Shabazz Palaces Resist Profiling on Elusive ‘Exotic Birds of Prey’
Following Robed in Rareness from last fall, Shabazz Palaces continues a provisional series with the cryptic and digressive Exotic Birds of Prey.
Following Robed in Rareness from last fall, Shabazz Palaces continues a provisional series with the cryptic and digressive Exotic Birds of Prey.
Canadian noise punks go widescreen on their latest to thrilling effect. METZ embrace melody but still bring the noise Up on Gravity Hill.
Souvenir finds Omni continuing to carve out a distinct identity (with an exacto knife) and shining among the glut of post-punk revivalist bands.
The venerable J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. drifts on this unimaginative release that takes no risks and leaves little enduring impression.
On Robed in Rareness, Ishmael Butler aka Shabazz Palaces takes yet another step in his forward-thinking, far-sighted project of Afrofuturistic hip-hop.
Bully’s Lucky for You is tight, compact indie guitar rock that will get into your head even when you aren’t sure what Alicia Bognanno is singing about.
The theme of survival forms the subtext of Mudhoney’s Plastic Eternity and topics of environmental crisis, overrun capitalism, and anti-democratic politics.
Quasi have become one of the more enduring musical collaborations from the Pacific Northwest, and Breaking the Balls of History is a peak moment in their discography
Kiwi Jr. brighten their C-86-inspired sound with synthesizers, adding a new-wave tint that makes its cheeriness on Chopper shine.
Quirky art-rock outfit Guerilla Toss sacrifice little of their magnificent strangeness by leaning mainstream on their Sub Pop debut, Famously Alive.
Ya Tseen’s vision on Indian Yard is expansive and yet feels fully realized. It’s hard to imagine an album covering more ground and still striking such a precise balance of cohesion and variety.
Chad VanGaalen’s World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener has elements of hurt and darkness, but he sounds at ease in his ever-changing musical gambits.