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Evan Sawdey

Evan Sawdey is the Interviews Editor at PopMatters and is the host of The Chartographers, a music-ranking podcast for pop music nerds. He lives in Chicago with his wonderful husband and can be found on Twitter at @SawdEye.

Bands that need their own definitive documentaries

What artists would we love to see as subjects of a documentary? "Behind the Music" features don't count here, as we're looking for what would end up being a truly cinematic deep dive of the musicians' backstories, controversies and acclaimed works. It might be a wish list, but just like any of these artists mentioned, sometimes wishes do come true.

Sing us a song, you're the piano man: The ultimate Billy Joel playlist

Billy Joel has always been thought of as a radio-dominating piano popper, but the depth of Joel's talent and craft has been something that allowed his legacy to live on well past the point after he stopped making albums.

Your May 2019 entertainment planner

If there's anything that's going to define the cultural zeitgeist in 2019, take solace in knowing it's happening in May: The Season 3 premiere of "Beat

Debut albums that were instant classics

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nas' classic rap-conquering debut, "Illmatic," let's look back at the debut albums that wowed the world and won us over on their first listen.

Artists who aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (but should be)

Some obvious candidates are inducted right away; other notables, including some who have been on the RRHOF ballot one or more times, have been left out. Here's our list of artists who should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The ultimate 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees playlist

To celebrate the occasion, let's mix some of their iconic hits and influential album tracks for the only playlist you're gonna need to celebrate this year's extraordinary batch of inductees.

Your March entertainment planner: A little bit of everything

February (and awards/event season) is over. It was surprising, wasn't it? How could March possibly live up to those expectations? By bringing us a little bit of everything.

The best and worst Grammy performances of the past 10 years

As we head into the 61st Grammy Awards, it's worth looking back over the past decade of shows to narrow down those truly memorable performances, from the horrendously mismanaged dumb shows to the touching and spectacle-filled showstoppers that we still talk about to this day. 

The most memorable Oscar moments of the past 20 years

Everyone loves a good movie, and every once in a while the ceremony that hands out the film industry's highest honors can be just as entertaining as any blockbuster.

The best debut albums of the the last 50 years by year

There's an old saying in the music industry: You have your entire life to make your debut album. 

A true Legend: Everything John Legend has accomplished at 40

The man. The myth. The... Legend. John Roger Stephens' life has had quite the trajectory, from playing on a Lauryn Hill single in his teens to becoming to joining the EGOT club. 

Best breakthrough acts of 2018

Mixing everything from the poppiest of pop to the far reaches of experimental jazz, let's celebrate the breakthrough acts who truly left their mark on 2018.

The most disappointing music releases of 2018

While some of the albums on this list aren't necessarily bad, they failed to live up to past glories or even the lowest of honest expectations.

The 20 reasons why the Latin Grammys are the most exciting Grammys of them all

With nearly two decades of sensational moments under its belt, we couldn't think of any better way to celebrate the Latin Grammys than pouring through these incredible examples.

The ultimate Thom Yorke playlist

On Oct. 7, 1968, Thom Yorke was born into existence, and little did the young Northamptonshirer with the slightly paralyzed left eye know the impact he would soon have on the entirety of rock music.

Musicians going Hollywood: What separates pop hits and film flops

When the trailer for the 2018 remake of "A Star is Born" premiered, audiences were a bit stunned by how frank and emotionally compelling it was. Sure,

The Final Tour Farewells: 14 great musicians say goodbye to the road

For a lot of artists, instead of clinging on to their fame as their talents ebb away with age, many decide to end their careers on their own terms. "Farewell

 

We're still hung up on you: The ultimate Madonna mixtape

On Aug. 16, Madonna will once again defy pop star gravity and turn 60 years old. For most divas, this is around the time to relax a little and maybe start working on standards albums and the like.

The best acts at Lollapalooza by year

Lollapalooza couldn't have emerged at a more perfect time in the music world. It was initially designed as a massive farewell tour for Perry Farrell's band Jane's Addiction with a litany of acts performing and Jane's headlining.

The 27 greatest frontmen (and women) of all time

Here's a riddle for you: can a bad band still be fronted by someone great? Think about Journey. Maybe The Doors. Perhaps even Maroon 5. While some consider each band to be classic in their own way and others may find their entire output dismissive, Steve Perry, Jim Morrison and Adam Levine — love 'em or hate 'em — make for compelling figures.

The 22 best music documentaries of all time

There is an advantage to being a hardcore music fan in the streaming era: the best music documentaries about our favorite artists are more abundant than ever.

Legendary: Everything Neil Patrick Harris has accomplished by 45

To some, Neil Patrick Harris is a man of supernatural talents. He's a singer, dancer, actor, presenter — he just may very well be magic. But true NPH fans know the truth: he actually is a practicing magician.

The most famous name changes in music history

When Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993, people weren't sure what to think. Certainly, Prince was in his right to use it as a way to push back against his ongoing negotiations with Warner Bros.

Summer school: Albums to catch up on from the first half of the year

It's hard to believe that 2018 is almost halfway over, and thankfully, on the music front, it's yielded some amazing gifts. While 2017 felt like a pivotal moment when every artist who hadn't released anything in a hefty amount of years suddenly decided to surprise us with a brand new album (Kesha!

Potential summer anthems for 2018

As last year proved, when it comes to declaring what truly is the Song of the Summer — it's anyone's game. After all, while 2017 was decked out with overstuffed