Album Reviews: Sharon Van Etten, Kero Kero Bonito, Julien Baker

 Kero Kero Bonito — Civilization II (London, U.K.) There's always an undeniable charm to Kero Kero Bonito's uniquely layered yet chipper approach to pop, that gives them a versatility some bands can't afford. While this leaves a more conceptual EP more fun than that type of record would usually be,

Album Reviews: Spirit of the Beehive, Brockhampton and Paul McCartney Remixes

 Spirit of the Beehive — Entertainment, Death  (Philadelphia, PA) Experimental music can sometimes feel like it explores more than it evaluates, and Spirit of the Beehive find a way to make their explorations feel worthwhile. With the right balance of unusual soundscapes and pounding rock moments, this is a record that

Album Reviews: Pearl Charles, Shame, Sleaford Mods

 Pearl Charles — Magic Mirror (Los Angeles, CA) The retro wave of modern L.A. artists find a lot power in the lush vintage aesthetics and hooks that feel timeless. While it does find trouble always avoiding pastiche, Pearl Charles' latest release is often so fun it sinks in before you start it. There's

Album Reviews: May 21, 2018

 Leon Bridges - Good Thing (Fort Worth, Texas) Leon Bridges has asserted himself as a master of retro soul, but he had to start setting himself apart at some point. For his latest record the Texas songwriter blends his usual grooves with something a little more modern for a record

Album Reviews May 14 2018

 Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer  (Atlanta) Though we mentioned Kimbra last week as one of soul's greatest modern experimenters, her friend Janelle Monáe offers a completely different side of the same feel. With an album much more focused on messages, she still manages to cross genres with endless appeal. Monáe

Album Reviews May 7, 2018

 Bishop Briggs - Church Of Scars  (Los Angeles) If you haven't already heard Bishop Briggs (born Sarah McLaughlin) from her blistering genre-mashing singles or her booming live performances, her debut LP makes it clear how strong her vocals are. While the album's offerings don't always flesh out the arrangements around

Album Reviews: April 24, 2018

 Kali Uchis - Isolation  (New York/Colombia) Pop singers can often feel manufactured at times if not far too bland, but Colombian-New York transplant Kali Uchis has proven she's far more than that. On an album filled with soul, rap, R&B, Latin-grooves and a pop package with enough guest stars to

Album Reviews: April 17, 2018

 Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - Dirt  (Toronto) The right kind of concept album can really break genre conventions in startling and exciting ways. For their latest dive into their Pureland saga, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan deliver their most melodic album to date while maintaining the darkness and intensity that's made

Album Reviews – March 27, 2018

 Caroline Rose - Loner  (New York City) Folk-pop can often feel like a sonically and even lyrically bland genre to people these days, but that doesn't have to be the case. As she dissects modern life and modern music, Caroline Rose brings forth a recor that is never what you

Album Reviews: March 19, 2018

 Fischerspooner - Sir  (New York City) While the wide swatch of electronic music has seen the more creative writing fall to the shadows, the genre-defining acts like Fischerspooner are still showing people how it's done. With songs that make you move as much as they make you feel uncomfortable, the

Album Reviews: March 5, 2018

 U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited  (Toronto) Pushing boundaries in writing and sound can always be risky, but when it pays off the results are something you just can't miss. For her latest record, Meg Remy (Aka U.S. Girls) brings parts Talking Heads and noir-influenced electronic pop to make

Album Reviews: February 28, 2018

 Kyle Craft - Full Circle Nightmare  (Portland, Oregan) In a rare bid to revitalize the sonic palette of folk music, Portland's Kyle Craft rises to offer a record that's rustic but full of life and wonder. Through his eccentric performances and masterful arrangements, Craft offers a record that gets it

Album Reviews: February 21, 2018

 Anna Burch - Quit The Curse  (Detroit) While some might claim indie has become a sappy genre, Anna Burch has come to stand snarky and jaded in sea of melancholy. Burch uses her sharp song writing and emotional brilliance to strike back rather than fall apart. "2 Cool 2 Care"

Album Reviews: January 2, 2018

 Bahamas  - Earthtones (Toronto) For his fourth album Afie Jurvanen manages to push the envelope once again for an album that perfectly embodies catchy pop and ambitious writing. Throughout the album, Jurvanen brings powerfully personal lyrics to his lush arrangements for music that's surprising on all fronts. Despite its stripped

Album Reviews: January 16, 2018

 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club -  Wrong Creatures  (San Francisco) After so many albums, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have found a new and unique sound for themselves, and is it ever worth hearing. Blending dark punk rock with a Southern growl, Wrong Creatures is one of their strongest releases in years.

Album Reviews: January 8, 2018

 Eminem -  Revival  (Michigan) Initial success can only get you so far, at some point you need to make sure you can keep up with the times. Coming with what allegedly may be his last record, Eminem dazzles and disappoints in unequal measures for an album that feels bloated. Beyoncé's

Album Reviews: December 19, 2017

 Belle & Sebastian -  How To Solve Our Human Problems - Part 1  (Scotland) Given the dance and electronic of their last record,  Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, it's wonderful to see that the sonic powerhouse of Belle & Sebastian is embracing their sounds old and new on this

Album Reviews: December 4, 2017

 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds -  Who Built The Moon?  (UK) Even as the classic music drama between Oasis' Gallagher brothers continues on over a decade after the band ended, they've continued to thrive on their own. Mixing his sonic mastery into a lot of great retro rock, Noel Gallagher

Album Reviews: November 29, 2017

 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Soul Of A Woman  (New York) While Sharon Jones passed just a year ago, the anniversary of her passing brought with it one of the finest albums of her entire career. The best goodbye record an artist could ask for, Jones' final record straddles

Album Reviews: November 13, 2017

 Baxter Dury - Prince of Tears  (England) While Baxter Dury (son of UK Punk legend Ian Dury) may still be somewhat of an unknown outside of his native England, he makes a strong case for his breakthrough on his latest record. Proving aggressive unconventional sounds mixed with clever pop writing

Album Reviews: September 12, 2017

 LCD Soundsystem - American Dream (New York City) After breaking up for years, most people were just happy enough that LCD Soundsystem were getting back together. Following mastermind James Murphy's insistence that the band wasn't returning without purpose however, their fourth record and first since the reunion finds the band