Christopher Thiessen

Music, coffee, and film enthusiast from Nashville, TN whose work has been published at PopMatters as well as his personal journal and sometimes coffee house napkins.
On ‘The Seduction of Kansas’, Priests Have Progressed into a Genre-Defying, Myth-Crafting Force

On ‘The Seduction of Kansas’, Priests Have Progressed into a Genre-Defying, Myth-Crafting Force

The Seduction of Kansas finds Priests progressing beyond their abrasive punk roots into a genre-defying force, fluent in the slick soundscapes of St. Vincent and the Talking Heads as well as the grain and grit of Portishead and Nine Inch Nails.

The Japanese House Offer Open Doors on Debut ‘Good at Falling’

The Japanese House Offer Open Doors on Debut ‘Good at Falling’

Though the Japanese House's Imogen Heap-inspired dream pop feels light and euphoric at surface level, you don't have to dig too deep to hear the heartbreak and apathy darkening Good at Falling's mood.

Ireland’s Talos Exhibits Sensitive Strength on Sophomore Record ‘Far Out Dust’

Ireland’s Talos Exhibits Sensitive Strength on Sophomore Record ‘Far Out Dust’

Talos has created a unique emotional cocktail of wonder and melancholy with Far Out Dust, despite a few shortcomings.

Future Is Exactly the Rap Star We Deserve

Future Is Exactly the Rap Star We Deserve

Materialism, misogyny, and nihilism are on full display throughout Future's The Wizrd. But what did we expect?

David Bazan Rises Like a ‘Phoenix’ with Pedro the Lion

David Bazan Rises Like a ‘Phoenix’ with Pedro the Lion

With his return to Pedro the Lion, David Bazan searches for true self by reckoning with his past on this return to form that is Phoenix.

The 10 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2018

The 10 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2018

From Kanye tweets to Drake and Pusha T diss tracks to literary masterpiece "This Is America", 2018 was quite the year for rap. But if we had to boil it all down to just 10 albums, we think these are the cuts that truly rose above and summed up 2018 the best.

The 10 Best Indie Rock Albums of 2018

The 10 Best Indie Rock Albums of 2018

Indie rock represents a spirit that's found where folk songsters and punk rockers come together to dialogue about what they're fed up with in mainstream culture.

Vince Staples: FM!

Vince Staples: FM!

Vince Staples isn't going to let his listeners hole up for the winter in 2018, offering party bangers and social commentary in the packed 22 minutes of FM!

Pistol Annies Offer a Place of Comfort in the Midst of Brokenness on ‘Interstate Gospel’

Pistol Annies Offer a Place of Comfort in the Midst of Brokenness on ‘Interstate Gospel’

Pistol Annies offer hope through their heartbrokenness and comfort through community on their third album, Interstate Gospel.

A Night With Florence + the Machine

A Night With Florence + the Machine

On the High As Hope tour, Florence + the Machine delivers empathy-fueled hope and community.

Iron & Wine Remind That We Have to Change Ourselves Before We Can Change the World on ‘Weed Garden’

Iron & Wine Remind That We Have to Change Ourselves Before We Can Change the World on ‘Weed Garden’

Sam Beam is still able to express that nostalgic combination of melancholy and hope, even when taking a safe approach to songwriting on Weed Garden.

Mitski Shows How Independence Can Mean Loneliness on ‘Be the Cowboy’

Mitski Shows How Independence Can Mean Loneliness on ‘Be the Cowboy’

Mitski argues on Be the Cowboy that we are meant to be emotional people, and that being strong and independent often leads to loneliness.