Is Miles Davis’ ‘Bitches Brew’ a Tradition-Carrier or a Sellout?
Miles Davis' Bitches Brew does not sound like any mainstream popular music in the US from its time. What made this album different?
columbia records
The Chicks Boldly Reclaim Their Relevance on ‘Gaslighter’
Gaslighter is bold and incendiary, finding the Chicks reclaiming their relevance. Thankfully, the Chicks reject silencing as Gaslighter reestablishes their penchant for vocalizing raw truths.
HAIM Create Their Best Album with ‘Women in Music Pt. III’
On Women in Music Pt. III, HAIM are done pretending and ready to be themselves. By learning to embrace the power in their weakest points, the group have created their best work to date.
On Bob Dylan’s ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ Everything Old Is New Again, Again
Bob Dylan's first album of original material since 2012, Rough and Rowdy Ways, is a suitably grim, brilliant collection of ten songs for our dark times.
Bob Dylan Says It All on ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’
Bob Dylan returns as prophet, historian, and joker on his latest album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, an unending puzzle with rich content.
Is ‘Murder Most Foul’ Dylan’s State of the Union Address?
The implication of Bob Dylan's "Murder Most Foul", expressed with an understated passion, is that in 2020, it may not be just the music or even the president that has died.
No Fear No More: An Interview with Madeon
Madeon shot to fame as a teenager as a new dance music hero, then withdrew from the world as he battled with his emotions. Now, with his thoughtful sophomore album, Madeon is back with an evolved sound and a new outlook, ready to connect with people like never before.
‘Jimmy Lee’ Shows Why Raphael Saadiq Is One of the Most Compelling Voices in Modern Soul
On his first solo album in eight years, Raphael Saadiq proves the power of the personal narrative by placing personal tragedies in heartbreaking context.
Lil Nas X’s 7 (EP) Is the Work of a Canny Prankster
The genre-agnostic "Old Town Road" rapper's lyrics are less interesting than the scenery Lil Nas X drops them in.
Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Western Stars’ Grows More Satisfying with Repeated Exposure
Deeply moving, inventive and even a bit risky, Western Stars will take its place among Bruce Springsteen's solo gems.
‘When I Get Home’, ‘Astroworld’, and the Problem with Place-Based Authenticity
Lucky for you, philistine listener and reader, we critics are here to make your listening experience truly authentic by bringing you into the "back to their roots" covenant of artistic judgment.