Category: Pop
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Beach House ‘Depression Cherry’ (2015)
Depression Cherry is music made for quiet, misty mornings when the world hasn’t quite decided what mood it’s in yet. The album found the duo drifting back to their earlier, simpler dream pop sound, crafting lullabies for millennials who enjoy spending their evenings past the stroke of midnight. The band purposefully scaled back the big…
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Sheryl Crow ‘Tuesday Night Music Club’ (1993)
Tuesday Night Music Club has a lot of simple charms to it. Take the music itself— it’s unpolished and throws a lot of different genres together, like alternative rock, country, pop, and more. This was Crow’s debut album and introduced her knack for blending pop hooks with a laidback country twang and a touch of…
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Waterparks ‘FANDOM’ (2019)
FANDOM by Waterparks is one of the more unique albums I’ve lsitened to in a minute. It’s basically an explosion of neon-tinged pop-punk energy, electronic gloss, and candy-coated hooks. Lead singer Awsten Knight and company turn heartbreak, internet fame, and fan culture into a hyperactive sugar rush of sound that is equal parts confession on…
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Cat Stevens ‘Matthew & Son’ (1967)
Matthew & Son captures the youthful exuberance and pop ambition of Cat Stevens’ as he was still discovering his true voice, years before his introspective folk era made him a household name. The album is certainly different than his 1971 smash hit Tea for the Tillerman which is the type of folksy charm everyone remembers…
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Kajagoogoo ‘White Feathers’ (1983)
Kajagoogoo carved out their spot in the very crowded 1980s new wave scene with a shimmering blend of synth-pop hooks and a fashion sense that perfectly mirrored their sound—colorful, sleek, and unmistakably of the MTV music video age. Their breakout hit “Too Shy” off White Feathers embodied the era’s obsession with styles and weird ass…
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Lily Allen ‘Alright, Still’ (2006)
I’ve long been a sucker for British hip hop (here’s me waxing poetic about Mike Skinner of The Streets) and while Lily Allen isn’t exactly hip hop, her brand of pop certainly has a lot of nods towards the genre whether it be the musical instrumentation or the bounce of the beat. Allen has got…
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Rick Astley ‘Hold Me In Your Arms’ (1988)
Internet memes aside I’ve always been a massive fan of Rick Astley. For the sake of being succinct, here’s what I shared when I wrote about his smash hit album Whenever You Need Somebody: For people in my generation Rick Astley is pretty much exclusively known for nothing more than “Rickrolling”, which is basically the…
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Thompson Twins ‘Into The Gap’ (1984)
The Thompson Twins crystallized their new-wave trance pop vision with Into The Gap. It was the album the trio would forever be known for and saw them hit both their commercial and creative zenith in one fell swoop. Known for their sleek synth-pop sheen, the group blended Tom Bailey’s knack for indelible hooks with Alannah…
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Bananarama ‘Bananarama’ (1984)
Doesn’t get more 80’s than this. Bad ass band name, bad ass perms, bad ass single (“Cruel Summer” is so good), and just a damn good time all around. Is it just me or is the instrumentation of “Cruel Summer” this incredible mix of 80’s synth-rock with the West Coast G-Funk that Dr. Dre would…
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Jill Sobule ‘Jill Sobule’ (1995)
Known for her contribution to the iconic 90’s comedy Clueless, Jill Sobule was a songwriter who focused on ironic story-driven character studies very much in line with the songwriting craft that dominated the 90’s. Quirky and irreverent. Bold and unique. It’s what defined her work until her unfortunate passing earlier this year. Standout Songs: “I…
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Vanessa Carlton ‘Be Not Nobody’ (2002)
