Music

Stereolab Reissue Their Classics: 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup'

Now is the perfect time to reacquaint -- or acquaint -- yourself with Stereolab's landmark 1996 album, Emperor Tomato Ketchup.

Music

With 'Cape Disappointment' Aaron Semer Shows Why He Is the Singer-Songwriter We All Need

Americana/folk artist, Aaron Semer's second solo album, Cape Disappointment, is a blunt, direct work on living and loving in our turbulent times.

Music

With a New Covers Project, Juliana Hatfield Sets Her Sights on the Police

Continuing her take on artist-themed covers albums, Juliana Hatfield takes a stab at the Police songbook, with unique, marvelous results.

Music

PopMatters Seeks Music Critics and Essayists

If you're a smart, historically-minded music critic or essayist, let your voice be heard by the quality readership of PopMatters.

Music

'Cheap Queen' Establishes King Princess' Talent

Cheap Queen undoubtedly establishes King Princess' talent, but it encounters issues with contrived affectations and productions that show less experimentation than seen on previous singles.

Music

'Morning Glory on the Vine' and Joni Mitchell's Amalgam of Craft

Joni Mitchell's latest book denotes the next step in the Joni evolution, and indicates that perhaps those different languages for her—of visual art, poetry, and music—will finally be held in equal regard.

Books

"It's OK to Not Be OK": An Unflinching Interview with Colin Dieden Formerly of the Mowgli's

Once of the Mowgli's, Colin Dieden's new Little Hurt project is unflinching in its rawness. "I used to think that meeting sadness head-on with happy songs was how I was going to move through it, but one day that stopped feeling honest to me."

Evan Sawdey

Music

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Paint a Portrait of a Grieving Parent on 'Ghosteen'

The anguish a parent feels for losing their child is harrowing and Ghosteen masterfully captures Nick Cave's grief and spiraling rumination on mortality.

Music

Hip-Hop Legend Kurtis Blow: The Interview

A timeless artist and hip-hop legend, Kurtis Blow blazed the trail for early hip-hop artists and continues to carry the torch for hip-hop music in new arenas.

Music

Kapil Seshasayee Addresses Bollywood Misogyny with "The Item Girl" (premiere)

Art-rocker Kapil Seshasayee takes on a sexist Bollywood trope with musical skill and visual pathos in "The Item Girl".

Music

Brooklyn Funk Essentials Go Space Age on "Funk Ain't Ova" (premiere)

Brooklyn Funk Essentials take partying to intergalactic levels in a video both space-age and retro for "Funk Ain't Ova".

Music

Beats, Glitches and Melody: Oval's 'Eksploio' Is a Rich, Modern Treat for the Ears

Electronic musician Markus Popp continues to make warm, creative and adventurous electronic music under the Oval moniker with his new EP, Eksploio.

Music

Pop Meets Soul Meets Experimentation in Sequoyah Murray's Debut

Atlanta's Sequoyah Murray has delivered one of the best albums of 2019 with his extraordinary debut Before You Begin.

Music

"You Can Have It All": Ariel Pink on His Odds & Sods

Los Angeles pop weirdo Ariel Pink looks back at two early records freshly reissued by Mexican Summer and discusses his new Odditties Sodomies Vol. 2 rarities collection.

Daniel Bromfield

Music

A Winged Victory for the Sullen's 'The Undivided Five' Is a Breathtaking Album Full of Subtlety

Each track of ambient duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen's The Undivided Five captures the sound of two exceptional musicians drawing in deep musical breaths and then exhaling something of lasting ethereal beauty.

Music

Bersarin Quartett Create Stunning Forward-Looking Ambient with "Wenn wir nur wollen" (premiere)

German electronic group Bersarin Quartett take their music up a level with their new album Methoden und Maschinen. "Wenn wir nur wollen" sees the ensemble adding new textures and approaches to their ambient sound.

Music

OMD at 40: Making Sense of a Synthpop Legacy

OMD's first three albums were crucial in the development of ambitious, intellectual, art-pop. They also led to the emergence of a whole generation of electronic pop groups that have continually influenced artists up to this day.

Music

Many Circles: An Interview with Trigger Hippy's Steve Gorman

On their sophomore album, Trigger Hippy cement their reputation as a hard-working American rock band with a bright future. Co-founder Steve Gorman says, "This feels special and that's worth protecting."

Jedd Beaudoin

Music

A Move to LA Has Had a Profound Effect on Synthpop's Black Marble

Black Marble leaves behind the obscure, lo-fi, and dim essence of the past for the brighter, more melodic, synthpoppy Bigger Than Life.

Music

'Little Common Twist' Is an Odd Thing of Pastoral Beauty from Charles Rumback and Ryley Walker

On their first collaboration since 2016, a meeting of experimental musical minds has produced an album full of quiet, off-kilter introspection.

