Music Reviews
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Stephen Steinbrink Utopia Teased
The Oakland-based singer-songwriter wrestles with grief on this mostly laidback affair, which manages to balance many different moods with comforting reassurances.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews... -
Julia Holter Aviary
The Los Angeles songwriter's fifth record is unarguably perplexing; she works through her contradictions by fighting the creative process with some defensiveness, fully aware and confident of her tenacious perfectionism.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews... -
Ella Mai Ella Mai
The rising R&B singer-songwriter follows her breakthrough smash "Boo'd Up" with a promising self-titled debut.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews... -
Alt-J Reduxer
Alt-J reimagine their 2017 record Relaxer by bringing in hip-hop stars, but the results are just as messy and inconsistent as the original.
Matthew Smith reviews... -
Cat Power Wanderer
Chan Marshall's tenth record is less so a document of her six-year absence, but more so a narrative of what it took for her to gather the strength to complete a self-sufficient record.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews... -
Amber Arcades European Heartbreak
Amber Arcades swaps danceable indie pop for nostalgic odes to Europe on a charming and clever second album.
Matthew Smith reviews... -
Idles Joy As An Act Of Resistance
With Joy As An Act Of Resistance, Idles set down a 12-track manifesto about laying the world to rights in typically determined fashion.
Tom Parmiter reviews... -
Blood Orange Negro Swan
On his fourth album as Blood Orange, Dev Hynes continues his deep dive into ideas of identity, aided by a raft of collaborators and his trusty 1980s box of tricks.
Joe Rivers reviews... -
Exploded View Obey
The second LP from Exploded View, Obey is a multifaceted and emotionally turbulent exploration of sound and structure that merges a range of musical styles into its well-unified tone and context.
Sean Caldwell reviews... -
Joyce Manor Million Dollars to Kill Me
On their fifth album, the Torrance, California four-piece take ownership of their airtight guitar pop, more in pursuit of honing a musical approach that suits them rather than searching for some fictitious denomination of aging gracefully.
Juan Edgardo Rodríguez reviews...
