There’s nothing wrong with pop music. The genre, just like everything else, can be subjectively either good or bad, depending on how you listen to it. For the people complaining about pop not having substance, they’re not looking in the right places. There are numerous examples of the genre breaking boundaries, sometimes subtly, sometimes more direct, all while sticking to conventions. That’s not an easy thing to do.
Folk music has been around for a long time. Since time immemorial, songs have been part of certain rituals and oral tradition. Come the 20th century, a revival, sometimes referred to as a roots revival, took place, with artists such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell popularizing the genre and taking it to new levels. This includes more socially and politically aware themes and modernization of old anthems.
In our previous Spindle Jam, we featured the darkness that is post-punk music. For this season, we’re tackling the usually more upbeat new wave and synth-pop. The reason for having these two genres together is because they’re close siblings. Particularly in the latter part of new wave’s peak years, a fusion of the two wasn’t uncommon.
Soul is music that speaks to the core. One of the things that makes it special is how its beauty, often, isn’t felt on the surface. One has to listen for subtleties to understand it fully. Combining elements of gospel, jazz, and R&B, the music is a celebration of African-American identity. Under its umbrella is a diverse range of subgenres, from the popular Detroit style to the more accessible Philadelphia soul.
Life is harsh. Everyday, a lover dies, prices increase, a dog runs away, and still, there’s no solution to that age-old existential dilemma. It’s time we drowned ourselves in the blues.
Sometime around the late 70s, certain bands became disillusioned with the commercialized route punk rock was heading in. From there, post-punk was born. Inspired by the energy and statement of their older sibling, they retained those aspects while becoming more open to experimentation. From weird production techniques to cues from philosophy and literature, a new breed sought to create a movement free from notions of what music should be. Read more
This month is all about partnership. Going beyond the romantic theme taking place on February 14, one and one coming together can extend to the friendly kind, the familial kind, and, more importantly for us, the musical kind. For this season’s Spindle Jam, we feature some noteworthy collaborations between musicians. Read more
For our next Spindle Jam, we feature the beautiful chaos that is rock music. Read more
Welcome to the Spindle Jam, a biweekly column featuring some of our vinyl essentials for the season. Read more