With ‘Tension II,’ Minogue's icy electro-pop sound remains captivating, and her ability to collaborate with avant-garde artists continues to surprise and delight.
Read moreGemma Hayes Reconnects to Her Musical Muse with Enthralling ‘Blind Faith’ | Album Review
With her sixth studio album, Hayes has perfected the art of connecting personal introspection to universal truths in her songwriting, ensuring that her melancholic musings never veer into the maudlin.
Read moreLady Gaga Crafts a Musically Rich, Multifarious Character Study with ‘Harlequin’ | Album Review
‘Harlequin’ is a beautifully executed album that allows Gaga to delve into and display her understanding of music at a holistic level, refusing to be confined to just one genre.
Read moreMustafa Mines Emotional Depths on Resonant ‘Dunya’ | Album Review
Life weighs heavy on Mustafa, but the songs captured on ‘Dunya’ never feel overly gloomy thanks to the humanity that shines through at every turn.
Read moreNubya Garcia’s Artistic Evolution Takes Bold, Beautiful Form on ‘Odyssey’ | Album Review
The uniting thread that runs throughout ‘Odyssey’ is the presence of memorable riffs and phrases that stick long in the memory, providing the hook to lure in the listener.
Read moreBlu & Exile Celebrate the City of Angels and the Legacy of West Coast Hip-Hop with ‘Love (the) Ominous World’ | Album Review
Revealing an inkling of what things may come, ‘Love (the) Ominous World’ should leave every hip-hop fan eager to see the duo continue on their musical journey together.
Read moreLynda Dawn’s Thoughtfully Conceived, Exquisitely Executed ‘11th Hour’ Is a Treasure | Review
Everything in the production of this EP is placed to perfection, with the instrumentation precisely balanced and her vocals the sweetest of cherries atop the cake.
Read moreLL Cool J Returns to the Mic Reinvigorated with ‘The FORCE’ | Album Review
The lengthy process to complete the album does not appear to have affected its quality, as it’s the best LL Cool J project to surface in nearly three-and-a-half decades.
Read moreJack White Reinvigorates Rock with Kinetically Crafted ‘No Name’ | Album Review
Returning to his earlier blues punk sound for his sixth solo studio affair, White delivers what he perhaps does best: captivating audiences with his strong vocals and command of the guitar.
Read moreRosie Lowe’s Musical Dynamism Cannot Be Denied on Stunning ‘Lover, Other’ | Album Review
Lowe’s third solo studio affair unfolds as a mélange of sonic textures, vocal stylings and intimate lyricism, all meticulously orchestrated by the artist herself and her crew of musical partners.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello Summons and Supplies Inspiration on Revelatory ‘No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin’ | Album Review
Beyond her external influences, Ndegeocello is equally inspired by those performers she surrounds herself with and here they concoct a heady brew that satisfies on every conceivable level.
Read moreCommon & Pete Rock’s Musical Kinship and Kineticism Radiate on Exquisitely Executed ‘The Auditorium Vol. 1’ | Album Review
The project’s title suggests that this is just the first installment from this legendary pairing. And we’re all ears.
Read moreYour Old Droog Showcases the Breadth of His Talents on Impressive ‘Movie’ | Album Review
‘Movie’ is simultaneously a victory lap and a new beginning for Droog, as his career really does feel like it’s hitting its next gear.
Read moreVince Staples Looks Deep Within to Examine Life, Love and the Limelight on ‘Dark Times’ | Album Review
As the title suggests, much of ‘Dark Times’ is tinged by melancholy, as loss and existential dread weigh heavy on Staples.
Read moreDa Beatminerz’ Artistry Thrives on Expertly Executed, Ironically Titled ‘Stifled Creativity’ | Album Review
Replete with their signature boom-bap soundscapes, a bevy of skills-oriented emcees, remixes, and bonus cuts, the duo’s new album honors the past while still sounding dope in the 2020s.
Read moreLalah Hathaway Reaffirms Her Artistic Identity and Self-Agency on Kaleidoscopic ‘VANTABLACK’ | Album Review
‘VANTABLACK’ may be Hathaway’s most accessible album to date and its influences are multitudinous.
Read moreRapsody Navigates the Depths of Her Psyche with Candor and Clarity on Revelatory ‘Please Don’t Cry’ | Album Review
Rapsody doesn’t require any more accolades to justify her greatness, but the bravery and depth of feeling that she displays on her fourth studio affair is moving.
Read moreMach-Hommy’s ‘#RICHAXXHAITIAN’ Illuminates the Lyrical Gifts of the Enigmatic Emcee | Album Review
Another high-quality release from the extremely private artist, ‘#RICHAXXHAITIAN’ is also Mach-Hommy’s most accessible album and a great entry point for new listeners.
Read morePet Shop Boys Reexamine the Human Condition on Evocative, Elegantly Crafted ‘Nonetheless’ | Album Review
The duo’s fifteenth studio affair is a wise, wistful and sometimes witty collection of songs that often keeps its eyes on the past and its feet on the dance floor.
Read moreTaylor Swift’s Depth of Emotion and Lyrical Vulnerability Resonate Throughout ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ | Review
Staying true to Swift’s catalog, each track serves as a window into the turbulent psyche of its creator, delving into themes of love, loss, and existential angst with unwavering authenticity.
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