Empire Child’s Music Could Heal the World
As Empire Child, Ruth Rothwell realizes her lifelong dream of releasing her own music. It’s a journey of introspection, social consciousness, and positivity.
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‘Esta Isla’ (‘This Island’) Contains Multitudes
From its opening title, Esta Isla (This Island) embraces the complexity and contradictions of Fredric Jameson’s formulation of “third-world” society and Puerto Rico’s unique situation.
UltraBomb on Minnesota, Hard Rock, and Being Unapologetic
UltraBomb’s Greg Norton is unapologetic about his new LP, The Bridges that We Burn: “If you don’t like my politics, you can listen to Kid Rock.”
Michael Jackson Sequin-ized
The world conjured by Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson movie is an emotionally flattened realm of veneration and idolisation that would make even Stalin blush.
The Spoils of War
Among the most coveted spoils of America’s wars, critic Andrew Cockburn argues, is the money pulled from taxpayers’ pockets never to be returned to the country’s social welfare.
Charley Discusses Being an Idealist at the End of Everything
Charley discusses her therapeutic poptimism that extends beyond rote structures and clichés to strike a deeper chord with listeners.
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Johan Nayar’s Malawian Musical Odyssey with ‘The Banjo Boys’
From The Banjo Boys beginnings as a “mini-doc” to its fruition as a feature film, Johan and Neil Nayar join musicians Yobu Maligwa and Yosefe Kalekeni on their journey from simple craft to sensational art.
Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and the Love of Myth and Ritual
There is far more to the title and meaning of Peter Gabriel’s song “In Your Eyes” than meets the eye, as it turns the lover’s eyes into a dwelling of belief.
Built with an Old Hammer: Dale Watson’s Honky-Tonk Truth
The tools haven’t changed much. The influences are still there. The approach is the same. Dale Watson is still building, as he puts it, with that old hammer.
MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of April 2026
In April’s nest metal, Iron Firmament return to lo-fi, Cascadian alchemy, Lividus set up progressive foundations, and Evil Warriors reach new heights.
‘The Red Hangar’ Warns of Criminal Obedience Amidst Rising Fascism
In The Red Hangar, the first day of Chile’s 1973 coup becomes a tightening moral trap, as an Air Force captain watches military routine turn into open repression.
Nu Metal Anomalies Slipknot, System of a Down, and the Strange Math of Mass Appeal
Nu metal’s ecosystem in the 1990s allowed unexpected forms of extremity to break into mainstream success, and Slipknot and System of a Down exemplify that.