The Vintage Caravan Channel 1970s Psych/Prog Rock Greats on ‘Monuments’ (album premiere)
Monuments sets a new benchmark not just for the Vintage Caravan, but for the entirety of today’s retro rock movement. Hear the full album here before release.
Jordan Blum
Jordan Blum is a Features Editor at PopMatters, as well as a contributor to PROG, Consequence of Sound, Kerrang!, The Recording Academy/GRAMMYS, The Prog Report, Metal Injection, and more. He's the author of two books— On Track: Jethro Tull and On Track: Dream Theater—and is currently working on a third in the series (about Opeth). Beyond that, he's the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Bookends Review (an independent online creative arts journal) and he teaches creative and academic writing at various colleges around the Philly area. Feel free to contact him at JordanBlum87@yahoo.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
The Vintage Caravan Return with Retro Rock Excellence on ‘Monuments’
The Vintage Caravan’s Monuments is a pristine example of how to do retro rock right. It’s an essential listen with an invigorating take on those older styles.
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Live’ Is Better Than Ever on Expanded Remaster
Fleetwood Mac’s Live sounds better than ever, giving both longtime fans and newcomers a stronger glimpse into how immaculate they were at the turn of the decade.
Cheap Trick Host an Enjoyably Raucous Party on ‘In Another World’
The vast majority of Cheap Trick’s In Another World is a gripping, charming, and laudable return from the legendary rock quartet.
All Things Reconsidered/Between the Grooves/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Music/Pop Past/SAVE/ IGNORE: popular
Between the Grooves: Green Day – ‘American Idiot’
Part social commentary and part fictional narrative, Green Day's American Idiot came out of nowhere and impressed with its biting political subversion, exploration of teenage angst, love, and uncertainty, and perhaps most importantly, brilliant structures, transitions, and overall cohesion.
Steven Wilson Goes Electronic on ‘The Future Bites’
The Future Bites objectively deserves applause for perpetuating Steven Wilson's integrity and creativity, even if it's a markedly—and perhaps intentionally—divisive collection, too.
The 10 Best Progressive Rock/Metal Albums of 2020
Rather than succumb to the difficulties of our era, many progressive creators doubled down on their artistry to produce some of their best work and tighten their relationships with their admirers.
The Reign of Kindo Discuss Why We’re Truly “Better Off Together”
The Reign of Kindo's Joseph Secchiaroli delves deep into their latest single and future plans, as well as how COVID-19 has affected not only the band but America as a whole.
Tiphanie Doucet’s “You and I” Is an Exercise in Pastoral Poignancy (premiere)
French singer-songwriter Tiphanie Doucet gives a glimpse of her upcoming EP, Painted Blue, via the sublimely sentimental ode, "You and I".
Sufjan Stevens’ ‘The Ascension’ Is Mostly Captivating
Even though Sufjan Stevens' The Ascension is sometimes too formulaic or trivial to linger, it's still a very good, enjoyable effort.
![Will Wood Works His Madcap Magic on “BlackBoxWarrior – OKULTRA [Live in Studio]” (premiere)](https://www.popmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/img-1945.jpg)
Will Wood Works His Madcap Magic on “BlackBoxWarrior – OKULTRA [Live in Studio]” (premiere)
Mixing characteristic singer-songwriter refinement with wacky orchestral flair, "BlackBoxWarrior - OKULTRA" demonstrates what makes Will Wood's The Normal Album so praiseworthy.