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Music Featured: Top of Home Page Features Music Features

Andy Irvine, the Balkans, and the Long Road to ‘EastWind’

By

Bleart Thaqi / 19 August 2026

Irish musician Andy Irvine worked hard to learn the challenging musical vocabulary of Balkan folk music, while his colleagues feared being invited to play the music with him.

FEATURES

5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race

5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race

By

Josh Friedberg / 19 August 2026

Rush Hit “Fifty-Something” with Tremendous Show and Peart Tribute

Rush Hit “Fifty-Something” with Tremendous Show and Peart Tribute

By

Sachyn Mital / 19 August 2026

Sex, Violence, and Politics Soak Nagisa Ōshima’s ‘Cruel Story of Youth’

Sex, Violence, and Politics Soak Nagisa Ōshima’s ‘Cruel Story of Youth’

By

Michael Barrett / 18 August 2026

Dante’s Peak Is the Disaster Movie the Inland Northwest Will Never Forget

Dante’s Peak Is the Disaster Movie the Inland Northwest Will Never Forget

By

Alyssa Charpentier / 17 August 2026

When Plainsong Searched for Amelia Earhart

When Plainsong Searched for Amelia Earhart

By

Keith Moore / 17 August 2026

The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980

The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980

By

Adam Mason / 17 August 2026

Weezer Are in Their Golden Age

Weezer Are in Their Golden Age

By

Iain Ellis / 13 August 2026

Pop Past

The best of our archive [subscriber exclusive]

Textbook Oppositions and Alternatives: Re-Thinking the Role of Race in 1960s Rock and Soul Music

Featured: Top of Home Page

Textbook Oppositions and Alternatives: Re-Thinking the Role of Race in 1960s Rock and Soul Music

By

Josh Friedberg / 15 March 2012

Irish Music, Roots and Branches

Featured: Top of Home Page

Irish Music, Roots and Branches

By

PopMatters Staff / 15 March 2002

Music Reviews

Music Music Reviews PopMatters Picks Reviews

Evil Island Create Their Own Lane on an Explosive Debut

By

Brian Stout / 19 August 2026

Music Music Reviews Reviews

Elanor Moss Accepts Contradiction on ‘The Knife, The Needle’

By

Jack Walters / 19 August 2026

Music Music Reviews PopMatters Picks Reviews

Frederico7 Offers His Whole Heart on the Exuberant ‘Brasileirôu’

By

Adriane Pontecorvo / 19 August 2026

Josaleigh Pollett Soars on Warm Lo-Fi Buzz on Beautiful LP

The Afghan Whigs Are in Command of Their Signature Sound

Ebbb’s ‘Shallow Hits’ Moves From Introspection to Euphoria

Laura Veirs’ Short, Poetic New LP Embraces Beautiful Imperfections

Inferno’s ‘The Anthropic Sophisms’ Is Exciting and Well-Structured

Jungle Are Brilliant at Mixing Vintage and Contemporary Sounds

Linda May Han Oh and Melissa Aldana Play Bebop and Beyond

St. Silva Fuses Technology with Nature in an Exquisite Landscape

The Music Archive

Albums Released 10, 15, 20, and 25 Years Ago [subscriber exclusive]

Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ Is a Rewarding Triumph

Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ Is a Rewarding Triumph

By

Danilo Castro / 23 August 2016

Danny Brown’s ‘XXX’ Is Both Harsh and Daring

Danny Brown’s ‘XXX’ Is Both Harsh and Daring

By

David Amidon / 18 August 2011

Music Features

Music Featured: Top of Home Page Features Music Features

Andy Irvine, the Balkans, and the Long Road to ‘EastWind’

By

Bleart Thaqi / 19 August 2026

Music Events Feature Sub Head Music Features Reviews

Rush Hit “Fifty-Something” with Tremendous Show and Peart Tribute

By

Sachyn Mital / 19 August 2026

Features Culture Feature Sub Head Music Music Features

When Plainsong Searched for Amelia Earhart

By

Keith Moore / 17 August 2026

The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980

Jungle Are Brilliant at Mixing Vintage and Contemporary Sounds

Weezer Are in Their Golden Age

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Keep Reckoning with Death

Film

Sex, Violence, and Politics Soak Nagisa Ōshima’s ‘Cruel Story of Youth’

