Slowdive’s ‘Everything Is Alive’ Is a Masterpiece of Subtlety
From the haunted guitars to the impressionist vocals, from the most spell-binding drones to the brisk tempos, this is a Slowdive album through and through.
dead oceans
Kevin Morby’s ‘More Photographs (A Continuum)’ Expands the Conversation
More Photographs has its moments, and for anyone wanting to explore old photos, memory, and mortality with Kevin Morby, it broadens the thinking.
Durand Jones’ Solo Debut Is Powerful and Personal
Braiding stirring songwriting prowess and beautiful vocals, Durand Jones has created one of the most assured and brightest debut albums in quite some time.
Wednesday’s ‘Rat Saw God’ Is a Vivid Tapestry of Misery
On Wednesday’s spectacular Rat Saw God, the North Carolina quintet weave a vivid tapestry of misery led by Karly Hartzman’s ekphrastic storytelling.
Mitski Warns Us About the Dangers of Love and Death on ‘Laurel Hell’
Mitski’s Laurel Hell possesses a kind of weird timelessness. The album seems like an artifact from the past that somehow seems relevant in the present.
Kevin Morby Opens the Door on ‘A Night at the Little Los Angeles’
Sundowner and A Night at the Little Los Angeles work together to satisfy multiple moods and develop a complete picture of Kevin Morby’s work.
Durand Jones and the Indications Keep Innovating Modern Soul with ‘Private Space’
Durand Jones and the Indications push the boundaries of soul music with Private Space, reminding us that the genre was never a relic of the past.
Shame Are an Unstoppable Force on ‘Drunk Tank Pink’
Shame's Drunk Tank Pink emphasizes something that's become even rarer than a rock star: a legitimately exciting band.
Kevin Morby Gets Back to Basics on ‘Sundowner’
On Sundowner, Kevin Morby sings of valleys, broken stars, pale nights, and the midwestern American sun. Most of the time, he's alone with his guitar and a haunting mellotron.
Bright Eyes’ ‘Down in the Weeds’ Is a Return to Form and a Statement of Hope
Bright Eyes may not technically be emo, but they are transcendently expressive, beatifically melancholic. Down in the Weeds is just the statement of grounding that we need as a respite from the churning chaos around us.
Khruangbin Add Vocals But Keep the Funk on ‘Mordechai’
Khruangbin's third album Mordechai is a showcase for their chemistry and musical chops.
Phoebe Bridgers Sublimely Documents the Surreal Present on ‘Punisher’
At 25, Phoebe Bridgers is an artist at the beginning of her career, though Punisher sounds more like the work of a time-tested veteran.