Alabaster DePlume Uplifts on Spiritually-Stirring ‘Come With Fierce Grace’
Alabaster DePlume’s Come With Fierce Grace is uplifting music for a chaotic present and a must for jazz fans and anyone who appreciates rich creative art.
Alex Brent
Alex Brent writes fiction and art criticism. He has published with Jazzwise,
Radical Art Review, Tribune, Labourlist, Everything Theatre, London
Pub Theatres, as well as album reviews for the blogging site iheardin.
James Blake Revisits His Roots on ‘Playing Robots Into Heaven’
Playing Robots Into Heaven is ultimately a flawed album, but at times it’s a worthwhile foray for James Blake into more beat-led, dancefloor-friendly music.
Pelican Deluxify ‘The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw’
Pelican’s newly remixed and remastered version of The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw is an excellent update of a post-metal staple.
Julie Byrne Soars on Otherworldly ‘The Greater Wings’
The Greater Wings is a sublime folk album from Julie Byrne, pairing lush instrumentation with soft-spoken vocals and richly contemplative lyrics.
Little Dragon Return With Slinky and Assured ‘Slugs of Love’
Drawing from disco, funk, and R&B, Little Dragon’s Slugs of Love is genre-crossing music, achieving an artful balance of danceable tunes and reflective moods.
Kassa Overall Dazzles on Eclectic and Forward-Thinking ‘Animals’
Kassa Overall creates a record worthy of your time and that of anyone interested in free-thinking music. Animals pushes jazz and hip-hop further.
Jayda G’s ‘Guy’ Is a Touching Tribute to Life, Love, and Loss
Jayda G’s Guy is an admirable and occasionally affecting project that balances both personal vulnerabilities with uplifting and life-affirming music.
Killer Mike Returns to His Roots on Triumphant ‘MICHAEL’
Part autobiography and homage to the city that made him, MICHAEL is a lushly-produced and defiantly Southern hip-hop album from Atlanta rapper Killer Mike.
Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Reflections’ Soundtrack Is Impressive If Vague
Composed by Sufjan Stevens, the Reflections soundtrack is virtuosic and a pleasant listen but on its own the album feels indistinct and largely forgettable.
Songs of Innocence & Experience: Rise Against’s ‘Revolutions Per Minute’ at 20
Rise Against’s masterpiece Revolutions Per Minute is a vital work about the loss of innocence in a fraught time and a call to arms to fight in a new one.
Shame Move Beyond Post-Punk on the Euphoric ‘Food for Worms’
Post-punk revivalists Shame’s Food for Worms shows a band unafraid to move beyond their sound. The result is anthemic, pulverizing, thoughtful, and expansive.
Kelela Trades Hooks for Atmosphere on Sensuous ‘Raven’
Returning from a five-year hiatus, Kelela’s Raven isn’t an explosive comeback for the alternative R&B singer but a downtempo reflection.