Lists

Ambient Matters: The Best Ambient Albums of April 2024

Ambient Matters: The Best Ambient Albums of April 2024

April was a glorious stew for lovers of this music, and you’ll want to make sure to check out our new playlist showcasing this month’s best ambient entries.

Snow Blinded: My 15 Favorite Styx Songs

Snow Blinded: My 15 Favorite Styx Songs

Progressive rock, arena rock, romantic ballads: Styx’s catalog presents an enviable chain of success, one that still yields surprises 50 years later.

Nordic Noir in Transition: Jussi Adler-Olsen’s ‘Department Q’ Books on Film

Nordic Noir in Transition: Jussi Adler-Olsen’s ‘Department Q’ Books on Film

Jussi Adler-Olsen, author of the Nordic noir Department Q series, isn’t thrilled with the transition of his work to film. Five directors of six films argue that’s a crime.

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of April 2024

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of April 2024

In April’s best metal, Locrian fully establish their return, Benighted adorn their anguish in their darkened past, and Inter Arma lead in extreme metal.

The 100 Best Alternative Songs of the 1980s

The 100 Best Alternative Songs of the 1980s

The best alternative songs of the 1980s span punk, post-punk, new wave, college rock, underground, goth, new romantic, ska, power pop, hardcore, and indie rock.

Hit the Road: 10 Fresh Driving Songs

Hit the Road: 10 Fresh Driving Songs

Does your cruising playlist sound a bit hoary these days? Here are ten fresh driving songs, rocking highway anthems to get your motor running.

Who Will Be the Next Harry Hole? The 5 Best Norwegian Actors for the Role

Who Will Be the Next Harry Hole? The 5 Best Norwegian Actors for the Role

The complex detective in Norwegian noir writer Jo Nesbø’s novels needs the perfect actor for the upcoming series. Who will be – who can be – the next Harry Hole?

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2024

MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2024

In March’s best metal, Coffins and Slimelord define death/doom glory, Misotheist find beauty in raw black metal ugliness, and Prisoner attack the senses.

Ambient Matters: The 15 Best Ambient Albums of March 2024

Ambient Matters: The 15 Best Ambient Albums of March 2024

This month’s best ambient/experimental releases yielded enough sublime music to send you drifting into transcendence for many moons to come.

Three TV Shows That Promise an Intriguing Viewing Experience

Three TV Shows That Promise an Intriguing Viewing Experience

These three TV shows of early spring 2024 are the most compelling, mind-boggling, and expensive-looking ones to watch before you go back out in the sun.

Say It Loud! 100 Timeless Protest Songs

Say It Loud! 100 Timeless Protest Songs

PopMatters has scoured the musical spectrum for the best examples of protest songs, including anthems of great popularity and obscurity that resonate today.

JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of Winter 2024

JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of Winter 2024

PopMatters presents the best new jazz recordings from the winter of 2024 and reflects on the relationship of the Grammys to jazz.