Star-Crossed is a raw album but distinctly minor, teetering into boring and a notable letdown after Golden Hour. After a busy release cycle unexpectedly launched Kacey Musgraves…
Big Red Machine’s latest record is a more star-forward, familiar affair, but its strength of artistry keeps its less experimental tracks from disappointing. After what was…
Solar Power isn’t an outright failure, but it holds little of the ecstatic energy that defined Lorde’s first two records. Lorde’s star rocketed in the first…
NEED finds 3OH!3 returning to their late-aughts party rap roots, and reminding how much current hyperpop stars are indebted to their earworm sound. It seems impossible…
Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night isn’t dull, but it plays more like an album of what other, better artists sound like. After a highly…
Gold-Diggers Sound is a record of newfound honesty, a major step forward for the heretofore bed-hedging Bridges. After exploding on the scene six years ago, Leon…
Sob Rock finds John Mayer effecting something between self-effacement and contrition, but it’s all couched in just more of the same soft-boy bravado. John Mayer may…
Dark in Here puts The Mountain Goats on a welcome new wavelength, opening a door for future sonic possibilities. The Mountain Goats, the ever-prolific quartet led…
Home Video doesn’t have a distinct crescendo, but is still full of vulnerable gems that fans of Dacus will love. Now that Lucy Dacus has been inducted into…
Though showing continued growth after his departure from Vampire Weekend, Rostam’s sophomore effort produces mixed — but still pleasant — results. Formerly of Vampire Weekend…
Webster executes her evident vision on I Know I’m Funny haha, but the record’s sonic and thematic repetitions can sometimes feel like a slog. 23-year-old…
Blood will be a familiar record for Hatfield fans, but one wholly reinvigorated by the artist’s response to the recent sociopolitical landscape. Keeping her prolific streak…
Combining two of last year’s best albums, Apple vs. 7G shows AG Cook hasn’t run out of ways to innovate and adapt his sound. After putting…
Mdou Moctar’s transition from solo artist to full band brings an added depth to already expert musicianship. The Saharan Shredder, Mahamadou Souleymane aka Mdou Moctar (also the…
Course in Fable is Ryley Walker’s second superb effort of 2021, vastly different than his first but no less affecting. After a massively successful independent…
Nurture is album of human reckoning, mining personal darkness and coming out of the other side almost wholesome. Despite a multi-year creative drought, work with…
Lovato has clearly evolved as a person and seeks to lyrically contend with her traumas, but her music hasn’t done much growing. It’s often said…
Superwolves once again brings together two seasoned musicians for a lonesome, but fruitful collaboration. Superwolves is the convergence of two massively prolific careers, 16 years…
Who by Fire is a reverent, accomplished tribute album that both honors both Cohen and retains First Aid Kit’s particular character. Recorded a few months…