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 moreRichard Ashcroft Rekindles His Melodic Muse with Conviction & Grace on ‘Natural Rebel’ | Album Review
Ashcroft injects the ten songs here with a musical joie de vivre that, while certainly manifested across its precursor albums, achieves full, fantastic bloom on ‘Natural Rebel.’
Read moreNeneh Cherry Embraces the Intimate & Introspective to Glorious Effect on ‘Broken Politics’ | Album Review
Aided by Four Tet’s production, Cherry injects the grooves with a transcendent, meditative quality as a result of her perfectly imperfect voice and been-around-the-world’ attitude.
Read moreElla Mai Transcends Hefty Expectations by Crafting Diverse, Dynamic Eponymous Debut | Album Review
Meeting the high hopes that accompanied the massive success of “Boo’d Up” was as daunting as pulling off a high jump. But Ella Mai gracefully clears the bar with her self-titled debut album.
Read moreKT Tunstall’s Musical Versatility and Vitality Burn Bright on ‘WAX’ | Album Review
Where 2016’s ‘KIN’ embodied the theme of “soul” as the first entry in a planned album trilogy, Tunstall’s recently released sixth LP ‘WAX’ acts as the ambassador for “body.”
Read moreMetric Play It Loud and Safe with ‘Art of Doubt’ | Album Review
The band’s decision to emphasize their strength of a thunderous guitar and sleazy vocal sound has definitely helped them head in the right direction.
Read moreBright Light Bright Light’s ‘Tough Love’ Points to the Future While Evoking Electro-Pop’s Past | EP Review
Rod Thomas’ unabashed embrace of timeless songcraft in a period of soulless track building via ‘Tough Love’ may possibly let him finally extend his reach even further.
Read moreMacy Gray’s Radiant ‘Ruby’ Solidifies Her Staying Power & Musical Magnetism | Album Review
Gray’s tenth LP reinforces the continued application of her wholly distinctive abilities as a writer, vocalist and collaborator which has made her sui generis in modern R&B.
Read more