Jethro Tull: Back to Basics (Sort Of)
After the back-to-back-to-back brilliance of their previous three albums, a letdown seemed inevitable; amazingly, Ian Anderson & Co. raised the bar, instead.
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy has been publishing fiction, reviews (music, movie, book, food), and essays on the technology industry for almost twenty years. During his time at PopMatters he has written extensively about music, movies, and books, and his column "The Amazing Pudding" celebrates all-things Prog-Rock. His memoir Please Talk about Me When I'm Gone was published in 2013; his novel Not To Mention a Nice Life in 2015. Murphy is currently the writer-in-residence at the Noepe Center for Literary Arts on Martha's Vineyard. Visit him online at @bullmurph and http://seanmurphy.net/.
A Portrait of the Boss As a Young Man: On Bruce Springsteen’s First Seven Albums
The go-for-broke inspiration Bruce Springsteen became legendary for providing in his songs initially sprang from the most authentic source: himself.
This Collection of the Band’s Memories Makes Led Zeppelin Actually Likeable
No matter how grandiose the Led Zeppelin legend gets, hearing the golden gods tell their tale is both astounding and more real than anything anyone could ever make up.
Mathias Kunzli: Playground
Playground is a happy reminder that now remains the time, as always, to hear our world from a fresh perspective.
The 10 Best Cream Songs
These ten selections are chosen to represent the songs where the British power trio Cream was most focused, most locked-in, and most original.
The Moody Blues: Masters of the Mini Epic
While so many of their progressive rock contemporaries were writing novels in the form of side-long suites, the Moody Blues were masters of the short story.
Zion80: Adramelech: Book of Angels Volume 22
There’s nothing not to recommend about this release, which offers further evidence that virtually everything Jon Madof touches turns to sonic gold.
Jack Bruce: The Thinking Man’s Golden God
Jack Bruce didn’t need music videos, laser shows, dry ice, PR Kits, and crowd-pleasing pyrotechnics. He was too busy being one of the very best musicians in the business.
Gary Clark Jr.: Live
This disc marks the official arrival of a major talent: clearly steeped in the blues tradition who can shift seamlessly between feedback-frenzied rawness and cool, old school soul and funk.
How About Some Unironic Love for Emerson, Lake & Palmer?
Love them or loathe them, Emerson, Lake & Palmer wore immoderation like a badge of courage.
What Is and What Will Always Be: A Fresh Look at Led Zeppelin’s Familiar Masterpieces
With the exception of the Beatles, no other band has loomed quite so large as Led Zeppelin, to the extent that we’ll never run out of things to say: good, bad and great.
