First Listen: Muddy Magnolias, 'Broken People'
Call Muddy Magnolias rock, soul or even country: The huge, soulful, uplifting voices of Jessy Wilson and Kallie North will fill whatever space opens up to them.
Music Reviews
First Listen: Swet Shop Boys, 'Cashmere'
Rappers Heems and Riz MC (the latter an actor known for his starring role in HBO's The Night Of) address South Asian identity with insight, poignancy and infectious humor.
First Listen: Johnnyswim, 'Georgica Pond'
These are songs by and for feel-big dreamers, performed with a gift for weapons-grade ingratiation by a pair of born crowd-pleasers.
First Listen: Purling Hiss, 'High Bias'
If rock music is your salve in hard times, it helps to find something that actually rocks. For its eighth album, Philadelphia's Purling Hiss returns with an unquestionably huge guitar record.
Music Review: 'American Band,' Drive-By Truckers
Music critic Tom Moon reviews the latest release from the Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers.
Lucy Dacus' 'No Burden' Features Strong Music About Weak Moments
Dacus mixes plainspoken language with rock-music instrumentation on her debut album. Critic Ken Tucker says the singer-songwriter's vulnerability goes against the grain of much current pop music.
Two New Records Showcase The Range Of Jazz Drummer Andrew Cyrille
Proximity highlights the potential of the drums, while The Declaration of Musical Independence emphasizes soundscapes. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says Cyrille's albums are a study in contrasts.
Bon Iver's Latest Is A Soulful Mix Of Wood And Microchips
22, A Million is a radical — but logical — departure from Justin Vernon's past work. Music critic Will Hermes thinks it's the most compelling record he's heard all year.
First Listen: Helado Negro, 'Private Energy'
The latest album by musician Roberto Lange mixes his unmistakable keyboard sounds with stripped-down dance beats and lyrics waiting to be assigned a narrative from your own life.
First Listen: Phish, 'Big Boat'
The band's 13th album feels like a tonal sequel to 2014's terrific Fuego, thanks to a balanced ear for Phish's on-stage exuberance and sonic cohesion.