Music

Sunn O))) Revisit the World of 'Life Metal' with 'Pyroclasts'

The companion piece to Sunn O)))'s masterful Life Metal completes the most organic and minimal chapter in the drone masters' journey.

Music

FKA twigs Elegantly Explores Her Delicate Core on 'Magdalene'

Magdalene makes an unpredictable turn wherein FKA twigs traverses an introverted dimension of her vision through a minimalist perspective and a sense of controlled extravagance.

Music

The Doors' 'Soft Parade' Gets the Deluxe Edition Treatment and a Chance for Reassessment

The Doors' fourth album was a deeply polarizing work and perhaps their most difficult to love. But the 50^th anniversary deluxe edition goes a long way in spotlighting its many highlights.

Music

Mikal Cronin Finds the Groundwork for a Classic with 'Seeker'

After some adventurous wilderness time, Mikal Cronin builds on his indie rock style to draft a compelling new direction with Seeker.

Music

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PM Picks

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Now is the perfect time to reacquaint -- or acquaint -- yourself with Stereolab's landmark 1996 album, Emperor Tomato Ketchup.

Americana/folk artist, Aaron Semer's second solo album, Cape Disappointment, is a blunt, direct work on living and loving in our turbulent times.

Continuing her take on artist-themed covers albums, Juliana Hatfield takes a stab at the Police songbook, with unique, marvelous results.

If you're a smart, historically-minded music critic or essayist, let your voice be heard by the quality readership of PopMatters.

Cheap Queen undoubtedly establishes King Princess' talent, but it encounters issues with contrived affectations and productions that show less experimentation than seen on previous singles.

Joni Mitchell's latest book denotes the next step in the Joni evolution, and indicates that perhaps those different languages for her—of visual art, poetry, and music—will finally be held in equal regard.

Once of the Mowgli's, Colin Dieden's new Little Hurt project is unflinching in its rawness. "I used to think that meeting sadness head-on with happy songs was how I was going to move through it, but one day that stopped feeling honest to me."

The anguish a parent feels for losing their child is harrowing and Ghosteen masterfully captures Nick Cave's grief and spiraling rumination on mortality.

A timeless artist and hip-hop legend, Kurtis Blow blazed the trail for early hip-hop artists and continues to carry the torch for hip-hop music in new arenas.

Art-rocker Kapil Seshasayee takes on a sexist Bollywood trope with musical skill and visual pathos in "The Item Girl".

Brooklyn Funk Essentials take partying to intergalactic levels in a video both space-age and retro for "Funk Ain't Ova".

Electronic musician Markus Popp continues to make warm, creative and adventurous electronic music under the Oval moniker with his new EP, Eksploio.

Atlanta's Sequoyah Murray has delivered one of the best albums of 2019 with his extraordinary debut Before You Begin.

Los Angeles pop weirdo Ariel Pink looks back at two early records freshly reissued by Mexican Summer and discusses his new Odditties Sodomies Vol. 2 rarities collection.

Each track of ambient duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen's The Undivided Five captures the sound of two exceptional musicians drawing in deep musical breaths and then exhaling something of lasting ethereal beauty.

German electronic group Bersarin Quartett take their music up a level with their new album Methoden und Maschinen. "Wenn wir nur wollen" sees the ensemble adding new textures and approaches to their ambient sound.

OMD's first three albums were crucial in the development of ambitious, intellectual, art-pop. They also led to the emergence of a whole generation of electronic pop groups that have continually influenced artists up to this day.

On their sophomore album, Trigger Hippy cement their reputation as a hard-working American rock band with a bright future. Co-founder Steve Gorman says, "This feels special and that's worth protecting."

Black Marble leaves behind the obscure, lo-fi, and dim essence of the past for the brighter, more melodic, synthpoppy Bigger Than Life.

On their first collaboration since 2016, a meeting of experimental musical minds has produced an album full of quiet, off-kilter introspection.

The companion piece to Sunn O)))'s masterful Life Metal completes the most organic and minimal chapter in the drone masters' journey.

Magdalene makes an unpredictable turn wherein FKA twigs traverses an introverted dimension of her vision through a minimalist perspective and a sense of controlled extravagance.

The Doors' fourth album was a deeply polarizing work and perhaps their most difficult to love. But the 50th anniversary deluxe edition goes a long way in spotlighting its many highlights.

After some adventurous wilderness time, Mikal Cronin builds on his indie rock style to draft a compelling new direction with Seeker.

The Doors' fourth album was a deeply polarizing work and perhaps their most difficult to love. But the 50^th anniversary deluxe edition goes a long way in spotlighting its many highlights.