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Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999. Independent, women/LGBTQ-owned. Made by humans. PM is 26! linktr.ee/popmatters
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The Best Punk and Hardcore Albums of 2025

The best punk ranges from pop-leaning emo to potent noise, shoegaze, and hardcore to Revolution Summer-inspired, politically minded blasts of righteous anger.

READ: tinyurl.com/BestPunk25
Dan Knishkowy's ever-evolving indie collective Adeline Hotel open a new chapter with the breathtaking 'Watch the Sunflowers'. #PMPick
Adeline Hotel's New LP Is a Shimmering, Low-Key Masterpiece » PopMatters
Dan Knishkowy's ever-evolving indie collective Adeline Hotel open a new chapter with the breathtaking Watch the Sunflowers.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Bassist and composer Ro(b)//ert Lundberg creates unique sounds and atmospheres centered around "a watery fascination" on 'by-passing-upon'.

#PMPick out now via @akprecordings.bsky.social
Ro(b)//ert Lundberg Mixes Composition and Improvisation » PopMatters
Bassist and composer Ro(b)//ert Lundberg creates unique sounds and atmospheres centered around "a watery fascination" on by-passing-upon.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Linda May Han Oh's 'Strange Heavens' builds its central premise around the concept that humans will typically choose a familiar hell over an unfamiliar heaven. #PMPick
Linda May Han Oh Leads Her Trio to 'Strange Heavens' » PopMatters
Linda May Han Oh's latest album builds its central premise around the concept that humans will typically choose a familiar hell over an unfamiliar heaven.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Freddie Mercury's 'Mr Bad Guy' wasn't brilliant, but it had shades of brilliance, and for queer pop, it was a step forward for both the artist and his listeners.

The 40th edition of 'Mr Bad Guy' releases on 5 December.

REVIEW: tinyurl.com/FreddieM40
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Rahsaan Roland Kirk had an idiosyncratic jazz style that fused hard bop with more melodic elements from gospel, blues, and pop. He had a theatrical stage presence.

'Vibrations in the Village: Live at the Village Gate' is a #PMPick out on Friday.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk Thrills on a NYC Night in 1963 » PopMatters
Rahsaan Roland Kirk had an idiosyncratic style that fused hard bop with more melodic elements from gospel, blues, and pop. He had a theatrical stage presence.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
'So, Here We Are: Best of Doves' shows how their secret is making music that’s grandiose yet unpretentious. It’s big music with a small ego. #PMPick

Quintessentially English, modestly magnificent, and sneaky good.
Doves Celebrate Their Best on 'So, Here We Are' » PopMatters
So, Here We Are: Best of Doves shows how their secret is making music that's grandiose yet unpretentious. It's big music with a small ego.
tinyurl.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by PopMatters
The Best Punk and Hardcore Albums of 2025

The best punk ranges from pop-leaning emo to potent noise, shoegaze, and hardcore to Revolution Summer-inspired, politically minded blasts of righteous anger.

READ: tinyurl.com/BestPunk25
November 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Everything, it seems, is becoming a video podcast these days, but perhaps not everything was meant to be seen.

READ: tinyurl.com/PdcstngStar
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
In 'A Little Death', Claire Rousay demonstrates through a fog of enveloping drones how disquieting a relief the night can be.

#PMPick out now via @thrilljockey.bsky.social

REVIEW: tinyurl.com/Rousay2025
November 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
A well-curated reissue celebrates Elton John's best album, 'Captain Fantastic', 50 years after its release. #PMPick
Elton John's Best Album 'Captain Fantastic' Is 50 » PopMatters
A well-curated reissue celebrates Elton John's best album, Captain Fantastic, a half-century after its release.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
How responsible we are for our own happiness depends on our individual circumstances. In the final reckoning, Rhett Miller vacillates.
Rhett Miller Goes It Alone for the Tenth Time » PopMatters
How responsible we are for our own happiness depends on our individual circumstances. In the final reckoning, Rhett Miller vacillates.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Laura Ann Singh steers her reckless way through traditional jazz, torch song elegance, avant-garde experiments, and an anarchic sense of punk rebellion. #PMPick

REVIEW: tinyurl.com/LauraAnnSing
November 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Dave Holland and John Scofield create a jazz master class and a supremely relaxed example of two guys just hanging out and playing tunes.

