It’s been 15 years since J Dilla released Donuts, an album whose deft manipulation of sampling makes it perhaps the most influential instrumental hip-hop record Continue Reading
HeeJamieson
Between the Grooves: lowercase – 'Kill the Lights'
1. “She Takes Me” “Folding corners into perfect shapes / Went forlorn in a vapor of Elysian escapes” That’s how these lines to “She Takes Me” Continue Reading
Dolly Parton Refused to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom From Trump
Over the last four years, Dolly Parton refused to receive the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Former President Donald Trump tried Continue Reading
Marilyn Manson Dropped by Record Label After Evan Rachel Wood Abuse Claims
Marilyn Manson has been dropped by his label, Loma Vista Recordings, after actress Evan Rachel Wood's abuse claims toward the musician earlier today (February 1). The label gave Continue Reading
Gájanas Blend Sámi Folk Traditions with Prog Rock on 'Čihkkojuvvon'
Joik is a long-practiced musical tradition in Sápmi, a largely subarctic region spanning Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. It stems from the indigenous Sámi people’s Continue Reading
Alex Siegel Shares First New EP Single “Sangsuree”
The Santa Monica-based multi-instrumentalist Alex Siegel kicks off his year with an ode to a friend on Sangsuree. Inspired by unfortunate events, Siegel mixes dream pop Continue Reading
The Interior Poetry in Bresson's 'Mouchette'
Mouchette (1967), one of French master Robert Bresson’s many essential films, begins and ends with conspicuous absences. The opening credits roll over an image of Continue Reading
Between the Grooves: Green Day – 'American Idiot'
Before 2004, few people would classify Green Day’s music as particularly sophisticated, intellectual, or thematically mature. Sure, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” with its Continue Reading
The Notwist's 'Vertigo Steps' Is Disorienting Even As It Elevates
German indie rock band the Notwist have not released an album of new material since 2015. Although they have been around for more than 20 Continue Reading
Electropop's Douglas Creates a Stunning World on "Cigarettes"
Douglas is one Amy Douglas White, an American electropop artist raised in Spain who picked up the landscape’s bright vista and infused it into her Continue Reading
Daptone Records' Gabriel Roth on Sharon Jones and the Power of Music
When Sharon Jones tapped her feet on stage, singing and shaking in a glitter dress, the dust from everyday life turned into sparkle to let Continue Reading
MetalMatters: The Best New Heavy Metal Albums of January 2021
Balothizer – Cretan Smash (Louvana) <a href=”https://balothizer.bandcamp.com/album/cretan-smash”>Cretan Smash by Balothizer</a> Full disclosure: I’m cheating a bit. Balothizer’s Cretan Smash was released back in November, but Continue Reading
Top Latin Rising Stars To Stream In 2021
New emerging artists keep bringing their signature-styles and charm to the music scene even during the global pandemic. Up-and-coming Latin artists were no exception. Their Continue Reading
Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons’ ‘Celebrating America’ Performance: The Powerful Story Behind Their Collaboration
Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons' 2021 inauguration collaboration has a moving backstory. On Wednesday (January 20), the "Filthy" singer and newcomer Clemons delivered the debut Continue Reading
Paul McCartney Goes Back to the Home Studio for 'McCartney III'
Paul McCartney was made for lockdown. 2020 saw musicians downloading long-distance song contributions from far-flung bandmates at such a rate that it’s a miracle that Continue Reading
Top 5 Up-And-Coming Female Artists To Keep An Eye On In 2021
The New Year brought us new music, and we know you are as excited about it as we are. 2021 may well be the most Continue Reading
Star Wars Alternate Endings That Give Padmé Dignity
To both a seasoned Star Wars fan and a casual viewer, the treatment of Natalie Portman’s Padmé in the prequel trilogy (Episode I: The Phantom Continue Reading
ISLE Combine the Electronic and Organic on "Lone Wolf"
The Netherlands’ ISLE are an indietronica duo that incorporate folk and classical elements into their sound. ISLE’s latest single, “Lone Wolf”, is a dreamy pop Continue Reading
The Artless Losers: Trump and Monty Python's Black Knight
“It’s not a rule. It’s sportsmanship.” So instructs Mr. Shaibel, the custodian who introduces chess to orphan Beth Harmon in the Netflix limited series The Continue Reading
Visual Culture's Power Over You
Alexis Boylan opens Visual Culture with a careful explanation of how inundated most of us are by visual imagery. Whether engaging with screens — televisions, Continue Reading