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Music

Vistas' 'Everything Changes in the End' Is Catchy and Fun Guitar Rock

Vistas' debut, Everything Changes in the End, features bright rock music that pulls influences from power-pop and indie rock.

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Music

Thin Lear's 'Wooden Cave' is Chamber Pop Perfection of the Highest Order

The latest album from Queens-based singer-songwriter Matt Longo, aka Thin Lear, is an impeccably crafted ode to loners, death, and alienation.

Music

The Beths Are Sharp As Ever on 'Jump Rope Gazers'

New Zealand power-poppers the Beths return with a sophomore album that makes even the most senior indie-rock acts feel rudimentary by comparison.

Music

Steve McDonald Remembers the Earliest Days of Redd Kross

Steve McDonald talks about the year that produced the first Redd Kross EP, an early eighth-grade graduation show with a then-unknown Black Flag, and a punk scene that welcomed and defined him.

Music

Indie Pop's Fuller Delivers Moment of Levity With "Crush Me" (premiere)

Indie pop's Fuller delivers the infectious "Crush Me" from an upcoming EP. "It's about knowing that I might fail, but not fearing failure, because never trying would be the biggest failure of all."

Music

Power Pop's Lewis Says "Bathe Clean" (premiere)

Former Kinison frontman Christopher L. Lewis releases Son on the Floor in August, and shares the infectious new single, "Bathe Clean" today.

Music

Cocktails Reach Power Pop Ecstasy on "Bun E. Carlos" (premiere)

Cocktails' "Bun E. Carlos" taps into the fantasy side of rock 'n' roll. It's the new single from their upcoming LP, Catastrophic Entertainment, a "raw and dirty monster of a pop record".

Music

2nd Grade Go From 'Hit to Hit' with Indie Power Pop Delights

Some sincere goofiness would feel glorious right about now. 2nd Grade, a power-pop group from Philly, have the goods we need in heaps on their full-length debut, Hit to Hit.

Music

Buzzcocks' 1996 Album 'All Set' Sees the Veteran Band Stretching Out and Gaining Confidence

After the straightforward and workmanlike Trade Test Transmissions, Buzzcocks continued to hone their fresh identity in the studio, as exhibited on the All Set reissue contained on the new box-set Sell You Everything.

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

OK Go's Emotional New Ballad, "All Together Now", Inspired by Singer's Bout with COVID-19

Damian Kulash, lead singer for OK Go discusses his recent bout with COVID-19, how it impacted his family, and the band's latest pop delight, "All Together Now", as part of our Love in the Time of Coronavirus series.

Music

Buzzcocks' 1993 Comeback 'Trade Test Transmissions' Showed Punk's Great Survivors' Consistency

PopMatters' appraisal of Buzzcocks continues with the band's proper comeback LP, Trade Test Transmissions, now reissued on Cherry Red Records' new box-set, Sell You Everything.

Music

Drum Machines? Samples? Brendan Benson Gets Contemporary with 'Dear Life'

Powerpop overlord and part-time Raconteur, Brendan Benson, grafts hip-hop beats to guitar pop on his seventh solo album, Dear Life.

Music

'Sell You Everything' Brings to Light Buzzcocks '1991 Demo LP' That Passed Under-the-Radar

Cherry Red Records' new box-set issued in memory of Pete Shelley gathers together the entire post-reunion output of the legendary Buzzcocks. Across the next week, PopMatters explores the set album-by-album. First up is The 1991 Demo LP.

Music

Aubrey Haddard Embraces Classic Pop with "Thin Line" (premiere)

Boston singer-songwriter Aubrey Haddard offers up a terrific, poppy earworm on her new single and video, "Thin Line".

Music

From Norway and Oregon Come the No Ones with a Potent Dose of Classic Jangle Pop

Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck's the No Ones took their sweet time on their debut, The Great Lost No Ones Album, but it was well worth the wait for any indie or pop fan.

Music

Built to Spill's Daniel Johnston Homage Is Too Plain for Its Own Good

Built to Spill offer up a so-so guitar-based, power-pop tribute to outsider artist Daniel Johnston that doesn't live up to the eclectic 2004 Johnston covers LP.

