Jacob Nierenberg

Features1 week ago

‘The Slider’: Another Intoxicating Hit of T. Rextasy

T. Rex followed up their seminal ‘Electric Warrior’ with ‘The Slider,’ another glam rock classic that’s every bit as great as its predecessor.

Features1 month ago

‘EMOTION’: How Carly Rae Jepsen Proved Her Staying Power

With ‘EMOTION’, Carly Rae Jepsen proved she was more than just her smash single but a full-fledged pop star with a devoted audience.

Features2 months ago

‘Melodrama’: Lorde’s Sparkling Farewell to Adolescent Emotions

At once a surrender and a farewell to adolescent emotions, ‘Melodrama’ renders Lorde’s fears and desires as vividly detailed as her portrait on the album’s cover.

The Best Weezer songs - Photo: Sean Murphy

Features2 months ago

Best Weezer Songs: 20 Pop-Altering Essentials

Loaded with geeky humour and gigantic guitar riffs, the best Weezer songs are among the most formidable and colorful in alternative rock.

Features3 months ago

100 Of The Best 90s Alternative Songs: When The Underground Went Mainstream

From grunge to indie rock, shoegaze to electronica, the best 90s alternative songs represent the eclectic spirit of the decade.

Features3 months ago

‘Figure 8’: How Elliott Smith Turned Pop Music Upon Itself

The final album Elliott Smith completed in his lifetime, ‘Figure 8’ saw the formerly lo-fi songwriter go pop, to dazzling effect.

Features9 months ago

‘Beautiful Day’: The Dawn Of A New Era For U2

After experimenting with electronic music and writing darker and more abrasive songs throughout the 90s, U2 returned to form with the soaring 'Beautiful Day.'

Features10 months ago

‘From A Basement On The Hill’: Elliott Smith’s Accidental Farewell

The posthumously-released ‘From A Basement On The Hill’ is Elliott Smith’s boldest record. Arriving in the shadow of his death, the album glows with life.

Features10 months ago

‘Pure Heroine’: How Lorde Gave Pop Music A Shot In The Arm

Lorde’s debut album, ‘Pure Heroine’, is full of pop songs that play like critiques of pop songs. Its dark, minimalist sound recalibrated pop music.

Features10 months ago

‘Pinkerton’: Rivers Cuomo Embraced His Dark Side And Made Weezer’s Masterpiece

With ‘Pinkerton’, a disillusioned Rivers Cuomo steered Weezer to its most essential album, but the band would never be the same afterwards.

Features10 months ago

“He Liked How I Saw the World Through A Camera”: Photographer JJ Gonson Talks Elliott Smith And Capturing A Scene

Former music photographer and close friend of Elliott Smith, JJ Gonson looks back on her time in the songwriter’s orbit, and on other artists she captured on camera.

Features12 months ago

Best Elliott Smith Songs: 20 Essential Tracks

The best Elliott Smith songs reflect his ability to wring beauty out of life’s traumas. Even during his short lifetime, his prolific output still endures.

Features1 year ago

The Geffen Years: How Neil Young Followed His Muse In The 80s

Neil Young released five albums for Geffen in the 80s. Though they surprised critics and fans at the time, they proved his refusal to rest on his artistic laurels.