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.
Read moreMaggie Rogers Brushes Up Against Desire and the Divine on ‘Surrender’ | Album Review
Rogers’ roar matches every stomping beat, bold synth and fiery riff on ‘Surrender,’ which is much more rock ‘n’ roll than its precursor, 2019’s ‘Heard It In A Past Life.’
Read moreNerina Pallot Elevates Art Over Artifice to Stunning Effect on Inspired ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Doing’ | Album Review
The title of Pallot’s seventh studio album is a wry, humorous wink at artistic expectation and perception.
Read moreEthel Cain Raises Heaven and Hell on Sweeping, Southern Gothic Debut ‘Preacher’s Daughter’ | Album Review
Hayden Anhedönia’s wounds appear to be not only personal, but sociopolitical in the sense that her debut album addresses the long-festering intergenerational wound that is the American South.
Read moreSoccer Mommy’s ‘Sometimes, Forever’ is a Revelatory Journey in Sound | Album Review
Sophie Allison’s third full-length LP is an unapologetic rock record with massive hooks, dynamic instrumentation, spectacular mixing, and a definable arc.
Read morePete Yorn Examines the Circuitous Pursuit of Connection with Candor and Grace on ‘Hawaii’ | Album Review
With eloquence and empathy, Yorn’s tenth album explores the ways in which we seek to reconcile and carry on through the emotional and psychological vicissitudes of our lives.
Read more‘Prince and The Revolution: Live’ Testifies to the Band’s Power and Their Leader’s Stunning, Unrivaled Musicianship | Review
The March 30, 1985 concert in Syracuse, New York crystallized one of the most momentous nights for the band, a testament to their unmatched talent and impeccably exceptional craft.
Read moreYasiin Bey & Talib Kweli Reconnect Their Lyrical Powers as Black Star on ‘No Fear of Time’ | Album Review
Fortunately, Yasiin Bey & Talib Kweli do not try to “change the game” with ‘No Fear of Time.’ It’s a solid effort, but not particularly ambitious, and that’s fine.
Read moreTom Aspaul Flips His Script & Sound on ‘Life In Plastic’ | Album Review
For his second studio affair, Aspaul relinquishes the concept album approach of 2020’s ‘Black Country Disco’ and embraces more general themes of living and loving in our strange, modern age.
Read moreCraig Finn Crafts Vivid, Veracious Tales of Human Fragility on ‘A Legacy of Rentals’ | Album Review
The Hold Steady frontman’s fifth solo affair revels in contradictions and places the listener in more provocative situations, further solidifying his proven penchant for masterful storytelling.
Read moreObongjayar’s Vocal Versatility and Musical Adventurism Thrive Throughout ‘Some Nights I Dream Of Doors’ | Album Review
On his debut album, Obongjayar’s voice is a constantly shifting tool that he utilizes in different ways across and within songs.
Read moreKendrick Lamar Excavates the Contours and Complexities of His Psyche on Revelatory ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’ | Review
An artist fairly unconcerned about temporally stepping steps into the fray to bless and curse us with a body of work that feels like his most time-sensitive yet.
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