‘The Odyssey’ Rocks the Boat of History
Christopher Nolan’s “blank check” epic, The Odyssey, is a curiously bold, dark, and surprising take on the dangerous ways in which we create history.
PopMatters Picks
PopMatters picks the best pop culture for your enjoyment, including music, film, TV, books, games, comics, and more.
“Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey Is Restored to Full Glory
Ma Rainey’s Mother of the Blues: The Complete Paramount Recordings 1923-1928 is a treasure trove that fully lives up to both of Rainey’s famous sobriquets.
Adam Gnade’s ‘Wild Horse Shit’ Encourages Joyful Resistance
Cult novelist Adam Gnade’s latest, Wild Horse Shit, wrestles with the state of the world, encouraging untamed joy in the face of fascism.
Jeff Beck’s Seven Decades of Evolution
Jeff Beck biography Blow by Blow is designed for everyone who loves music and the many genres Beck explored. Gearheads will love it, too.
Ryan Beatty Refines a Musical Language on ‘Sweet Fortune’
Country music may go in and out of style, but on Sweet Fortune, Ryan Beatty employs songwriting foundations that transcend genre.
Grey DeLisle and Les Greene Join Forces for ‘Grey & Greene’
Grey DeLisle and Les Greene create one of her most immediately exciting works, and the genre-crossing keeps it entertaining throughout.
Widow’s Bay Toys Gleefully with Our Worst Fears
Anchoring Widow’s Bay’s diverse horror themes in the characters’ personal anxieties transforms cinematic dread into something terribly relatable.
Steven Bernstein Releases Brilliant Twin Albums
For all the amazing horn playing that we finally hear from Steven Bernstein these two records remind us that he remains daring and highly conceptual.
Who and What Pop Music Is for Is ‘Mighty Real’
Barry Walters’ Mighty Real is 30 glorious years of music that can be “read as a metaphor of LGBTQ existence”, regardless of who created it.
ElectroMatters: The Best Electronic Music of June 2026
Much of June’s best electronic music reflects the long days and sultry nights of early summer, becoming a kind of elevated new age/ambient hybrid.
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The Best Albums of 2026 So Far
We scoured the planet to find some of the best albums of 2026. As usual, our gaze is cast across many different styles, but some our very favorites mash-up genres.
‘Rivals’ Is a Steamy Ode to a Better World
The winning satirical comedy Rivals is back to show us how much better life could be if we stuck together… and had more sex.