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Music Featured: Top of Home Page Features Lists Music Features

Where Should Billy Joel Sit at the Pop and Pop Rock Table?

By
Brian Chander Wiora
/ 14 April 2026

Inconsistent in his music and notoriously ornery, it’s difficult to figure out where, amongst his contemporaries, to seat Billy Joel at the Pop and Pop Rock table. We give it a try.

Features

The Afghan Whigs’ ‘Black Love’ Is an Underappreciated Masterpiece
All Things Reconsidered

The Afghan Whigs’ ‘Black Love’ Is an Underappreciated Masterpiece

By
Brian Stout
/ 13 April 2026
Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song
Music

Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song

By
Timbray Shafer
/ 13 April 2026
Stephen King’s Nightmares are Personal and Real
Books

Stephen King’s Nightmares are Personal and Real

By
Chris Barsanti
/ 13 April 2026
Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and the Three Ghosts of Subjectivity
Music

Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and the Three Ghosts of Subjectivity

By
Mike Cormack
/ 9 April 2026
When the Door Nearly Closed on Evanescence
Music

When the Door Nearly Closed on Evanescence

By
Matthew Ellis
/ 8 April 2026
ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026
Music

ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026

By
J. Simpson
/ 8 April 2026

Music Reviews

Music Music Reviews Reviews

Joe Jackson Settles Scores on ‘Hope and Fury’

By
Jeremy McDonagh
/ 14 April 2026
Music Music Reviews PopMatters Picks Reviews

Flore Laurentienne Masterfully Blend Strings and Synthesizers

By
Chris Ingalls
/ 14 April 2026
Music Music Reviews PopMatters Picks Reviews

Drivin N Cryin Keep the Spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll Alive

By
Steve Horowitz
/ 14 April 2026
Juni Habel Presents the Perilous Beauty of Nature
Music

Juni Habel Presents the Perilous Beauty of Nature

By
Jack Walters
/ 13 April 2026
Tigers Jaw Deliver a hooky, emotionally-charged LP
Music

Tigers Jaw Deliver a hooky, emotionally-charged LP

By
Brian Stout
/ 13 April 2026
Daryl Groetsch Takes a Stunning Oceanic Voyage
Music

Daryl Groetsch Takes a Stunning Oceanic Voyage

By
Chris Ingalls
/ 13 April 2026
Ashley Monroe Pens a Love/Hate Letter to Music City
Music

Ashley Monroe Pens a Love/Hate Letter to Music City

By
Steve Horowitz
/ 9 April 2026
Emma Harner’s Debut ‘Evening Star’ Is Remarkable
Music

Emma Harner’s Debut ‘Evening Star’ Is Remarkable

By
Mary Chiney
/ 9 April 2026
The Sylvie Courvoisier Trio Balance All the Elements
Music

The Sylvie Courvoisier Trio Balance All the Elements

By
Will Layman
/ 9 April 2026

Pop Past

Albums released 20 years ago

Gnarls Barkley Take Us to ‘St. Elsewhere’
Music

Gnarls Barkley Take Us to ‘St. Elsewhere’

By
Zeth Lundy
/ 9 May 2006
The Coup Call for Change with ‘Pick a Bigger Weapon’
Music

The Coup Call for Change with ‘Pick a Bigger Weapon’

By
Dave Heaton
/ 25 April 2006
Goo Goo Dolls’ ‘Let Love In’ Is a Mixed Bag
Music

Goo Goo Dolls’ ‘Let Love In’ Is a Mixed Bag

By
Mike Joseph
/ 20 April 2006

Film

Sound of Falling’s Slow Exhaustion of Memory
Film

Sound of Falling’s Slow Exhaustion of Memory

By
Guilherme Quireza
/ 14 April 2026
Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song
Music

Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song

By
Timbray Shafer
/ 13 April 2026
‘I Swear’ Is Carried by Robert Aramayo’s Performance
Film

‘I Swear’ Is Carried by Robert Aramayo’s Performance

By
Guilherme Quireza
/ 13 April 2026
Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and the Three Ghosts of Subjectivity
Music

Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and the Three Ghosts of Subjectivity

By
Mike Cormack
/ 9 April 2026
‘Palestine 36’ and the Limits of a Settled History
Film

‘Palestine 36’ and the Limits of a Settled History

By
Guilherme Quireza
/ 7 April 2026
‘Broken Voices’ Records the Sound of Institutional Abuse
Film

‘Broken Voices’ Records the Sound of Institutional Abuse

By
Guilherme Quireza
/ 6 April 2026
‘Hold That Blonde!’ Hilariously Attempts Hysterical Slapstick
Film

‘Hold That Blonde!’ Hilariously Attempts Hysterical Slapstick

By
Michael Barrett
/ 2 April 2026

Music Features

Music Featured: Top of Home Page Features Lists Music Features

Where Should Billy Joel Sit at the Pop and Pop Rock Table?

