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...
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RAISE YOUR HANDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE BROWN OF TOKYO MOTOR FIST, DEF LEPPARD & TRIXTER
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...
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#songoftheday / #amlistening = MICHAEL RIDER: “BREAKTHROUGH”
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." ...
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CHEERS TO THE BRAINWASHED GENERATION: AN INTERVIEW WITH CHIP Z’NUFF OF ENUFF Z’NUFF
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...
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#songoftheday = Lolo Zouaï: “Alone With You”
"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. ...
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MICHAEL RIDER, AMERICAN FIGHTER: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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...
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#songoftheday = Enuff Z’Nuff: “Mother’s Eyes”
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...
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RISING DURING THE PANDEMIC: AN INTERVIEW WITH RORIE KELLY
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...
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#songoftheday = Emeli Sandé: “HOPE” (#songsforourtimes #22)
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. ...
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LUCKY SEVEN: CHATTING WITH MICHAEL SWEET OF STRYPER
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...
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CANDID CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE VIE: A LOVE IS POP EXCLUSIVE
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...
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#songoftheday = JON BON JOVI: “DO WHAT YOU CAN” (LIVE FROM JERSEY4JERSEY) #songsforourtimes #22
"When you can't do what you do / You do what you can," sings Jon Bon Jovi on his Covid-19-themed song "Do What You Can," which he debuted last night during Jersey4Jersey, a benefit show on behalf of the New Jersey Pandemic Relief...
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#songoftheday = METALLICA: “ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS (LIVE)” (#songsforourtimes #20) + A-HA: “LIVING AT THE END OF THE WORLD (#songsforourtimes #21)
Yeah, yeah, I know, this isn't exactly a hopeful song and it isn't about the end of the world either. But I do feel like "Only Happy When It Rains," a Garbage song which Metallica covered at the Bridge School Benefit on...
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#songoftheday = DAVID ARCHULETA: “AIMING FOR HOPE” (#songsforourtimes #19)
The chorus of this gorgeous ballad by David Archuleta says it all: "When you're alone And don't know when the night will end...
#songoftheday = BUTCH WALKER: “END OF THE WORLD (ONE MORE TIME)” (#songsforourtimes #18)
"Skyrockets in flight / Get ready for a fight!" proclaims Butch Walker excitedly before a "hey, hey" during the bridge of his ultra-catchy ode to the end of the world, appropriately entitled, "End of the World (One More Time)."
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