
2026 is shaping up to be a hot year for R&B lovers, with a load of albums and single drops heating things up. One of the most exciting has been the releases from the UK’s very own Elmiene, who has managed to marry classic soul with modern production and jazzy flourishes. And you’re probably thinking…

The charts are a mess, what with billionaire artists scamming everyone with multiple variants and algrothim tricks landing top slots. There’s very little joy to be found about chart certificates these days, but one small victory is that the Pack Smart Group has managed to convince the powers that be that sales made through Bandcamp…

There’s no two ways about it – in terms of inventive, kaleidoscopic music, there’s few groups that get close to The Junipers. From 2008’s ‘Cut Your Key’, they burst onto the scene marrying the sounds of the deep-cut psychedelic 45s from your collection, to the joyful pop of Wings-era McCartney, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Emitt Rhodes,…

Country Joe McDonald passed away last week, leaving us remembering his biggest known hot – ‘I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag’ – feeling horribly topical. See, while a lot of anti-war songs are serious, sombre affairs, Joe’s was deeply sarcastic and intentionally fun to singalong with. As the US indulges itself with yet…

There’s been rumours swirling of a new album from Paul McCartney, and he’s been sharing playlists and whatnot, which feature an emoji of a bird. Well, here’s some unverified rumours which we’re definitely sharing because if we’re right, we we can shout TOLD YOU SO, and if we’re wrong, ah well. The new album is…

Mclusky have a small but devoted fanbase and, rightly so, even if occasionally the reaction to adoration from the band can seem fractious at times. It’s all part of nervous, tense fun, obviously. They’ve announced a new album called ‘The World Is Still Here and So Are We’, which is their first in 21 years.…

Pearl Charles is great. She’s made shimmering ’70s pop, glitterball disco, and cosmic singer-songwritery stuff. It’s the latter that her latest release errs on the side of, and it’s one of her best songs to date! She’s been working with the brilliant Michael Rault on her new music, and ‘Step Too Far’ is a brooding,…

Kanye has been at it recently and a lot of people have been talking about him being off the meds, which illness his brain has, how he’s not been the same since his mother died, and on and on and on and on and on and… It’s obvious that attention is one of the major…

Look, you should already be subscribed to BANDSPLAINING on YouTube. If you’re not, this is your heads-up. The latest video explains Library Music, so if you’ve been jonesing for someone to dissect what it is, what’s good about it, and who it influenced, this is a great primer to get you going. If you’re already…
THERE’S NO MONEY IN THIS GAME ANYMORE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR THE POP CORPS, YOU ARE WELCOME TO GET IN TOUCH. HAPPY HUNTING.
POP CULTURE IS WORTH TALKING ABOUT.
CONTACT: HOWDYPOPCORPSATGMAILDOTCOM