Rayland Baxter Explores New Ideas on ‘If I Were a Butterfly’
The sonic expansion in Rayland Baxter’s If I Were a Butterfly makes for exciting and curious listening, but it also leads to a record that feels scattered.
pop rock
Pushin’ a Rock: Catching Up with John Oates of Hall & Oates
John Oates of Hall & Oates talks about “Pushin’ a Rock” and his other new music, men’s health charity work with Movember, and the film Gringa
Louden Swain Dance Past Hardship on Celebratory Indie Rocker “There’s the Rub” (premiere)
Indie rockers Louden Swain let their optimism shine on their victorious new single, “There’s the Rub”.
Marshall Crenshaw’s Romantic Pop Marvel ‘Mary Jean & 9 Others’ at 35
Hard to find and largely overlooked, Mary Jean & 9 Others‘ romantic pop innocence outshines some of Marshall Crenshaw’s best-known work. Crenshaw discusses the record.
The 1975’s Latest Is a ‘Funny’, Confounding New Missive
The 1975 want to be funny in a foreign language, but on their fifth go-round, their ambitions are tempered in plain English.
Office Culture Sparkle on the Grooving, Moody ‘Big Time Things’
Office Culture sing of love, sadness, and city life on Big Time Things, buoyed by a four-piece combination that locks in with a unique brand of art-pop.
20 Years Ago OK Go Debuted With an Underappreciated Power-pop Gem
After 20 years, it’s clear that OK Go’s most complete album is their self-titled debut which combines a penchant for big hooks and a love for big guitars.
‘The Best of Roxy Music’ Gets a Vinyl Re-Issue
As this vinyl reissue of Roxy Music’s 2001 compilation makes clear, the only thing cooler than Roxy Mark II was Roxy Mark I.
The Rolling Stones in the Twilight Zone: In Praise of the Disco-y “Emotional Rescue”
Even the Rolling Stones fans who could endure “Lady Jane” never recovered from Jagger’s falsetto, among other things, in “Emotional Rescue”, but that’s their loss.
Demi Lovato’s ‘Holy Fvck’ Is One Reset Too Many
Demi Lovato’s eighth album Holy Fvck is a rock star about-face that might have substance but comes too soon after her last reinvention to feel authentic.
Blondie’s Career Given Epic Tribute in ‘Against the Odds 1974-1982’
No group combined the rebellious, enterprising ambition of the punk movement with the grand and performative nature of major pop superstardom like Blondie did.
New Weds and Nearly-Deads: 10 Under-Appreciated Elvis Costello Albums
While many of Elvis Costello’s albums are regularly heralded as masterpieces, these ten albums don’t get nearly the love they deserve.