‘Arrangements’ Carries an Even Darker Cynical Tint for Preoccupations
Dense at times and minimal at others, Preoccupations’ Arrangements is a post-punk charge against humanity’s crumbling future.
Andrew Spiess
Andrew Spiess's work has appeared in Lingerpost, Permafrost, Prairie Margins, The Miscreant, Gravel, The Hamilton Stone Review, and Punch Drunk Press. He received a Louise C. Cooper Book Award from Bowling Green State University, where he studied, and a poem of his has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He works and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow him on Twitter: @andrewspiesss.
‘Nikita’ Is a Charismatic Debut From Detroit Rockers John Salvage & New Twenty Saints
Nikita by John Salvage & New Twenty Saints is a thoroughly human batch of vintage alternative rock tunes mixed with folk and country-inspired ballads.
Cave In’s ‘Heavy Pendulum’ is Fellowship Manifested
Heavy Pendulum feels like a naturally collaborative album between Cave In and Converge. It’s a deeply compelling batch of heavy rock songs.
The Black Keys Get Into a ‘Dropout Boogie’
Primarily fashioned in Southern rock and soul jams, the Black Keys’ Dropout Boogie will make you do what the name suggests: boogie.
Animal Collective Give Us Their Most Accessible Album with ‘Time Skiffs’
Time Skiffs finds Animal Collective in a calm, contemplative state yet places them closer in style to most indie rock bands.
Knocked Loose’s ‘A Tear in the Fabric of Life’ is a Fictional Story Infused with Real Emotion
Kentucky metalcore band, Knocked Loose explore trauma and grief through a tragic narrative on their new EP, A Tear in the Fabric of Life.
Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Lists/Music/Music Features/PopMatters Picks/The Best Music of 2021
The 10 Best Progressive Rock/Metal Albums of 2021
The ongoing pandemic led to a brilliant year in the best progressive rock albums. Many artists translated their 2020 hardships into artistic gems.
25 Years of Aphex Twin’s ‘Richard D. James’ Album
Twenty-five years ago, Aphex Twin’s Richard D. James solidified his patented cerebral IDM style and made him a figurehead for electronic music.
25 Years of DJ Shadow’s ‘Endtroducing…..’
The tracks of DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing….. are constructed from found, and often unexpected, ingredients. Digging is the key to his creative works.
Turnstile May Have Created Pop Hardcore with ‘Glow On’
With the release of Glow On, Turnstile have let go of genre restraints by blending pop and hardcore punk and creating something new and original.
20 Years of Converge’s Magnum Opus ‘Jane Doe’
Massachusetts metallic hardcore band Converge solidified their legacy with the release of their seminal 2001 album, Jane Doe.
Quicksand Extend Their Welcomed Comeback with ‘Distant Populations’
Post-hardcore veterans, Quicksand return with Distant Populations, a brooding album that demonstrates artistic valor and a grounded sense of discipline.
