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daniel brockman

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Gang of Four roar back with post-punk fury

Still in uniform
The history of popular music is littered with musical questioning, from "Why must I be a teenager in love?" to "Who put the bomp in the bomp buh-bomp buh-bomp?" But when pop turned to rock and artists began to attempt to wield their popular might in order to do right, that inquisitiveness often turned into telling people what to do and think.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | February 02, 2011

The perfectionist persona of Natalia Kills

Going Gaga
The British-born Natalia acted in BBC television and radio comedies (starting at age nine) before morphing into a musical career that has seen her adopt the stage name Natalia Kills — which describes her lethal combination of dark themes and anthemic synthpop.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | January 26, 2011

Robyn reclaims her identity en route to pop stardom

Dancing on her own
There are some pop stars for whom every record requires a reinvention of their persona. But what if your persona is just yourself, and you've spent your career rejecting the urge to create controversy to make people pay attention to you? For pop chanteuse Robin Carlsson, a/k/a Robyn, the R-word itself causes consternation.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | January 26, 2011

The Varsity Girls aim for pop stardom

Making the cut
By the time I arrive at their Lowell recording studio to talk to the teenage pop/R&B dynamos Varsity Girls, it's almost 10 pm, and I'm expecting to encounter an exhausted group of studio-tanned kids burned out after a full day of singing and more singing.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | January 04, 2011

Eleven discs to listen for early 2011

James Blake, PJ Harvey, Cut Copy lead the way
James Blake, PJ Harvey, Cut Copy lead '11

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 29, 2010

2010: The Year In Pop Music

A schizophrenic year of rock and pop
Music may exist to express emotions, dreams, and nightmares, but beyond its loftier aims, it's a means of escape.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 21, 2010

Motörhead | The World Is Yours

EMI (2010)
The Myth of Lemmy is one of speedfreak exuberance fashioned into a lean, mean machine of blackened annihilation.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 15, 2010

Pre-Weezer: The Metal Years

Rivers' edge
Rivers' edge

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 07, 2010

Weezer: The Early Years

Rivers Cuomo reflects on the making of 'Blue' and Pinkerton
When Rivers Cuomo, Weezer wunderkind and Harvard-educated overachiever, sets his mind to something, he is nothing if not meticulous.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 07, 2010

Ke$ha | Cannibal

RCA (2010)
As club banger "Blow" crescendos, incendiary brat and cultural irritant Ke$ha intones, "We are taking over — get used to it!"

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | December 07, 2010

Deadmau5 | 4x4=12

Ultra (2010)
The world of the superstar DJ is not dissimilar to that of the superstar architect.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | November 30, 2010

Brandon Flowers and the evolution of a pop-star Killer

The Flamingo kid
Rock stars are often seen, culturally, as wolves in sheeps' clothing, seducing and subverting once they have gotten their fangs into the hearts of music listeners, using their Pied Piper powers of coercion to ensnare innocent ears and radicalize minds with their unholy aims.

By: DANIEL BROCKMAN | November 23, 2010