Revisiting the Pain and Brilliance of Pearl Jam’s ‘Black’ Unplugged
In Pearl Jam’s moving performance of “Black” on MTV Unplugged, Eddie Vedder conveyed a personal struggle that that today interprets to issues beyond the self.
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30 Years Ago the Church Transcended Alternative Rock Limitations with ‘Priest=Aura’
In the 30 years since its release, the Church’s Priest=Aura has gone from a post-“Under the Milky Way” footnote to an acknowledged career pinnacle.
The Case for Eurythmics’ Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Very few of their peers surpass Eurythmics in terms of artistic vision, musicianship, songwriting, and creative audacity. This is the history of the seminal new wave group.
Why Pearl Jam Couldn’t Kill Their Fame
Although Pearl Jam and Nirvana vied for grunge dominance in the ’90s, Pearl Jam valued something much better and more lasting than money and fame.
The Legacy of George Harrison’s ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ Half a Century Later
Fifty years ago, a plea for assistance from Ravi Shankar to George Harrison gave birth to The Concert for Bangladesh, an event whose impact on the culture of pop and classic rock still resonates.
40th Anniversary Deluxe Editions Reinforce the Pretenders’ Place in Rock History
These 40th Anniversary Deluxe Editions provide a rich trove of material for Pretenders completists to pour over while we wait for that documentary.
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The 10 Best Progressive Rock/Metal Albums of 2021
The ongoing pandemic led to a brilliant year in the best progressive rock albums. Many artists translated their 2020 hardships into artistic gems.
Matthew Sweet Channeled Divorce Into the Power Pop Hall of Fame With ‘Girlfriend’
Thirty years old and still virtually unsurpassed, Matthew Sweet’s breakup album Girlfriend rescued his career and breathed new life into the ailing power-pop genre.
Eight AmericanaFest Best (and Not So Great) Moments
There were hits and misses at AmericanaFest 2021 in Nashville, but organizers made a valiant effort to ensure the festival allowed us to hear live music again.
Marshall Tucker Band’s Doug Gray on the Joy of Creative Fusion
PopMatters talks with Marshall Tucker Band founder Doug Gray about how embracing variety helps to ensure longevity.
Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever’ Sports Downtempo Ambience and Reflections on Fame
Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever mostly navigates a mix of downtempo and glitchy ambience, framing her as Gen Z’s resident chanteuse.
Summer 1981 and the Start of ’80s Music
“’80s music” is often a short-hand for radio-friendly pop songs that are New Wavey, synthy, maybe a little goofy, a little overproduced, ridiculously catchy.