As a tribute to the musical vision of Sun Ra, ‘Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City’ succeeds greatly in following but not retracing his astral footsteps.
Read moreShabaka’s ‘Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace’ Possesses Both Attributes in Abundance | Album Review
Ultimately, if you want peace, you’ll find it here on Shabaka Hutchings’ debut solo album in droves. And if you don’t, then maybe you never really wanted it or weren’t quite ready for it.
Read moreBeyoncé Defies Expectation, Lassos Inspiration with Convention-Breaking ‘Cowboy Carter’ | Album Review
Rather than a traditional country effort, ‘Cowboy Carter’ is an intricate pastiche of Americana, roots music, contemporary soul and country that rides well on the wild fusions it lassoes in.
Read moreWaxahatchee Captures Beauty Amidst the Chaos on ‘Tigers Blood’ | Album Review
While ‘Saint Cloud’ reinvented Waxahatchee for the sake of a redemption narrative, ‘Tigers Blood’ shows how her older sound, and older self, are still part of her even amidst that reinvention.
Read moreThe Black Crowes Return Revitalized with ‘Happiness Bastards’ | Album Review
The Brothers Robinson and crew reinforce that they are a key ingredient in the ever-evolving recipe of modern rock & roll and the genre just doesn’t pack the same punch without them.
Read moreKacey Musgraves Explores the Existential Truths on Soul-Affirming ‘Deeper Well’ | Album Review
Musgraves’ sterling sixth studio affair deserves to be embraced neither as epilogue of what’s come before nor as prologue of what comes next in her repertoire.
Read moreMasta Ace & Marco Polo’s Musical Symbiosis Shines Bright on Riveting ‘Richmond Hill’ | Album Review
Marco Polo’s no-nonsense, boom-bap approach to beats has served Masta Ace well for close to two decades, and ‘Richmond Hill’ is yet another great collaboration between the pair.
Read moreSy Smith’s ‘Until We Meet Again’ Melds Multiple Elements Into One Cohesive, Compelling Whole | Album Review
With the musical, vocal, lyrical, and emotional aptitude collected on ‘Until We Meet Again,’ it makes for a robustly embodied experience.
Read moreCleo Sol Enlightens the Spirit, Fortifies the Soul with ‘Gold’ | Album Review
Across ‘Gold,’ Sol offers faith, hope and the promise of a brighter future and in these times, that is in short supply.
Read moreNas & Hit-Boy Deliver Captivating Culmination of Their Recent Musical Partnership with ‘Magic 3’ | Album Review
A victory lap of an album, ‘Magic 3’ finds Nas celebrating the final (for now) chapter in his fruitful collaboration with Hit-Boy.
Read moreKylie Minogue’s Past and Present Coalesce in Captivating Form on ‘Tension’ | Album Review
Minogue’s sixteenth studio affair reinforces that its creator represents the best of what the pop genre can be: artistic evolution in motion.
Read moreCorinne Bailey Rae’s Artistic Versatility and Veracity Illuminate Purposeful ‘Black Rainbows’ | Album Review
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.
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