Prince Shall Forever Remain the Enigma: ‘This Thing Called Life’
Instead of cherry-picking facts and quotes, Joseph Vogel lets Prince's legacy shine in all its vague and erratic splendor.
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There’s Fun to Be Found in Artistic Appropriation
Beg, Steal, and Borrow: Artists Against Originality gives some history -- and brings some levity -- to the subject of unoriginality.
The 21 Best Album Re-Issues of 2017
In 2017, the music world saw amazing reissues from all over the genre map, spanning rock titans to indie upstarts and jazz to soul.
The Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli Talks About ‘In Spades’, Prince, and the Critical Beat
Greg Dulli tells PopMatters that "nothing's excluded when it comes time to write a song... I am absolutely omnivorous."
‘Complicated Fun’ Is a Thorough Study of the Glory Days of the Twin Cities Punk and Indie Scenes
The tales of a record store, a set of like-minded club owners, and a record label all tie together into a beautiful narrative of the burgeoning Minneapolis music scene.
Prince’s Classic Finally Expanded: The Deluxe ‘Purple Rain’ Reissue
Over a year after Prince's stunning death, Warner Bros. offers the first ever expanded edition of the classic Purple Rain. How can something be so amazing and so frustrating at the same time?
Remembering Prince’s Greatest Epic: 30 Years of “Sign ‘O’ The Times”
One year after Prince's shocking death, we celebrate his greatest musical achievement as it passes its 30-year anniversary: Sign ☮ the Times
You Say You Want A Revolution: André Cymone Talks Merging Poetic, Personal
After a 25-plus-year hiatus, Anqdré Cymone has begun speaking his mind. In so doing, he's providing a much-needed missive about the state of the world.
‘Bar Yarns and Manic-Depressive Mixtapes’, or, Music criticism, Minnesota-style
Jim Walsh’s writing combines heartfelt personal stories with knowledgeable music criticism. Reading this collection feels like having a conversation with an old friend.
Phil Collins: Singles
The main question with Singles is this: does Phil Collins really deserve all the critical revilement he's gotten for decades?
Frank Ocean and a Short History of Spite Albums
Frank Ocean's Endless, the decidedly less commercial of his two recent releases, might just be a victory for artists who've been forced to release music to fulfill contractual obligations. Here's a look at some of history's more significant spite albums.
The Bangles: Ladies and Gentleman… the Bangles!
These earliest recordings of the Bangles showcase their chops as a live group and an excellent grasp of songwriting and melody writing. It's a must-have for die-hards and those wishing to delve deeper into the group's discography.
