Thomas Stremfel
Only a few spare moments truly sound like something that works outside of the tracklist, but Child Actor’s unassuming production quietly builds one of the rapper’s most immersive records to date.
1mo
The experimental-minded folk singer pushes her sound a little further on her Sacred Bones debut.
2mo
Femtanyl's punky brand of electronic hardcore sometimes sounds like as much a personal test as it does a form of self-expression.
2mo
The few stellar tracks on Wuthering Heights assert that Charli XCX is one of pop’s most forward-thinking artists. The rest of the album, however, is bland in a way that feels beneath what we know she’s capable of creating.
3mo
The electronic sonic additions on Essam widen Imarhan’s scope into a panoramic experience that hits emotionally, regardless of language barriers.
4mo
As talented as he is, there’s always the feeling that you heard someone else do the same thing years ago.
5mo
The music, while certainly pleasant, suggests more closely the idea of a memory rather than actually taking you back to the time they’re referring to.
6mo
An outright tender record, beams of light shooting through the clouds, providing glimpses of warmth.
7mo
The standout head-turners on Sister don’t push any pop boundaries, but when you crank that up with your friends, it doesn't matter.
6mo
As incredible as the compositions are on The Prophet and the Madman, the question of who Ami Taf Ra actually is remains a mystery.
9mo
Unassuming as it is at first glance, Joey Valence & Brae’s new album grapples the phenomenon of perceived Peter Pan syndrome head-on while they watch their childhood friends move on.
8mo
With the world’s various crises, was DJ Haram about to put out a record of hype music that people roll to and then forget about later? With her debut LP, the veteran producer answers that question with a resounding “no.”
10mo
All Smiles Tonight forces you to feel the weight of what these people you never knew went through in towns you’ve never heard of in countries you’ve never been to.
9mo
13 Months of Sunshine does not disappoint in providing guaranteed hits, but the record is torn between what he has always excelled at and what he wanted to achieve.
11mo
While the tracklist barely breaks the 20-minute mark, the brevity in her music has never sounded so intentional.
1y
Fly Anakin’s newest is a tentpole release in the VA rapper’s discography, but (The) Forever Dream can wind up feeling more like a breath of fresh air on some listens than he intended.
1y
Scowl knows how to write a good hook, but Are We All Angels is filled with way more noise than it needs, despite the fact that this is by far their least aggressive project yet.
1y
Portrait of My Heart is beautiful, emotionally potent, and intricate. So in other words, it’s just another Spellling album.
1y
It’s a cool concept, but across both records, almost never tracks as closely as it should to the feelings the actual music creates. But that’s beside the point—Whatever the Weather II may tread familiar ground as she drifts towards the idiosyncratic side of her discography, but James’ most fruitful experimentations come from when she cuts the bullshit and hones in on a single musical concept.
1y
Lady Gaga’s official return to pop isn’t quite the grand return one might’ve hoped for — and it’s never, as the title suggests, “mayhem.”
1y
Glacier's poetry feels casual in the moment, and, while she keeps it light, there’s no shortage of clever wordplay.
1y
French popper Oklou’s choke enough will make its listeners hit a point where they accept that she is simply doing something different, but she’s still able to achieve pop’s ultimate goal, which is creating tunes that stick with you.
1y
Using classic dancefloor sounds, FKA twigs captures the volatile energy of a night at the club.
1y