‘The Ivory Stoop’ is a well-crafted album that maximizes Jay Royale’s abilities as an emcee with a savvy choice of production expertise.
Read moreSharon Van Etten Expands Her Sound & Vision with Revelatory ‘Remind Me Tomorrow’ | Album Review
‘Remind Me Tomorrow’ reinforces that Van Etten is an unnaturally consistent songwriter, her songs imbued with pathos, often just a breath in between the staggering joy and sorrow.
Read moreJames Blake Trades the Somber for the Sanguine on Stirring, Self-Aware ‘Assume Form’ | Album Review
While Blake’s fourth LP feels slightly condensed relative to previous outings, he still manages to leave enough room for the beauty in his compositions to shine through like a beacon.
Read moreMaggie Rogers Transcends the Hype Machine with ‘Heard It In A Past Life’ | Album Review
With Rogers’ promise and passion manifest throughout, her major-label debut album is an encouraging chapter in what will hopefully be a very long musical career.
Read moreSeth Rosenbloom’s Debut Album ‘Keep On Turning’ Approaches Blues Brilliance | Album Review
Even with a few imperfections, Rosenbloom provides glimpses of his potential as a singer/blues guitarist who has appeal beyond the Guitar Center set.
Read moreThe Beatles’ ‘White Album’ Resurfaces in Enthralling, Expanded Form to Mark Its Half-Century Milestone | Album Review
In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, the Fab Four’s ambitiously conceived and expertly executed 1968 double-LP resurfaces with plenty of rare audio treasures to behold.
Read moreThe 1975 Refine Their Perspective & Musical Palette with ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ | Album Review
The 1975’s third studio album is less focused on the questioning heard across their previous records and finds the Manchester band more confident in what it means to be The 1975.
Read moreAnderson .Paak Paves a Bumpy Path from ‘Malibu’ to ‘Oxnard’ | Album Review
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.
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