Emma Harner’s Debut ‘Evening Star’ Is Remarkable
Emma Harner’s Evening Star is a remarkably assured debut. She knows that technical mastery means nothing without emotional weight to anchor it.
folk pop
Shawn Colvin’s ‘Whole New You’ Is a Revelation at 25
Shawn Colvin knows who she is, and she wasn’t about to start chasing someone else’s pop dreams. That’s what makes Whole New You so captivating still.
Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger
Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger show an artist in full command, at home in herself and her work, replacing 1980s gloss with intimacy.
José González Gently Rages ‘Against the Dying of the Light’
José González preaches to his audience like a folksinger, but his music shares more in common with chamber pop than with other Dylans due to his polished stylings.
Pat Kelly Creates Another Low-Key Folk Gem
Pat Kelly creates songs inhabiting a distinctly low-key vibe, and the eloquent lyrical passages and his knack for “hooks” make for an irresistible combination.
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.
Boy Golden Finds the Best Things in Life
Boy Golden has given us a soundtrack for good times, which is an achievement that, in our current world, feels nothing short of miraculous.
Folk Alliance International Offered Comfort in Troubled Times
January’s Folk Alliance International festival served as a place to restore and recharge for folk music lovers, offering solace and inspiration.
Alice Costelloe Confronts the Past with Elegant Art Pop
Alice Costelloe’s debut album is refined, elegant art pop, in which her crystalline voice floats over a rich palette of electronic instrumentation with grace.
Sotto Voce’s Lo-Fi Pop Is Filled with Melodic Twists
Ryan Gabos’ lo-fi bedroom pop project, Sotto Voce, scales new heights with The Sound of Trying.
How the Beatles Hindered American Folk Music
For many American musicians at the time, the Beatles and the British Invasion of 1964 detrimentally slowed the creative evolution of American folk music.
Madi Diaz Leans Into the Anguish on ‘Fatal Optimist’
On her confessional new album Fatal Optimist, Madi Diaz lays everything bare and achieves a certain wisdom through the heartbreak.