‘King’s Disease III’ reinforces that there’s a whole realm of possibilities open for Nas as an emcee, as he looks toward the promising future of his already prolific career.
Read moreWeyes Blood Excavates the Cracked, Post-Pandemic Human Heart on ‘And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow’ | Album Review
By creating an odd discrepancy between the sounds of one bygone era and the immediate problems of this one, Mering carves out a wide space for contemplation.
Read moreExpansive ‘Thriller 40’ Delves Deep into the Multiple Dimensions of Michael Jackson’s Musical Genius | Album Review
The expanded collection brings into focus Jackson’s artistry and tenacity, as well as his fixation to create an album full of hit singles.
Read moreThe Du-Rites Fortify the Funk on ‘Plug It In’ | Album Review
‘Plug It In’ reinforces that the duo have become one of the best and most consistent instrumental soul/funk groups of the 21st century.
Read moreRayland Baxter’s Songwriting and Sound Soar on Transformative ‘If I Were A Butterfly’ | Album Review
Throughout the record, there’s a tension between Baxter’s soul-searching, his fear of adulthood, his deep sense of love and hope, and his romantic yearning.
Read moreLyrics Born Flexes His Creative Muscles on Idiosyncratically Inspired ‘Vision Board’ | Album Review
On ‘Vision Board,’ Lyrics Born and producer Rob Mercurio generate a genre-bending stew, fusing elements from all types of musical styles, to complement his imaginative lyrical content.
Read moreSTR4TA’s Musical Kinship Stretches and Soars on Stirring ‘STR4TASFEAR’ | Album Review
Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and Gilles Peterson reunite for their second official project adorned with the STR4TA moniker, which successfully expands the musical palette offered on last year’s debut outing.
Read moreLoyle Carner Speaks His Truth in Convincing Fashion with Powerful ‘hugo’ | Album Review
There is truth here in abundance and it is a testament to the ability of people to be able to make progress in a world designed to fail them at almost every turn.
Read moreCarly Rae Jepsen Pushes Her Pop Songcraft Forward with ‘The Loneliest Time’ | Album Review
Sitting at the core of this LP is a stunning array of selections that platform the reach of Jepsen’s lyricism.
Read moreTaylor Swift Paints Vivid, Vulnerable Portraits with Lucid Lyrical Brushstrokes of ‘Midnights’ | Album Review
‘Midnights’ signals a new chapter for Swift, one more self-confident, but still authentic to the artist and her origins.
Read morea-ha Find ‘True North’ on Engaging Eleventh Studio Affair | Album Review
Thumbing their nose at preconceived notions around their identity has allowed the group to build a discography bursting with accomplished recordings and ‘True North’ follows suit.
Read moreSay She She Play It Steady and Safe on Auspicious Debut ‘Prism’ | Album Review
Compared to the singles that preceded it, the trio’s debut album feels as if it has had the edges rounded off it—the grit and spikiness of the singles replaced by smoothed-out production and safer songwriting.
Read moreBjörk Digs Deep on Compelling and Challenging ‘Fossora’ | Album Review
Always interesting, but sometimes not especially pleasing to the ear, Björk’s tenth studio affair offers moments of beauty throughout coupled with songs that compromise the album’s overall cohesion.
Read moreGabriels Combine Heavenly Sounds with Stately Substance on Debut Album ‘Angels & Queens – Part 1’ | Album Review
The trio’s debut album clocks in at a sparse 27 minutes, but those minutes pack a punch far greater than you might expect.
Read moreLewis Taylor Returns with Feelings in Abundance on Sublime, Soul-Searching ‘NUMB’ | Album Review
‘NUMB’ is the sound of a man feeling his way back into his musical life amidst uncertainty and reticence, but it is a wholly compelling listen.
Read moreTreasure Trove of Rare Recordings Reilluminates Charles Stepney’s Musical Vision on ‘Step on Step’ | Album Review
This intimate album is a fabulous representation of Charles Stepney’s musical talents and a fitting tribute to the man behind the work.
Read moreDanger Mouse & Black Thought Achieve Supreme Musical Symbiosis on Captivating ‘Cheat Codes’ | Album Review
Danger Mouse’s dustier production aesthetic throughout ‘Cheat Codes’ serves Black Thought well, as he conducts lyrical clinics on each track.
Read moreKokoroko Deliver More Than Enough Musical Magic on Debut Album ‘Could We Be More’ | Album Review
The London-based, female-led group embody that strength via a generally positive outlook on life, which is reflected in the irrepressible joy that flows through the album.
Read moreAmanda Shires’ ‘Take It Like A Man’ Is a Triumph of Artistic Affirmation and Emotional Reckoning | Album Review
Shires’ seventh solo studio affair is a radiant revelation of an album that places a premium on art over artifice and substance over semblance.
Read moreBeyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Is a Resplendent, Reverential Experience for the Mind, Body and Soul | Album Review
Throughout the expanse of ‘Renaissance,’ Beyoncé’s artistic use of dance music as a medium investigates hidden corners of the genre with complex arrangements and atypical melodies.
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