The recent success of artists like Adele and Mumford & Sons has created a lane for artists who have a classic sound but are a little off the beaten path, sound-wise. It apparently helps if they’re British, which should create a clear lane for Michael Kiwanuka to achieve success in the U.S. when his debut, Home Again, arrives later this spring. If I’d compare Michael to anyone, I’d say he’s got a little bit of Bill Withers mixed with an […]
Posts tagged "Pop Music"
Spin Cycle: Of Monsters and Men’s “My Head is an Animal”
As I hinted when reviewing Of Monsters and Men’s Into the Woods EP a couple of months ago, the pop and indie universes seem to be on a collision course. This isn’t an entirely new phenomenon – remember all of the hullabaloo surrounding Modest Mouse embracing Top 40 with “Float On” back in ’03? – but we’ve reached a point, culturally, where the dividing line is almost nonexistent. Arcade Fire and Bon Iver have Grammys now, and Gotye and Florence + The Machine are […]
We Saw It! “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour”
Even if you’re a die-hard Michael Jackson fan – the kind that’s owned five copies of Thriller to replace worn-out ones or collect the bonus material on every repackaging – it can sometimes be easy to forget, even if just for a second, what it means to recognize the artistry of Jackson as a composer, arranger, singer, dancer and all-around showman par excellence of the 20th century. Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour , which played Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center on Saturday, was a reminder of […]
The Singles Bar: Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”
One thing that’s sort of amazing to me is that, with all of the accolades and internet buzz and fan mania that’s happened with Justin Bieber, the kid’s only really released two albums. Of course, the industry loves to milk teen sensations for all they’re worth before their bubble bursts (see: Hanson & New Kids On The Block,) so there’s already been the acoustic album, the remix album, and the Christmas album. That said-it looks like there is some legit […]
Discography Fever: Whitney Houston (Part Two)
Part two of our look at Whitney Houston’s discography also includes a Spotify playlist.
Spin Cycle: The Shins’ “Port of Morrow”
James Mercer and an (all new) band of Shins are back after a five-year absence. How much does a new lineup alter the landscape of The Shins’ intricate pop? Read the review and find out.
Blerditorial: Why Everybody Hates Chris (And What The Fuck Is Rihanna Thinking?)
I’ve been debating the idea of speaking up on this whole Chris Brown/Rihanna mess for a few days now. It wasn’t until last night, when I was poring through a nearly two decade-old book, Generation Sex by Dr. Judy Kuriansky, that I really felt like it was necessary to put pen to paper. I randomly picked up on this statistic: over 30% of women who are murdered in theUnited Statesget killed by a current or former lover/spouse/romantic partner. The book […]
Dave Rullo Presents: Aging Hip Replacement #34
Kurt Cobain would have turned 45 this week. Does he still represent my generation? Did he ever represent my generation? Jack Kerouac wrote in On the Road “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across […]
Spin Cycle: Lana Del Rey’s “Born To Die”
In the world of pop culture, everyone wants a story to go behind the face. With a face like Lana Del Rey’s (born Elizabeth Grant) there’s generally going to be a lot of questions along the lines of “who’s that girl?” and “What’s her story?” For those not familiar with the short story – the kid grew up in upstate NY and was shipped off to boarding school at 15 after getting involved with drugs and alcohol, is a daughter […]
The Viewfinder: Elliott Yamin’s “3 Words”
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but the only “American Idol” season I ever watched from start to finish was Season 5. That season had a pretty strong set of contenders, including eventual winner Taylor “SOUL PATROOOOOOOLLL” Hicks, Katharine McPhee (who apparently is being introduced via NBC six years later), Chris Daughtry, and third place finisher Elliott Yamin. The Virginia native, to my ears, was the most talented of the contestants. Anyone who can convincingly tackle “A Song For You” […]