Where Should Billy Joel Sit at the Pop Rock Table?
Inconsistent in his music and notoriously ornery, it’s difficult to figure out where, amongst his contemporaries, to seat Billy Joel at the Pop Rock table. We give it a try.
soul
Detroit 1967: From Uprising to Amplification
The 1967 Detroit Uprising did not create the music that followed; it clarified it by stripping away ambiguity, making it harder to ignore what was already there.
Jesper Lindell Goes for a Big Adventure on ‘Jackson Highway’
Jesper Lindell and company are faithful to the spirit of the original versions of these songs, but they bring their own energy as well.
Mavis Staples Comforts and Galvanizes in Pennsylvania
Legendary soul singer Mavis Staples draws on classics, old and new, to deliver her own State of the Union address. Her message is more relevant and urgent than ever.
Cyril Neville and King Youngblood Serve Up Inspiring Gumbo
This is a big year for Cyril Neville and King Youngblood, a bonus for music fans who appreciate artists who use their talents to speak out and inspire social change.
Jill Scott’s New Music Is As Vibrant As Ever
Jill Scott’s new album fits seamlessly with pop’s retro-futuristic fascination with the 1980s. Her signature mix of poetry, hip-hop, jazz, and soul is as vibrant as ever.
The Olympians Instrumentally Search for a Revival
The Olympians’ In Search of a Revival may be an odd album, but it’s not an unfriendly one. The dozen instrumental tracks offer friendly vibes.
James Hunter Six Get ‘Off the Fence’ and Land on a New Label
These 12 new self-penned tracks demonstrate that the James Hunter Six have found their niche and discovered how to exploit the groove.
The Best Music of 2025/Feature Sub Head/Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Lists/Music/Music Features/PopMatters Picks
The 10 Best Soul/R&B Albums of 2025
In these challenging times, the best soul and R&B albums walked tall and carried a big stick, while also being a much-needed balm and source of warmth.
Sudan Archives’ ‘The BPM’ Delivers Dancefloor-Ready Anthems
Sudan Archives’ The BPM is a high-tech, futuristic odyssey, full of heaving, sweaty, dance-floor-ready anthems. It’s also an intensely human record
keiyaA Finds Strength in Stretching Out on ‘hooke’s law’
Much of hooke’s law is a cry for help from the voice within. keiyaA says she would do anything to see god or find a purpose. Like a spring, she is resilient.
OutKast’s ‘Stankonia’ Uses Mirrors and Oppositions
OutKast’s Stankonia is a diptych that opposes and mirrors the duo; creating a stylistic reverence for an inimitable vision.