Across his debut solo album, O'Connor doesn't sound like he's sadly singing from his back porch or living room, so much as he sounds like he's regretfully singing from the future.
Read moreBob Mould Rages Against the Faltering American Machine on ‘Blue Hearts’ | Album Review
Photo: Blake Little Photography
Mould’s fourteenth studio affair is deliberately lo-fi, with the drums, bass, and vocals mixed a bit behind his caustic guitar, which is what helps make the album sound like a live show caught on tape.
Read moreArlo McKinley Strikes a Beautiful Balance on Dynamic Solo Debut ‘Die Midwestern’ | Album Review
McKinley understands that great songs land more easily when they're cushioned by musical accoutrements, which is what makes his solo debut album so enjoyable.
Read moreThe Danberrys’ Symbiotic Songcraft Radiates on ‘Shine’ | Album Review
On ‘Shine,’ the two singer-songwriters go beyond solid songs, creating a captivating album that mirrors the work of another famous songwriting duo.
Read moreS.G. Goodman Merges Nostalgia with Progressive Ideas on Dynamic Debut ‘Old Time Feeling’ | Album Review
Together with producer Jim James (of My Morning Jacket fame), the Kentucky-bred singer-songwriter has crafted a compelling, cohesive set of nuanced ideas and exceptional songs.
Read moreJapandroids Elevate Their Dynamic Sound, Capture the Magic of Live Performance on ‘Massey F**king Hall' | Album Review
Japandroids keep close to their studio work, mostly playing with the intensity of the performance and occasionally inserting some of their rhythmic jamming, which can be positively hypnotic.
Read moreCountry Westerns Transcend Their Name with Eclectic, Electrifying Eponymous Debut | Album Review
The most striking thing about Country Westerns’ self-titled debut is their crafting of a perfectly balanced mix of pop, grunge, ‘70s punk, and just the right hit of country.
Read moreThe Harmed Brothers Craft Arresting Anthems for Broken Souls on ‘Across The Waves’ | Album Review
‘Across The Waves’ finds the band rethinking many of the assumptions of Springsteen's older music, while also embracing many of his familiar elements.
Read moreTeddy Thompson Redefines What a Break-Up Record Sounds Like with Inspired ‘Heartbreaker Please’ | Album Review
Who else could make a break-up record that's deep and sad lyrically, right down to its title, but musically feels like a skip through the park on a beautiful day?
Read moreThe Dirty Clergy Seamlessly Traverse Light and Dark on Ambitiously Conceived ‘In Waves’ | Album Review
Part of what makes this album so much fun is the way The Dirty Clergy are able to replicate the denseness of shoegaze and synth pop with conventional rock & roll instrumentation.
Read moreLaura Marling Summons Her Most Lucid of Lyrical Powers on Stirring ‘Song For Our Daughter’ | Album Review
Marling finds the right variations on ‘Song For Our Daughter,’ her sonically intimate seventh album.
Read moreSurf Rock Is Dead Hang Ten (Songs) Across the Musical & Emotional Spectrum with ‘Existential Playboy’ | Album Review
On their debut long player, the Brooklyn based duo set up their songs by punctuating sadly intense runs with upbeat explosions.
Read moreKyshona Dispenses Aural Therapy for the Soul on ‘Listen’ | Album Review
Kyshona Armstrong's Listen is refreshingly low-concept: a powerful, textured voice working its way through equally strong songs.
Read moreSoccer Mommy Digs Deep and Delivers on Striking ‘color theory’ | Album Review
Second albums are notoriously challenging to make, but Sophie Allison has created something every bit as good as her breakthrough debut LP ‘Clean’ (2018).
Read moreThe Adobe Collective Curate a Fresh, Fruitful Sound with ‘All The Space That There Is’ | Album Review
Synth-pop and Americana, at first glance, can feel like opposing genres. But Tim & Faith Chinnock successfully mix and match the sounds and melodies of the two to create something new.
Read moreKelsey Waldon’s Defiant Candor & Powerful Voice Stir the Soul on Revelatory ‘White Noise/White Lines’ | Album Review
Waldon's voice comes at you in waves of pure country with a twang as strong as an oak tree.
Read moreMichaela Anne Shines on Soaring, Stirring ‘Desert Dove’ | Album Review
Anne has a voice capable of soaring through songs, and while it feels like she's of the clouds, she is, like all of us, on terra firma.
Read moreWith More Than a Little Help From Her Friends, Sheryl Crow Captivates on ‘Threads’ | Album Review
On her eleventh studio LP, Crow welcomes a host of compelling collaborators including Chuck D, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, St. Vincent, and Chris Stapleton.
Read moreThe HawtThorns Triumph on Radiant, Distinctive Debut Album ‘Morning Sun’ | Album Review
Ultimately, the HawtThorns’ gift is how they make songs sound pretty. They do it in a variety of ways. Their arrangements. KP's vocals. And their gorgeous sense of melody.
Read moreBryan Haraway Harnesses Positive Energy for Special, Self-Titled Debut Album | Album Review
Haraway’s debut LP reinforces that there’s something refreshing about an album that challenges the listener, without bumming them out.
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