There’s a vocal minority who insist that “Tigermilk” is better than “If You’re Feeling Sinister,” and while I can’t say I agree, I totally get it. Both their most intimate and their saddest album, “Tigermilk” is quintessential Belle & Sebastian, but even more soft-spoken than in their later releases. Despite emerging from absolutely nowhere, Stuart Murdoch’s vision is already clear and almost perfectly executed. They went on to ... read more

Certainly one of the best known contemporary bluegrass bands, The Punch Brothers’ 2015 album “The Phosphorescent Blues” saw the band finding newfound popularity to match their critical acclaim by marrying irresistible pop melodies with their progressive/classical bluegrass backbone. By comparison, predecessor “Who’s Feeling Young Now?” is a less accessible, artier affair. But for all the instrumental virtuosity and progressive experimentation — both of ... read more

“Critical Equation” is less overtly retro than some of the more recent Dr. Dog albums, and it’s probably better for that. That said, nobody who’s heard a Dr. Dog album before this is going to be stunned by anything they hear on “Critical Equation.” The band’s tendency to box themselves into uninspired, midtempo psychedelic grooves is in full play here, and it’s a mood that works better in short doses than over the course of an entire 40 minute ... read more

It’s a Wild Nothing album alright. The predictability of “Indigo” is at once its biggest asset and liability. The best moments here tend to be the most straightforward, quintessentially Wild Nothing moments, while the more arguably experimental attempts are largely forgettable. Jack Tatum’s brand of dream pop is always eminently listenable, but “Indigo” is ultimately too inert; we’ve heard better iterations of these ideas from him.