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Maria McKee Puts Down Her Electric Guitar and Picks up Dante on 'La Vita Nuova'

"Show Me Heaven" was another country. Maria McKee has moved to England, immersed herself in the Classics and turned away from the 21st century.

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Music

Haim - "The Steps" (Singles Going Steady)

Haim's "The Steps" is flawless -- memorable, intense, and with a chorus that's like a French kiss and a slap in the face at the same time.

Music

Lemon Jelly's Fred Deakin Aims to Make a Lasting Impression with the Lasters

Former Lemon Jelly frontman Fred Deakin uses Kickstarter to fund a pop-rock passion project, but for all its good faith efforts, it ends up an unfocused mess.

Music

The Lickerish Quartet Take Us on Classic Pop Journey with "Lighthouse Spaceship" (premiere + interview)

Former Jellyfish members combine forces as the Lickerish Quartet for a collection of imaginative songs influenced by one of rock's most creatively fertile eras. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. discusses the group's origins and debut track, "Lighthouse Spaceship."

Music

Mandy Moore Returns at Last With 'Silver Landings'

On her first album in over a decade, Mandy Moore reclaims her voice and delivers an intimate portrait of adulthood with Silver Landings.

Music

Deacon Blue Continue Their Resurgence on Anthemic 'City of Love'

Much loved Scottish band Deacon Blue deliver a confident set of arena-friendly songs of hope on their ninth studio album, City of Love. Just don't call them a legacy act.

Music

'Meat Bones Chemicals Electricity' Is Eamon Ra's Love Letter to '60s Psych-Pop

The new album from Seattle's Eamon Ra, Meat Bones Chemicals Electricity, is a pitch-perfect throwback to a golden age of youthful innocence and killer hooks.

Music

Soccer Mommy Aims High on 'color theory'

Soccer Mommy's latest album, color theory, proves that traditional stardom isn't an impossible dream, even if it's still a ways away.

Music

The Revillos Reprise Their DayGlo Pop-Rock on ​'Compendium of Weird'

A collection of ragged rehearsal recordings, out-takes, and alternate versions that is actually worth the price of admission? The Revillos have pulled it off.

Music

Counterbalance No. 1: The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds'

Ten years ago, we began presenting the beloved Counterbalance series that ran through 2016. Jason Mendelsohn and Eric Klinger debate the merits of some of the most critically-acclaimed albums of all time. We are re-running the entire series beginning today with a new entry each Monday. Enjoy.

Music

Brits in Hot Weather #20: Sea Girls, Redfield, Peaness, Natty Wylah, False Heads

This week features smart indie rock from Sea Girls, kaleidoscopic house from Redfield, fizzing indie pop-punk from Peaness, neo-soul-tinged hip-hop from Natty Wylah, and a full-on, monolithic rocker from False Heads.

Music

Matt Wilson and His Orchestra Consider Memory, Mortality With "When I Was a Writer" (premiere + interview)

Former Trip Shakespeare member, Matt Wilson returns with album focused on life's final act. "Because I live so much in my mind and because so much of my joy is in thinking and writing, the idea of the window shutting on that part of my life started to terrify me."

Music

Randall Bramblett's "Vibrating Strings" Is About Staying Alive (premiere + interview)

Randall Bramblett reissues his acclaimed, quiet masterpiece, The Meantime in 2020. "This was not an easy record technically to make," he recalls. "We were vulnerable." Listen to "Vibrating Strings".

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

"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

'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

Can Jukebox the Ghost Be More Queen Than Queen?

We endeavor to find out in this HalloQueen interview with Jukebox the Ghost's Ben Thornewill.

Music

Lee DeWyze's "Castles" Captures Childhood Memories in a Bottle (premiere)

Singer-songwriter Lee DeWyze offers a wistful, bittersweet look into the past through the stop-motion, paper-craft world of his new music video, "Castles".

Music

Those Pretty Wrongs Get It Pretty Right With 'Zed For Zulu'

While the rest of the world bickers and sulks, Luther Russell and Big Star's Jody Stephens as Those Pretty Wrongs make an album brimming with love and positivity.

Music

Mika Delivers Undeniably Catchy Hooks on 'My Name Is Michael Holbrook'

Mika's My Name Is Michael Holbrook contains some of his sharpest lyrical conceits and catchiest hooks, but is often undercut by its too-glossy production.

