Belle and Sebastian: Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance
Contrary to their twee reputation, Belle and Sebastian prove they don't shy away from taking risks with a techno-pop heavy new album.
Arnold Pan
Unwound: No Energy
The No Energy boxset provides a valuable opportunity to place the unsung Unwound in a proper context, both offering nostalgia-tinged appreciation of a band at the height of its powers, as well as putting the music of the '90s Kill Rock Stars stalwarts in a new light.
The Best Music of 2014
More than ever in 2014, the music industry as we know it was in need of saving. Any imminent doomsday scenarios may have been put off for the time being thanks to Taylor Swift.
Christopher Owens: A New Testament
In light of Christopher Owens' never-a-dull-moment backstory and back catalog, the last thing you'd expect is that A New Testament would be as monotonous as it is.
Sleater-Kinney – “Bury Our Friends” (video)
What Sleater-Kinney reunion? "Bury Our Friends" makes you think the pathbreaking trio never went on hiatus in the first place.
Foxygen: …And Star Power
Try as you might to take Foxygen's ...And Star Power at face value, it's hard to because the mischievous duo does everything but play it straight on the 82-minute double LP.
Ex Hex: Rips
Mary Timony's new project Ex Hex makes the best case possible for listening to that urge to simplify on Rips.
Sallie Ford – ‘Slap Back’ (album stream) (Premiere)
On the boisterous Slap Back, the first full-length under her own name, Sallie Ford hopscotches between folk, blues, psychedelia, and punk intuitively and convincingly.
Hamish Kilgour – “Smile” + David Kilgour – “Lose Myself in Sound” (videos) (Premieres)
This year saw new efforts by the first family of the New Zealand underground, the brothers Kilgour. PopMatters premieres new videos from Hamish and David Kilgour.
Mecca Normal – “Between Livermore & Tracy” (video and Q&A) (Premiere)
PopMatters caught up with Mecca Normal's Jean Smith on the Vancouver duo's upcoming album Empathy for the Evil. The video for album track "Between Livermore & Tracy" premieres here.
Lightfoils – ‘Hierarchy’ (album stream) (Premiere)
There's nothing lightweight about neo-shoegazers Lightfoils on their new album, Hierarchy.
White Lung: Deep Fantasy
Deep Fantasy flies by with ten tracks in 22 minutes, but there's plenty to White Lung's punk-pop that stays with you.