The 10 Best Progressive Rock Albums of 2011
In 2011, there were only a few high-quality progressive rock albums, but those that stood out are some of the best the genre had seen in a while.
Brice Ezell
Brice Ezell has written for PopMatters since 2011. His cultural criticism has also appeared in Consequence of Sound, Glide Magazine, and Sea of Tranquility. He is a PhD candidate in the Department of English at the University of Texas.
Steph Richards’ ‘Supersense’ Is Music So Wild You Can Smell It
With her experimental jazz album Supersense, trumpeter Steph Richards may have created the first-ever album that you can smell.
With ‘On My Own’, Lera Lynn Proves that Solo Doesn’t Mean Small
With her sixth studio album, On My Own, Lera Lynn does it all: songwriting, production, and instrumentation.
Balthazar Throw a Swanky Lounge Party on ‘Sand’
With a turn toward loungey, jazz-inflected pop, Belgian rockers Balthazar hit a new career-high on Sand.
Between the Grooves/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Music/Music Features/Pop Past/SAVE/ IGNORE: popular
Between the Grooves of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)
Between the Grooves celebrates Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy by examining how the band were at their best on the underrated post-Zoso masterwork.
Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek on Growing Up Through Music
PopMatters talks with Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek about the beloved acoustic trio's vinyl reissues of their first three major studio albums.
The 10 Best Warren Zevon Lyrics
With Warren Zevon's acerbic, graceful, and macabre wit still lingering long after his death, PopMatters looks back on his most lasting lyrical contributions.
Matt Berninger Takes the Mic Solo on ‘Serpentine Prison’
Serpentine Prison gives the National's baritone crooner Matt Berninger a chance to shine in the spotlight, even if it doesn't push him into totally new territory.
Touché Amoré’s ‘Lament’ Subtly Reinvents the Past
Touché Amoré's Lament doesn't push the band's sound in new directions. Instead, it builds on what the Los Angeles post-hardcore band do so well already.
Hot Chip Stay Up for ‘Late Night Tales’
Hot Chip's contribution to the perennial compilation project Late Night Tales is a mixed bag, but its high points are consistent with the band's excellence.
Ranking the Seasons of ‘The Wire’
Years after its conclusion, The Wire continues to top best-of-TV lists. With each season's unique story arc, each viewer is likely to have favorites.