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.
disco
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.
Arthur Russell’s Underground Genius
Arthur Russell biography Travels Over Feeling is an elegy for a generation of underground artists that died too soon and a requiem for a vanished New York.
‘Even the Forest Hums’ Showcases Little-Known Ukrainian Music
This new compilation celebrates Ukrainian musicians’ abilities to find alternate modes of creating in the face of Soviet state restrictions.
Kylie Minogue’s Sequel to ‘Tension’ Is a Worthy Follow-Up
On her 17th studio album, Kylie Minogue once again proves that few of her peers or followers understand the art of light dance-pop as well as she does.
Woke vs. MAGA Is Just Like the Disco vs. Rock Divide
Want to understand (and maybe start to reconcile) the Woke vs. MAGA divide? Start with the disco vs. rock divide of the 1970s.