The album is at once a reckoning and a self-conscious pivot.
Nelson is capable of taking unexpected material and tailoring it to his strengths as a performer and interpreter.
The trio achieves a kind of symbiosis of character on Hummingbird—without a credit sheet, you might not even know who did what.
Sex and Gasoline is topical and fiercely intelligent in a way that few modern country albums are.
There’s a real coherence and a definite focus on a common theme of keeping one’s head, no matter how hard times may get.
There’s nothing really contemporary about Forth, but that gives it a certain retro-minded charm that carries it through some weaker moments.
31Knots crafts challenging rock music in the grand tradition of iconoclasts like Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa.
Curse him for his heresy against indie/math rock/whatever, but Damon Che can still play those drums.
Brian Wilson’s greatest strength has always been his ability to express grief in the almost excruciating beauties of harmony.
For a rapper who doesn’t rap very well, the Game is proving to be amazingly resilient as well as oddly charming.
What began as an internet rumor turned into self-fulfilling prophecy.
The contrast between Human Highway’s Moody Motorcycle and Arm’s Way could hardly be more stark.
Like most popular videos, “Got Money” bounces between a performance part and a plot/narrative.
Venturing off into the unknown plays well for Solange.
The Gaslight Anthem’s interpretation of their influences makes for one of the more rewarding punk albums of the year.
Sweet’s production foregrounds the massive guitar hooks, giving the album a punch that carries some heavy follow-through.
North Hollywood Shootout is Blues Traveler’s slightly over-reaching attempt at reclaiming some of their former commercial relevance.
The album goes a long way toward definitively documenting their trippy, ingenious maunderings.
The album suggests a larger community working to redefine itself.
The album’s more energetic moments only serve as a frustrating indicator of Thibodeau’s potential.
Pro Tools serves as a hip-hop state-of-the-union address.