Pop Music

Jules Shear, who wrote hits for Cyndi Lauper and The Bangles, recorded his latest CD in his home studio in upstate New York. (Courtesy photo)

Versatile Jules Shear goes ‘Slower’ during COVID

Flames still flicker for old-school singer-songwriter

 

Violinist Lindsey Stirling’s online Christmas celebration is Dec. 12. <ins>(Courtesy Sydney Takeshta)</ins>

Lindsey Stirling prepared well for the holiday season

Violinist, band quarantined in July to create yuletide show

 

The Smashing Pumpkins’ 2020 recording is the 20-song “CYR.” (Courtesy photo)

Billy Corgan continues to confound expectations

Smashing Pumpkins release retro-sounding ‘CYR’

 

The versatile Dave Alvin’s recent recording is “From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings” Photo (Courtesy Chip Duden)

Unusually, in 2020 Dave Alvin stayed home

Busy, blues rockabilly guitarist reflects rather than tours

The versatile Dave Alvin’s recent recording is “From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings” Photo (Courtesy Chip Duden)
Coronavirus hasn’t stopped Brit Taylor from releasing her excellent debut recording “Real Me.” (Courtesy David McClister)

Nashville singer Brit Taylor stays true to country roots

Musician thankful, grateful for 2020 being better than 2017

Coronavirus hasn’t stopped Brit Taylor from releasing her excellent debut recording “Real Me.” (Courtesy David McClister)
Katy J Pearson of the English pop duo Ardyn has developed a different sound as a solo artist. (Courtesy Seren Carys)

Katy J Pearson makes solid solo debut with ‘Return’

Former Ardyn singer tries on a new, natural style

Katy J Pearson of the English pop duo Ardyn has developed a different sound as a solo artist. (Courtesy Seren Carys)
Don McLean’s 2020 release “Still Playin’ Favorites” includes country, folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues, jazz and soul covers of tunes by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bessie Smith and others. (Courtesy photo)

As it’s about to turn 50, Don McLean remembers ‘American Pie’

Songwriter never dreamed people would ‘embrace’ it the way they have

Don McLean’s 2020 release “Still Playin’ Favorites” includes country, folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues, jazz and soul covers of tunes by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bessie Smith and others. (Courtesy photo)
Up-and-coming pop singer Winona Oak’s new single is “Piano in the Sky.” (Courtesy Julian Gillström)

Winona Oak retreats to magical Swedish town

Singer releases ‘She’ following songwriting stint in So Cal

Up-and-coming pop singer Winona Oak’s new single is “Piano in the Sky.” (Courtesy Julian Gillström)
Jimmie Vaughan released “The Pleasure’s All Mine,” with covers and more, in 2020. (Courtesy Todd Wolfson)

Jimmie Vaughan finds pleasure in his five-decade career

Blues guitarist, car collector is doing what he loves

Jimmie Vaughan released “The Pleasure’s All Mine,” with covers and more, in 2020. (Courtesy Todd Wolfson)
From left, Jake Sprecher, Brice Bradley and Chris Rosi are The Smokescreens. (Courtesy David Kilgour)

L.A.’s Smokescreens take lead from New Zealand’s The Clean

Chris Rosi gets assist from David Kilgour

From left, Jake Sprecher, Brice Bradley and Chris Rosi are The Smokescreens. (Courtesy David Kilgour)
Singer-songwriter Cam is finding musicmaking to be healing during 2020’s world health crisis. Courtesy Dennis Leupold

Cam challenges country music tropes

Bay Area-bred songwriter releases ‘The Otherside’

Singer-songwriter Cam is finding musicmaking to be healing during 2020’s world health crisis. Courtesy Dennis Leupold
San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

Roots & Tings build community through music

Lateef the Truthspeaker, Jah Yzer and Winstrong call for voting as a form of healing

San Francisco DJ and producer Jah Yzer livestreams most mornings from his home. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Joe Grushecky, left, found a kindred spirit in his collaborator Bruce Springsteen.(Courtesy John Cavanaugh)

Joe Grushecky sings on with The Boss

Pittsburgh rocker teams with Springsteen on patriotic single

Joe Grushecky, left, found a kindred spirit in his collaborator Bruce Springsteen.(Courtesy John Cavanaugh)
After a 19-year recording break, Blue Öyster Cult has released a studio album. (Courtesy photo)

The symbol remains for Blue Öyster Cult

Old band uses new tech to make heady music

After a 19-year recording break, Blue Öyster Cult has released a studio album. (Courtesy photo)
“David Byrne’s American Utopia” is a wild and thoughtful concert film featuring the Talking Heads frontman. (Courtesy David Lee)

Spike Lee captures David Byrne’s upbeat show in ‘American Utopia’

’S#!%house’ a sensitive coming-of-age tale

“David Byrne’s American Utopia” is a wild and thoughtful concert film featuring the Talking Heads frontman. (Courtesy David Lee)
Hayden Thorpe’s new solo EP is “Aerial Songs.” (Courtesy Broomberg & Chanarin)

Hayden Thorpe’s ‘Aerial Songs’ come out of the country

Wild Beasts’ frontman inspired by nature on new recording

Hayden Thorpe’s new solo EP is “Aerial Songs.” (Courtesy Broomberg & Chanarin)
Melanie C, who rose to fame in the 1990s as Sporty Spice, released self-titled album, her eighth solo project, in 2020. (Courtesy Conor Clinch)

Melanie C has accepted all aspects of herself

Former Spice Girl’s new album full of dance-pop confessionals

  • Oct 12, 2020
Melanie C, who rose to fame in the 1990s as Sporty Spice, released self-titled album, her eighth solo project, in 2020. (Courtesy Conor Clinch)
Songwriter Suzanne Vega is confident that live music will come back post-pandemic. (Courtesy George Holz)

Suzanne Vega sings New York songs

Troubadour plays live-streamed gigs from Blue Note

Songwriter Suzanne Vega is confident that live music will come back post-pandemic. (Courtesy George Holz)
Ed Harcourt’s most recent releases are 2018’s “Beyond the End” and 2020’s “Monochrome to Colour.” (Courtesy Steve Gullick)

New instrumentals from Ed Harcourt

Songwriter explores new frontiers after major label break

Ed Harcourt’s most recent releases are 2018’s “Beyond the End” and 2020’s “Monochrome to Colour.” (Courtesy Steve Gullick)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, appearing in a recorded session, is among the dozens of musicians performing in the online version of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Oct. 3. (Courtesy photo)

A few wise words from Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Texas troubadour takes philosophical view of pandemic’s effects

Jimmie Dale Gilmore, appearing in a recorded session, is among the dozens of musicians performing in the online version of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Oct. 3. (Courtesy photo)