The Black Watch Mate Britpop Melancholy with California Brightness on ‘Future Strangers’
The Black Watch’s Future Strangers is a collection of Britpop-influenced love-and-loss songs that abound in buoyant musical assurance and well-honed craft.
Music Reviews
100 gecs Mine Cultural Maximalism in ‘10000 Gecs’
100 gecs’ 10000 Gecs succeeds as a cultural correlative, an audial reflection of modern-day life, as much as, perhaps more than, a purely aesthetic offering.
Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall Bend the Avant-Garde to Their Will
Experimentalists Mats Gustafsson and Joachim Nordwall have united to create an album that, even by their compartmentalized standards, is pretty out there.
Liturgy’s ‘93696’ Delivers Ecstasy, Physicality, and Intellectual Endeavor
Already noted for their determination to challenge themselves and their listeners, Liturgy’s 93696 shows them refusing to settle for less when more is possible.
‘Stoned Cold Country’ Proves You Can’t Always Get What You Want
The latest country-leaning tribute album to the Rolling Stones, Stoned Cold Country, is as unexciting as it is unnecessary.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Epic Double LP ‘V’ Just Wants to Vibe
Unknown Mortal Orchestra return from a five-year hiatus to deliver a double album, V, containing both the best and blandest songs they’ve ever made.
Scheuber’s ‘Autarcique’ Is Full of Dark Synthwave Delights
Scheuber’s Autarcique is a superb synthwave album infused with equal parts dark dance beats and fine song crafting. The result is beautiful.
Aly & AJ Relay Stunning Scenes on ‘With Love From’
Aly & AJ’s With Love From recalls classic Americana imagery and sounds like two women reveling in the joy of creating music representing who they are.
Nuovo Testamento’s ‘Love Lines’ Is an ’80s New Wave Italo Extravaganza
Who knew the music of mullets, wrap-around shades, and bodysuits could be so compelling? Nuovo Testamento’s Love Lines succeeds and transports the listener.
U2 Have Never Sounded More Defeated Than on ‘Songs of Surrender’
U2’s sense of surprise was exchanged for maddeningly consistent predictability in their later career, and ‘Songs of Surrender’ sounds how you think it would.
Galactic Bring Timeless Funk to the Fillmore
Galactic’s inherently futuristic name and innovative approach to blending vintage funk with progressive jamming have made them a timeless band.
The Band of Heathens Find Joy in Life’s ‘Simple Things’
The Band of Heathens care about the simple things: finding pleasure in being home with family, making music, hanging out with friends, and appreciating life.
