PopMatters Picks

PopMatters picks the best pop culture for your enjoyment, including music, film, TV, books, games, comics, and more.

Legendary Ebo Taylor Creates a ‘Jazz Is Dead’ Album

Legendary Ebo Taylor Creates a ‘Jazz Is Dead’ Album

In this ‘Jazz Is Dead’ celebration of highlife legend, Ebo Taylor, a genuinely appreciative team revels in everything he’s done in the past six decades.

Asa Horvitz’s ‘GHOST’ Is Deeply Emotional About Death and Loss

Asa Horvitz’s ‘GHOST’ Is Deeply Emotional About Death and Loss

Asa Horvitz’s experimental collaboration GHOST has honesty and fearlessness and incorporates themes of loss and grief with help from a custom-built AI system.

Benjamin Booker Shows How Being Non-white in the US Is Dangerous

Benjamin Booker Shows How Being Non-white in the US Is Dangerous

Benjamin Booker’s new album LOWER asks how to live in an awful world. His only answer is to keep stepping forward into the darkness.

Sun Ra Arkestra Triumph with ‘Lights on a Satellite’

Sun Ra Arkestra Triumph with ‘Lights on a Satellite’

Sun Ra Arkestra’s sonic vision transcends time for these keepers of the cosmic flame, and that vitality comes through on Lights on a Satellite.

10 Brilliant Music Books on the Art & Industry

10 Brilliant Music Books on the Art & Industry

From rock to hip-hop to country to punk to emo, here’s a list of superb music books to deepen the education for you or the music lover in your life.

FKA Twigs’ Eusexua Is an Inspiring Conceptual Masterpiece

FKA Twigs’ Eusexua Is an Inspiring Conceptual Masterpiece

FKA Twigs’ Eusexua is a conceptual masterpiece that speaks to the heart and the head, the spirit and the body. These things are not separate from each other.

Alice Hebborn Blends Environmental Harmony and Ambient Textures

Alice Hebborn Blends Environmental Harmony and Ambient Textures

Belgian composer Alice Hebborn’s Saisons takes the listener on a journey through sound and nature. This music feels like a living, breathing thing.

Laura Nyro’s Complete Musical Story Shows Her Genius

Laura Nyro’s Complete Musical Story Shows Her Genius

Those unacquainted with Laura Nyro might be surprised at how familiar she sounds. That’s because she has influenced so many contemporary musicians.

‘Bill Evans in Norway’ Is a Brilliant Recording No One Knew Existed

‘Bill Evans in Norway’ Is a Brilliant Recording No One Knew Existed

When Bill Evans was at his best and with excellent musicians backing him up, he was unbeatable and loved by millions. This recording confirms his greatness.

Willow Avalon Isn’t a Southern Belle But She Does Raise Hell

Willow Avalon Isn’t a Southern Belle But She Does Raise Hell

Country artist Willow Avalon’s bluntness adds to her credibility. She’s funny and entertaining, and her feistiness highlights her honesty.

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of January 2025

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of January 2025

In January’s best metal, Dax Riggs unexpectedly returns, Sacrifice’s thrash shows no signs of rust and Necromaniac invoke proto-death/black nightmares.

Bonnie Prince Billy Finds a Comfortable Home

Bonnie Prince Billy Finds a Comfortable Home

Bonnie Prince Billy’s The Purple Bird reaches its highest points when Will Oldham finds the joy in life, which feels like its own form of resistance.