The Menacing, Grimy Weirdness of Melvins’ ‘Houdini’ at 30
Once Houdini dropped, all the agonizing over whether Melvins would debase themselves and compromise their sound petered out before we were halfway into “Hooch”.
Music
Zzzahara’s ‘Tender’ Is Exactly That, Plus Irresistible Hooks
Zzzahara’s Tender is poignant and sincere above all else but is also a fantastic and sonically relevant collection of pop rock with no time to waste.
Cannibal Corpse Brutalize at an Apex Predator Level on ‘Chaos Horrific’
Every track on Cannibal Corpse’s new LP has an individual feel under granular inspection and speaks to their expert songcraft and confidence of identity.
Experimentalists Radian Break Their Mold on ‘Distorted Rooms’
Spend enough time with Radian’s new LP, Distorted Rooms, and you will begin to sense the adjustments made to this musical niche right before your ears.
Charlie Kaplan’s ‘Country Life in America’ Is Delightful, Breezy Power Pop
The sophistication of Charlie Kaplan’s gorgeous LP is impressive and a reminder that sometimes the simplest, sincere gestures are the warmest and longest-lasting.
Thievery Corporation Mix It Up at the Midway in San Francisco
Support from influential trip-hop duo Kruder& Dorfmeister brings rare air to Saturday night house party for Thievery Corporation in the City by the Bay.
Panda Bear and Sonic Boom Re-interpret ‘Reset’ with ‘Reset in Dub’
Reset in Dub marks another attempt by Panda Bear and Sonic Boom to arrive at a new alchemy between past and present musical traditions.
JazzMatters: The Best New Jazz of Summer 2023
Our jazz columnist chooses the best new jazz albums of the summer while reflecting on the passing of Astrud Gilberto and Tony Bennett.
Meshell Ndegeocello’s ‘The Omnichord Real Book’ Is Stellar Soul Music
Meshell Ndegeocello always creates a mood around the music that puts rhythm, harmony, and melody in delicious orbits. This is a real genre-crossing soul album.
Bluesman Lazy Lester Performs “Nothing But the Devil” (premiere)
Recorded live in performance for NPR in 1998, “Nothing But the Devil” ably captures the spirit and soul of Louisiana bluesman Lazy Lester.
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.
Brent Cobb Searches the Sky to Find the ‘Southern Star’
Southern Star succeeds because country’s Brent Cobb is more interested in telling a story and having a good time than pontificating.