Pop, Populism, and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”
The contradictions in Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” makes it ripe for co-opting for Republican political campaigns from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump.
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Kelly Lee Owens trades Brat Summer for Dreamstate Autumn
DJ, singer, and producer Kelly Lee Owens takes the opposite path from Charli XCX, yet meets her at the crossroads of pop and electronic music on Dreamstate.
Yasmin Williams Discovers New Growth in ‘Acadia’
Drawing on a range of influences while incorporating a variety of guest musicians, Yasmin Williams has created her most ambitious music yet on Acadia.
Grayson Capps Finds the Joy in ‘Heartbreak, Misery & Death’
These songs will lift your spirit by sharing their sorrow with you. Misery loves company. Grayson Capps’ new album invites one to sing along.
Lea Thomas Exudes Warmth with the Expansive ‘Cosmos Forever’
With Lea Thomas and her gifted band at the helm, she has created nothing short of a widescreen, ethereal, sonic gem that one can easily get lost in.
Amadou & Mariam Merge Tradition with Innovation
Malian blues duo Amadou & Mariam just dropped a greatest hits album while noting how they’re intrigued by the sounds of Billie Eilish.
Pale Waves Put Forth Another Solid Effort on ‘Smitten’
Pale Waves ride nostalgia like they were old enough to have lived it. Whether their mimicry is incidental or purposeful, Smitten is another enjoyable record.
Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ Still Amazes As a Conceptual Statement
On Funeral, Arcade Fire found catharsis in music while processing grief for the loss of loved ones. As a result, they shifted the course of indie rock.
Paul McCartney’s Beautiful Tribute to Lovely Linda McCartney
When Paul McCartney lost Linda McCartney in 1998, he described his grief as all-consuming, grief that haunts her sole solo studio album, ‘Wide Prairie’.
The New Freedom of Jawbox’s Zach Barocas
Drummer for post-hardcore legends Jawbox, Zach Barocas is living his best life creating jazz with friends in New Freedom Sound. He discusses his new music.
Wild Pink Achieve a More Authentic Sound on ‘Dulling the Horns’
On Dulling the Horns, Wild Pink deliver reverberating guitars and new instruments that complement their thought-provoking sentiments and introspection.
Whatever Happened to That Amazing British Punk Band Buzzcocks?
Steve Diggle’s Buzzcocks autobiography Autonomy is a refreshing take in an era when punk’s political and social consequences tend to be over-analyzed.