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.
PopMatters Picks
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.
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.
Self-Deprecating Nonchalence: ‘Prine on Prine’
The “interviews and encounters” in Prine on Prine reveal John Prine’s care for others, and his self-deprecation and nonchalance about his accomplished career.
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.
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.
Demi Lovato Refashions Herself on ‘Revamped’
More than just having fun updating her work, Demi Lovato refashions herself and her music to reflect the person she is today, which is bold and defiant.
DIY Lifer Jeff Rosenstock Reignites Early 2000’s Pop-Punk
The musical style of Jeff Rosenstock’s HELLMODE takes you back to the carefree days when being politically correct wasn’t the brunt of our anxiety.
DeYarmond Edison’s ‘Epoch’ Is a Box Set Bildungsroman for Bon Iver
Bon Iver emerged from the ashes of DeYarmond Edison along with Megafaun. Epoch is an archaeological endeavor documenting the eventual success through devotion to craft.
Thelonious Monk’s Seminal ‘Brilliant Corners’ Gets Reissue Treatment It Deserves
As the latest entry in a carefully curated audiophile series, jazz icon Thelonious Monk’s 1957 masterpiece Brilliant Corners sounds better than ever.