'Memories of Home' is a #PMPick out on 11/25.
John Scofield and Dave Holland Show Jazz Mastery » PopMatters
Dave Holland and John Scofield create a jazz master class and a supremely relaxed example of a couple of guys just hanging out and playing tunes.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The Best Punk and Hardcore Albums of 2025

The best punk ranges from pop-leaning emo to potent noise, shoegaze, and hardcore to Revolution Summer-inspired, politically minded blasts of righteous anger.

READ: tinyurl.com/BestPunk25
November 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by PopMatters
Tom Waits' Nighthawks at the Diner has received a 50th anniversary reissue. It remains a jazzy, captivating portrait of a young Waits deep in character. – @onenotthenumber

'Nighthawks at the Diner' 50th Anniversary Re-Issue' is a perfect [10/10] out now via @antirecords.bsky.social.
Tom Waits' Perfect Performance 50 Years Later » PopMatters
Nighthawks at the Diner has received a 50th anniversary reissue. It remains a jazzy, captivating portrait of a young Tom Waits deep in character.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The American Dream promises that anyone can build a better life through hard work. 'The Brutalist' demolishes this notion.
'The Brutalist' Delivers a Bold Revision of the American Dream » PopMatters
The American Dream promises that anyone can build a better life through hard work. The Brutalist demolishes this notion.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The post-human speculative sci-fi series ‘Pantheon’ asks, can humanity recognize itself in its digital reflection?

READ: tinyurl.com/PantheonMrr
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The Kyle Sowashes’ Start Making Sense stacks up so many satisfying classic rock moves that the concept of being out of options grows more ironic. #PMPick
The Kyle Sowashes Resist Defeat on 'Start Making Sense' » PopMatters
The Kyle Sowashes' Start Making Sense stacks up so many satisfying classic rock moves that the concept of being out of options grows more ironic.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
'Disquiet' is a genuinely absorbing series of luxuriously paced improvisations from the Necks, who have been doing this kind of thing for decades. #PMPick
The Necks Experiment with Long-Form Minimalism » PopMatters
Disquiet is a genuinely absorbing series of luxuriously paced improvisations from the Necks, who have been doing this kind of thing for decades.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
As Everything But the Girl, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt were one of the most unique British acts of the 1980s and 1990s.

'The Best of Everything But the Girl' is out now.
This Is Supposedly the Best of Everything But the Girl » PopMatters
As Everything But the Girl, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt were one of the most unique British acts of the 1980s and 1990s.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Jesse Welles is being hailed as the new voice of a generation, and his milestone tour stop at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore Auditorium shows why. – @gms111.bsky.social
Jesse Welles Sings Out for Truth and Justice » PopMatters
Jesse Welles is being hailed as the new voice of a generation and his milestone tour stop at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore Auditorium shows why.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The American Dream promises that anyone can build a better life through hard work. 'The Brutalist' demolishes this notion. –

READ: tinyurl.com/BrutalistWreck
November 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
5 Seconds of Summer add a new dimension to their reliable pop-punk formula by analyzing their own fame on 'Everyone's a Star!'

#PMPick out now via @republicrecords.bsky.social
Fame Is the New Muse of 5 Seconds of Summer » PopMatters
5 Seconds of Summer add a new dimension to their reliable pop-punk formula by analyzing their own fame on Everyone's a Star.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
For all of AVTT/PTTN's shadows and splinters, it features some of the most heart-on-sleeve tunes that the Avett Brothers and Mike Patton have made. #PMPick

REVIEW: tinyurl.com/AVTT-PTTN
November 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Tom Waits' Nighthawks at the Diner has received a 50th anniversary reissue. It remains a jazzy, captivating portrait of a young Waits deep in character. – @onenotthenumber

'Nighthawks at the Diner' 50th Anniversary Re-Issue' is a perfect [10/10] out now via @antirecords.bsky.social.
Tom Waits' Perfect Performance 50 Years Later » PopMatters
Nighthawks at the Diner has received a 50th anniversary reissue. It remains a jazzy, captivating portrait of a young Tom Waits deep in character.
tinyurl.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM