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.
disco
Madonna’s ‘Confessions II’ Lacks Innovation
In creating a sequel to a revival album, Madonna’s Confessions II reinforces the notion that the best we can hope for from our pop matriarchs is nostalgia.
‘Ayam El Disco’ Highlights the Diversity of Egyptian Dance Music
Ayam El Disco celebrates and beautifully frames some of the music that kept people stepping lively in Egypt during the 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s.
Jessie Ware’s ‘Superbloom’ Is Her Gayest Album Yet
Jessie Ware is hornier on Superbloom than its predecessors, and that alone makes it more assertive. It’s quite possibly her gayest record yet.
The Complacent Bliss of Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars’ fourth solo album, The Romantic, is as impeccably crafted as ever, but says nothing new about his place in the world of pop.
The 25 Best Space Disco Songs of 1976-1986
These 25 songs feature outer space on the dance floor, from the avant-garde to Star Wars commercialism and beyond.
Why Dua Lipa Is the Queen of Technopopulism
Dua Lipa knows that what makes a diva special is her willingness to feel. She emotes for the rest of us on "Break My Heart".
Michael Jackson’s ‘HIStory’ Still Defies History
Thirty years on, Michael Jackson’s HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is among the most ambitious and personal pop statements of the 1990s, born from pressure, transformed into autobiography, and forever in our History.
José James Explores Disco Through a Creative Jazz Mindset
In conversation, jazz singer José James is literate and a good listener, clearly excited about connecting music to politics, culture, and history.
Eli Roth Brings Sexy Italian Film Scores to a New Audience
Releases like this from Eli Roth rescue the laudable works of underappreciated musicians from obscurity. They also help broaden the aural palates of listeners.
Ora the Molecule Goes for a Big Adventure on ‘Dance Therapy’
Norway’s Ora the Molecule uses disco to explore grief in Dance Therapy. It’s the most accessible avant-garde disco pop concept album you’ll hear this year.
Lady Gaga’s Creativity Is Trapped in Retro Sounds Now
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem shines a glaring spotlight on a wildly creative artist who finds herself behind the times, following trends instead of setting them and seeming out of step.