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Music
Between the Grooves of Nirvana's 'Nevermind'
Our writers undertake a track-by-track analysis of the most celebrated album of the 1990s: Nirvana's Nevermind. From the surprise hit that brought grunge to the masses, to the hidden cacophonous noise-fest that may not even be on your copy of the record, it's all here.
30 Jun 2020
Music
The 50 Best Albums of 2020 So Far
Even in the coronavirus-shortened record release schedule of 2020, the year has offered a mountainous feast of sublime music. The 50 best albums of 2020 so far are an eclectic and increasingly "woke" bunch.
30 Jun 2020
Music
The 20 Most Memorable Songs of 1991
So much remarkable music was released in 1991 that it's difficult to choose just 20 memorable songs without a few omissions.
19 Jun 2020
By the Book
The Art of Advertising (excerpt)
The Art of Advertising invites us to consider both the intended and unintended messages of the advertisements of the past.
Julie Anne Lambert
16 Jun 2020
Music
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 5)
Part five of the Most Memorable Albums of 1999 is highlighted by the political rock of Rage Against the Machine and Joe Strummer, as well as major league hip-hop from Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Q-Tip, and Jay-Z.
12 Jun 2020
Music
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 4)
Part four of the most "memorable" music of 1999 brings a superb sophomore turn from the Dixie Chicks while Garth Brooks goes kinda nuts. British rock stands proud with Muse, Gomez, and Supergrass and the schlocky, corporate rock of Creed rockets to the top of the US charts.
11 Jun 2020
Music
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 3)
Part three of the Most Memorable Albums of 1999 sports the debuts of the White Stripes, Beyoncé, and Christina Aguilera and stellar electronic music from Basement Jaxx, the Chemical Brothers, and µ-Ziq.
10 Jun 2020
Music
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 2)
PopMatters is 20 and to celebrate we are looking back at the popular music that defined the year of our birth. Part two covers the most memorable albums from March through June, highlighted by monster hits from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Moby, and Travis.
09 Jun 2020
Music
The Most Memorable Albums of 1999 (Part 1)
PopMatters is 20 this year -- until October when we are 21 -- and a 2009 special section celebrates the popular music that defined the year of our birth. Today we kick things off with albums from January through March, highlighted by Eminem's debut and stellar pop from XTC and Blur.
08 Jun 2020
Music
Dancing in the Street: Our 25 Favorite Motown Singles
Detroit's Motown Records will forever be important as both a hit factory and an African American-owned label that achieved massive mainstream success and influence. We select our 25 favorite singles from the "Sound of Young America".
05 Jun 2020
Music
The 50 Best Songs of 2007
Journey back 13 years to a stellar year for Rihanna, M.I.A., Arcade Fire, and Kanye West. From hip-hop to indie rock and everywhere in between, PopMatters picks the best 50 songs of 2007.
29 May 2020
Music
The 60 Best Albums of 2007
From tech house to Radiohead and Americana to indie and everything in between, the 60 best albums of 2007 included many of the 2000s' best albums.
22 May 2020
Love in the Time of Coronavirus
Will COVID-19 Kill Movie Theaters?
Streaming services and large TV screens have really hurt movie theaters and now the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered multiplexes and arthouses. The author of The Perils of Moviegoing in America, however, is optimistic.
Gary D. Rhodes, Ph.D
22 May 2020
Television
Power Struggle in Beauty Pageants: On 'Mrs. America' and 'Miss Americana'
Television min-series Mrs. America and Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana make vivid how beauty pageants are more multi-dimensional than many assume, offering a platform to some (attractive) women to pursue higher education, politics, and more.
Hilary Levey Friedman
22 May 2020
Music
The Best 10 Electronic Albums of 2005
Journey back 15 years ago, as 2005's best electronic albums are so emotionally involved and organically expressive that it's easy to forget they were created with advanced technology.
11 May 2020
Film
The 35 Best Films of 2010
The best films of 2010 include a fake documentary, a comedy about Jihad, a vampire story NOT dealing with tacky tween romance, a haunting hillbilly noir, and an elegant tale about clones. Not necessarily the usual cinematic suspects.
06 May 2020
Books
Home Computers: 100 Icons that Defined a Digital Generation (excerpt)
Whether you remember waiting for dial-up access, tiny screens, and green lines of text or not, you'll get a kick out of Alex Wiltshire's travel back in time to when computers came with wires. Enjoy this excerpt of Home Computers, courtesy of MIT press, with nostalgia photography by John Short.
Alex Wiltshire
06 May 2020
Film
The 25 Best Independent / International Films of 2010
Journey back to 2010 to experience the best independent and international films from a time when our biggest worries involved "wars on terror". These films are highlighted by a host of superb documentaries, a stellar film from China, and one of the finest works of "hillbilly noir" ever.
28 Apr 2020
Music
The Best Hip-Hop Albums/Mixtapes of 2010
Epic, sleek, weed rap, emo, sociopolitical, gangsta, or house party? In which direction will hip-hop go? 2010 was a year for all of the above.
24 Apr 2020
Music
The 70 Best Albums of 2010
2010's best albums are highlighted by the emergence of a future superstar, two veteran and virtuoso rappers, and a Dream Team of indie bands releasing career peaks.
20 Apr 2020
Music
The 60 Best Songs of 2010
Journey back to 2010 for 60 slices of musical greatness highlighted by one of the most delightful expletive-ridden hits in pop music history.
16 Apr 2020
Music
Dua Lipa - "Break My Heart" (Singles Going Steady)
Dua Lipa knows that what makes a diva special is her willingness to feel. She emotes for the rest of us on "Break My Heart".
13 Apr 2020
Music
Glass Animals - "Your Love (Déjà Vu)" (Singles Going Steady)
British psych-pop band, Glass Animals' "Your Love (Déjà Vu)" is tasty for a minute or two, then curiously flavourless.
10 Apr 2020
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