• #songoftheday / #amlistening = FREEDOM FRY: “DIE TRYIN”

    Parisian-born Marie Seyrat calls herself a jerk in the lyrics to “Die Tryin,” a song about how you can try to “get” someone — to figure them out or relate to them — and it can seem impossible. Still, as you could guess from the song’s title, you feel like you’ll “Die Tryin” to do…

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  • #songoftheday / #amlistening = BUTCHER BABIES: “LOOK WHAT WE’VE DONE”

    I’ve been a fan of Butcher Babies since they debuted, but I’ll admit that their music has often taken a backseat to their image.  That isn’t the case with this video for “Look What We’ve Done,” which is like a combination of a music video and a behind-the-scenes documentary.  That said, you really should listen…

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  • FROM NYC TO LEEDS: AN INTERVIEW ROYSTON LANGDON (OF SPACEHOG FAME)

    FROM NYC TO LEEDS: AN INTERVIEW ROYSTON LANGDON (OF SPACEHOG FAME)

    interview by Michael McCarthy Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Royston Langdon hails from Leeds in the United Kingdom, but it was during 1994 in New York City that he formed the band Spacehog with his brother Antony Langdon, Jonny Cragg and Richard Steel. Later that same year, the band was signed to Sire Records. Their debut album, Resident Alien,…

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  • CONCERT REVIEW: STRYPER AT MIXX 360 5/12/18

    CONCERT REVIEW: STRYPER AT MIXX 360 5/12/18

    by Michael McCarthy Last Saturday night on 5/12/18, I was fortunate enough to catch Stryper live for the third time in my life. It feels weird admitting that, that it was only my third time seeing them, because they’ve been one of my all-time favorite bands – easily in my top 5 – since I…

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  • #songoftheday / #amlistening = SELENA GOMEZ: “BACK TO YOU”

    Well, it’s not from a new Selena Gomez album, which I know we’re all dying for, but here’s a new track by the woman herself, “Back to You,” which hails from the Thirteen Reasons Why Season 2 soundtrack.  And what a superb song it is.  It’s like Kygo, Marshmello and Zedd all co-produced it.  In…

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  • #songoftheday / #amlistening = WHITNEY FENIMORE: “STONES”

    Last month I interviewed Whitney Fenimore, a former contestant of The Voice from season 13.  Her single at the time was “Find Your Love,” a sweeping, almost ethereal ballad that blows across your skin like a cool breeze on a hot day.

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  • IT’S A MEMOIR, IT’S A WRITING GUIDE, IT’S THE THORN NECKLACE: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK

    IT’S A MEMOIR, IT’S A WRITING GUIDE, IT’S THE THORN NECKLACE: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK

    interview by Michael McCarthy When I first interviewed Francesca Lia Block during August of 2016, she was hard at work on a memoir, which I was very excited about. Since that 2016 interview, I’ve taken one of Francesca’s popular online courses. It was a lot of fun and quite educational, especially when it came to…

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  • A EULOGY FOR MISTER WHITE, BELOVED CAT

    A EULOGY FOR MISTER WHITE, BELOVED CAT

    You may be wondering why I haven’t posted anything this week since I had written that I’d be back in the swing of things on April 30th.  Well, there’s a reason why I haven’t posted anything since I’ve been back and that’s because my best friend, my cat Mister White, passed away a week ago…

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  • A WORKING VACATION…

    A WORKING VACATION…

    I just wanted to let you all know that I will resume Love is Pop activities, like conducting the interviews you all know and love, on the 30th of this month.  I’m taking a little break so that I can work on editing Book of Shadows 4: In Memoriam.  To subscribe to my newsletter and…

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  • MUCH MORE THAN THE VOICE: AN INTERVIEW WITH WHITNEY FENIMORE

    MUCH MORE THAN THE VOICE: AN INTERVIEW WITH WHITNEY FENIMORE

    interview by Michael McCarthy The reason this interview is titled Much More Than The Voice is that today’s subject is Whitney Fenimore, who you may recall from season 13 of a little show called The Voice. She did a touching rendition of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” which she rearranged herself, at the blind…

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  • CONCERT + VENUE REVIEW: JULIANA HATFIELD WITH ABBIE BARRETT AT ONCE, SOMERVILLE, MA 4/6/18

    CONCERT + VENUE REVIEW: JULIANA HATFIELD WITH ABBIE BARRETT AT ONCE, SOMERVILLE, MA 4/6/18

    review and photos by Michael McCarthy This past Friday night I finally saw the legendary Juliana Hatfield – one of my favorite artists – in concert. Being a fellow Masshole (slang for Massachusetts resident), I should’ve seen her years ago. I’m honestly not sure why I didn’t. I’m sure I wanted to and there were…

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  • DANSEZ DANS LE BLEU DE NUIT: AN INTERVIEW WITH BALOJI

    DANSEZ DANS LE BLEU DE NUIT: AN INTERVIEW WITH BALOJI

    interview by Michael McCarthy Congolese-born Baloji’s new LP, 137 Avenue Kaniama, was released on March 23rd, 2018 via Bella Union. Prior to when the label approached me about the album, I’d never heard of Baloji, but then I suppose very few people here in the States would’ve heard of him. That’s exactly why I wanted…

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  • EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT JON FRATELLI: THE LOVE IS POP INTERVIEW

    EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT JON FRATELLI: THE LOVE IS POP INTERVIEW

    interview by Michael McCarthy It’s been roughly 12 years since the release of The Fratellis’ universally loved debut album, Costello Music. Their newly released album, In Your Own Sweet Time, is their fifth and certainly one of their best. I was, honestly, blown away from the first time I heard it. I wouldn’t bother trying…

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  • THE FOURTH TIME’S A CHARM: AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SWEET OF STRYPER

    THE FOURTH TIME’S A CHARM: AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL SWEET OF STRYPER

    by Michael McCarthy Yes, it may be hard to believe, but this is my fourth interview with Stryper frontman/co-lead guitarist Michael Sweet already. What can I say, he keeps putting out fantastic albums and I love to ask him questions about them. Between making records with Stryper, his solo projects and Sweet & Lynch, Michael…

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  • #songoftheday / #amlistening = LOWELL: “WAR FACE”

    “I wear my war face,” proudly proclaims captivating singer/songwriter Lowell on “War Face,”  the first single from her mind-blowing new album entitled Lone Wolf.  The album is her second and was released today on 4/6/18 and my jaw is still on the floor after it dropped as I listened in awe of her evocative music.  

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  1. Greetings! I just released my vocal and songwriter debut today called The Kryptonite EP and was reaching out to send…