In recent years, David Bazan has been working his way through his youth, one geographically situated album at a time. In 2019, the project began with Phoenix, and it continued in 2022 with the surprise release of Havasu. Next up in the sequence is Santa Cruz, set for release in June. Although the album is […]
Drake Shoots Giant Travis Scott Head During “Meltdown” Performance
Although Drake has feuded with many a rapper, he’s usually maintained alliances with most of the biggest names in hip-hop at any given time — perhaps because people realized it was profitable to stay on good terms with such an unstoppable commercial force. That dynamic seems to be changing. Kendrick Lamar laid into Drake and […]
Future, Metro Boomin, & Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” Debuts At #1, We Don’t Trust You Has 2024’s Biggest Album Launch
“Like That,” the Future and Metro Boomin song on which Kendrick Lamar ignited a massive public feud with Drake and J. Cole, debuts at #1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 this week. Per Billboard, in the week ending March 28 “Like That” sold 9,000 copies, accumulated 5.6 million radio airplay impressions, and, most importantly, racked up […]
The Number Ones: Katy Perry’s “Roar”
In The Number Ones, I’m reviewing every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the chart’s beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present. Book Bonus Beat: The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards […]
Unheard Marvin Gaye Recordings Found In Belgium, Legal Fight Expected
A collection of previously unheard Marvin Gaye recordings has surfaced in Belgium, as the BBC reports. The 30 or so tapes apparently have 66 demos of new songs that Gaye recorded while in the country in the early ’80s. He left the tapes with Charles Dumolin, a musician who housed Gaye during his time in […]
Lizzo Announces “I Quit”
Last year, shortly after the release of her album Special, Lizzo was sued by her backup dancers for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. She denied the allegations, saying they were “false,” “sensationalized,” and “too outrageous not to be addressed.” In the wake of criticism stemming from the lawsuit, and her headlining a […]
The War On Drugs, Nickel Creek, Raye, & More Contributed To Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter
Now that Beyoncé’s country-informed Cowboy Carter is out in the world, we get to find out about all the surprising people who contributed to it. Thanks to the advance singles, we already knew figures like Rhiannon Giddens, Robert Randolph, Gary Clark Jr, and Raphael Saadiq would be on there. And behind the scenes Bey worked […]
Blu DeTiger – “Disappearing” (Feat. Magdalena Bay)
Right now, the experimental LA pop duo Magdalena Bay seem primed for a major breakout moment. Their 2021 debut album Mercurial World stirred up a whole lot of excitement, and they followed it with the seven-song EP Mini-Mix Vol. 3 last year. Earlier this week, Magdalena Bay posted a cryptic social-media teaser, hinting that they’ll […]
Premature Evaluation: Pearl Jam Dark Matter
There are certain things aging rock stars say when they’re a few decades in and releasing their 12th album. They might say they are rocking harder than you’ve heard them in years, that “It’s a lot heavier than you’d expect.” They might say, no, really, “No hyperbole… this is our best work.” These are certain […]
MGMT Share Tribute To Cola Boyy
Last week, Cola Boyy passed away at 34. MGMT took the Oxnard, CA-based musician out on tour not long after he released his first EP Black Boogie Neon, and the group’s Andrew Van Wyngarden appeared on a track on Cola Boyy’s 2021 debut Prosthetic Boombox. Today, MGMT have shared a tribute to the late self-described […]