American Classic finds Nelson sounding as soulful and youthful as he has in years.
He may be capable of more, but Big Dreams & High Hopes certainly isn’t bad for what it is.
Gather, Form & Fly brings renewed energy to a sub-genre that nearly collapsed under two years’ worth of Fleet Foxes hype.
Twang is one of the more interesting permutations of the prototypical George Strait record.
My Old, Familiar Friend is a power-pop record that never skimps on the power.
Reba McEntire uses Keep on Loving You as an aggressive bid to prove that she’s still a major commercial force.
It’s a testament to the sheer quality of songs like “Union Street” that the album is still worth a listen.
Over the course of the album, Major Lazer tackles a host of sub-genres of dancehall music.
Stupid Love impresses for its thematic focus and the leap forward in maturity in Smith’s songwriting.
By attempting to please fans of pop, hip-hop, and country, songs like “Bullet” and “My Cowboy” use only the most superficial aspects of each of those genres.
On her first album in 13 years, folk icon and Native American activist Buffy Sainte-Marie comes out swinging.
Horehound establishes the Dead Weather as a fully realized band with a sufficiently distinctive point of view.
The reverence that Sweet and Hoffs bring to their performances and arrangements give the record a genuine warmth.
It’s the tracks that play to Son Volt’s strengths that draw the album’s dour shortcomings into sharp relief.
American Saturday Night stands as perhaps the most consistent set of material Paisley has committed to record.
The album suggests that the Jonas Brothers simply don’t have the chops to make it once the current teen-pop bubble bursts.
The Bachelor’s overall tone reflects a nihilistic view of both romance and humanity.
Williams doesn’t do anything to overcome the album’s unfashionable, irrelevant material.
Moore’s good taste has finally translated into a mature and, yes, credible album that stands on its own merits.
Jason Lytle may have retired his former band, Grandaddy, but it’s hard to tell from his solo debut.