“Captain” Curtis Harding’s Excellent Journey
Curtis Harding’s new album may take a few listens to absorb fully. Once it does, it will yield rewards for fans of retro soul, current soul, and adventurous pop.
Anti- Records
Neko Case’s Fascinating New LP Is Full of Melodies
Neko Case’s new album brings her signature blend of achingly beautiful melodies, idiosyncratic songwriting, and, of course, a song about an animal.
The Beths Level Up Again with Their Excellent New Record
The Beths’ Straight Line Was a Lie is full of catchy hooks, big guitar riffs, and often introspective lyrics. The New Zealand quartet are at the top of their game.
Christian Lee Hutson Navigates Nostalgia and New Beginnings
Christian Lee Hutson’s Paradise Pop. 10 is one of those subtle and more nuanced albums, likely causing it to slip under the radar, but Hutson has arrived.
MJ Lenderman Finds the ‘Fireworks’ in Everyday Life
MJ Lenderman creates sounds that somehow cut into his listeners’ heads and hearts, even when the songs’ sonics resemble that of the garage band next door.
MJ Lenderman Continues Upward Trajectory with ‘Manning Fireworks’
On Manning Fireworks, MJ Lenderman describes down-and-out characters with his usual witty charm, all while showcasing his exceptional musical abilities.
Leyla McCalla Tends to Deep Roots on ‘Sun Without the Heat’
In this most recent work, folk artist Leyla McCalla continues cultivating an expansive and complex sense of roots and relative self. It’s a joy to witness.
25 Years of Tom Waits’ ‘Mule Variations’
With Mule Variations, Tom Waits tamed his vaudevillian guises and showed that he was aging gracefully, while retaining his integrity towards his artistry.
Andy Schauf Uses ‘Norm’ to Ask About Love After Death
Andy Schauf’s Norm offers journeys down sonic trails that start in the same hallway but change from room to room as he ponders the big topic of love.
Katie Crutchfield and Jess Williamson Merge As Plains for ‘I Walked With You a Ways’
Plains’ I Walked With You a Ways features two Southern-born singer-songwriters with impressive track records: Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson.
Electronic/Industrial Acts Remix Danny Elfman’s ‘Big Mess’ As ‘Bigger. Messier.’
If you thought Danny Elfman’s Big Mess was crazy, wait until you hear ‘Bigger. Messier.’ featuring remixes from Squarepusher, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Trent Reznor, Iggy Pop, and more.
Neko Case Creates a Retrospective with ‘Wild Creatures’
Neko Case’s career retrospective Wild Creatures includes a new song, “Oh, Shadowless”, which adroitly blends the pretty with the abrasive.