Despite After Hours' infectious blend of '80s synthpop and dark, alternative R&B, the story's beginning to get old on the Weeknd's fourth studio album.
A missive directed toward their haters, Little Mix's "Wasabi" is defiant and confident. It's a musical reminder to ignore the critics and strive towards authenticity.
On his first album in five years, Adam Lambert finds his groove by moving in the right direction. Velvet feels effortless and natural, from the funk and disco beats to the synth and soft rock influences.
Penned during a difficult summer, Mercy Bell's "Black Dress" has proven one of her most enduring. First released a decade ago, it gets a new lease on life.
Sam Sparro's Boombox Eternal is Jam & Lewis, Nile Rodgers, and Quincy Jones all nodding in unison. It is Day-Glo colors and endless mists of hairspray.
Lady Gaga and the Broadway cast of Cats beam down to one of those inhospitable planets from the first series of Star Trek and hold a Power Rangers meet Mad Max themed dance-off.
Taylor Swift offers empowerment in "The Man" not only by simply revealing how ridiculous men can be, but how easily society allows them to be, and accepts them as such.
Former Jellyfish members combine forces as the Lickerish Quartet for a collection of imaginative songs influenced by one of rock's most creatively fertile eras. Roger Joseph Manning Jr. discusses the group's origins and debut track, "Lighthouse Spaceship."
With "Spotlight", Jessie Ware delivers a smooth pop masterpiece of driving rhythms, understated vocals, and lyrics of longing and lust.
On her first album in over a decade, Mandy Moore reclaims her voice and delivers an intimate portrait of adulthood with Silver Landings.
Creative, existential bondage for the sleep-deprived, Grimes' "Idoru" is better than any hallucination Titanic Sinclair could dream up for Poppy this week.
Meghan Remy's experimental pop project U.S. Girls ventures into more mainstream territory to mixed results on Heavy Light.
Best Coast return with Always Tomorrow, a sunny collection of pop songs about loss and finding the courage to rebuild.
José James has a rich, velvety voice that simmers and smolders. He takes it easy in a seductive way. The vibe is romantic and sexy on No Beginning No End 2.
Recorded for $60 in an island country near the bottom of the globe, "Tally Ho", the debut single by New Zealand's the Clean, was an unlikely candidate to be an international game-changer and a defining moment for a pop movement. Here's a sampling of essential tracks by 15 of New Zealand's finest acts.
Much loved Scottish band Deacon Blue deliver a confident set of arena-friendly songs of hope on their ninth studio album, City of Love. Just don't call them a legacy act.
The new album from Seattle's Eamon Ra, Meat Bones Chemicals Electricity, is a pitch-perfect throwback to a golden age of youthful innocence and killer hooks.
"Freaks", the latest single from psych-popsters, Once & Future Band, is a triumphant blend of mesmeric harmonies and vibrant celebration.
Number five on the list is practically synonymous with Great Artistic Statements. But was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band really the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper"? A splendid time is guaranteed for all as Counterbalance figures it out.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell re-imagined for 2020. SZA does most of the heavy lifting here, while Justin Timberlake busts a selection of moves in a charmingly self-deprecating way.
Former Modern Rivals member Alex Schiff recruits former bandmates for Blue Canopy's "656", which is filled with childlike wonder and bright-eyed instrumentation.
Ron Pope's Bone Structure presents a personal view of the world from the perspective of one who is seeing it again for the first time. He is a realist. He knows that human connections are the best one can hope for, and maybe that's enough.
For Black History Month 2020, we are showcasing films and videos featuring Black American artists. Enjoy them and learn about the origin of each Black music legend featured.
Mabel's "Boyfriend" feels like little more than a stepping stone, something to keep her name on people's tongues following her big win at the Brit awards.
The father of soft rock is the latest to mine the Great American Songbook for inspiration, but unlike his peers, James Taylor approaches the material with the love, care, and sincerity of a true fan.
Reinventing herself as Love You Later, Lexi Aviles is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who came up with the idea after seeing the Japanese House perform. On her new single and music video, she gets to the heart of the matter.
Caroline Rose's Superstar is often quite grand in a DIY-kind of way. Think of 1980s era MTV rock performed on a Casio keyboard with a sampler in your bedroom as recreated on modern technology.
From Phil Spector's Wall of Sound to 20 Feet from Stardom, Julia, Maxine, Luther, and Oren Waters reflect on their six-decade career, including historic sessions with Herbie Hancock, Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, and countless other music legends.
Ironically, you may wind up wishing that Grimes' vision of a scorched Earth was a bit more fun.
Joe Kye's songbird-sweet voice is as dynamic as his nimble string work, his chorus the kind that sticks in the head for all the right reasons.
No Future finds Dublin's EDEN furthering his distinctive vision as he expands his sonic palette and broadens his perspective on an achingly beautiful modern pop album.
Jenn Grinels and Marc Broussard join forces for the catchy, new soul-pop single, "Evidence".
An album full of hits for other people, Laura Nyro's More Than a New Discovery showcases the artist behind the songs.
Just in time for Valentine's Day... If you were a child of the 1970s, you no doubt grew up hearing these tunes on your parents' eight-track player and car radio. The songs on this list are sappy, high-drama love ballads -- and for that they're being celebrated.
Boniface unleash their debut album, a sophisticated coming-of-age statement, full of irresistible pop hooks and rhythms.
Indonesian indie pop duo Stars and Rabbit take a blissfully surreal walk in new video "Any Day in the Park".
Tennis' Swimmer is a distillation of everything they do so well, and it further establishes them as a dynamic, sophisticated pop act worthy of even bigger stages.
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