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

All Kinds of Time: Adam Schlesinger's Pursuit of Pure, Peerless Pop

Adam Schlesinger was a poet laureate of pure pop music. There was never a melody too bright, a lyrical conceit too playfully dumb, or a vibe full of radiation that he would shy away from. His sudden passing from COVID-19 means one of the brightest stars in the power-pop universe has suddenly dimmed.

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

Ash Compile the Indie-Disco Classics on 'Teenage Wildlife'

Ash harnessed their teenage angst and energy and built a career on it, as you can hear on Teenage Wildlife, a career-spanning, hit-filled compilation album.

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

Scantron's 'Electric City' Is a Four-Song Blast of Engaging Garage Rock

Philadelphia garage rockers Scantron continue their "single-slinging" tradition on the satisfying, riff-heavy new EP, Electric City.

Music

Nada Surf Get Philosophical on 'Never Not Together'

Never Not Together is the best record Nada Surf have made in quite a while, as it sees the indie rock/power pop group stress the need for more empathy in the world.

Music

Kiwi Jr.'s Debut 'Football Money' Is an Indie Pop Gem

Kiwi Jr.'s Football Money is a jangly, sugar-coated, charming debut album destined to be cherished by indie pop/rock fans of all stripes.

Music

The Pedaljets Celebrate Contentment With "Sleepy Girl" (premiere + interview)

"Let memories happen later. Live now," says the Pedaljets's Mike Allmayer as he discusses the themes running through the group's upcoming LP, Twist the Lens. Hear "Sleepy Girl" now.

Music

Marshall Crenshaw Preps New Reissue Campaign With "Misty Dreamer" (premiere + interview)

Marshall Crenshaw is re-releasing five albums beginning with 1996's Miracle of Science. The new bonus track by singer-songwriter Daniel Wylie is the first taste. "There are lots of great things in Daniel Wylie's catalog, including this dark, beautiful gem," says Crenshaw.

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

"She's Older Now" Is a Previously Unreleased Tune From Roger C. Reale and Rue Morgue, Featuring Mick Ronson (premiere)

Ex-Bowie/Ian Hunter six-string legend, Mick Ronson lends his formidable talents to tune that could have/should have been a hit in the dimming days of the 1970s. Just image the Top of the Pops performance.

Music

Donaher's Pledge of Love and Fidelity "Before Anyone Else" Has Edge (premiere)

Love songs don't have to be sad or overly sentimental. Sometimes they can make their case and be clear-eyed about it as pop-punk's Donaher prove on "Before Anyone Else".

Music

Ric Ocasek and the Cars: Just What We Needed

That mullet, those shades, the slender build, and his angular mug in those epic videos from the days when MTV ruled. The Cars' Ric Ocasek was the picture boy of '70s and '80s new wave / power pop.

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.

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

Tiny Stills Take on Odd Robot's "Schadenfreude" on New Split EP (premiere)

Power pop bands Tiny Stills and Odd Robot cover each other's songs, offer up new, original material on upcoming set. And, yep, there are kittens involved.

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

Power Pop's the Lilacs Endure with a New Song and Album (premiere + interview)

Chicago power pop favorites, the Lilacs return with a new EP, featuring two new songs and two from the band's past. Ken Kurson reflects on the 25 years between musical notes and the last impact of hometown friendships.

Music

Those Pretty Wrongs Remind Us "It's About Love" (premiere + interview)

Big Star's Jody Stephens reflects on his music past as well as the future of his current project with Luther Russell, Those Pretty Wrongs. Hear their latest single, "It's About Love".

Jedd Beaudoin
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

Bleached Sneak Up on You with Their Brand of Power Pop

Bleached's Don't You Think You've Had Enough? is a summer record with big sing-along power pop songs that deliver.

Music

The Schramms Look Back on "New England" (premiere + interview)

Smart, sophisticated songs from the Schramms populate new their LP, Omnidirectional, the group's first album in a decade. Hear "New England" now.

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