Unfortified Castle

What can I say? It's a winter's day.

Flume's new release is chock-full of fascinating details as he plays with time and musical space.

No song is more appropriate for a musical discussion on February 2 (or 3).

Rex Orange County's new release is a simple indie pop slice that speaks to the drive one gets from valuing themself and their endeavors.

Olly Alexander finally making a true house track — alongside Galantis — was an excellent decision in the production of his first solo album.

I examine why Kate Bush's work stands out from that of her contemporaries through one of her most successful songs in the mainstream.

The Bee Gees delved into what happens after an initial romantic attraction in their most widely acclaimed number.

A J.S. Bach-inspired structure yields a unique and iconic recording.

In The Weeknd's newest single, he revels in his old lifestyle one last time before his outlook on love shifts across the rest of the album.

The xx's debut single explores the fragility of love through two partners' ever-present individual thoughts.

Blondie's Moroder-produced movie soundtrack anthem presents the state of pop at a sonic inflection point — a sound people still love today.

Little changes go a long way for Eric Carmen and the Raspberries.

Between its beat and its lyrics, Ryan Riback's retouching of Starley's dance-pop number is one of my favorite productions from the late 10s.

In Olivia Rodrigo's smash summer hit, I hear what may be an inflection point for pop music in terms of sound and the business of crediting.

Steve Winwood struck a balance between older R&B and soul and his own era's pop rock on one of his biggest songs.

Nico & Vinz were all over the radio in my early teens with this song, but only now did I finally put a closer lens to it.

The memories will always be there, and Zara Larsson and MNEK's presentation of working through them really resonates with me.

Elliot Lurie and Looking Glass relay just enough to the listener to make their story both succinct and rich.

Bear with me, because this is actually pretty cool in the context of this song.

...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.