We are seeking essays for our October 2022 All Things Reconsidered series. These features analyze classic albums in music history. They are indexed in the academic ProQuest database. We are seeking pitches for articles on the albums listed below.
All Things Reconsidered articles should be at least 1,200 words, although that’s fairly short for a substantial essay, and writers are encouraged to go longer. Indeed, many of these features are in-depth, written for posterity and education and some go over 3,000 words.
In these essays, we want to address:
- Why this album matters. How has it stood the test of time?
- How has the perception of the music changed over time (if relevant)?
- Where the album came from in the history of the artist’s music and the genres/scenes from which it emerged.
- What societal trends influenced the making of the record and what influence has it had since being released?
Tips for essays:
- Please don’t use excessive lyric quotations unless you are doing a true literary analysis. Quotations are fine, but ideas are better.
- Please have a unique take on the album. Develop a central thesis to build your essay.
- These need to be essays with original critical thinking. We don’t want just a bunch of tracks listed with pure descriptions. There must be an analysis.
Please choose from the list below and address pitches to Sarah Zupko and enter your pitch into our Submittable with the subject of “All Things Reconsidered”.
PITCH DEADLINE: 16 September 2022
FINAL ESSAY DEADLINE: 3 October 2022
Note: PopMatters is a wholly independent magazine of cultural criticism, est. 1999. Our mission is to educate readers and document our period on the cultural timeline. We publish for posterity. PopMatters is a highly respected magazine because of its ideals and its fine writers and editorial staff. However, such high ideals are not monetarily rewarded in today’s publishing climate. For this reason, we can offer you an excellent publishing platform for your quality work and our social media efforts – but for now, we are unable to pay you for your articles. Even the editors are currently volunteering their time. We are presently a 100% volunteer organization with all advertising revenue supporting our basic expenses. Writers retain ownership of their copyright on articles, so they can use them for books and other projects. Their essays are indexed in ProQuest, as PopMatters has an educational mission.
Albums – October 2022
AMERICANA
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand 2007
Steve Earle – El Corazón 1997
BLUES
Gary Clark Jr. – Blak & Blu 2012
COUNTRY
Alan Jackson – A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love) 1992
Buck Owens – You’re for Me 1962
Dolly Parton – Here You Come Again 1977
Dolly Parton – My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagon 1972
Glen Campbell – By the Time I Get to Phoenix 1967
Hank Mobley – Hank 1957
Johnny Cash – With His Hot and Blue Guitar 1957
Lester Flatt And Earl Scruggs – Foggy Mountain Jamboree 1957
Loretta Lynn – Here I Am Again 1972
Loretta Lynn – Singin’ with Feelin’ 1967
ELECTRONIC
Amon Tobin – Out from Out Where 2002
Andy Stott – Luxury Problems 2012
Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes 2012
Keith Fullerton Whitman – Playthroughs 2002
Mouse on Mars – Instrumentals 1997
Plaid – Not for Threes 1997
Roni Size & Reprazent – New Forms 1997
Squarepusher – Do You Know Squarepusher 2002
Underworld – Oblivion with Bells 2007
Venetian Snares – Winter in the Belly of a Snake 2002
ELECTROPOP
Robyn – Don’t Stop the Music 2002
Róisín Murphy – Overpowered 2007
FOLK
Janis Ian – For All the Seasons of Your Mind 1967
Joni Mitchell – Wild Things Run Fast 1982
Judy Collins – Wildflowers 1967
Phil Ochs – Pleasures of the Harbor 1967
Tim Buckley – Greetings from L.A. 1972
HIP-HOP
Common – Can I Borrow a Dollar? 1992
Death Grips – No Love Deep Web 2012
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message 1982
Jurassic 5 – Power in Numbers 2002
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city 2012
The Streets – Original Pirate Material 2002
JAZZ
Cannonball Adderley & Bill Evans – Know What I Mean? 1962
Charles Mingus – East Coasting 1957
Coleman Hawkins & Ben Webster – Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster 1957
Frank Sinatra – All Alone 1962
Miles Davis – Miles Ahead 1957
Miles Davis – On the Corner 1972
Miles Davis – Sorcerer 1967
Milt Jackson & Wes Montgomery – Bags Meets Wes! 1962
Nina Simone – Silk & Soul 1967
