Fave Five: Justin Courtney Pierre
The former Motion City Soundtrack frontman has finally released his first-ever solo record, and now Justin Courtney Pierre counts down his Five Favorite Records of All Time for PopMatters.
Evan Sawdey
Evan Sawdey started contributing to PopMatters in late 2005, and has also had his work featured in publications such as Entertainment Weekly, SLUG Magazine, YardBarker, The Daily Dot, and many more. He has been a guest on HuffPost Live, RevotTV's "Revolt Live!", and WNYC's Soundcheck (an NPR affiliate), was the Executive Producer for the Good With Words: A Tribute to Benjamin Durdle album ( available for free), and wrote the liner notes for the 2011 re-release of Andre Cymone's hit 1985 album A.C. (Big Break Records), the 2012 re-release of 'Til Tuesday's 1985 debut Voices Carry (Hot Shot Records), among others. He is the co-founder and host of The Chartographers, a podcast for pop music nerds, and previously hosted PopTalk for PopMatters. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. You can follow him @SawdEye should you be so inclined.
SUSS’s Country-Ambient Sound Achieves Bizarre New Heights with the “Steam” video (premiere)
SUSS is a country-ambient group who are dropping an expanded edition of their stellar debut effort, and they are sharing a new video for "Steam".
‘For Discos Only’ Is the Rare Archival Release You Can Truly Boogie To
With For Discos Only, Craft Recordings have created a multi-disc mirrorball extravangza that simply cannot be beat in terms of groovy fun.
20 Questions: The Mowgli’s
The Mowgli's are continuing their quest to write the catchiest, most memorable pop songs that have continue to fly under the radar, and as their newest EP teases, they're continuing to crack the code -- one anthem at a time.
Fave Five: The Dodos
Coming off yet another acclaimed set of strum-and-pound indie pop, Meric Long of the Dodos takes our Fave Five challenge and lists the Top Five Records You Can Enjoy With a Two-Year-Old.
‘Onda De Amor’ Captures Brazil at a Very Funky Time
Soundway Records' latest collection, covering a variety of Brazilian synthpop sounds from a prominently upbeat decade in the country's history, is fascinating, funky curio.
Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum on Dream Pop and Pigeonholing
PopMatters speaks with Wild Nothing's Jack Tatum about moving home to Virginia, musical transitions, and how to build on the best influences from the past.
Troye Sivan’s ‘Bloom’ Is a Queer-Pop Fantasia
It may not be the queer masterpiece that some were expecting, but in this day and age, Troye Sivan's Bloom proves that gay people need not rely on metaphors or "hints" to get their stories across and be accepted by the masses.
Fave Five: Fire-Toolz
Fire-Toolz's debut album is one of 2018's most ambitious and self-sabotaging albums: a compelling, confounding listen that mixes vaporwave beats with death metal wails and somehow it all works. Mastermind Angel Marcloid's Fave Five pick? Her five favorite New Age jazz records.
20 Questions: Young Gun Silver Fox
Dynamic music duo Young Gun Silver Fox put out a yacht-rock album in an era where everything must be gritty and serious, and their melodic sunshine has radiated so strongly that group insisted on giving us a second batch of it.
20 Questions: Kaada
From quirky pop to classically-affected modern compositions, John Erik Kaada has returned with his first solo album in nine years, so wants to do what any regarded musician would: talk about Homer Simpson and Norwegian environmental policies.
20 Questions: Ashley Monroe
Ashley Monroe is one of the most critically acclaimed country artists working today, and with the release of her acclaimed new set Sparrow, talks Willie, weed, and borrowing Brandi Carlile's guitar for months on end.