John-Paul Shiver

Sanitized blockbuster 'Michael' and estate-quashed Prince doc rob us of nuanced, imaginative, and true portraits of the pop giants.

So I’m not sure if Nostradamus had this one, but go look around at your cool, hip, and yes, hipster friends. See the leg warmers? Notice the baggy jean comfort? All of that sloppier, messier clothing aesthetic has yawned itself back into the current personal style blip. I hate to tell you, Paige, Delaney, Cassidy, and Reagan—the ’90s are back. It’s not just a Gen Z passing fancy or that 20-30 year cycle where everything marches and/or running man back into the zeitgeist once again. This retro fantasizing from afar goes deep, like a James Jamerson bassline or a KDot/Drake beef. Rooted in the ick, our cultural malaise, nostalgia has finally stuck around. What do you expect when various streamers pan up old and fresh servings of Friends, Seinfeld, South Park, In Living Color, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer every damn night like it’s Wednesday’s comfort food? Yes, we’re living in “meatloaf again” memes times. Along with lots of baggy jeans, grunge fashion cues, and hair scrunchies in those slices of everyday life.

Plus: Very catchy Otoliths, Bel Cobain's Brownswood reign, Georgie Sweet swears again. And what's up with the Hall of Fame?

Glenn Donaldson returns with a portrait of SF that was

Plus: Old Skool Cafe still kicks, bliss abyss channels The Cure, Neal Francis dives into house, Lyra Pramuk's 'Hymnal' gets resung.

Party crew program audio have transformed a tiny kiosk near the top of Haight Street into a brilliant online radio station.

Plus: Sleater-Kinney and Liz Phair's long-awaited tour, TsuShiMaMiRe brings Japanese noise punk to BOTH, 37 Houses' poly rippers.

Dub Mission, Dirtybird Campout, Total Accord Fest, more roll in with the fog. But why is DJ Shadow dissing SF?

There was a period in the early to mid-80s when recording artists from a previous era chose to catch up. Heard and embraced the technology of the day. A surging next wave of producers and dancers flocked to these arrangements, where guitars went in the background and samplers, synths, and 808s stood in the front of the mix. Trevor Horn, among others, saw that rock needed a glow-up. The producer and member of seminal groups The Buggles and Art of Noise got hold of the sophistipop UK band ABC in ’82 and produced their debut communique to swoon.

Plus: Drum and bass revival keeps rolling, DJ Koco cuts up classic Cuban 45s, Devon Parker's star ascends, more music