The Cure’s Genre-Defining and Genre-Defying ‘Faith’ 40 Years On
The Cure’s Faith–released 40 years ago this April–comes from a haunted, solipsistic place and it seduces you into its tormented world.
Music Features
How Pop Music Mainstreams Religious Weirdness
With its devils and aliens, pop music can be a “window on the weird”, sweeping odd material lodged in subcultural pockets into the broader currents of culture.
Night Writer: An Interview with Grammy-winning Funk Rocker Van Hunt
In this exclusive interview with PopMatters, Van Hunt discusses his new collaboration with Nate Smith, the influence of Sly & the Family Stone, and a career-spanning compilation that defines independence.
Hymns to Uncool or Reconsidering Lisa Germano’s ‘Geek the Girl’
A bold investigation of a woman’s journey through self-acceptance, Lisa Germano’s unsettling opus Geek the Girl fell through the cracks of the alternative mainstream in 1994.
Six Organs of Admittance’s Ben Chasny on Guitar Solos and Cosmic Journeys
Ben Chasny’s latest Six Organs of Admittance release is the project’s most cosmic (and guitar-shredding) journey yet.
Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean Band Together to Make Ida Mae ‘Click’ in Nashville
Summer might be the perfect time to celebrate Ida Mae Day with a refreshing married duo from England whose new album Click Click Domino should heat up lukewarm Americana traditions.
‘Judy at Carnegie Hall’ Celebrated the Greatest Night in Show Business 60 Years Ago
Judy Garland’s Judy at Carnegie Hall possesses an emotional range and heft that remains potent over half a century after its release.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best New Hip-Hop Albums of June 2021
Summer is the best time of year to listen to hip-hop. From the upbeat and bouncy to the weird and paranoid, hip-hop just sounds better in the sunshine. That makes now the perfect time for the first edition of “Hip-Hop Matters” – PopMatters’ new monthly hip-hop roundup.
‘Irresistible Bliss’ at 25: Personal Friction Couldn’t Dampen the Musical Chemistry of Soul Coughing
Soul Coughing’s success with Irresistible Bliss shows how the early ’90s grunge music explosion led to the more expansive alternative rock boom of the mid-’90s.
‘Blue’ Introduced LeAnn Rimes to the World 25 Years Ago
Over two decades later, Blue endures as a modern country classic in LeAnn Rimes’ repertoire. Blue‘s success would lead to a long and fruitful career of more platinum and gold-selling records.
50 Years Ago Diana Ross and Ashford & Simpson Made Beautiful Music on ‘Surrender’
Surrender is a concerted effort to remind listeners that above anything else, Diana Ross is a fabulous recording artist.