Bonnie “Prince” Billy Celebrates Community
Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s new LP is strengthened by communal tendencies, meeting bombs in Iran and executions in Minneapolis not with clenched fists of protest, but with hugs.
Reviews
Reviews of popular culture related areas, including music, film, TV, books, games, comics, and more.
A New Compilation Celebrates CBGB’s Big Bang
The CBGB club was the Big Bang birthing center for a revolution in rock, and this four-CD set reproduces what shot out of that dark, dank space.
Cat Clyde Is Searching on ‘Mud Blood Bone’
Cat Clyde is immensely talented, but Mud Blood Bone is a frustrating listen due to occasional missteps and a questionable cowboy-pop aesthetic.
The Early Mine a Gritty, Post-Rock Ambient Vibe
I Want to Be Ready sees the Early transporting and transcending, exploring the textures their unique instrumentation provides.
The Black Crowes Deliver a Ton of Swagger
The Black Crowes have leaned into the familiar: hard, bluesy rock with just enough acoustic accoutrements to pacify the fans they found touring 25 years ago.
Modeselektor Invent a New Kind of Greatest Hits
On their newest LP, the German electronic stalwarts Modeselektor look back on their discography with a spirit of innovation rather than retrospection.
‘Murder Bimbo’ Tries an Unusual Twist to Storytelling
The narration in Murder Bimbo is whip-smart, clever, and satirical, but the novel’s unusual structure confuses.
Lucid Express Lay on the Sweetness for ‘Instant Comfort’
Lucid Express might be restless and eager to defy pigeonholing and complacency. That’s good, but in the process, they’ve made an album that often feels overstuffed.
Motel Destino’s Heat and Architecture of Desire
Karim Aïnouz’s films portray characters in states of displacement. In Motel Destino, that displacement becomes spatially literal.
Morrissey Is an Incorrigible Sentimentalist
Morrissey’s Make-Up Is a Lie is a love letter to Paris: schmaltzy, befuddling, arresting, but, most of all, HIM.
All Hail Clifton Chenier the King of Zydeco
Everybody ought to dive into the wild, eclectic, joyful zydeco of Clifton Chenier. Even the accordion averse might decide they love it.
Indie Folk’s the Lowest Pair Embrace Challenges
The Lowest Pair’s new record is steady and confident. It sounds like both a journey and its end point, and in finding peace within turbulent seas.