Kehlani’s ‘Crash’ Plays to Their Strengths
Crash finds Kehlani playing to their strengths, establishing themselves as the reigning monarch of sultry, seductive, hot R&B.
J. Simpson
Occupying the Interzone between criticism and creativity, J.
Simpson believes that great art makes the world a better place. Specializing in covering dark and experimental art, he believes there's
more to the world than meets the eye and more to life than chasing
the bottom line. He is also published with Spectrum Culture and Freq Magazine and edits the Forestpunk blog.
Alex Garland’s ‘Civil War’ Refuses Righteousness
Alex Garland’s Civil War refuses righteousness. Instead, it takes a hard, unflinching look at the true costs of war for everybody and everything it touches.
Six Organs of Admittance’s Ben Chasny Chats About How ‘Time Is Glass’
Six Organs of Admittance’s Ben Chasny discusses late 1990s folk, music journalism, his independent publication, and new record Time Is Glass.
Adrianne Lenker’s ‘Bright Future’ Is a Big Record
On Bright Future, Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker proves how much you can do with so little that you don’t need a ton of flash to craft a stunning record.
Kelly Moran’s ‘Moves in the Field’ Calms Fear and Anxiety
Kelly Moran explores the ghost in the machine on Moves in the Field, a delicate, thoughtful album of “solo” neoclassical piano explorations.
Pissed Jeans Laugh at the Absurdity of Life on ‘Half Divorced’
On their first album in seven years, Allentown, PA’s Pissed Jeans return with a short, savage, scathing and often hilarious takedown of the modern world.
A Kind of Beauty: An Interview With Ben Frost
Ben Frost, Australia’s premiere avant-garde composer, unleashes his first solo album in seven years by returning to the pitch-black metal he loves so dearly.
This Is Why Cassette Tapes Will Never Die
In his history music history book High Bias, Marc Masters argues that cassette tapes will never die because they never really went away in the first place.
A Guide to Lovers Rock: Reggae’s Romantic Side
Lovers Rock offers a politics of pleasure, as well as a deep love and appreciation of Black music, culture, and style from all over the Earth.
Eye Flys Highlight Their Melvins’ Influences on New LP
Sludge metal band Eye Flys take the low-down ‘n’ dirty, down-tuned sludge of the Melvins and heat weld it to massive, 21st-century post-hardcore riffs.
Kali Uchis’ ‘Orquideas’ Is a Striking Pop Album
On Orquisideas, Kali Uchis yet again proves she is the Queen of Concept, delivering a clever, thoughtful album inspired by the “sensual allure of the orchid”.
Art Pepper: The Complete Maiden Voyage Recordings
Art Pepper’s The Complete Maiden Voyage Recordings reveals a talent on par with John Coltrane at his most searching and uncompromising.