More than two decades after its 2002 release Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” endures as one of the most instantly recognizable piano-driven pop songs of the 21st century, its opening riff as culturally sticky as any guitar lick of its era. Built on a buoyant classical-inspired piano motif, warm strings, and Carlton’s earnest, yearning vocal,…
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Prince ‘Around The World In A Day’ (1985)
When Prince followed up his blockbuster Purple Rain with 1985’s Around the World in a Day he steered pretty hard hard into a sonic palette that owed as much to late-’60s psychedelia as to his own Minneapolis funk. The title track hints at that eclectic story and signaled a more technicolor sound was to come.…
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The Beaches ‘Blame My Ex’ (2023)
Every once in awhile it’s great to listen to some good old fashioned pop rock music. Enter The Beaches (great band name) who on Blame My Ex channel their cheeky heartbreak into a hook-heavy blend of pop rock polish and garage rock grit. The band leans pretty hard into crunchy distortion and throwback alt-rock textures…
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The Beach Boys ‘L.A. (Light Album)’ (1979)
Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys just passed away this week so I thought it fitting to listen to The Beach Boys almost universally panned album L.A. (Light Album). This is a far jump from the sheer brilliance of Wilson’s 1966 magnum opus Pet Sounds, and for good reason. In the late 1970s The Beach…
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Adam Lambert ‘For Your Entertainment’ (2009)
I vividly remember watching Adam Lambert during his run on American Idol in 2009. My mom and I watched that show almost religiously during high school and I carried on that tradition during my college years. The dude was absolutely dynamite in all of the best ways— impeccable vocal range, quality song choices, and a…
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The 1975 ‘The 1975’ (2013)
I hadn’t gotten too deep into The 1975 until a few weekends ago when me and the family were driving home from a weekend in Chico. It’s a three hour drive which certainly lends enough time to get a few full album listens in. With my wife being a huge Taylor Swift fan it made…
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Marshall Crenshaw ‘Marshall Crenshaw’ (1982)
Marshall Crenshaw channels classic influences like Buddy Holly and the Beatles without sounding overly derivative. It’s a fun little jangle pop record, filled with crisp guitar work and tightly structured songs that do their damnedest not to overstay their welcome. There’s actually a good amount of complexity swirling underneath in both the vocal melodies and…
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The Band CAMINO ‘tryhard’ (2019)
I remember hearing the opening guitar riff of “Daphne Blue” for the first time a few years ago and being totally blown away how fricking gorgeous it sounded. The hazy distortion, the reverb, the sweet delays, all vintage 80’s fare meets modern pop production until everything sounds massive. It was one of those songs that…
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Vitamin C ‘Vitamin C’ (1999)
Vitamin C’s “Graduation (Friends Forever)” is one of those songs that has stuck with me ever since I heard it. I think the first time I heard it must have been my 8th grade graduation (of course!) and I’ve played it at numerous events since as sort of a sentimental tongue in cheek nod to…
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Neil Diamond ‘Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show’ (1969)
If you’ve been to a sporting event or wedding in the past 20 years you’re probably pretty familiar with “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. The song frankly needs no introduction. But what you probably don’t know about that song is that it actually didn’t have a home on the original pressing of Brother Love’s Travelling…
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Portugal. The Man ‘Woodstock’ (2017)
Portugal. The Man’s album Woodstock emerged from a creative reset after discovering a 1969 ticket stub. Featuring slick production and punchy grooves, the band went global with the success of hit single “Feel It Still”.
