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.
folk pop
Dar Williams Commits to the ‘Hummingbird Highway’
Folk artist Dar Williams has long leaned on songwriting to cast off and expose her blood and beauty to the world. She discusses this and more with PopMatters.
Molly Tuttle Dives Headfirst Into Entertaining Country Pop
Molly Tuttle, hot off a significant Grammy nomination, pivots her sound into a lovely country pop new direction and tells PopMatters all about it.
Cassandra Jenkins Creates a Striking New Ambient LP
Cassandra Jenkins’ new LP conveys moods and calming vibes, along with the creative imagination of its creator and her fellow musicians. It’s a beautiful piece of work.
A New Box Set Deconstructs Nick Drake’s Dazzling Debut
Nick Drake’s luminous 1969 debut gets a box set that chronicles its creation and accentuates the late musician’s unique, timeless brilliance.
Lisa Harres Brings Poetic Vision to Debut Album
Lisa Harres’ debut strikes the right balance between skeletal piano-led ballads and baroque embellishments. It’s spellbinding with elusive beauty and staggering depth.
Molly Tuttle Goes Solo with Delightful New Record
Molly Tuttle’s So Long Little Miss Sunshine finds her stretching out her sound, though her songwriting and guitar skills continue to be on full display.
Jade Bird Crafts Brilliant Art From Emotional Experiences
Jade Bird’s lyrics are simultaneously intimate and intense, insightful and poetic. She passionately delivers the material, and her insights come off as poetic revelations.
The Swell Season Sound as Beautiful as Ever
Despite its eight tracks covering a variety of emotional territory, the overriding feeling of the Swell Season’s Forward is one of a joyful reunion.
The Embers Still Burn for Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill
Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill offer a nostalgic look at music written in the past without comment. The music is not meta, cynical, or ironic, and that’s a plus.
Quickly Quickly Offers Catchy Hooks and Layered Arrangements
Quickly Quickly’s melodies make this a catchy, very listenable record. The oddball sounds and layered arrangements make it a treat to dig into this album repeatedly.
Cornelia Murr Has a Hypnotic Way of Expressing Self-Discovery
Cornelia Murr’s new LP finds the artist at her most refined. The songwriting is imaginative and introspective; she has a hypnotic way of expressing self-discovery.