Hardcore’s Gouge Away Grow on ‘Deep Sage’
Gouge Away’s Deep Sage delivers heavy hooks that recall 1990s alternative greats without losing that hardcore fury that put them on the map.
punk
Punk Rockers CNTS Offer ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ to the Hypocrites
Punk rockers CNTS have created a tight album that brings the hothouse vibe of a crammed club: bare concrete walls, bodies slamming in from all angles, and crowd surfers.
Mannequin Pussy Assert Their Versatility on ‘I Got Heaven’
Mannequin Pussy continue to explore a spectrum of intensities, pinballing between two extremes and finding the group in their most mature and polished form.
Rid of Me’s ‘Access to the Lonely’ Is More Than Hardcore
Rid of Me’s Access to the Lonely is one of the essential hardcore records of the past few months, but it cannot be contained by one genre.
Mannequin Pussy Level Up Again on ‘I Got Heaven’
Mannequin Pussy have reached another peak, delivering a complex, inquisitive album inspired by the threats from the outside world and from inside the house.
Sprints’ ‘Letter to Self’ Is a Powerful Reflection
Sprints’ lyrics are sharp and direct and their musicianship provides tension and release across all 11 songs, which have a hooky rawness that is addictive.
Jimmy Eat World’s Emo Classic ‘Clarity’ at 25
Jimmy Eat World’s career has looked increasingly like that of bands they admire. They keep a devoted fan base happy with incendiary, hit-packed live sets.
Back-to-Basics ‘Saviors’ Is Green Day’s Strongest LP in Years
Saviors is the best Green Day album in at least 15 years. It’s refreshing to hear them on Saviors, where they sound focused and energized again.
Sleater-Kinney Make a Big Statement with ‘Little Rope’
With careful arrangements, sharp production, and stunning lyrics, Little Rope marks another peak in Sleater-Kinney’s stellar career.
Public Image Ltd’s Debut Album Put the “Post” in Post-Punk
The Sex Pistols blew away the old rock of the ’50s and ’60s, but then John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd and created new musical possibilities with post-punk.
Blink-182’s ‘Untitled’ Showed Foresight We Could Only See in Hindsight
It’s easy to see how untitled‘s themes acted as a harbinger of the years to come for Blink-182. There’s longing and yearning; a distance that can’t be crossed.
Featured: Top of Home Page/Features/Lists/Music/Music Features/PopMatters Picks/The Best Music of 2023
The 10 Best Punk and Hardcore Albums of 2023
The best punk and hardcore artists fold and knead in other musical styles, diversifying and extending the possibilities of what these genres can sound like.