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Thomas Conner biography

Pop Music Critic Thomas Conner has worked in music and features journalism for nearly 20 years. At the Sun-Times, he's been Music Editor since arriving …Read More

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2012 delivered highs, lows and all sorts of great pop shows

THOMAS CONNER: Chicago led a new rap scene, sampled a new way to do Taste and hosted concerts both pleasing (Roger Waters, fun.) and less so (One Direction, Prince).

The 10 best albums of 2012, led by Frank Ocean’s visionary R&B;

THOMAS CONNER: Tame Impala and Fiona Apple also made the list in a year rich with musical diversity.

10 best albums of 2012 by Chicago artists

The year saw dozens of great records by Chicago artists, from local indies to big household names. Here are my picks for the cream of 2012’s bumper crop: 1. Sea & Cake, “Runner” (Thrill Jockey) Chicago isn’t primarily a blues town anymore, and the veteran …

Kirk at Work — ‘World’ revolves around William Shatner

William Shatner’s on the phone, and here’s one of the first things he says: “I just put down the phone with Ben Folds.” I’m a “Star Trek” fan but it’s not, you know, a lifestyle. I like the franchise just fine, and my favorites are …

Auld Lang … ROCK! New Year’s Eve offers concerts galore

Chicago’s a great New Year’s Eve town — for music. So many great bands call this city home, and when they come home for the holidays they book a hometown hootenanny. Others come for the champagne and party hats because, hey, it’s Chicago. Either way, …

Chief Keef debut no great leap forward for hip-hop

THOMAS CONNER: Unless Keef ups his game at the mike after “Finally Rich,” the rapper runs a greater risk of being just a flash in the pan.

Grammy snubs no sweat — Bieber, PSY have no reason to fret

This year’s annual B96 (96.3-FM) Jingle Bash concert features a couple of notable losers. Nominations for the Grammy Awards came in last week, and the list failed to include two of pop music’s biggest current stars: Justin Bieber and PSY. Neither act has anything to …

Rolling Stones mark 50 years with time very much on their side

THOMAS CONNER: In a way, refusing to retire is one last act of rebellion by rock’s eternal bad boys.

Kanye West, Jay-Z, Mumford & Sons among top Grammy contenders

THOMAS CONNER: The highly diverse list of nominees reflects a singles-driven, online-dominated music market, and a corresponding younger and more diverse talent pool.

Mixes of holiday songs bring you the best of many worlds

Christmas mixes — not to be confused with hip-hop’s now-branded “mixtapes” — are the last bastion of compilation cool. Be they digital playlists, burned CDs or (bless your lil’ hearts) an actual homemade, hand-lettered cassette, some of us still get our holly jollies over Thanksgiving …

Year’s best Christmas album isn’t from Lady Antebellum, Scotty McCreery

THOMAS CONNER: Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl finds just the right mood for her new carols, and other good tidings come from Sufjan Stevens and (really) Rod Stewart.

Ex-Pumpkins guitarist James Iha back with first solo disc in 14 years

THOMAS CONNER: James Iha, former guitarist for the Smashing Pumpkins, just released his second solo effort, “Look to the Sky”; his first was 14 years ago. Ahead of an intimate Schubas show on Tuesday in his native Chicago, Iha talked about taking his sweet time, his old pal Billy and old home Chicago.

El Vez blends music, politics, hot pants — and the holiday spirit

THOMAS CONNER: If the Elvis satirist’s twisted take on Christmas doesn’t suit you, there are plenty of other promising yuletide concerts ahead.

Individuals, not genre, are the focus in ‘Metalocalypse’

THOMAS CONNER: The animated TV series “Metalocalypse,” which will be celebrated at an Aragon concert this weekend, is not about heavy metal. But Brendon Small, the show’s creative force, reminds us that the parody is about something more: “It’s about a group of celebrities that happen to be a metal band.”

One Direction attempts to take a left turn on new album

THOMAS CONNER: Even though the songs on One Direction’s “Take Me Home” have been overly constructed, they’re occasionally peppy and fun and at least imagine themselves to be more rock ’n’ roll than the usual boy-band R&B.;

Brad Elvis and his ‘under-the-radar’ Handcuffs relish their success

THOMAS CONNER: Always the opening act, veteran Chicago rocker Brad Elvis of Screams, the Elvis Brothers and Big Hello now is performing with his wife in the pop-glam duo the Handcuffs.

Can we have ‘Let’s Stay Together’ and ‘Don’t Stop’ back now?

THOMAS CONNER: 5 songs — from Stevie Wonder, ELO and others — that need to be freed from co-opting by political campaigns.

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