Reads of the Week: World Cup songs, punk history, Kelela's great new album

July 12, 2026 Reads of the Week: World Cup songs, punk history, Kelela's great new album JULY 12, 2026 TOP STORIES The history of the punk beat in 10 songs This fast, galloping drum beat is ubiquitous in punk and hardcore music, propelling numerous songs by everyone from blink-182 and Turnstile to Operation Ivy and Jeff Rosenstock—but the consensus on its origins and evolution is muddy at best. A brief and biased history of the World Cup song The two best songs in World Cup history are clever, catchy, and bend genre imaginatively without feeling confused. Like trapping lightning in a bottle, they capture the excitement and chaos of a good game of football. MY SKYSCRAPER is a timeless portrayal of New York City’s cultural prime Paste Pick: As Nirosta Steel, musician Steven Hall’s latest effort is ... read