Yola Brilliantly Expands Her Soulful Sound on ‘Stand For Myself’
Yola’s first album found an adoring audience in the Americana world. She’s expanded her repertoire on Stand For Myself as she gets ever more soulful.
PopMatters Picks
Amusement Parks on Fire Return in Thrilling Fashion on ‘An Archaea’
On the first new Amusement Parks on Fire record in over a decade, Michael Feerick continues to push the boundaries of what a rock album can be.
Jackson Browne Proves He Has Plenty Left in the Tank on ‘Downhill From Everywhere’
Downhill From Everywhere finds legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne still searching for something new in familiar yet comforting ways.
Hybrid’s ‘Black Halo’ Plumbs the Depths of the Human Experience and Psyche
Twenty-two years after their iconic debut Wide Angle, pioneering British electronic band and revered film composers Hybrid return with the stunning Black Halo.
Nick Storring Makes Glorious Noise on ‘Newfoundout’
Canadian composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Storring relies heavily on percussion and “found” instruments on his latest experimental excursion.
Steve Dawson’s ‘At the Bottom of a Canyon in the Branches of a Tree’ Is Exquisite
Singer-songwriter Steve Dawson magnificently blends Americana with classic pop on his latest album, At the Bottom of a Canyon in the Branches of a Tree.
Pabllo Vittar Shines Light on Brega Music with ‘Batidão Tropical’
Pabllo Vittar’s Batidão Tropical comes at a moment when Brazilian Northeast culture is on the rise but she’s taking Brega music to the next level.
Lecklider’s Historical Work Love’s Next Meeting Examines Homosexuals and Communism in the US
In the virulently anti-Communist and homophobic climate of the postwar era many feared any association between the emerging lesbian and gay cause and Communism.
Vince Staples Is in Beautiful, Dark Limbo on New LP
With his latest album, Vince Staples mines an artistic, existential, and notably fertile limbo. It’s his most reflective and sober perspective to date.
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.
Maxine Funke Whispers the Commonplace Into the Unexpected on ‘Seance’
To take in Maxine Funke’s music is to slow time down, watch a spider methodically envelop its catch for the day, or marvel at a flower on an okra plant.