The fact that Katie Davies is playing these insanely complicated guitar parts alongside her blistering screams (which follow a completely different rhythm than that of the guitars) is pretty mind-blowing. I'm chomping at the bit to see this band live. It's pretty wild stuff.

It deserves praise, but the most vocal among its fans claim that it's some sort of revolutionary musical moment when in reality it's just a really good modern funk and soul album.

It has that '80s post-punk-meets-new-wave quality to it but without the urgency or bite that came along with that music when it was fresh and pushing boundaries. It's a perfectly fine album, but nothing about it is memorable or progressive enough to stand out.

Lo-fi post-hardcore shoegaze that has a young adult anime aesthetic while pouring its heart out through Korean lyrics I cannot understand. Something so left-field was either going to alienate me or leave quite the positive impression on me. In this case, it was the latter. While I cannot translate the lyrics, I can feel the emotion in the melodies and raw quality of the vocal performances. Turns out that is enough for me, here. Incredible.

Another home run for experimental black metal artist Caio Lemos, after he blew me away last year with his Kaatayra all-acoustic project.

One of the most annoying listens of the year for me so far.

First we saw "OK Human." Now here comes "OK Orchestra." I've got one! "OK, Stop."

This album is the natural next step in her musical evolution, serving as a culmination of everything that came before while taking enough steps forward to warrant this release at this time. She hasn't simply released "another Lana Del Rey album." She has released another worthy artistic effort that proves she still has much more to say. And as long as she does, this reviewer will gladly listen.

The title of the album might confound some, but the lyrics and themes within clear up the ... read more

Consider this to be a review of both parts of this two-part opus of "Son of Sun" and "Vexillology," released as companion pieces.

This striking debut from Moroccan producer and DJ Guedra Guedra mixes field recordings of celebratory dance and song from various cultures around the world (fitting since "Guedra" is a traditional dance festival of the Blue People diaspora across the Middle-East whose reach includes Morocco itself) and more traditional dub style beats ... read more

Arlo Parks delivers a thoroughly enjoyable series of bedroom pop bangers that have the ability to make the listener feel both energized and simultaneously peaceful.

It's kind of like if Billy Idol joined Swans. Or something. I like it; I just don't love it. There's greatness folded deeply into the haze, here, but ut isn't fully legible. I'll be keeping an eye on this band's subsequent output, for sure!

Hmm. Yuck.

A hell of a debut!

Last year, Adrianne Lenker released a masterpiece that was largely inspired by the equal reward and heartbreak of her shortlived romance with fellow musician Indigo Sparks. This year, the Sparks project she worked on as producer has come to fruition as well. One perhaps cannot help but make connections between the two releases and compare one to the other, no matter how unreasonable it is to do so. They are two very different records, Lenker's and Sparks's, yet the shared DNA, both in the ... read more

Wilson continues to reinvent himself and push his artistry into new sonic frontiers, unafraid of fan alienation and daring to keep challenging himself as an artist as well as the form itself. In this way, The Future Bites is far more progressive than most of the shitty modern "progressive rock" albums coming out today. It also happens that it's also really damn good.

Esoteric Beatles reference in the band's name? Check. Old school production values that evoke the psychedelic Brit pop of the '60s? Check. Anything new to say musically despite the vintage veneer? I would say so. This music sounds like it could be a direct descendant of the music that so obviously inspires it, but at the same time, it isn't just chasing the exact tones, riffs, and melodies we've already heard from said era. The Muckers are still making modern music despite the oldies influence, ... read more

It's a solid release. Hearing the singles leading into the album release proper, I wasn't completely floored, and after hearing the album itself, I have to say that initial impression hasn't budged much, but I definitely think this band has something, and I will be looking forward to hearing what they put out next. An enjoyable listen, for sure; just not as memorable as so many other works in the same vein coming out right now. This whole punk/post-punk/newave revival thing is really bringing ... read more

I knew I was going to love this release when the preview tracks came out. Tis why I went ahead and preordered the bastard. Now, I see my decision was well placed. What a record this is! The raw, voice-cracking yells of the lead vocals, the aggressive, traditional punk style drumming, and then the beautiful contrast against those gentle, melodic guitars. Wow! Highly recommended listening from me.

Hikaru Utada does it again! Though I do wish there had been a bit more track diversity this time around (three of the tracks are all remixes of the same song), I cannot deny the beauty and creativity of the special brand of pop music that only Utada can bring. Plus, her cover of Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" now has a proper home in her physical discography. I like that cover.

This speaks to me on such a deep level, it's near-instinctual for me to fall in absolute love with it. Is it traditional Nordic folk? Is it metal? Is it both? Does it matter? No. All that really matters is the impact it has on one's emotions and imagination. And on that front, it is undeniably one of the most successful records I have heard all year. It's sonically huge, enveloping the listener in a world from another time and place and making that world feel as present and immediate as the ... read more