Rina Sawayama’s ‘Hold the Girl’ Is a Bewildering Anticlimax
Rina Sawayama’s second LP, Hold the Girl, suffers from a lack of risk and is self-consciously conservative in terms of execution. It’s a bewildering anticlimax.
John Amen
John Amen is the author of several collections of poetry, including Illusion of an Overwhelm (NYQ Books, 2017), a finalist for the 2018 Brockman-Campbell Award, and work from which was chosen as a finalist for the Dana Award. His poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in journals nationally and internationally, and his poetry has been translated into Spanish, French, Hungarian, Korean, and Hebrew. He is a Staff Reviewer for the music magazines and websites No Depression, Beats Per Minute, and PopMatters. He founded and is managing editor of Pedestal Magazine.
Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Is a Post-Covid Soiree and Massive PR Campaign
While Renaissance occasionally sports more style than substance, Beyoncé emerges as the re-coronated Queen of Pop and the reigning regent of eclecticism.
Lizzo Emanates Confidence and Charisma on ‘Special’
Lizzo’s Special is as much a celebration of the Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook cosmos as it is an in-person, post-Covid bacchanal.
‘Memoria’ Plumbs Ageless Mysteries
Memoria is a psychedelically inspired allegory, an impressionistic inquiry into human existence, including ignorance and insight, suffering and enlightenment.
Soccer Mommy Seeks New Sounds and Mixes with ‘Sometimes, Forever’
When aesthetic balances are in place for much of Sometimes, Forever, Soccer Mommy glows like a moon reflecting a dying sun, one of the substantial artists of her generation.
Angel Olsen Creates Her Most Accessible Album with ‘Big Time’
With Big Time, Angel Olsen draws inspiration from some of popular music’s most perennial templates, revamping them and reinventing herself.
SCALPING Embrace Eclectic EDM Approaches on Debut ‘Void’
SCALPING’s Void energetically captures music designed for a club/real-time environment and hybridizes any number of EDM, punk, and metal precursors.
Aldous Harding Tries to Navigate a Troublesome Limbo on ‘Warm Chris’
Despite some successes, including song-of-the-year contender “Leathery Whip”, Warm Chris mostly shows the gifted Aldous Harding trying to navigate a troublesome limbo.
King Hannah Blend Influences and Original Impulses on Full-Length Debut
King Hannah’s new album shows the duo honing their sound and posture, building on the more Dionysian and possibly less self-conscious stylings of their 2020 EP.
The Beatles: Get Back, The Long and Riveting Epic
What is revealed with The Beatles: Get Back is a set of cumulative portraits that shed light not only on John, Paul, George, and Ringo but on all of us.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Revel in Longstanding Chemistry on ‘Barn’
Neil Young’s latest set resonates as fervently composed and heartfeltly topical, and the band are as committed as ever to authentic and vigorous performance.
Constant Smiles Continue Their Chameleonic Ways with the Pop-Infused ‘Paragons’
Listeners familiar with Constant Smiles’ mutative oeuvre will find Paragons intriguing for the chameleonic adoption of familiar pop templates.
