Katy Pinke Charms and Disarms on Her Brilliant Debut
Katy Pinke’s indie folk music on her debut album comes from deep inside. It’s warm and engaging and leaves the listener yearning for more.
Chris Ingalls
Chris is a Massachusetts native who spent seven years as a broadcast journalist in the U.S. Navy and was also a videotape editor for a CBS affiliate TV station, a newspaper editor at a military public affairs office in Naples, Italy, and a videographer for a cancer research institute. His currently works as an internal communications manager for a large Boston hospital. He was born in 1969 and has been a rabid music fan since at least 1970, thanks to his three older siblings. A PopMatters writer since 2016, Chris is also an occasional guest on the music podcast "Losing My Opinion," and is on Bluesky, Instagram, and X @Ingalls1969. He lives in the leafy suburbs outside of Boston with his wife, son, dog, two cats, and lots of records.
Minor Moon Brings a Hopeful Twang to the Apocalypse
Minor Moon’s LP is deeply adventurous but has a sharp, reflective eye on the rearview mirror. It’s a warm fuzz of country rock amidst a world falling apart.
Hannah Selin Composes a Work of Mesmerizing, Transcendent Beauty
Hannah Selin has created a profoundly engaging set of compositions on her debut LP. They are a sonic equivalent to deep sleep and vivid, complex dream states.
Hour’s ‘Ease the Work’ Is Hypnotic and Beautifully Strange
The latest release from Michael Cormier-O’Leary’s instrumental collective, Hour, is a deliberately paced work that’s peaceful and oddly disarming.
Josh Johnson’s ‘Unusual Object’ Is a Fascinating Record
Celebrated saxophonist Josh Johnson infuses his music with various styles on this surprisingly accessible new LP of processed, ambient jazz.
Kings Will Be Crowned: Queen’s ‘Queen II’ at 50
Queen’s 1974 sophomore album, Queen II is an overlooked progressive rock masterpiece that predicted so much of their later work. It’s also still enormous fun.
‘Fire Escape’ Is Alena Spanger’s Thorny, Soaring Solo Debut
Alena Spanger’s music is full of odd twists and unconventional choices, but that’s what makes Fire Escape so enjoyable and undeniably beautiful.
Biography of ‘Rolling Stone’ Co-Founder Ralph J. Gleason Rocks and Swings
‘Rolling Stone’ co-founder Ralph J. Gleason predates that golden era of music journalism when Lester Bangs and Robert Christgau thrived.
This Is Your Life: XTC’s ‘Oranges & Lemons’ at 35
In 1989, XTC released Oranges & Lemons, one of their finest. There are nods to trippy 1960s touchstones, but it’s more of a lush, power-pop celebration.
Hannah Frances Unveils Mystic, Lush Folk on ‘Keeper of the Shepherd’
Hannah Frances’ hypnotic new album Keeper of the Shepherd is a master class in sophisticated songwriting and pastoral scene-setting.
Mark Trecka Crafts Inventive Gloom on ‘The Bloom of Performance’
Paris-based experimentalist Mark Trecka incorporates a slightly more traditional song structure on his excellent new album, The Bloom of Performance.
Armbruster Finds Beauty in Noise on the Adventurous ‘Can I Sit Here’
New York-based violinist and composer Armbruster explores drone, distortion, and melody on his excellent new album Can I Sit Here.