Music Features

Quarantine the Past: Pollena, Ricky Gourmet, cool sorcery and Nighttime

Quarantine the Past is back with a new look for a new season. In the latest episode, the usual crew discusses four up and coming artists, touching on folk, pop, and bedroom punk.

The 50 Best Albums of 2022

It's time to reveal our top albums of the year. A longstanding tradition since 2002, our full list consists of 50 albums selected by the entire No Ripcord staff.

Quarantine the Past: Best of 2022

UPDATED 11TH JANUARY with PART THREE featuring the No Ripcord team discussing our Top 50.

I Am The Cosmos: Chris Bell and The Secrets That (Mostly) Don’t Exist

This article was first pitched to No Ripcord 19 years ago and we are delighted to finally publish it today. As much a rumination on ageing and music discovery as it is a tribute to Big Star legend Chris Bell, this is simply a brilliant piece of music writing.

Quarantine the Past: Alvvays Special Edition

David Coleman and Juan Rodríguez explore what makes Blue Rev, the sensational new album from Canada’s Alvvays, worthy of a rare perfect ten rating.

Quarantine the Past #5

In this two part edition of our podcast, we discuss 21st century artists who should have made it and listen to new music from Courting, Porij, Nisa and Mamalarky.

Scout Gillett Surrenders to the Tide

The indie folk singer-songwriter sits down with Joe Marvilli to talk about moving forward while dealing with grief, receiving valuable advice from Sharon Van Etten about pursuing music, and her hypnotic debut album no roof no floor.

Smashing Pumpkins' ATUM, Reviewed

In late 2022, the veteran alt-rockers announced a 33-song 3-act rock opera, the sequel to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina: The Machines of God. Read on as Editor-in-Chief Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews each weekly track drop in the lead-up to the concept album's official May 5th release.

Update: With 33 tracks now in, let him guide you through this behemoth of an album.

Quarantine the Past #4

In QtP #4 we discuss some newly discovered older records we've been enjoying and weigh in on new music from Pale Blue Eyes, Yaya Bey, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and Lawn.

Quarantine the Past #3 (Part Two)

New music picks and discussion featuring Horsegirl, Viagra Boys, Body Type and 1300.