Music

Broke Royals Have an Encounter With "Saint Luxury" (premiere)

Washington DC's Broke Royals return with another hook-laden slice of arena-ready pop, "Saint Luxury". "So often, the people promising answers are just trying to sell you something or make a power grab."

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Gianmarco Cilli Crafts a First-Rate, Understated Pop Gem with 'The Feel Is Now'

Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter, Gianmarco Cilli recruits impressive sidemen for a collection of diverse, beautifully executed indie pop/rock on The Feel Is Now.

Music

"I Move in Shadows" Demonstrates Office Culture's Impeccable Cool (premiere + Interview)

Brooklyn soft rockers, Office Culture tease their sophomore album with tune that captures the collective's inherent coolness, moving between ECM jazz and late '70s pop. Hear "I Move in Shadows".

Music

Paula Cole's 'Revolution' Is As Fresh and Vibrant As a Debut Album

Revolution is an exceptional piece of work, a timely reminder of how soulful, perceptive and harrowing a writer and singer Paula Cole is and has always been.

Music

Goo Goo Dolls Evolve and Raise the Bar with 'Miracle Pill'

Goo Goo Dolls evolve their sound and release new music that easily stands alongside the best of their career with Miracle Pill.

Music

Fastball's "The Girl You Pretended to Be" Is Pop Perfection (premiere + interview)

The latest track from the upcoming The Help Machine stands as a testament to Fastball's enduring powers and the lure of the almighty hook.

Music

Chicago's the Safes Deepen Sounds and Emotions on 'Winning Combination' (album stream)

The Safes gather extended family for a gorgeous chamber pop album that stands as the group's finest hour to date. Full of surprise and sorrow, Winning Combination is the perfect Safes album.

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Taylor Swift's 'Lover' Finds Her at Peak Creativity in a State of Romantic Bliss

On Lover, Taylor Swift looks back on her youth as both mood and metaphor, marking a significant shift from the storytelling in Red, 1989, and Reputation.

Music

Talay Confronts Getting Ghosted on "I Want U 2 Call" (premiere)

On "I Want U 2 Call", former folkie turned rocker Talay offers up a slice of visceral power pop to confront the emotions of being ghosted and the travails of modern dating life.

Music

Hello (Again) Cruel World: An Interview with Shakespears Sister

After more than two decades apart, Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit set aside differences to make new music and reclaim their shared creative chemistry. Shakespears Sister recall pregnancy, video stardom, and George Harrison's generosity.

Music

For the Sake of the Song: Sadler Vaden Talks Producing the High Divers

A solo artist and member of Jason Isbell's 400 Unit, Sadler Vaden discusses producing one of South Carolina's most promising acts, the High Divers, and letting go of work once it's done.

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

Run River North Debut Video for Their Sunny New Single "Wake Up" (premiere)

Los Angeles pop-rock trio Run River North bring the charm in their fun-loving new video for their latest single, "Wake Up".

Music

Finally Unchained: the bird and the bee Tackle Van Halen's Legacy

In 2010, the quirky electropop outfit the bird and the bee scored a hit with an album of Hall & Oates covers. Now, almost a decade later, the duo reinvent the hair metal machismo of Van Halen into one of the most joyous albums you'll hear all year.

Music

Hero Worship: The B-52's Embrace Their Place in Rock History

To casual onlookers, they made for the best kind of disposable party pop. To their devoted fans, they were taboo-breaking new wave kingpins. Now, with four decades of history under their belt, the B-52's look back and take their bow. Cindy Wilson speaks to PopMatters about their legacy.

Evan Sawdey
Music

The Astronots Explore the Future Through "Wandering Eyes" (premiere + interview)

Niko Giaimo and Allee Futterer are spreading their wings as co-founders of the Astronots, a Los Angeles-based rock outfit that sounds like a blast from the past going back to the future.

Music

The Rocket Summer Stay the Course with "Blankets" (premiere)

Bryce Avary keeps the Rocket Summer's momentum going strong with a new album releasing in August and a new music video for "Blankets".

Music

Imperial Teen Are Masters of Catchy Hooks

Imperial Teen's Now We Are Timeless shows what a veteran band can do when they are locked in together. Highly recommended for fans of the kind of pop-rock that doesn't make the mainstream charts anymore.

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