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
Boygenius! Peso Pluma!! Lily-Rose Depp!!! Here are our picks for the 100 best songs of 2023.
Dec. 6, 2023
Our top albums of 2023 come courtesy of a diverse group of women: an R&B superstar, a rising Colombian American and a sassy country newcomer.
Dec. 6, 2023
‘You scumbag, you maggot’: For broken romantics, nothing says Christmas like ‘Fairytale of New York’
The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ is one of the great holiday songs of the modern era, and a gorgeous, sozzled mess of a performance.
Nov. 30, 2023
Following Taylor Swift’s record-breaking “Eras Tour” movie, Beyoncé hits theaters with a film of her own, self-directed, that offers behind-the-scenes footage.
Nov. 28, 2023
Cat Power’s new album re-creates the 1966 Bob Dylan concert in England that scandalized folk purists and marked a turning point for Dylan and for rock.
Nov. 20, 2023
At age 54, Mariah Carey has unquestionably made Christmas her brand, as she proved yet again at the first of two sold-out Hollywood Bowl shows.
Nov. 18, 2023
Director Greta Gerwig asked the singer-songwriter for ‘Barbie’s heart song — the song that is deep inside her core that she doesn’t even completely know is there.’ The result made her cry.
Nov. 14, 2023
Just days after garnering a field-leading 9 Grammy nominations, SZA topped the bill on Day 2 of Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival.
Nov. 13, 2023
The songwriting-producing duo also composed the summer blockbuster’s score and oversaw its hit soundtrack album.
Nov. 13, 2023
After a four-year hiatus, Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival made a triumphant return to Dodger Stadium.
Nov. 12, 2023