‘143’ Is the Next Stage in Katy Perry’s Ex-Evangelical Spirituality
Will Katy Perry’s new “love frequency” spirituality on 143 suffer the same static interference we hear on the self-undercutting lead single?
pop
Kylie Minogue Carries Us Away with the Power of Pop at Sziget
Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue dazzles in a fantastic, career-spanning show on a substandard opening night of Budapest’s Sziget festival.
Alex Winston Doesn’t Let Major Labels Spoil Her Comeback on Bingo!
Over 12 years from her debut to sophomore outing Bingo!, Alex Winston successfully evolved from a big-budget pop star to an independent newcomer.
David Bowie and Samuel Beckett’s Ghost Town at World’s End
How a stroll through the David Bowie exhibit at the Victoria & Albert to an auctioning of a Samuel Beckett manuscript at Sotheby’s left me at the World’s End.
Ice Spice’s Good Karma on ‘Y2K!’
Ice Spice’s Y2K! may have an obvious title, named for her birth year, but she wasn’t born yesterday. In 2024, stating a fact is the realest thing you can do.
Madonna’s Influence on Brazil’s Brega Pop Scene
International music has always informed brega (of which covers and remixes are a major part). No wonder many brega pop bands sought inspiration from Madonna.
Unlike Her Music ‘I Am: Céline Dion’ Is Not a Mournful Drama
Unlike how her subject’s music can be, Irene Taylor’s biography I Am: Céline Dion is not a mournful drama. That doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Pandora Boxx Offers a Smile and a Laugh With Debut Album
Amidst culture wars and an uncertain time for LGBTQ people, Drag Race fan favorite Pandora Boxx releases an album of funny comedy songs and catchy dance tunes.
Summer 2024 European Music Festivals Light Up Major Cities
Sure, Glastonbury and Rock Werchter dazzle with pastoral grandeur, but if you’re more of a city-dweller, check out the best European music festivals this summer.
Gracie Abrams and the Secret of Confessional Writing
The strong hooks on The Secret of Us provide the missing third dimension to Gracie Abrams’ songs and create a winning formula that could sustain more albums.
If You Love Her, Let Her Know: How Olivia Newton-John Became a Country Star
Olivia Newton-John’s chart-topping 1974 album remains a touchstone for 1970s culture, bringing the best of country music into mainstream pop.
Strolling Down the Beatles’ Penny Lane and Through Strawberry Fields
Jonathan Cott provides a concise overview of two of the Beatles’ greatest songs in his book Let Me Take You Down: Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever.