pop punk

Pop Punk Has Returned to the Spotlight

Meredith Granmayeh, Chapman University

With artists such as WILLOW and Olivia Rodrigo incorporating aspects of the genre into their music, the style seems to be making a comeback.…

March 28, 2022

The 5 Best Pop Punk Bands from Your ’90s Childhood

Isabelle Mencia, University of Florida

The 2000s were blessed with iconic pop punk bands that bring you not only nostalgia, but excitement in every playback.…

February 14, 2018

In Their Third Album, Pop-Punk’s Neck Deep Takes a Somber Turn

Sierra Emilaire, Southern Adventist University

After the death of frontman Ben Barlow’s dad derailed the British group’s tour, their newest work explores mortality from an intensely personal point of view.…

September 18, 2017

‘Arcane’: A Cyberpunk-Charged Masterpiece

Anoushka Panganamamula, The Ohio State University

This cyberpunk series uses visual storytelling to subvert common narrative tropes.…

May 31, 2023

10 Bizarre Pop Culture Conspiracy Theories

Andrea Cepeda, University of North Texas

Sometimes the truth is stranger than (science) fiction.…

November 22, 2022

Solarpunk Marks the Intersection of Sci-Fi, Sustainability and Hope

Lauren Sung, University of Georgia

In the wake of anxiety-inducing news like the UN's climate crisis 'code red,' the genre can offer an aesthetic and a sense of optimism that is actionable.…

August 19, 2021

Rina Sawayama Explores Pop-Driven Queerness in Her Debut Album

Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

While stars like Lady Gaga have supported the LGBT community through their music, 'Sawayama' focuses on what it means to actually be LGBT.…

July 21, 2021

‘Bored&Blind’ Signals That Ella Jane Is the Future of Indie Pop

Kieran Benson, Luther College

Ella Jane's latest single is a reflection of her talent and cements her as an artist to watch out for in 2021.…

March 24, 2021

Cyberpunk 2077: What Went Wrong?

Alex Luna, University of California, Berkeley

The much-anticipated CD Projekt Red game is finally here, but last-gen console users are stuck with terrible glitches and no one knows who to blame.…

January 1, 2021

The Garden Is the Creative Two-Piece That Mixes Punk and Electronic

Brian Anderson Gil, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

These two California twins draw from a huge range of influences to make a sound that may not be commercial, but remains true to their artistic vision.…

May 5, 2020

Is Pop Music Tackling Mental Health, or Just Fetishizing Depression?

Rose Younglove, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

They say it's not good to keep it bottled up, but is letting it out doing more harm than good?…

March 10, 2020

The Top 10 Essential Punk and Hardcore Releases of 2019

Matthew Robison, University of South Florida

Moving away from lo-fi demos and unfussy EPs, the best punk and hardcore exhibited a tendency toward spirited ambition.…

January 9, 2020

The Meaning Of Hopepunk: The Antidote to Nihilism

Marie Christensen, George Fox University

In a time when so many seem embroiled in pessimism, there's something out there that speaks to hope.…

September 19, 2019

City Pop Is the 40-Year-Old Genre You’ve Never Heard of, Until Today

Isador Pinto, Ringling College of Art + Design

The Japanese genre evokes the sounds of neon city life, and it's starting to make a splash in the West.…

July 27, 2019

10 Electro-Pop Jams to Get You Out of Your Midsummer Slump

Taylor Sprinkle, University of Texas at Austin

Hot girl summer isn’t over yet. Keep the energy going with these jams.…

July 18, 2019

4 Under-the-Radar K-Pop Groups Perfect for Alternative Tastes

Grace John, Rutgers University

K-pop is great, but some variety certainly wouldn't hurt.…

April 23, 2019

As Cyberpunk Goes Commercial, It Risks Dulling Its Anarchist Edges

Michael Wu, Case Western Reserve University

What use is rebellion when it's sponsored by your overlords?…

December 16, 2018

Inside the Rise of Charli XCX, Pop Music’s Most Subversive Star

Michael Wu, Case Western Reserve University

From pop purgatory to sold-out stadiums, the English superstar has created a musical niche that has fans obsessed.…

November 28, 2018

In Contemporary Punk Rock, Women Are Nowhere to Be Seen

Marianne Quijano, Texas A&M University

Headbanging doesn't have to be only for guys.…

October 12, 2018

‘Be The Cowboy’ Takes Mitski’s Melodrama and Makes It Pop

Kylie Harrington, University of Southern California

The singer-songwriter’s latest project is an up-tempo collection  of emo bangers.…

August 24, 2018

Duncan Jones’s ‘Mute’ and the Problem with Cyberpunk

Jonathan Christian, Northwest Vista College

The Netflix original marks the official return of the once-dead subgenre to the mainstream, but is it a welcome homecoming?…

March 16, 2018

Why I Will Never Apologize for Listening to K-pop

Karen Juarez, University of Illinois at Chicago

I mean, have you heard it?…

March 1, 2017

10 Punk Songs That Are More Accurate Than Ever

Sophie Hurlock, Xavier University

Though most of the lyrics were written in the late 70s, they all sound like they’re about Donald Trump.…

January 30, 2017

Meet Indian Opinion, Bowling Green’s Ambitious Art Punk Student Band

Olivia Buzzacco, Bowling Green State University

The foursome of music and poetry students are bringing sophisticated funk to Ohio.…

August 23, 2016

What Pokémon Go’s Popularity Means for the Future

Shiloh McKinnon, Reed College

By targeting a tech-savvy demographic and capitalizing on social media acclaim, the app introduced a new type of gaming phenomenon overnight.…

July 13, 2016

The Constant Evolution of the 1975 Keeps Fans Intrigued

Nayeli G. Pena, Colorado College

The band has managed to create a unique sound and aesthetic with every new album, leaving many wondering what else they might have in store.…

May 19, 2020

Louis Tomlinson’s ‘We Made It’ Is an Ode to One Direction and the Fans

Rickea Bell, Saint Peter’s University

Directioners, this is truly not the end.…

November 5, 2019

Meet Dominic Fike, the Artist Making Millions off His 15 Minutes of Music

Christopher Duggan, Boise State University

And why shouldn't he?…

June 11, 2019

In Celebration of Simple Creatures, Here Are All Time Low and blink-182’s Best Songs

Hannah Cullen, St. Cloud State University

The new project from Mark Hoppus and Alex Gaskarth might tank, so here are some classics to fall back on if it does.…

February 20, 2019

Avril Lavigne’s ‘Head Above Water’ Is a Product of Her Battle with Lyme Disease

Michelle Dreyer, Southern New Hampshire University

It’s the singer’s first single in three years.…

September 21, 2018