Tōth Finds the Clarity of His ‘Voice’ Through Constraint
Tōth’s And the Voice Said refines his knack for balancing introspection, pop warmth, and unresolved inner tension.
Emily Votaw
Emily Votaw writes about music for NPR affiliate WOUB. She’s contributed to Billboard, Cleveland Scene, and No Dogs In Space. She regularly hosts a radio show, available online and terrestrially on WOUB AM. She shares updates via Instagram: @dumb_girl_lesterbangs
Snooper Find Form and Focus on ‘Worldwide’
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Shitbaby Mammals Play with Expectations on ‘Godspeed’
Shitbaby Mammals’ Godspeed is packed with scrappy riffs, goofy lyrics, and unexpected moments of emotional resonance.
Viagra Boys Discover Tenderness in the Grotesque
Viagra Boys’ self-titled album is a gleefully unhinged feat of epic silliness—just as musically brilliant as it is absurd, as willfully brutal as it is carefully constructed.
DJ Koze Plays with Sound and Your Perception of It
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Black Country New Road’s New LP Skews Refreshingly Feminine
Black Country New Road’s new LP embraces ornate baroque pop, shifting from raw intensity to intricate melancholy. Brilliant yet overstuffed, it rewards patience.
Annie & the Caldwells a Deliver Soul-Stirring Triumph
Annie & the Caldwells’ Can’t Lose My (Soul) blends gospel fervor and deep grooves into a triumphant, soul-stirring album that reaches for transcendence.
The Wombats’ Pair Less Polish With More Self Loathing
The Wombats’ Oh! The Ocean struggles with authenticity, balancing earnestness and self-critique, yet hints at untapped artistic potential.
Death By Unga Bunga Boldly Fuse Power Pop and Garage Rock
Death by Unga Bunga’s Raw Muscular Power is a wild, humorous blend of power-pop and garage rock, tackling existential crises with infectious energy.
‘Sun Ra: a Joyful Noise’ and the Joy of Ra’s Mythocracy
Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise serves as an excellent way to try to begin to comprehend the enigma that was Sun Ra.
Half Japanese: Perfect
The consistently strange, dependably wonderful Jad Fair has gifted fans with a concise, enjoyable and, as always, bizarre, new Half Japanese record.
The New ‘Walt Disney Short Films Collection’ Is Rather Charming
Although we expect some emotional junk food from Disney studios, this new collection boasts shorts that not only warm your heart, but dazzle you with impressive animation, as well.