In this age of glib capsule criticism, creativity is often summed up and shorted its due.
St. Elsewhere as not only an audacious accomplishment, but one of the year’s best.
Surprise, Simon’s first album of new material since 2000, bears a subtle undercurrent of political commentary.
Poor, poor Nick Lachey.
Now this is music perfectly suited to the critical chestnut “heavy as fuck.”
Banish the image of Jewel gyrating in gangsta duds, as Goodbye Alice in Wonderland finds the Alaskan native firmly back in more organic territory.
The Court & Spark freely bleed a peculiar type of alt-country soul, staining their songs with a dark tension and a loose, rambling feel.
If you didn’t know who Eugene Mirman was before you experienced En Garde, Society!, you will when you’re done.
Cannibal Sea, the band’s third full-length, unfurls like a lazy afternoon peppered with involving conversation.
Swedish imports the Sounds are mired in the ’80s and don’t care who knows it.
Bring It Back finds a happy family unleashing sonic sunshine, spilling out of the speakers with unchecked abandon.
Ringleader of the Tormentors makes you wonder if seven-year gaps between albums are necessary.
The Back Room flows like an obsidian wave from first song to last.
The only dust that should surround this breathtaking debut is that of the crowds rushing to pick this up from store shelves.
The parade of ’80s-aping acts marches onward with the cleverly monikered I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness’s ominous debut LP.
Pay the Devil is a well-intentioned homage to a brand of music now seemingly alien to those in Nashville and elsewhere.
Given the extraordinarily brief shelf life of most imported art-rockers these days, these currently bright Stars could flame out tomorrow.
The album’s high enjoyability factor is likely incidental to Willie Nelson’s true aims: honoring one of country music’s most enduring songwriters.
Smooth flow and occasional inventive beats notwithstanding, this is an album that feels bloated, overextended, and much too calculated.
A rousing, effervescent disc that should stay in heavy rotation come summertime, Get It is good ‘til the last drop’s gone.