Florence + the Machine Are Free on ‘Dance Fever’
Creating their most conceptual, theatrical work, Florence + the Machine air out their lockdown grievances and ugly feelings by reminding us all to dance it out.
Jeffrey Davies
Jeffrey Davies is a professional introvert and writer with imposter syndrome whose work spans the worlds of pop culture, books, music, feminism, and mental health. In addition to PopMatters, his writing can be found at Book Riot, Spectrum Culture, and other places.
Hatchie Boldly Embraces Uncertainty on ‘Giving the World Away’
By letting her existential anxieties take center stage, Hatchie embraces alt-pop sensibilities on Giving the World Away to process life and loss in all its messy glory.
Camila Cabello’s ‘Familia’ Is a Disappointment
What should be her most authentic music yet in Familia is Camila Cabello’s most sonically dull work to date.
LÉON Pushes the Boundaries of Vulnerability on ‘Circles’
LÉON creates a synth-heavy work on Circles whose ambient sound conjures the feeling of calm after the storm, even if that calm might still be emotionally fraught.
Here’s to Never Letting Avril Lavigne Grow Up on ‘Love Sux’
Capitalizing on early 2000s pop-punk nostalgia, Love Sux is an algorithm-appeasing record that feels like the most impersonal Avril Lavigne has ever been.
Fefe Dobson Is Ready to Rock Again
Twelve years since her last album, Canadian pop-rock singer Fefe Dobson talks about her new music and speaks frankly about growing up in a music industry that wasn’t always on her side.
Adele Needs No Comeback on ’30’
Adele’s new music is far more personal in a way that separates her experiences enough from the public consciousness to provide some much-needed distance.
Alex Porat on Tackling Asian Representation in Pop with ‘Miss Sick World’
Canadian pop singer Alex Porat ruminates on the current lack of Asian representation in pop music. “It still feels like there’s a long way to go.”
How Strong, Angry Women in Pop Culture Guided Me Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
Why do men in the LGBTQ+ community often take comfort in the feminine pop music made by strong, angry women? We’ve also had to fight for our femininity.
Alessia Cara’s ‘In the Meantime’ Is a Spellbinding and Necessary Body of Work
Creating her best work with In the Meantime, Alessia Cara proves that any process of healing is never black or white and doesn’t exist on a straight line.
10 Years Later Demi Lovato’s ‘Unbroken’ Is Still Some of Their Best Work
Even as Unbroken remains some of Demi Lovato’s best work, the artist would come to outgrow the sounds they experimented with on their third album.