books

Aimée Faces Chronic Anxiety Head on with "Break Me" (premiere)

Fast rising Dublin pop/R&B artist Aimée releases her second single of dancey, soulful pop while baring her soul on "Break Me".

Music

In His New Van Session, Craig Stickland Presents "Break Every Rule" (premiere)

Previewing his new album, Starlit Afternoon, singer-songwriter Craig Stickland produces a passionate live performance of "Break Every Rule" amidst the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park.

Music

Winnow's 'Light the Match' Is Aflame with Gritty Roots Rock (album stream) (premiere)

Longtime folk music collaborators Joey Frendo and Jared Meeuwenberg shine as Winnow, their rocking new Americana project. Hear their new EP, Light the Match.

Music

Mieke Eerkens 'All Ships Follow Me' Is a Harrowing Family Memoir Scarred by the Horrors of War

Against the backdrop of Dutch East Indies colonialism and Nazi sympathizers, two families come together amidst the ashes of World War II in Mieke Eerkens' moving family history, All Ships Follow Me.

Books

Corb Lund and Hayes Carll Join Forces for "Cover of the Rolling Stone" (premiere)

Ahead of his Cover Your Tracks EP, Americana's Corb Lund teams up with Hayes Carll for a rousing rendition of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show's "Cover of the Rolling Stone".

Music

Insular Musician; Collaborative Filmmaker: Director A.T. White on 'Starfish'

Director A.T. White reflects on his deliberately obtuse debut feature, Starfish, and letting go of a character, a version of himself to the film's actress, Virginia Gardner.

Film

Pop Ten

MetalMatters: July 2019 - It's Never Too Hot for Dark, Heavy Music

The 50 Best Albums of 2019 So Far

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

Fear the Capitalists, Not the Pagan Witch: William McGregor on His Film, 'Gwen'

The 25 Best Electronic Albums of 2018

Collapse Expand Pop Ten

Mixed Media

Collapse Expand Mixed Media

PM Picks

Collapse Expand Pm Picks

The beloved character Salvo Montalbano, like its author, the late Sicilian novelist Andrea Camilleri ("il padre di Montalbano"), can be brusque and ornery, but he has a strong ethical code and passionate commitment to justice.

On Weather, chillwave's Tycho proves he can incorporate all of his signature elements into a traditional pop song structure without having to compromise the core.

Imperial Teen's Now We Are Timeless shows what a veteran band can do when they are locked in together. Highly recommended for fans of the kind of pop-rock that doesn't make the mainstream charts anymore.

The most versatile pianist in jazz, Matt Mitchell makes a fiery album of new music that definitively rocks even in its intricacy.

Director William McGregor reflects on how his fantastical period film, Gwen, began as a reaction to mainstream television, and how the capitalist antagonist will allow the film to continue to resonate with audiences in the future.

Some might think that the influence of politics and economics in a censored art world might harm Chinese artist Cao Fei's efforts to provide real critique.

Mystic Valley Band man Taylor Hollingsworth steps out for the first album under his own name since 2011. "Tap Dancin' Daddy" tells of the struggles of parenthood and the struggles of staying true to one's self.

Ecstatic Vision's "Shut Up and Drive" challenges notions of heavy rock as it adds acoustic guitar and synthesizers to the spectrum.

Written after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, folk-pop songstress Natalie Gelman's "The Lights Upstairs" shines a message of love in the face of a terrible disease.

With Delphi, Canadian electronic artist Antwood releases an ambitious collection of brash electronic music and a whole slew of genre pastiches yet to be invented.

The key to understanding Burt Lancaster's contribution to film lies in the physicality of his portrayals. Film Forum, New York, showcases many of his films starting today.

Why don't we have more immigrant stories in film? Lulu Wang talks with PopMatters about fighting to tell her story, her way, and how that came to fruition in her latest film, The Farewell.

Folk duo House and Land's Across the Field is a collection of songs that consider historical context as much as modern relevance.

Ranky Tanky honor the Gullah culture of their South Carolina ancestors, even as they update that culture for the 21st century on Good Time.

If Khruangbin's Con Todo El Mundo was a sweltering Texas night drive, then Hasta El Cielo is a beachfront sunset. No longer on the attack, Khruangbin relax at last.

John Hersey covered Hiroshima and America's race riots with empathy, courage, and profound humility. Jeremy Treglown's biography, Mr. Straight Arrow, should bring a new generation of readers to Hersey's work.

Fast rising Dublin pop/R&B artist Aimée releases her second single of dancey, soulful pop while baring her soul on "Break Me".

Previewing his new album, Starlit Afternoon, singer-songwriter Craig Stickland produces a passionate live performance of "Break Every Rule" amidst the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park.

Longtime folk music collaborators Joey Frendo and Jared Meeuwenberg shine as Winnow, their rocking new Americana project. Hear their new EP, Light the Match.

Against the backdrop of Dutch East Indies colonialism and Nazi sympathizers, two families come together amidst the ashes of World War II in Mieke Eerkens' moving family history, All Ships Follow Me.

Marie-Janine Calic's history of Southeastern Europe is undeniably well-researched, but it's also a cumbersome reading experience for anyone but the specialist.

Ahead of his Cover Your Tracks EP, Americana's Corb Lund teams up with Hayes Carll for a rousing rendition of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show's "Cover of the Rolling Stone".

Director A.T. White reflects on his deliberately obtuse debut feature, Starfish, and letting go of a character, a version of himself to the film's actress, Virginia Gardner.