One of hip-hop’s truly gifted storytellers, MURS continues to craft the types of songs that you don’t hear anywhere else.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: Apathy Scores with Thought-Provoking ‘The Widow’s Son’
While not necessarily groundbreaking, ‘The Widow’s Son’ gives us what we expect from an Apathy album, and with an added twist of something more mature.
Read moreLissie Stays True to Her Strengths, Crafts Songs That Linger with ‘Castles’ | Album Review
A grown-up, personal set of songs, Lissie’s fourth studio album dutifully showcases a talented singer-songwriter adept at crafting songs that stick with you.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd Unite for Dark, Dynamic Collaboration ‘Aguardiente’
With a sense of theatrical drama throughout, CRIMEAPPLE & Big Apple Ltd’s joint effort demonstrates why they’re both notable talents.
Read moreJack White Reaches…and Misses on Clunky ‘Boarding House Reach’ | Album Review
White switches things up like never before on his third studio album, but the experimentation and its far reach are bizarre and polarizing.
Read morePhonte’s Ruminations About Life & Love Resonate on Inspired ‘No News Is Good News’ | Album Review
With the album clocking in at just 33 minutes, Phonte says everything he needs to say in a brief amount of time, and leaves the listeners wanting more.
Read morePRhyme's DJ Premier & Royce da 5’9” Solidify Their Creative Chemistry with ‘PRhyme 2’ | Album Review
DJ Premier & Royce da 5’9” deliver a compelling, star-studded sophomore set featuring 2 Chainz, Big K.R.I.T., CeeLo Green and Rapsody among others.
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 moreThe Breeders Recalibrate and Reignite on Agitated, Arresting ‘All Nerve’ | Album Review
Waiting ten years for The Breeders to give us another album is an act of faith their collective talents are worthy of.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: Soccer Mommy’s ‘Clean’ Juxtaposes Youthful Earnestness with Musical Maturity
On her debut LP, Sophie Allison’s preoccupations are teenage (and occasionally timeless) leftovers, but more grown-up signatures are scribbled throughout.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: Titus Andronicus Demand (and Command) Our Attention on ‘A Productive Cough’
The band’s fifth studio affair is like a throat clearing before you make a big, bold statement, a statement that gets the attention of a room.
Read moreCommon, Robert Glasper & Karriem Riggins Craft Inspired Debut as August Greene | Album Review
Common's thoughtful input takes center stage throughout most of the album. Yet, Glasper and Riggins still manage to showcase what makes them special talents.
Read moreKhrysis & Elzhi Unite for Cerebral, Compelling ‘Jericho Jackson’ Collaboration | Album Review
The LP may be the first collaboration of its kind between Khrysis and Elzhi, but their styles mesh as if they've been working together for years.
Read moreTracey Thorn Delivers Masterclass with Salient, Stunning ‘Record’ | Album Review
Driving the songs is Thorn's voice, a vital ingredient that hasn't dulled, its warmth and character as divine as ever.
Read moreMeg Remy Takes No Prisoners on U.S. Girls' Searing, Stirring ‘In a Poem Unlimited’ | Album Review
On an album of top 40 melodies and dance jams, the format is accessible, but Meg Remy’s thesis is more cerebral.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: ‘Black Panther: The Album’ Further Cements Kendrick Lamar’s Creative Legacy
With the guidance of a great artist, currently in the pocket of cultural zeitgeist, ‘Black Panther’ multiplies to make a satisfying sum of its disparate parts.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: Ezra Furman Takes Us on a Riveting Ride with ‘Transangelic Exodus’
On his excellent new album, Furman digs deep into a narrative, weaving a tale of outlawed lovers on the run from a society that won’t accept them.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: Shareef Keyes & The Groove Serve Up Aural Treats Galore with ‘Cooking Something’
On ‘Cooking Something,’ the band’s play powers the album as they go beyond the boundaries of what one might expect from funk music given the genre's history.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: SiR Enthralls on Subtly Smooth Debut Long Player ‘November’
Despite the shifts in SiR's perspective, the album flows well from start to finish, largely because of how he sings.
Read moreALBUM REVIEW: The James Hunter Six’s ‘Whatever It Takes’ Offers the Antidote for Our Troubling Times
‘Whatever It Takes’ leaves you with the feeling that you’ve left this tumultuous world behind—if only for half an hour—lost in the transportable power of good music.
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