These four songs confirm what a talent Ego Ella May is and act as an appetizer for whatever may come next.
Read moreEgo Ella May Offers a Poignant Peek Into Her Conscience with Intimate and Inspired ‘FIELDNOTES’ EP | Review
Artwork: Jelani Pomell
The Du-Rites’ Distinctive Brand of Funk Flows and Flourishes on ‘Pressure’ EP | Review
Amidst the challenges of COVID, the duo of J-Zone & Pablo Martin have avoided creative complacency, in favor of getting stronger as a musical unit.
Read moreNatalie Imbruglia Returns Reinvigorated and Resplendent with ‘Firebird’ | Album Review
Having fielded triumph and difficulty in equal measure, Imbruglia rises like the namesake of her record, stronger and more focused in her artistic aim than ever before.
Read moreYebba Embodies Substance and Style in Equal Measure on Deeply Affecting Debut ‘Dawn’ | Album Review
Despite a handful of top-notch guest slots, there is no doubting whose party this is—Yebba’s voice dominates proceedings from beginning to end.
Read moreHalsey Traverses an Empowering Journey of Self with Raw, Resonant ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power' | Album Review
With their fourth studio affair, Halsey embraces a transitional moment to shed their skin and reveal themselves as the artist they were always destined to be.
Read moreKacey Musgraves Eloquently Examines the Vicissitudes of Love with Stunning ‘star-crossed’ | Album Review
Musgraves’ fifth studio affair unfolds as an acutely introspective album that effectively straddles the lines between the personal and conceptual.
Read moreSaint Etienne’s ‘I’ve Been Trying To Tell You’ Is an Immersive, Poignant Paean to the Comforts and Complexities of Memory
Saint Etienne possess a proven penchant for crafting songs and visuals that stimulate the heart, mind and soul, and their tenth studio affair holds true to their well-established blueprint.
Read moreLady Blackbird Juxtaposes Grace with Gravitas on Elegantly Evocative Debut ‘Black Acid Soul’ | Album Review
Across Lady Blackbird’s enchanting inaugural affair, Deron Johnson’s sparkling piano and a handful of other fine musicians weave a sparse musical backdrop for her to perform the songs against.
Read moreLittle Simz’s Power of Expression Is Beautiful to Behold on Soul-Affirming ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ | Album Review
Simz and producer Inflo (with select other helpers) have hit the jackpot here (again) with her fourth studio album, as it astounds in its musical palette and lyrical dexterity.
Read moreCHVRCHES Craft a Salient and Stirring Survival Kit for Dark Times with ‘Screen Violence’ | Album Review
From the detached confines of computer screens and file-sharing programs, the trio have delivered an album that connects in a way few have in the past year.
Read moreCleo Sol’s Musical Vision Comes to Glorious Fruition on Triumphant ‘Mother’ | Album Review
While the exact machinations of their partnership are shrouded in mystery, Cleo Sol and producer Inflo have created an album of sublime melodies and instrumentation.
Read moreLedisi Gracefully Navigates the Daunting Task of Covering the Inimitable Nina Simone on ‘Ledisi Sings Nina’ | Album Review
Recording an album of covers can often be a gamble for an established artist, but with a voice like Ledisi’s, this was the safest bet imaginable.
Read moreNas’ Enduring Lyrical Acuity and Narrative Prowess Illuminate 'King’s Disease II' | Album Review
On his thirteenth studio affair, the legendary emcee links up with one of the most talented beatmakers in the game (Hit-Boy) to craft beautiful canvasses to depict his great war stories.
Read moreBillie Eilish’s Creative Growth Manifests Throughout Elegantly Executed ‘Happier Than Ever’ | Album Review
Whilst Eilish’s debut straddled addiction, self-harm and mental health, her examination of fame and all its many layered vices are front and center across her follow-up effort.
Read morePrince’s Inspired ‘Welcome 2 America’ Is a Salient, Stirring Examination of the Country's Enduring Flaws | Album Review
For whatever reason Prince decided to shelve it, ‘Welcome 2 America’ is a satisfying and inspiring collection of songs that deserves its moment in the sun.
Read moreJoel Culpepper Delivers Thoughtful, Thrilling Modern Soul Statement with Debut Album ‘Sgt Culpepper’ | Album Review
The album’s title is an obvious sign of Culpepper’s confidence—you don’t invite those links to be made if you’re unsure, even if comparisons are not necessarily the motivation.
Read moreWith Unparalleled Sincerity and Substance, Dave Solidifies His Place Among the Lyrical Elite with ‘We’re All Alone In This Together’ | Album Review
One of the hardest aspects of reviewing Dave’s second album is to single out individual lines for consumption—he is consistently excellent, always impassioned and extremely intelligent.
Read moreLaura Mvula’s ‘Pink Noise’ Is a Striking, Self-Assured Manifesto of Her Many Musical Charms | Album Review
Mvula’s third studio affair reinforces that, once again, she refuses to be constrained by others’ expectations, and why should she be? She has the goods and then some.
Read morePrinnie Stevens Honors Her Musical Influences with Reverence and Grace on ‘Lady Sings the Blues Vol. 1’ | Album Review
Stevens pays homage to an eclectic array of artists like Billie Holiday, Etta James, Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Toni Braxton and Mahalia Jackson.
Read moreHiatus Kaiyote Refine Their Distinctive, Genre-Fluid Sound on Inspired ‘Mood Valiant’ | Album Review
Hiatus Kaiyote’s third studio affair adds to the array of styles they have mastered and shows a group unbowed but inspired by the hardships they have faced.
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