Elton John’s Best Album ‘Captain Fantastic’ Is 50
A well-curated reissue celebrates Elton John’s best album, Captain Fantastic, a half-century after its release.
pop rock
Fame Is the New Muse of 5 Seconds of Summer
5 Seconds of Summer add a new dimension to their reliable pop-punk formula by analyzing their own fame on Everyone’s a Star.
Twen Create One of 2025’s Best Rock Albums
Melding late 1960s and early 2000s pop/rock, Twen slide under the wire with one of 2025’s finest rock records, Fate Euphoric.
Gen X’s Nostalgia for 1980s Music Is a Memory Problem
Gen X nostalgia for 1980s music like Starship’s “We Built This City” and Toto’s “Africa” is built on old forgotten words and ancient melodies – and faulty memory.
Naked Eyes’ 1983 Debut Delivers Sincerity in an Ironic World
Naked Eyes’ 1983 debut, Burning Bridges, is a good album for reflecting on our ironic modern world, as it can’t help but wax nostalgic for the sincerity of the past.
Lindsay Ell Reinvents Herself in Nashville’s Risky Business
Lindsay Ell was chosen as one of the “Next Women in Country” in 2014, but she has other ambitions and questions to explore after making her new EP.
Charlie Kaplan Wrings a Masterpiece Out of Love, Pain, and Loss
Charlie Kaplan has always been a master of creating the perfect arrangement around his engaging, deeply felt compositions, but this time around, he’s at his absolute peak.
Léna Bartels Wows With Stunning New Songs
Léna Bartels’ new album features bold, daring approaches in her arrangements, sounding like tributes while creating something original.
David Byrne Gets the Flavors Right on ‘Who Is the Sky?’
David Byrne’s latest album showcases his abilities as a top-rate popsmith, highlighting a work that is both commercially and colorfully appealing.
Sombr Bares His Soul on Outstanding Rock-Inspired Debut
On his debut album I Barely Know Her, Sombr is a new version of a familiar pop phenomenon: sad, charismatic, and a rock star at heart.
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Bruce Springsteen’s Extraordinary ‘Born to Run’ at 50
Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run is one of the great rock albums; it showcases youthful idealism’s shortcomings while keeping one enraptured with its false promises.
MGK Shows Traces of Heartbreak on ‘Lost Americana’
MGK’s genre-agnostic Lost Americana continues a pop-punk exploration while letting down his personal defenses.