Popcast - podcast cover

Popcast

The New York Timeswww.nytimes.com
The Popcast is hosted by Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic for The New York Times. It covers the latest in popular music criticism, trends and news. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
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Episodes

Popcast: Prince Royce, Pitbull and Multilingual Pop Music

Ben Ratliff, Jon Caramanica and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd discuss international and multilingual pop. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 24, 201537 minEp. 40

Reggae’s Summer Flirtation

A look at the desire for a reggae or reggae-like worldwide pop hit between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 17, 201525 minEp. 39

Hip-Hop’s Silent Majority

Hip-hop’s mainstream can often be confused with prosperity gospel, so it’s striking that in 2015, at least a couple of the genre’s biggest selling stars want nothing to do with such narratives. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 10, 20151 hr 11 minEp. 38

Popcast: “Tomatoes” Giving Country Its Bite

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the women of country music. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jun 19, 201533 minEp. 36

Popcast: Tenement’s Bright Double Album

Ben Ratliff, Maria Sherman and Liz Pelly discuss the band’s new album and punk music. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jun 12, 201528 minEp. 35

Jason Derulo Glides Across Genres

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss Jason Derulo’s new album. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jun 05, 201526 minEp. 34

ASAP Rocky Returns to a Haze

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss ASAP Rocky’s new album. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 29, 201521 minEp. 33

Shamir’s Distinctive Voice

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the singer’s blend of different genres. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 22, 201523 minEp. 32

Joey Alexander, the Young Jazz Sensation

Ben Ratliff and Nate Chinen discuss Joey Alexander’s debut album. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 15, 201528 minEp. 31

U2 Prepares to Go on Tour

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss U2 and “Songs of Innocence” as the group heads out on a world tour. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 08, 201521 minEp. 30

New Albums By Zac Brown Band and Tyler Farr

Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica discuss records from country dissenters and what, if anything, country’s borders mean anymore. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 01, 201522 minEp. 29

Kamasi Washington and the West Coast Get Down

Ben Ratliff and Jon Caramanica discuss the tenor saxophonist and his roots in the thriving Los Angeles jazz scene. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Apr 24, 201526 minEp. 28

How Much Festival Is Too Much Festival?

Jon Caramanica, Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss the vicissitudes and artistic value of music festivals. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Apr 17, 201534 minEp. 27

The Ongoing Evolution of Charles Lloyd

Jon Pareles and Nate Chinen discuss the jazz saxophonist, flutist and band leader Charles Lloyd. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Apr 10, 201528 minEp. 26

Kendrick Lamar, Dissenting From the Mainstream as He Influences It

Discussing the rapper’s new album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Mar 27, 201526 minEp. 25

On ‘Empire’: The Show, the Music and the Calamitous Finale

Jon Caramanica and Gilbert Cruz, of The Times, and Justin Charity, of Complex, discuss “Empire.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Mar 20, 201548 minEp. 24

Blurred Legal Lines

Ben Sisario, Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the “Blurred Lines” copyright trial. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Mar 13, 201533 minEp. 23

Madonna is Still Madonna On ‘Rebel Heart’

Jon Pareles and Ben Ratliff discuss “Rebel Heart,” the new album by Madonna. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Mar 06, 201519 minEp. 22

Who Is Boots?

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss the 28-year-old singer, songwriter and producer. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Feb 20, 201523 minEp. 21

Grammys Post-Mortem

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Kanye West, Beck, Iggy Azalea, Papa John’s and other stars of the show. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Feb 10, 201530 minEp. 20

Björk Gets Personal

Jon Pareles tells Ben Ratliff about club-hopping with Björk in Iceland and listening to her new album, “Vulnerica,” which was released last week. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 30, 201527 minEp. 19

Departed Tastemakers: ASAP Yams and Kim Fowley

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss two connectors with keen ears, who died last week. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 23, 201521 minEp. 18

Sleater-Kinney Returns

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles are joined by Caryn Ganz, of RollingStone.com, to discuss “No Cities to Love,” the new album by Sleater-Kinney. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 16, 201523 minEp. 17

All About Meghan Trainor

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss Ms. Trainor as surprise, as a formula, as contrivance and as a product of Nantucket, hip-hop and Nashville. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 09, 201523 minEp. 16

The Year in Jazz 2014

Jon Pareles, Nate Chinen and Ben Ratliff discuss the movements of jazz in 2014. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 02, 201537 minEp. 15

The Year in Pop 2014

Ben Ratliff, Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen discuss pop music’s dominant themes, lessons and preoccupations in 2014. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 19, 201429 minEp. 14

The Best Albums of 2014

The pop critics of The New York Times discuss their lists of the Top 10 albums of the year. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 12, 201443 minEp. 13

The Pop Savvy of ‘Beyond the Lights’

Jon Caramanica and A.O. Scott discuss what this modern update of “The Bodyguard” gets right about the music business. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 05, 201427 minEp. 12

London Calls Mary J. Blige

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss Mary J. Blige and her new album, “The London Sessions.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 21, 201432 minEp. 11

How Bobby Shmurda Danced Into the Hot 100

The 20-year-old East Flatbush rapper Bobby Shmurda has just jumped from No. 8 to No. 6 on the Billboard chart. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 14, 201428 minEp. 10
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