December is always a bit of a dead zone for big pop albums, unless it’s 2013 and your name is Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. So for this month’s column… Some notes: The boundaries of “pop” grow wider and more fluid every year. We won’t draw lines around where it begins or ends. But as per tradition, the […]
Watch Olivia Rodrigo Sing A Theatrical, String-Heavy “Vampire” On Colbert
Olivia Rodrigo released her stormy hit ballad “Vampire” back in June. Since then, she’s sung the song in all sorts of media appearances: at the VMAs, on Saturday Night Live, in her Tiny Desk Concert. Now, we get another one. Last week, Rodrigo was a musical guest on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show; she did her […]
Dolly – “You Are”
Dolly — formerly known as Dolly Spartans — is the New York-based indie rock project of Michael Eliran. They’re a staple of the Brooklyn DIY scene, especially with the catchy-as-fuck anthem “I Hear The Dead” from their 2017 EP Time Sides With No One. They’re finally releasing their first new music since then with the […]
Rome Is Leaving Sublime With Rome
Soon, Sublime With Rome will have to be without Rome. In 2009, the Fremont, California singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez essentially replaced the late Bradley Nowell as the leader of the legendary Long Beach band Sublime. Ramirez joined surviving Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and they initially planned to perform together under the Sublime now, […]
Watch U2 Perform “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” Live For The Time In 36 Years
During their residency at the Vegas Sphere — which has been extended until March — U2 have been having fun with the setlist. Last month, they played “Seconds” for the first time since 1985; in September, they performed Achtung Baby deep cuts for the first time in 30 years. On Friday, they covered Darlane Love’s […]
Watch Billie Eilish Perform And Act In Cat And Tampon Sketches On SNL Christmas Episode
A couple days ago, Billie Eilish revealed that she’s almost done with her third album. To close out the year, the pop star made her third appearance on Saturday Night Live last night. Introduced by Kate McKinnon and Barbie director Greta Gerwig, Eilish gave the television debut to her Barbie ballad “What Was I Made […]
Eyedress – “A Room Up In The Sky” (Feat. The Marías)
Idris Vicuña, the LA-based bedroom-pop producer who’s better known as Eyedress, has been racking up a very serious list of collaborators in the past few years. Last month, he teamed up with LA indie-poppers the Marías on the smooth, breathy single “Separate Ways.” Today, they’re back together on another new single. “A Room Up In […]
Lil Baby – “Crazy” & “350”
Last week, Atlanta rap star Lil baby celebrated his 29th birthday. He’s not so lil anymore! Baby has had a pretty quiet year. His album It’s Only Me came out at the end of last year, but his 2017 stealth smash “Freestyle” remains his most popular song by far. Before this morning, Baby hadn’t released […]
Band To Watch: Wishy
There’s nothing wishy-washy about Wishy. Indianapolis singer-songwriters Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites are magnets of indelible melodies and purveyors of beatific dream pop — the kind that pairs perfectly with the crackles and pops of a cassette player and implants a desire to briefly shapeshift into a flowy-haired nymph and twirl around. Given their hook-stuffed, […]
1999 WRITE THE FUTURE – “MiNt cHoCoLaTe” (Feat. BADBADNOTGOOD, Westside Gunn, & Conway The Machine)
Toronto jazz ensemble BADBADNOTGOOD are known for engaging in eclectic projects, like teaming up with hardcore heroes Turnstile for the dreamy New Heart Designs EP. Today, they’ve joined forces with Buffalo rappers Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine on a single from 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE, a new media and art collective from 88rising. “MiNt […]