At its worst, ‘Oxnard’ mines tired, misogynistic material. But at its best, it shows the undoubted charm, talent and contagious spirit of its creator.
Read moreMasta Ace & Marco Polo Extend Their Musical Partnership with Eloquent & Engaging ‘A Breukelen Story’ | Album Review
A perfect rallying cry for fans of adult contemporary hip-hop, ‘A Breukelen Story’ showcases an adept producer skillfully scoring a veteran emcee rhyming with maturity and clarity.
Read moreMariah Carey Reveals a Renewed Sense of Artistic Purpose with ‘Caution’ | Album Review
A few forgivable missteps aside, Carey’s fifteenth studio affair still casts a wicked spell as a modern R&B record emboldened with intent.
Read moreLightfoils Summon Shoegaze’s Halcyon Days with Lush, Enveloping ‘Chambers’ | EP Review
Listeners who missed the first wave of shoegaze in the 1990s, or simply miss the sound today, should give Lightfoils a chance.
Read moreVince Staples Expands His Sound, Refines His Dynamic Delivery on ‘FM!’ | Album Review
The Compton-born, Long Beach-bred emcee’s music has grown more accessible with each new release, and ‘FM!’ is the largest leap forward in this process.
Read moreRobyn Solidifies Her Class Act Status with Masterful, Magical ‘Honey’ | Album Review
With ‘Honey,’ Robyn proves that even after taking a few years off, she is a true standout in a crowded dance pop scene, still setting the tone after all these years.
Read moreApollo Brown & Joell Ortiz Paint Vibrant Soundscapes and Vivid Narratives on ‘Mona Lisa’ | Album Review
Brown and Ortiz excel at their respective crafts and exhibit a musical chemistry that we’ve seen from hip-hop’s best producer/emcee collaboration albums in recent years.
Read moreEschewing Nostalgia for Timelessness, Boy George & Culture Club’s ‘Life’ Is An Unequivocal Triumph | Album Review
The trim, eleven-track ‘Life’ is breathtakingly accomplished and engaging, with the group’s signature sonics and fresh aural flavors in abundance throughout the entire affair.
Read moreAfter 18-Year Hiatus, Dubstar Resurface in Radiant Form with ‘One’ | Album Review
As if by magic, Dubstar’s long awaited fourth record has now manifested on the boutique imprint Northern Writes to stun loyal fans, surprise cynical critics and woo the uninitiated.
Read moreMike Shinoda’s Multiple Musical Identities Manifest on Stage in Atlanta | Live Review
Photo: Erin Kyle
Abandoning sadness and despair in favor of immortalizing his partner-in-song, Shinoda’s recent tour stop in Atlanta proved to be one of his most memorable performances to date.
Read moreEminem Nearly Back at His Best with Blistering Surprise Album ‘Kamikaze’ | Album Review
On his latest LP, the middle-aged Mr. Mathers laments his critics and contemporary rappers alike, with his signature flow that still blows away the vast majority of emcees working today.
Read moreNeko Case Returns Resilient & Resplendent with ‘Hell-On’ | Album Review
On her seventh album, Case sounds emboldened, too pissed off to stay quiet. She doles out her anger in spoonfuls, washed down with humor and hooks.
Read moreTom Misch Stretches His Stirring Songcraft on Genre-Defying Debut ‘Geography’ | Album Review
An unassuming and uncompromisingly gratifying aural experience, ‘Geography’ is the reviewer’s personal favorite album of 2018 so far, until otherwise notified.
Read moreJanelle Monáe’s Dynamic ‘Dirty Computer’ Expertly Merges the Personal & Political | Album Review
A pristine pop sheen makes ‘Dirty Computer’ Monáe’s most mainstream album to date, without sacrificing her lyrical power and artistic integrity.
Read moreLaura Veirs Triumphs with Exhilarating, Exquisitely Crafted ‘The Lookout’ | Album Review
Every song on Veirs’ new album ‘The Lookout’ is special, tied together by a thoughtful thesis, consummate musicianship, and an unwavering work ethic.
Read moreKylie Minogue Embraces Artistic Growth with Glorious ‘Golden’ | Album Review
For the first time in a long time, here is a Kylie Minogue album that wears its art—and heart—on its sleeve publicly and is the better for it.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello Achieves Stirring Sonic Alchemy with Covers Set ‘Ventriloquism’ | Album Review
Photo: Charlie Gross
When Ndegeocello strips the songs back to their core intent, honing in on the message within the lyrics, she manages to elevate them into a new place.
Read moreFirst Aid Kit Craft Sterling, Subdued Suite of Songs with ‘Ruins’ | Album Review
‘Ruins’ may not recapture the intensity of its 2014 precursor ‘Stay Gold,’ but its strength lays in the duo’s swooning vocals and lyrical romance.
Read moreBjörk’s ‘Utopia’ Aims for Transcendence, Achieves It in Abundance | Album Review
In a year that’s brought a political climate and news cycle that degrades, rather than elevates, the universe of Björk’s 'Utopia' is ascendant and cathartic.
Read moreYumi Zouma Hit Their Stride on Wonderful ‘Willowbank’ | Album Review
The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2016 debut album ‘Yoncalla,’ ‘Willowbank’ is packed with twee dream pop mature beyond its years.
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