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Books

By the Book: 'Rocking the Closet: How Little Richard, Johnnie Ray, Liberace, and Johnny Mathis Queered Pop Music'

Vincent L. Stephens confronts notions of the closet—both coming out and staying in—by analyzing the careers of Liberace, Johnny Mathis, Johnnie Ray, and Little Richard. This excerpt of Rocking the Closet explores the work of "Mr. Emotion", Johnnie Ray.

Reviews

'Zombies, Migrants, and Queers' Make for a Monstrous Economy

One of the intellectual strengths of Fojas’ book is how she consistently surprises in historicizing and theorizing neoliberalism.

Reviews

'The Long March of Pop' Offers a Fresh Experience of Pop Art

This new and provocative survey of Pop Art widens the scope of its subject while keeping the focus on the artists.

Books

On James Wolcott's Engaging, Irritating, Snarky and Insightful Criticisms

In Critical Mass James Wolcott directs us to the intellectuals, entertainers, performers, and/or celebrities who have graced, cursed, or captivated him ever since he quit Frostburg State and hit Woody's Manhattan.

Books

Linguistic Inanities, Sung Howlers, Spoken Clunkers & Verbal Tics: 'The Grammar of Rock'

Any reader of Alexander Theroux will not endure him long if he or she lacks delight in satire, denigration, and "snobservation": that term appears in his first paragraph as fair warning.

Books

'Psychedelia' Is All You Can Imagine, and Then Some

As a diligent guide through psychedelia in theory and practice, Patrick Lundborg moves forward in time and space. But like his swirling subject, he cannot help pursuing byways, tracking trains of thought, and wandering off on rewarding detours.

Books

A Verdict on the Visual and Aesthetic Energy of Punk and Its Restive Relations: 'The Art of Punk'

"You'd always get, out of five, maybe one good-looking kid, two that were average, one that was a bit geeky, and one you'd have to try to hide."

Books

Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music by Marisa Meltzer

Meltzer clearly loves the '90s, and her mix of nostalgia and in-depth research make this an entertaining read for anyone interested in a decade that seems like it happened both a long time ago, and just yesterday.

Books

Communities of Play: Emergent Cultures in Multiplayer Games and Virtual Worlds by Celia Pearce

Pearce’s book illuminates the power of play and the impact of culture, and puts a spin on our perception of the immigrant experience.

Culture

Pop Culture: Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Neighborhood

Whether intentionally spiritual or not, popular culture and its products serve many of the same drives of religion: making meaning and forging the bonds of community.

Rev. Doug Gebhard

Books

The Wow Climax by Henry Jenkins

Jenkins is writing about things that make him go "wow," but he needs to remember his readers won't always feel the same way.

Mikita Brottman

Reviews

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Features

29 Black Music Documentaries for Black History Month 2020: #14. Mariah Carey Is Christmas: The Story of "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

The 10 Best Sappy Love Songs of the 1970s

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PM Picks

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Pop Ten

The 25 Best Classic Progressive Rock Albums

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100 - 81

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

The 10 Best Sappy Love Songs of the 1970s

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 5: 20 - 1

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s - Part 1 (100 - 81)

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 2: 80 - 61

The 70 Best Albums of 2019

The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2019

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By the Book: 'Rocking the Closet: How Little Richard, Johnnie Ray, Liberace, and Johnny Mathis Queered Pop Music'

Vincent L. Stephens confronts notions of the closet—both coming out and staying in—by analyzing the careers of Liberace, Johnny Mathis, Johnnie Ray, and Little Richard. This excerpt of Rocking the Closet explores the work of "Mr. Emotion", Johnnie Ray.

'Zombies, Migrants, and Queers' Make for a Monstrous Economy

One of the intellectual strengths of Fojas’ book is how she consistently surprises in historicizing and theorizing neoliberalism.

'The Long March of Pop' Offers a Fresh Experience of Pop Art

This new and provocative survey of Pop Art widens the scope of its subject while keeping the focus on the artists.

On James Wolcott's Engaging, Irritating, Snarky and Insightful Criticisms

In Critical Mass James Wolcott directs us to the intellectuals, entertainers, performers, and/or celebrities who have graced, cursed, or captivated him ever since he quit Frostburg State and hit Woody's Manhattan.

Linguistic Inanities, Sung Howlers, Spoken Clunkers & Verbal Tics: 'The Grammar of Rock'

Any reader of Alexander Theroux will not endure him long if he or she lacks delight in satire, denigration, and "snobservation": that term appears in his first paragraph as fair warning.

'Psychedelia' Is All You Can Imagine, and Then Some

As a diligent guide through psychedelia in theory and practice, Patrick Lundborg moves forward in time and space. But like his swirling subject, he cannot help pursuing byways, tracking trains of thought, and wandering off on rewarding detours.

A Verdict on the Visual and Aesthetic Energy of Punk and Its Restive Relations: 'The Art of Punk'

"You'd always get, out of five, maybe one good-looking kid, two that were average, one that was a bit geeky, and one you'd have to try to hide."

Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music by Marisa Meltzer

Meltzer clearly loves the '90s, and her mix of nostalgia and in-depth research make this an entertaining read for anyone interested in a decade that seems like it happened both a long time ago, and just yesterday.

Communities of Play: Emergent Cultures in Multiplayer Games and Virtual Worlds by Celia Pearce

Pearce’s book illuminates the power of play and the impact of culture, and puts a spin on our perception of the immigrant experience.

Pop Culture: Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Neighborhood

Whether intentionally spiritual or not, popular culture and its products serve many of the same drives of religion: making meaning and forging the bonds of community.

The Wow Climax by Henry Jenkins

Jenkins is writing about things that make him go "wow," but he needs to remember his readers won't always feel the same way.

Plugging Into the Third Mind

French-Algerian Rocker Rachid Taha Leaves 'Je Suis Africain' As His Final Work

Parachute For Gordo's New Post-Rock LP Is Driven By Percussion, Not Guitars

For Valentine's Day, the End of Anti-Miscegenation Laws: 'The Loving Story'

Euglossine Creates a Gleaming Electronic Vista with 'Psaronius'

Nada Surf Get Philosophical on 'Never Not Together'

Brooding Goth Meets Post-Punk on Bambara's 'Stray'

Flip It Over: An Ode to the B-Side

Love Songs: The Hidden History (Excerpt)

"A Certain Kind of Dream Quality": An Interview with Donovan Quinn

For Valentine's Day, the End of Anti-Miscegenation Laws: 'The Loving Story'

Critical Noir: Confessions of a ThugNiggaIntellectual

Jerry Hopper's 'Naked Alibi' Draws Comparisons to Douglas Sirk's Films

For All Governments: Gendry-Kim's Graphic Novel, 'Grass'