Madonna’s most focused effort in decades, the album earns its nostalgia by prioritizing it.
The album boasts a thin premise, loads of guest appearances, and a general undercurrent of redundancy.
Harvey’s eighth studio album is a triumph of both micro- and macro-level structure.
Here are some notable September releases that fell through the cracks for one reason or another.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, here comes Mariah with her titties out, all breathless and moaning.
Lennox’s voice, capable of creating the illusion of an entire choir as it does on the gospel-y “Ghost in My Machine,” is always the key focus of her music.
Canadian sextet Stars relish in drama and turmoil.
The Real Thing swiftly descends into over half an hour of sex songs you’d expect to hear at the tail end of a Janet Jackson album.
These songs are never less than lovely, but they’re never really more than lovely either.
Throughout, Banhart’s mannered, look-what-I-can-do kook act overshadows his actual talent.
Who knew he was a next-generation house producer?
Chaka Kahn occasionally aims for introspection by swooping down into her husky contralto register.
Quietly but unmistakably, there is a political undercurrent that weaves in and out of Civilians.
For all the cast changes and time that has passed by, Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy doesn’t break much new ground.
James Blunt returns with a piano-driven period piece that’s about as edgy as an episode of Desperate Housewives.
The only thing working against Drastic Fantastic, really, is its lame title.
The Bluegrass Diaries easily ranks among the standout releases in a very strong year for country music.
If possible, the terrain is headier, the edges are sharper, and the album is, at times, a more arduous listen than its predecessor.
Britney’s opening number at this year’s VMAs set the tone for the entire night.
Our Ill Wills is a consistently stronger, more cohesive collection than its predecessor.
“Maturity” isn’t necessarily the first word that comes to mind when talking about the music of the Go! Team.