Orchestra Baobab – Specialist In All Styles 2002
Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Domino 1962
Stan Getz – Big Band Bossa Nova 1962
METAL
Deftones – Around the Fur 1997
POP
Adam Ant – Friend or Foe 1982
Barbra Streisand – Simply Streisand 1967
Beat Happening – You Turn Me On 1992
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven on Earth 1987
Britney Spears – Blackout 2007
Carole King – Rhymes & Reasons 1972
Cass Elliot – The Road Is No Place for a Lady 1972
Christina Aguilera – Stripped 2002
Culture Club – Kissing to Be Clever 1982
Daryl Hall & John Oates – H₂O 1982
Devo – Oh, No! It’s Devo! 1982
Duran Duran – Medazzaland 1997
Dusty Springfield – Where Am I Going? 1967
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Back to Front 1972
Ivy – Apartment Life 1997
Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala 2007
Madness – The Rise & Fall 1982
Madonna – Erotica 1992
Missing Persons – Spring Session M 1982
Neneh Cherry – Homebrew 1992
Nico – Chelsea Girl 1967
Prince – 1999 1982
Prince & The New Power Generation – [Love Symbol] 1992
Rita Coolidge – The Lady’s Not for Sale 1972
Roy Orbison – Cry Softly Lonely One 1967
Scott Walker – The Moviegoer 1972
Sparks – Introducing Sparks 1977
Sting – …Nothing Like the Sun 1987
Taylor Swift – Red 2012
The Beach Boys – Surfin’ Safari 1962
Tori Amos – Scarlet’s Walk 2002
Ultravox – Quartet 1982
PUNK
Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind 2012
Green Day – Nimrod 1997
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols 1977
The Offspring – Ignition 1992
R&B/SOUL
Al Green – I’m Still in Love with You 1972
Booker T. & The M.G.’s – Green Onions 1962
Donna Summer – Once Upon a Time 1977
Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope 1997
Marvin Gaye – Midnight Love 1982
Quincy Jones – Big Band Bossa Nova 1962
Ray Charles – Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two 1962
Sade – Love Deluxe 1992
Sam & Dave – Soul Men 1967
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights 2007
Sly & The Family Stone – A Whole New Thing 1967
Stevie Wonder – Talking Book 1972
The Stylistics – Round 2 1972
ROCK
A Certain Ratio – I’d Like to See You Again 1982
Babyshambles – Shotter’s Nation 2007
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin 2007
Bauhaus – The Sky’s Gone Out 1982
Blood, Sweat & Tears – New Blood 1972
Bread – Guitar Man 1972
Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It In People 2002
Bruce Springsteen – Magic 2007
Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love 1987
Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield Again 1967
Captain Beefheart – Clear Spot 1972
David Bowie – “Heroes” 1977
Deerhoof – The Man, the King, the Girl 1997
Donald Fagen – The Nightfly 1982
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue 1977
Genesis – Foxtrot 1972
George Thorogood & The Destroyers – George Thorogood and The Destroyers 1977
Graham Parker & The Rumour – Stick To Me 1977
Grandaddy – Under The Western Freeway 1997
Hot Hot Heat – Make Up the Breakdown 2002
INXS – Kick 1987
Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg 2012
Joe Satriani – Surfing With The Alien 1987
Joe Walsh – Barnstorm 1972
Kansas – Point of Know Return 1977
Loggins & Messina – Loggins & Messina 1972
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors 1977
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell 1977
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular 2007
Mission of Burma – Vs. 1982
Mogwai – Young Team 1997
MONO – One Step More and You Die 2002
Mudhoney – Piece of Cake 1992
Neil Young – Harvest Moon 1992
Pete Townshend – Who Came First 1972
Queen – News of the World 1977
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People 1992
Radiohead – In Rainbows 2007
Robbie Robertson – Robbie Robertson 1987
Sigur Rós – () 2002
Soul Asylum – Grave Dancers Union 1992
Stereo MC’s – Connected 1992
Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover 2007
Tame Impala – Lonerism 2012
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Give It Back! 1997
The Doors – Strange Days 1967
The Dream Syndicate – The Days of Wine and Roses 1982
The Flaming Lips – Zaireeka 1997
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Darklands 1987
The Jesus Lizard – Liar 1992
The Libertines – Up The Bracket 2002
The Promise Ring – Nothing Feels Good 1997
The Tragically Hip – Fully Completely 1992
The Wedding Present – George Best 1987
Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals 2007