The lack of center is very much the point: three gifted musicians looking at the calamity of our modern world and saying, “here’s what we’ve got.”
Read moreAdi Oasis’ Multiple Musical Dimensions Radiate on ‘Lotus Glow’ | Album Review
‘Lotus Glow’ finds the singer-songwriter-bassist scaling new artistic heights and proving that her pen can cover a variety of subject matters with aplomb.
Read moreYazmin Lacey Expands Her Musical Palette and Enriches Her Vocal Charms on ‘Voice Notes’ | Album Review
The overarching themes of Lacey’s debut album are self-discovery and the search for peace of mind, both of which are explored adeptly by her frank lyrical touch.
Read moreJosé James Gracefully Reimagines Erykah Badu’s Imaginative Songs with ‘On & On’ | Album Review
By covering Badu’s songs, James is not only offering a valid and enjoyable reinterpretation of them, but he is also showing that these compositions should be considered part of soul music’s canon.
Read moreNicole Dollanganger Captures Snapshots of a Fading American Dream on ‘Married in Mount Airy’ | Album Review
With Dollanganger’s well-established predilection for sinister subject matter, what stands out most about ‘Married in Mount Airy’ is that it’s surprisingly devoid of graphic content or gore.
Read moreLittle Simz Seeks, Finds and Delivers Her Truth on Captivating ‘NO THANK YOU’ | Album Review
Little Simz’s fifth studio affair proves yet again that the heavenly combination of Inflo’s ever-expanding musical imagination and her intelligent, insightful and emotive lyrics have few, if any, equals.
Read moreSAULT Continue to Bless Our Ears and Souls in a Multitude of Ways with Expansive, Inspired Five-Album Offering | Review
The five albums represent a celebration of possibility and the demolition of boundaries. Demolition by percussive mastery, formidable bass lines and subtle moments of deep joy.
Read moreNas’ Voice Is as Vital and Reflective as Ever on Impressive ‘King’s Disease III’ | Album Review
‘King’s Disease III’ reinforces that there’s a whole realm of possibilities open for Nas as an emcee, as he looks toward the promising future of his already prolific career.
Read moreWeyes Blood Excavates the Cracked, Post-Pandemic Human Heart on ‘And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow’ | Album Review
By creating an odd discrepancy between the sounds of one bygone era and the immediate problems of this one, Mering carves out a wide space for contemplation.
Read moreExpansive ‘Thriller 40’ Delves Deep into the Multiple Dimensions of Michael Jackson’s Musical Genius | Album Review
The expanded collection brings into focus Jackson’s artistry and tenacity, as well as his fixation to create an album full of hit singles.
Read moreThe Du-Rites Fortify the Funk on ‘Plug It In’ | Album Review
‘Plug It In’ reinforces that the duo have become one of the best and most consistent instrumental soul/funk groups of the 21st century.
Read moreRayland Baxter’s Songwriting and Sound Soar on Transformative ‘If I Were A Butterfly’ | Album Review
Throughout the record, there’s a tension between Baxter’s soul-searching, his fear of adulthood, his deep sense of love and hope, and his romantic yearning.
Read moreLyrics Born Flexes His Creative Muscles on Idiosyncratically Inspired ‘Vision Board’ | Album Review
On ‘Vision Board,’ Lyrics Born and producer Rob Mercurio generate a genre-bending stew, fusing elements from all types of musical styles, to complement his imaginative lyrical content.
Read moreSTR4TA’s Musical Kinship Stretches and Soars on Stirring ‘STR4TASFEAR’ | Album Review
Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick and Gilles Peterson reunite for their second official project adorned with the STR4TA moniker, which successfully expands the musical palette offered on last year’s debut outing.
Read moreLoyle Carner Speaks His Truth in Convincing Fashion with Powerful ‘hugo’ | Album Review
There is truth here in abundance and it is a testament to the ability of people to be able to make progress in a world designed to fail them at almost every turn.
Read moreCarly Rae Jepsen Pushes Her Pop Songcraft Forward with ‘The Loneliest Time’ | Album Review
Sitting at the core of this LP is a stunning array of selections that platform the reach of Jepsen’s lyricism.
Read moreTaylor Swift Paints Vivid, Vulnerable Portraits with Lucid Lyrical Brushstrokes of ‘Midnights’ | Album Review
‘Midnights’ signals a new chapter for Swift, one more self-confident, but still authentic to the artist and her origins.
Read morea-ha Find ‘True North’ on Engaging Eleventh Studio Affair | Album Review
Thumbing their nose at preconceived notions around their identity has allowed the group to build a discography bursting with accomplished recordings and ‘True North’ follows suit.
Read moreSay She She Play It Steady and Safe on Auspicious Debut ‘Prism’ | Album Review
Compared to the singles that preceded it, the trio’s debut album feels as if it has had the edges rounded off it—the grit and spikiness of the singles replaced by smoothed-out production and safer songwriting.
Read moreBjörk Digs Deep on Compelling and Challenging ‘Fossora’ | Album Review
Always interesting, but sometimes not especially pleasing to the ear, Björk’s tenth studio affair offers moments of beauty throughout coupled with songs that compromise the album’s overall cohesion.
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