The Compton-born, Long Beach-bred emcee’s music has grown more accessible with each new release, and ‘FM!’ is the largest leap forward in this process.
Read moreRobyn Solidifies Her Class Act Status with Masterful, Magical ‘Honey’ | Album Review
With ‘Honey,’ Robyn proves that even after taking a few years off, she is a true standout in a crowded dance pop scene, still setting the tone after all these years.
Read moreApollo Brown & Joell Ortiz Paint Vibrant Soundscapes and Vivid Narratives on ‘Mona Lisa’ | Album Review
Brown and Ortiz excel at their respective crafts and exhibit a musical chemistry that we’ve seen from hip-hop’s best producer/emcee collaboration albums in recent years.
Read moreEschewing Nostalgia for Timelessness, Boy George & Culture Club’s ‘Life’ Is An Unequivocal Triumph | Album Review
The trim, eleven-track ‘Life’ is breathtakingly accomplished and engaging, with the group’s signature sonics and fresh aural flavors in abundance throughout the entire affair.
Read moreAfter 18-Year Hiatus, Dubstar Resurface in Radiant Form with ‘One’ | Album Review
As if by magic, Dubstar’s long awaited fourth record has now manifested on the boutique imprint Northern Writes to stun loyal fans, surprise cynical critics and woo the uninitiated.
Read moreMike Shinoda’s Multiple Musical Identities Manifest on Stage in Atlanta | Live Review
Abandoning sadness and despair in favor of immortalizing his partner-in-song, Shinoda’s recent tour stop in Atlanta proved to be one of his most memorable performances to date.
Read moreNeko Case Returns Resilient & Resplendent with ‘Hell-On’ | Album Review
On her seventh album, Case sounds emboldened, too pissed off to stay quiet. She doles out her anger in spoonfuls, washed down with humor and hooks.
Read moreTom Misch Stretches His Stirring Songcraft on Genre-Defying Debut ‘Geography’ | Album Review
An unassuming and uncompromisingly gratifying aural experience, ‘Geography’ is the reviewer’s personal favorite album of 2018 so far, until otherwise notified.
Read moreJanelle Monáe’s Dynamic ‘Dirty Computer’ Expertly Merges the Personal & Political | Album Review
A pristine pop sheen makes ‘Dirty Computer’ Monáe’s most mainstream album to date, without sacrificing her lyrical power and artistic integrity.
Read moreLaura Veirs Triumphs with Exhilarating, Exquisitely Crafted ‘The Lookout’ | Album Review
Every song on Veirs’ new album ‘The Lookout’ is special, tied together by a thoughtful thesis, consummate musicianship, and an unwavering work ethic.
Read moreKylie Minogue Embraces Artistic Growth with Glorious ‘Golden’ | Album Review
For the first time in a long time, here is a Kylie Minogue album that wears its art—and heart—on its sleeve publicly and is the better for it.
Read moreMeshell Ndegeocello Achieves Stirring Sonic Alchemy with Covers Set ‘Ventriloquism’ | Album Review
When Ndegeocello strips the songs back to their core intent, honing in on the message within the lyrics, she manages to elevate them into a new place.
Read moreFirst Aid Kit Craft Sterling, Subdued Suite of Songs with ‘Ruins’ | Album Review
‘Ruins’ may not recapture the intensity of its 2014 precursor ‘Stay Gold,’ but its strength lays in the duo’s swooning vocals and lyrical romance.
Read moreBjörk’s ‘Utopia’ Aims for Transcendence, Achieves It in Abundance | Album Review
In a year that’s brought a political climate and news cycle that degrades, rather than elevates, the universe of Björk’s 'Utopia' is ascendant and cathartic.
Read moreYumi Zouma Hit Their Stride on Wonderful ‘Willowbank’ | Album Review
The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2016 debut album ‘Yoncalla,’ ‘Willowbank’ is packed with twee dream pop mature beyond its years.
Read moreShelby Lynne & Allison Moorer Craft Golden Collaboration ‘Not Dark Yet’ | Album Review
The sisters’ next challenge should be to do a whole album of original material, sussing out their songwriting synchronicity.
Read moreLucy Rose’s ‘Something’s Changing’ is Intimate, Inspired and Indispensable | Album Review
An album of undeniable grace and unequivocal beauty, Rose’s third studio affair suggests that something has indeed changed in Lucy Rose.
Read moreSaint Etienne Capture the Soul of England on Brilliant ‘Home Counties’ | Album Review
As their ninth studio LP proves once again, Saint Etienne have always had a way of turning the ordinary into something spectacular.
Read moreSlowdive Resurrect Their Ageless Aesthetic with Incandescent Perfection on 'Eponymous 'Slowdive' | Album Review
Where we’d once accepted Slowdive’s absence as a dismal reality, their revival has rendered us vulnerable again, desperately craving more.
Read moreBlondie Return in Fine, Fun Form with Electrifying Eleventh LP ‘Pollinator’ | Album Review
From the LP's acerbic, wonderfully weird lyrics to its variegated songs, Debbie Harry grounds it all in her idiosyncratic, compelling vocals.
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