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interview by Michael McCarthy Singer/songwriter Justin Masters is one cool dude! He’s also a great friend. As someone who’s known him since the mid-90s or thereabouts, I am proud to know him and I’m even prouder that he’s releasing his music. Before And Way After is his second album, but rather than a...

#songoftheday / #amlistening = GARBAGE: “THE MEN WHO RULE THE WORLD”

Posted on Mar 30, 2021

Garbage make their triumphant return with what is arguably their most pop song in years and it's sweet and delicious. Sing it now: "the violator, destroy the violator!"

Honestly, I couldn't...

#songoftheday = BODY COUNT: “THE HATE IS REAL”

Posted on Mar 23, 2021

. Watch the winning video for "The Hate Is Real", created by 25 year old Brooklyn, NY-based filmmaker, Seby Martinez. We at Love is Pop think it's brilliant. Killer song, too. ...

#songoftheday / #amlistening = Lady Gaga – “The National Anthem”

Posted on Jan 21, 2021

Here's Lady Gaga singing "The National Anthem" yesterday. I do believe you'll agree that she did a fine job. And I'm so glad my country elected Joe Biden president. I'm sure he'll do things I don't agree with at...

#songoftheday / #amlistening: Gabrielle Aplin – “Happy XMas (War Is Over)”

Posted on Dec 2, 2020

I'm in love with Gabrielle Aplin's version of the John Lennon classic "Happy Xmas (War Is Over). It tugs at the heartstrings, ya know? I swear, she has the voice of an angel. So beautiful and perfect. I...

#songoftheday / #amlistening = LARKIN POE: “IN THE AIR TONIGHT”

Posted on Oct 31, 2020

On November 20th, Larkin Poe will release Kindred Spirits, an album of covers done in their unique, stripped-down style, and we can hardly wait. Especially after basking in this, their chilling version of Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight," which is...

#songoftheday / #amlistening = DEMI LOVATO: “COMMANDER IN CHIEF”

Posted on Oct 16, 2020

Brilliant. Watch. Listen. Vote. ...

#songoftheday = ANNIE: “THE STREETS WHERE I BELONG”

Posted on Sep 29, 2020

2 comments

Annie, Annie, Annie... Welcome back!...

EVEN THE DEVIL BELIEVES IN STRYPER: AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SWEET

Posted on Aug 24, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy On September 4th, 2020, the world’s most famous Christian rock/metal band of all time, Stryper, will release their 13th studio album, Even The Devil Believes, on Frontiers Music Srl. If you’re a fan of the band’s last three albums, No More Hell To Pay, Fallen and God Damn Evil,...

#songoftheday = FRONTIERS ALL STARS: “PUSH THROUGH”

Posted on Jul 18, 2020

Now, that's what I call an all-star song. I am very impressed with this one. A powerful and inspiring song for our times if ever there was one. It's a perfect blend of catchy and ferocious. I love the...

RAISE YOUR HANDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE BROWN OF TOKYO MOTOR FIST, DEF LEPPARD & TRIXTER

Posted on Jul 4, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy One of the last heavy metal bands to make it big before grunge exploded and decimated the scene was a group out of Paramus, New Jersey called Trixter. The band’s self-titled debut came out in 1990 and their biggest hit, “Give It to Me Good,” was number one on...

#songoftheday / #amlistening = MICHAEL RIDER: “BREAKTHROUGH”

Posted on Jul 3, 2020

As a thick bass line lulls you in and gently massages your brain while stabbing piano keeps you from getting overly relaxed on Michael Rider's intoxicating new single, "Breakthrough." ...

CHEERS TO THE BRAINWASHED GENERATION: AN INTERVIEW WITH CHIP Z’NUFF OF ENUFF Z’NUFF

Posted on Jul 2, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy On July 10th, Enuff Z’Nuff will release their all-new album, Brainwashed Generation, on Frontiers Records. It’s the band’s third record for the label and the second to feature bassist Chip Z’Nuff front and center handling lead vocals on all but one song, a blistering gem called “Strangers In My...

#songoftheday = Lolo Zouaï: “Alone With You”

Posted on Jun 29, 2020

"I'd rather be alone / Than be alone with you," purrs pop songstress Lolo Zouaï on her luscious new single, "Alone With You," which hails from her recently released Beautiful Lies EP, something I've been listening to on a loop lately. ...

MICHAEL RIDER, AMERICAN FIGHTER: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Posted on Jun 18, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy I’ve known singer/songwriter/painter Michael Rider for several years now. Their piano-centric indie pop blends irresistible pop hooks with thought-provoking lyrics that sometimes feel like poems and occasionally sound like journal entries, which I mean in the best way possible. Insightful is the first word to describe Michael that came...

#songoftheday = Enuff Z’Nuff: “Mother’s Eyes”

Posted on Jun 3, 2020

This Enuff Z'Nuff classic from 1991 is a terrific anti-racism song if ever there was one. If you like The Beatles and hair metal, you're in for a real trea...

RISING DURING THE PANDEMIC: AN INTERVIEW WITH RORIE KELLY

Posted on May 23, 2020

2 comments

interview by Michael McCarthy photos courtesy of Rorie Kelly “You can’t keep this fucker down,” sings indie favorite Rorie Kelly on her ferocious new song, “Up From Here,” which she just uploaded a live version of on Youtube this week. It’s just one of several new songs the powerful singer-songwriter has unveiled as...

#songoftheday = Emeli Sandé: “HOPE” (#songsforourtimes #22)

Posted on May 18, 2020

I've always loved this little ballad by Emeli Sandé and was surprised that it wasn't a single. In fact, so far as I could tell, the audio hasn't even been officially posted on Youtube, hence this fan-made lyric video. ...

LUCKY SEVEN: CHATTING WITH MICHAEL SWEET OF STRYPER

Posted on May 1, 2020

5 comments

interview by Michael McCarthy If you’ve been following Love is Pop for any period of time then I’m sure you’ve realized that one of my favorite people to interview is Michael Sweet of the legendary heavy metal band Stryper. In fact, this interview is the seventh time we’ve spoken since we started chatting...

CANDID CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE VIE: A LOVE IS POP EXCLUSIVE

Posted on Apr 24, 2020

4 comments

interview by Michael McCarthy I rarely do this, but I, your editor here at Love is Pop, have to start off this introduction on a personal note. Recently, like most people, I’ve been feeling down. As you all know, it’s hard to be cheerful when there’s a global pandemic killing thousands of people...

BEING A CHAMPION IN THE TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS: AN INTERVIEW WITH BIF NAKED

Posted on Mar 29, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy Doing music interviews in the time of COVID-19 is weird, man. You want to talk about music, but at the same time, it’s the nasty virus that’s at the forefront of everyone’s collective mind. So, I knew we were due for a new interview here on Love is Pop,...

#albumoftheday = KENNY ROGERS: THE LOVE OF GOD

Posted on Mar 21, 2020

review by Michael McCarthy “I’ll still be here when the troubles come / Here I stand / On the rock of your love,” sings the late Kenny Rogers, who passed away Friday night at the age of 81, on “The Rock of Your Love.” The inspired track hails from his now final album,...

FRENCH-AMERICAN STYLE: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARIANE

Posted on Mar 17, 2020

interview by Michael McCarthy The following interview with French American singer/songwriter Ariane took place last Thursday on the 12th of March 2020. Not long after many people in the United States had finally started to feel the gravity of the COV-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. I think both she and I felt a little strange...

CAUGHT UP IN A SPHERE: AN INTERVIEW WITH POLLY SCATTERGOOD

Posted on Mar 13, 2020