By
Brian Chander Wiora
/ 14 April 2026
All Things Reconsidered Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Music Music Features

The Afghan Whigs’ ‘Black Love’ Is an Underappreciated Masterpiece

By
Brian Stout
/ 13 April 2026
Music Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Film Film Feature Music Features

Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ and the Three Ghosts of Subjectivity

By
Mike Cormack
/ 9 April 2026
When the Door Nearly Closed on Evanescence
Music

When the Door Nearly Closed on Evanescence

By
Matthew Ellis
/ 8 April 2026
ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026
Music

ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026

By
J. Simpson
/ 8 April 2026
Detroit 1967: From Uprising to Amplification
Music

Detroit 1967: From Uprising to Amplification

By
Taylor Blackmere
/ 7 April 2026
10 Synthwave and Ambient Songs for Swimming
Music

10 Synthwave and Ambient Songs for Swimming

By
Alyssa Charpentier
/ 7 April 2026
MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2026
Music

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2026

By
Spyros Stasis,
Antonio Poscic / 6 April 2026
Morrissey Returns to the Wilde
Features

Morrissey Returns to the Wilde

By
Chelle Strand
/ 2 April 2026

Books

Books Feature Sub Head Features

Stephen King’s Nightmares are Personal and Real

By
Chris Barsanti
/ 13 April 2026
Reviews Books Comics Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Music PopMatters Picks

‘The Midnight: Shadows’ Renders Nostalgia’s Dangers in Neon

By
Alyssa Charpentier
/ 31 March 2026
Books Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features

Edmund White’s Longing for Being and Nothingness

By
Mike Cormack
/ 24 March 2026
The Black Dahlia Is a Victim of Time
Books

The Black Dahlia Is a Victim of Time

By
Douglas MacLeod
/ 19 March 2026
‘Rock of Pages’ Argues for the High of Literature in the Low of Heavy Metal
Reviews

‘Rock of Pages’ Argues for the High of Literature in the Low of Heavy Metal

By
Jeremy McDonagh
/ 18 March 2026

Television

Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song
Music

Why Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” Is the Ultimate Screen Song

By
Timbray Shafer
/ 13 April 2026
‘Drops of God’ Drinks Wine with a Proustian Sensibility
Television

‘Drops of God’ Drinks Wine with a Proustian Sensibility

By
Adit Chandrachud
/ 30 March 2026

Interviews

Music Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Interviews Music Features

Javier Nero Blends Modern Elements with Big Band Jazz

By
Will Layman
/ 2 April 2026
Music Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Interviews Music Features

Jorge Drexler Performs His Homecoming Dance

By
Marty Lipp
/ 1 April 2026
Music Feature Sub Head Featured: Top of Home Page Features Interviews Music Features

Sweet Pill on Burning It Down and Finding the Glow

By
Brian Stout
/ 30 March 2026
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio Create “Great Black Music”
Music

The Cosmic Tones Research Trio Create “Great Black Music”

By
Teo Blake Beauchamp
/ 25 March 2026
Kula Shaker’s Crispian Mills Discusses the Creative Life
Music

Kula Shaker’s Crispian Mills Discusses the Creative Life

By
Alyssa Charpentier
/ 24 March 2026

Lists

Where Should Billy Joel Sit at the Pop and Pop Rock Table?
Music

Where Should Billy Joel Sit at the Pop and Pop Rock Table?

By
Brian Chander Wiora
/ 14 April 2026
ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026
Music

ElectroMatters: Best Electronic Music of March 2026

By
J. Simpson
/ 8 April 2026
10 Synthwave and Ambient Songs for Swimming
Music

10 Synthwave and Ambient Songs for Swimming

By
Alyssa Charpentier
/ 7 April 2026
MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2026
Music

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2026

By
Spyros Stasis,
Antonio Poscic / 6 April 2026
The Best Performances of 2026’s Love Rocks NYC
Events

The Best Performances of 2026’s Love Rocks NYC

By
Sachyn Mital
/ 25 March 2026

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PopMatters Seeks Book Critics and Essayists
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PopMatters Seeks Book Critics and Essayists

By
Karen Zarker
/ 24 January 2024
Submit an Essay, Review, Interview, or List to PopMatters
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PopMatters Seeks Film Critics and Essayists

By
Karen Zarker
/ 28 September 2022

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