Mikael Wood writes about pop music in all its ever-quickening splendor. Prior to joining the Los Angeles Times in 2012, he was a freelance contributor to Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Spin and the Village Voice. He grew up in Little Rock, Ark., graduated from Northwestern University and knows every word to “Mo Money Mo Problems.” He was named pop music critic in 2016.
Latest From This Author
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On the fifth anniversary of his death, we rank every Prince song officially released as a single, from 1978’s ‘Soft and Wet’ to 2015’s ‘Free Urself.’
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Hip-hop boy band-slash-collective Brockhampton has just released its best album to date. Could it also be its last?
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From Guns N’ Roses to the Go-Go’s, Julien Baker to Bad Bunny, from dance festivals to metal mosh pits, live music is finally, finally back.
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The first in a series of promised re-recordings of her catalog, the re-release of ‘Fearless’ comes on the heels of ‘Evermore’ and the Grammy-winning ‘Folklore.’
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After a week of attacks from conservatives, delicious rebuttals from the artist and an “SNL” skit, Lil Nas X tops the Billboard Hot 100 for the second time.
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They’re vaccinated and ready to battle on Verzuz. But first, soul music greats Ronald Isley and Philip Bailey talk Sam Cooke, Biggie, Kendrick Lamar and streaming.
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‘Deja Vu,’ the new follow-up to Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song ‘Drivers License,’ deploys some familiar tricks that work for the 18-year-old Disney star.
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Pop fans with long memories will recognize the furor over Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero.’
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Following his stint in the L.A. country-punk band Lone Justice, Heffington played with such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam and Dave Alvin.
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Justin Bieber showed a talent for storytelling on his single “Lonely.” Unfortunately, his new LP “Justice” trades narrative for a grab bag of styles.