Big Thief successfully compliments the beautiful UFOF with the equally compelling Two Hands. The distinction between the two is pretty apparent. Where UFOF played with lush atmospheres and more existential thoughts, Two Hands feels significantly closer and grounded in personal physical experience. Lenker's vocal performance is quite impressive and the band's guitar work remains top-notch. With such a heavy output over the past five years, it's pretty amazing that the quality of songwriting has ... read more

Shriek is Wye Oak beginning to explore synth spaces with more gusto. Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack balance each other nicely on this album. Something I love about Wye Oak's sound is the anxious movement that motivates their music. The synthesizers give Shriek some extra depth; the songs become 3 dimensional in the way melodies swell and tuck into one another. 'Glory' finds Wasner singing some of her most esoteric lyrics, but the song builds and bounces. I like the juxtaposition of strange word ... read more

All Mirrors is objectively beautiful. Olsen's songwriting has never been more indulgent and theatrical. Angel searches for love and self-acceptance through grand orchestral statements. With earth-shaking vocals and incredible instrumental passages, All Mirrors is Angel's most composed project to date. It is a masterclass in epic songwriting that can leave you feeling mystified and raw. The album is so impressive that it is almost alienating. Yes, I am amazed by the songwriting, but I wish I ... read more

Chromatics out Chromatics themselves with their most Chromatics release to date.

This is mostly a compliment. The gang returns with eerie, Lynchian synth-pop that evokes shadowy clubs and endless car rides through the night. They add some new and exciting electronic noises, and the songwriting is tighter. At times, they fall into the trap of sounding like a parody of themselves; the band's sharp awareness shifts into unbridled indulgence. Overall, Closer to Grey is an enjoyable sonic ride with ... read more