Tess Clare Becomes Her Own Permission on ‘Diva 98’
Tess Clare’s debut album, Diva 98, is made by someone who decided she had waited long enough and mostly proves she was right.
indie pop
Mist and Raindrops Give Bayonne’s ‘Filters’ a Refreshing Glow
With Filter, Bayonne demonstrates how the lushness of adult pop can coexist with the modular logic of modern bedroom production.
Josaleigh Pollett Soars on Warm Lo-Fi Buzz on Beautiful LP
Josaleigh Pollett combines striking moments of experimentation with an uncanny knack for beautiful, often breathtaking songwriting.
Rachael Sage Finds Hope in Harmony, Turning Tragedy Into Song
For Rachael Sage, songs can do something few public conversations can. They create common ground before people retreat into fixed positions.
Cautious Clay Conceptually Completes His Non-Linear ‘Hours’ Trilogy
R&B artist Cautious Clay’s The Hours: High Noon delivers a deeply resonant reflection on daily life and time passing.
The Best Song on KiKi Holli’s New EP Belongs to INXS
KiKi Holli made her name interpreting Dusty Springfield on a New York stage. She is a superb interpreter. Her own writing hasn’t quite caught up yet.
Finn Wolfhard’s Sophomore Album Is an Off-the-Cuff Blockbuster
On Fire From the Hip, Finn Wolfhard builds on the 1970s rock-inspired palette of his debut, modernizing the record with clever cultural allusions.
Julieta Venegas Discusses Revisiting Her Norteña Roots
Having lived in multiple countries, Julieta Venegas discusses taking her audience on a journey into the Norteño music of Tijuana.
Jacob Ungerleider Steps Out of the Shadows with Stunning Album
For someone who spent so long playing on other people’s records, Jacob Ungerleider is supremely confident and utterly charming, yet refreshingly relatable.
CFCF on His Turn from Ambient Artist to Sleaze-Pop Superstar
Call it the Reverse Eno: beloved ambient-chill guy CFCF finds glam-pop success, but refuses to sell out his emotions along the way.
Guided by Voices’ Latest Continues Their Hot Streak
Indie rock institution Guided by Voices’ Crawlspace of the Pantheon is another winning chapter in a late-career run of high-quality releases.
Pictish Trail Return With a Lovely But Brooding LP
Like a walk through an old cemetery at twilight, Pictish Trail’s Life Slime is a dark but often lovely experience.