Arguably the most striking element of ‘Black Rainbows’ is the intent that bristles throughout. Every note, every silent moment serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Read moreCleo Sol Traverses Emotional Depths with Grace and Strength on Plaintive, Powerful ‘Heaven’ | Album Review
Cleo Sol’s third studio affair both promotes and demands stillness and contemplation to fully appreciate its many charms.
Read moreJames Blake Delves Deep Into the Visceral on Prismatic ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’ | Album Review
Blake’s sixth studio affair is like a surround sound work meant to be experienced in a theater where the seats rumble to punctuate its big moments. These songs are to be felt, not only heard.
Read moreRóisín Murphy’s Ambition and Artistry Flourish on Imaginative ‘Hit Parade’ | Album Review
Murphy’s sixth studio affair is futuristic, spectacularly beautiful and ridiculously inimitable, all things that she seems to always achieve, whether she intends to or not.
Read moreJoni Mitchell’s Resilient Spirit and Timeless Songs Take Center Stage on ‘Joni Mitchell at Newport’ | Album Review
Originally captured during her surprise performance at the Newport Folk Festival in the summer of 2022, Mitchell’s new live album is an inspired portrait of her artistry and vitality.
Read moreNas & Hit-Boy Amplify Their Musical Wizardry with Magnetic ‘Magic 2’ | Album Review
As good as Nas’ recent ‘King’s Disease’ series has been, ‘Magic 2’ manages to still raise the musical bar as it pushes its way toward the top tier of one of hip-hop’s most celebrated catalogs.
Read morePJ Harvey Pays Gothic Tribute to Dorset on Timeless, Poetic ‘I Inside The Old Year Dying’ | Album Review
Harvey’s tenth studio affair is not an album that grabs you by the lapels, but one that’s subtle and nuanced and grows all the more enjoyable with each new listen.
Read moreJanelle Monáe Savors Her Sensuality and Stimulates Our Senses with ‘The Age of Pleasure’ | Album Review
One can only hope a deluxe edition extends this bacchanalian delight to satisfy those who like a longer session. Perhaps Monáe intentionally chose to stop short because they like watching partners beg for more.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello’s Musical Vision Enthralls on Immersive ‘The Omnichord Real Book’ | Album Review
On her thirteenth studio affair, Ndegeocello has created a whole even more powerful than its constituent parts, taking in a range of ideas that dazzle and enchant with their beauty and power.
Read moreSophie Ellis-Bextor Triumphs with Enchanting ‘HANA’ | Album Review
Ellis-Bextor’s seventh studio album is a sensorial blend of melancholia, escape, reflection, and surrealism, in both its words and music.
Read moreRufus Wainwright’s Interpretive Gifts and Collaborative Spirit Illuminate ‘Folkocracy’ | Album Review
Another well-rounded offering from Wainwright, ‘Folkocracy’ reinforces that there’s really no one quite like him.
Read moreAlison Goldfrapp’s Artistry Flourishes on Debut Solo Effort ‘The Love Invention’ | Album Review
Here, Goldfrapp manages to go for an extroverted jubilance but maintains a mystique that one just can’t put their finger on. It makes for very good listening.
Read moreMadison McFerrin Leaves a Lush, Lasting Impression with Debut ‘I Hope You Can Forgive Me’ | Album Review
McFerrin is clearly aware of the old showbiz adage “leave ‘em wanting more” and she manages that easily here with her beguiling vocal skills and arrangements alongside solid songwriting.
Read moreArlo Parks’ Lyricism Shines Amidst Mundane Musical Backdrops on “My Soft Machine” | Album Review
There is no doubting Parks’ artistry, and her lyrics remain vital and impressive. But the music, at times, ventures towards the less memorable end of the scale.
Read moreFoo Fighters Navigate the Convergence of Love and Loss on Poignant, Elegiac 'But Here We Are' | Album Review
Just as celebratory as it is cathartic, the band’s eleventh album hits the right chord time and time again, not weighed down by its content, but freed by its expression.
Read moreJidenna Examines Intimacy In Its Multiple Forms with Compelling ‘ME YOU & GOD’ | Album Review
‘ME YOU & GOD’ is an anthology of vignettes that works best as an uninterrupted listen.
Read moreKate Ceberano Reimagines Her Canon with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Majestic ‘My Life Is A Symphony’ | Album Review
On Ceberano’s thirtieth album, the words take center stage with her voice and the orchestra, in all its grandeur and raw audible beauty, combining to create something truly magnificent.
Read moreEmily King’s ‘Special Occasion’ Celebrates the Vitality and Vicissitudes of Love | Album Review
Ostensibly, Emily King and Jeremy Most’s final act as a duo was to craft a spectacular, textured elegy to their union. Tragedy aside, ‘Special Occasion’ is an undeniable triumph.
Read moreJoshua Idehen’s Personal Reflections Yield Universal Revelations on Inspired ‘Learn To Swim, A Mixtape’ | Review
Across ‘Learn To Swim, A Mixtape,’ Idehen drops memorable, meaningful line after line accompanied by a variety of euphoric choruses and gently throbbing variations of dancefloor life.
Read moreBlack Thought’s Top-Tier Lyricism and El Michels Affair’s Soulful Soundscapes Converge on ‘Glorious Game’ | Review
With Black Thought operating at the peaks of his talents and Leon Michels’ soundscapes tailored to match the depth of subject matter, this musical partnership will hopefully endure.
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