Code Orange’s ‘The Above’ Is 2023’s Most Ambitious Hardcore Album
On The Above, Code Orange merge hardcore, metal, and every rock and electronic genre they can think of to make 2023’s most ambitious heavy album.
Reviews
Yeule Makes Artful Glitchpop for the AI Era on ‘Softscars’
In weird ways, Yeule’s softscars works as a satisfying slice of artful pop for the Anthropocene that oozes catastrophe and captures a real cultural moment.
Colleen Delivers Micro-Focused Version of Her Sound Sculptures
Le Jour et la Nuit du Réel is a departure for Colleen and a natural progression. She delivers a micro-focused version of her sound sculptures.
Chuck D’s Graphic Novel ‘Summer of Hamn’ Zeros in on “Hatriots” and More
With graphic novel Summer of Hamn, rap legend and now visual artist Chuck D has produced his second, strong, COVID-era work of art and social commentary.
Thelma and the Sleaze’s ‘Holey Water’ Is the Rock Album We Need
Thelma and the Sleaze continue their reign as the queens of loud, gaudy, disreputable rock ‘n’ roll on Holey Water, one of the funnest rock albums of the year.
The Dance and the Duel in Silent Epic ‘The Spanish Dancer’
Somewhere amid the swigging and carousing in restored silent film The Spanish Dancer it’s love at first eyeball for Don Cesar and Maritana
Jlin Updates Her Approach to Percussion on ‘Perspective’
Synthetic or acoustic percussion, Perspective is another release that demonstrates Jlin is a genre unto herself and way ahead of the electronic music curve.
Kylie Minogue Scores Another Dance Pop Classic with ‘Tension’
Kylie Minogue understands that the best kind of dance-pop is pure, undiluted joy. With Tension, she’s shown that nobody does it better than her.
Allen Lowe Challenges Ideas About American Music
Allen Lowe solos as if he loves Ben Webster and Ornette Coleman in equal measure. The rhythm section seems like it wants to be Count Basie and Sun Studios.
Mikaela Davis Creates a New Blueprint for ‘And Southern Star’
Mikaela Davis builds her latest LP as a progression, moving further into rock territory as if demonstrating across an album the fluidity of genre and her art.
The Spinners’ Atlantic Singles Were Their Peak
Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Spinners made some great Philly-style soul with producer Thom Bell but are still defined by a single song.
Laurel Halo’s Music Becomes Even More Glacially Cinematic on ‘Atlas’
Laurel Halo’s Atlas feels like a natural progression. Mixing her voice with electronics and instruments, she creates her most glacial music yet.