Sex, Violence, and Politics Soak Nagisa Ōshima’s ‘Cruel Story of Youth’

By

Michael Barrett / 18 August 2026

‘Disclosure Day’ Alludes to Societal Anxieties New and Old

‘Disclosure Day’ Alludes to Societal Anxieties New and Old

By

Matthew Dwyer / 18 August 2026

Dante’s Peak Is the Disaster Movie the Inland Northwest Will Never Forget

Dante’s Peak Is the Disaster Movie the Inland Northwest Will Never Forget

By

Alyssa Charpentier / 17 August 2026

‘Evil Dead Burn’ Has a Twisted Touch of Artfulness

‘Evil Dead Burn’ Has a Twisted Touch of Artfulness

By

Paul Risker / 11 August 2026

Love, Death and Caste in Gay Romances ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Cactus Pears’

Love, Death and Caste in Gay Romances ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Cactus Pears’

By

Jayashree Kamblé / 6 August 2026

Horror and History Collide in Czech Director Jan S. Kolár’s Silent Films

Horror and History Collide in Czech Director Jan S. Kolár’s Silent Films

By

Michael Barrett / 5 August 2026

Claude Sautet Forged an Admirable Path in Character-Study Drama

Claude Sautet Forged an Admirable Path in Character-Study Drama

By

Imran Khan / 3 August 2026

How Afropunk’s James Spooner Punked the Movement

How Afropunk’s James Spooner Punked the Movement

By

James A. Cosby / 30 July 2026

Books

Books Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Lists

5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race

By

Josh Friedberg / 19 August 2026

PopMatters Picks Books Feature Sub Head Features Music

The Strokes’ ‘Is This It’ Signaled the Death of Rock Journalism

By

Jeremy McDonagh / 13 August 2026

Books Feature Sub Head Music Reviews

Andrew Sacher Immortalises 2010s Emo in ‘Emo Revival’

By

Ethan Stewart / 12 August 2026

Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Mother Night’ Would Like to Speak to You

Heading Down the Same Bob Dylan Road

Television

Love, Death and Caste in Gay Romances ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Cactus Pears’

Love, Death and Caste in Gay Romances ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Cactus Pears’

By

Jayashree Kamblé / 6 August 2026

Widow’s Bay Toys Gleefully with Our Worst Fears

Widow’s Bay Toys Gleefully with Our Worst Fears

By

Ana Yorke / 14 July 2026

Lists

5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race

5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race

By

Josh Friedberg / 19 August 2026

The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980

The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980

By

Adam Mason / 17 August 2026

ElectroMatters: The Best Electronic Music of July 2026

ElectroMatters: The Best Electronic Music of July 2026

By

J. Simpson / 5 August 2026

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of July 2026

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of July 2026

By

Spyros Stasis / 27 July 2026

Interviews

Music Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Interviews Music Features

Loose Talk with the Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli

By

Brian Stout / 11 August 2026

Music Features Interviews Music Features

Rachael Sage Finds Hope in Harmony, Turning Tragedy Into Song

By

Brian D’ Ambrosio / 6 August 2026

Music Feature Sub Head Features Interviews Music Features

The Power of Bondo’s Gritty Rock Wave and Transcendental Meditation

By

Brian Stout / 4 August 2026

James Spooner Reflects on Afropunk and the Black Punk Experience

Hildur Guðnadóttir’s Beautiful Homecoming at Reykjavik Arts Festival

Jim Nollman: The Man Who Jams With Orcas

Doublespeak’s Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur, and Benge on Analog and Their Exciting Collaboration

Publish with PM

PopMatters Seeks Book Critics and Essayists

PopMatters Seeks Book Critics and Essayists

By

Karen Zarker / 24 January 2024

Submit an Essay, Review, Interview, or List to PopMatters

Submit an Essay, Review, Interview, or List to PopMatters

By

PopMatters Staff / 26 July 2023

PopMatters Seeks Music Writers

PopMatters Seeks Music Writers

By

PopMatters Staff / 28 September 2022

PopMatters Seeks Film Critics and Essayists

PopMatters Seeks Film Critics and Essayists

By

Karen Zarker / 28 September 2022

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