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Magdalena Bay ‘Imaginal Disk’ (2024)
Magdalena’s Bay Imaginal Disk is a synth-driven exploration of dance-pop, electronic rock, and psychedelia, juiced to the gills in a maximalist production style. Put another way there’s about a million candy-coated hooks tucked in every nook and cranny of this bad boy. It’s like the layered density of shoegaze albums of old with a splash…
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Aqua ‘Aquarium’ (1997)
Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” has experienced a bit of a renaissance in the past two years ever since the 2023 film featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling took over pop culture for an entire summer, and while I’m about 18 months late to really capitalize on the film’s notoriety to drive some traffic to my humble…
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Kenny Loggins ‘Keep The Fire’ (1979)
Kenny Loggins’ Keep The Fire is a prime example of the smooth, radio-friendly sound that defined the yacht rock genre, blending polished production, breezy melodies, and Loggins’ signature sweet vocals. It was an album that solidified Loggins as one of the era’s defining artists, effortlessly straddling pop and soft rock with a touch of funk.…
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Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’ (1985)
Hounds of Love is a perfect example of when artistic ambition meets the pop music framework. Showcasing her chameleonic vocal range—from guttural growls to ethereal whispers—Bush pushed the boundaries of pop with lush, experimental production and deeply evocative storytelling. But where it gets really special is the prog-rock concept album nature of it all (which…
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The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’ (1963)
The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me marked a seismic moment in rock and roll history. It basically flipped rock and roll upside down. Released in 1963 the album was a mix of spirited covers and original compositions that was actually a rarity at the time. Self-contained rock bands who could write their own songs…
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Fitz and The Tantrums ‘More Than Just A Dream’ (2013)
I wouldn’t call Fitz and The Tantrums a guilty pleasure because I don’t feel guilty for liking them, but I do recognize the fact that their brand of pop meets 70’s disco soul is a little heavy on the cheese factor. But damn do I ever enjoy flipping them on whenever I’m in the mood…
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Elton John ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
By the early 1970s Elton John was already a cultural phenomenon. His self-titled debut and Honky Chateau had already accelerated his rise from London’s pub scene to international superstardom. All of the elements that made him one of the defining artists of the past 50 years were beginning to truly bloom– his flamboyant stage presence,…
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Various Artists ‘A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector’ (1963)
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is one of the most enduring holiday albums of all time, showcasing Phil Spector’s pioneering “Wall of Sound” production. Recorded at the height of Spector’s illustrious career, the album was a dazzling collaboration with his roster of talented artists, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and…
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*NSYNC ‘Home For Christmas’ (1998)
Released at the height of the boy band craze, *NSYNC’s 1998 holiday album Home for Christmas was a glittering addition to the genre that dominated the late ’90s. I never loved *NSYNC as much as I did the Backstreet Boys, but it’s impossible not to get a little giddy every time I hear Timberlake and…
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ABBA ‘Arrival’ (1976)
ABBA’s Arrival showcases the band’s signature blend of pop brilliance and sense of drama– the whole album has always felt to me like something out of a Broadway musical, with tunes that told a grandiose story played up to maximum effect. From the infectious energy of “Dancing Queen” (how many goddamn weddings have you been…
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Savage Garden ‘Savage Garden’ (1997)
Savage Garden’s “Truly Madly Deeply” is up there for me as one of the better pop love songs of all-time for the sole reason that it came at a pretty formative point in my life. Whether you want to call it my band boy phase or something else a little less accusatory (although boy band…
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Dan Hartman ‘I Can Dream About You’ (1984)
I Can Dream About You is a quintessential 80’s album that perfectly captures the era’s vibrant energy and cheesy earnestness. Blending pop, rock, and synth elements, Hartman’s powerful voice cascades over arrangements whose bias for danceability hides some pretty excellent melodic choices. If you close your eyes and listen closely you can hear the influence…
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Backstreet Boys ‘Backstreet Boys’ (1996)
I was nine years old living in a two-bed two-bath apartment when I first heard the Backstreet Boys’ debut album. It was one of the first albums I would ever own alongside Third Eye Blind’s self-titled debut and Mighty Mighty Bosstones Let’s Face It, which in retrospect is a pretty awesome trio of albums to…
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The Beach Boys ‘Surfin’ Safari’ (1962)
The Beach Boys occupy a pretty important niche within the lexicon of American pop music. For the majority of the band’s career they cranked out campy lively surf rock anthems which captured the essence of the early 1960s Southern California surf culture, celebrating the carefree spirit of beach life and surfing. It’s basically the audio…
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Player ‘Player’ (1977)
Player’s self-titled debut album introduced listeners to the band’s smooth blend of soft rock that would be featured on yacht rock playlists for years to come. Featuring a polished sound and sophisticated production, the album is best known for its hit single “Baby Come Back” which effectively defines yacht rock for me– catchy melodies, harmonies…
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