Music Reviews

Music & Culture

Rocker Wreckless Eric Brings Nostalgia To A New Solo Effort

3:53pm November 16, 2015

by Ken Tucker

The British singer-songwriter who came to prominence during the punk-rock era of the late 1970s sings about his adopted homeland in his new album, amERICa. Critic Ken Tucker has a review.

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Alessia Cara's new album, Know It All, comes out Nov. 13.

Music & Culture

Review: Alessia Cara, 'Know It All'

8:42am November 13, 2015

by Erika Ramirez

The 19-year-old is ascending pop music's hierarchy by standing strong in herself.

Music & Culture

'On The Way To Two' Offers A Snapshot Of A True Jazz Partnership

2:33pm November 12, 2015

by Kevin Whitehead

The posthumous release of an album recorded 10 years ago showcases the interplay between the late trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and his longtime pianist John Taylor. Critic Kevin Whitehead has a review.

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The Max Levine Ensemble's new album, Backlash, Baby, comes out Nov. 20.

Music & Culture

First Listen: The Max Levine Ensemble, 'Backlash, Baby'

11:03pm November 11, 2015

by Lars Gotrich

Eight years after the D.C. trio's last record, Backlash, Baby is a desperate, full-tilt pop-punk record that's just trying to make sense of a backwards world.

Music & Culture

First Listen: The Grateful Dead, 'Fare Thee Well'

11:03pm November 11, 2015

by Felix Contreras

A double-length collection of high points from the group's summer shows demonstrates how the Dead's songs can actually live and breathe when the conditions are right.

Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajasthan Express' new album, Junun, comes out Nov. 20.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajasthan Express, 'Junun'

11:03pm November 11, 2015

by Tom Pryor

Radiohead's guitarist delves deep into the music of northern India alongside Israeli-American singer and composer Shye Ben Tzur and 19 Rajasthani traditional musicians.

Music & Culture

The CMAs And Old Dominion Showcase An Elastic, Expansive Country Style

2:53pm November 11, 2015

by Ken Tucker

Ken Tucker says that Justin Timberlake's duet with Chris Stapleton the Country Music Awards and Meat and Candy, the new hip-hop-influenced album by Old Dominion, showcase a new style of country.

Chris Isaak's new album, First Comes The Night, comes out Nov. 13.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Chris Isaak, 'First Comes The Night'

11:00pm November 04, 2015

by Ann Powers

The 59-year-old's tenor has grown rawer, lending his inquiries into heartbreak an air of menace. He can still sing like a dream, but Isaak's gotten better at capturing nightmares, too.

Alone In The Universe, the new album by Jeff Lynne's ELO, comes out Nov. 13.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Jeff Lynne's ELO, 'Alone In The Universe'

11:00pm November 04, 2015

by Tom Moon

Lynne resurrects Electric Light Orchestra with vulnerability and rumpled grace, finding a strange alchemy of melody, harmony and rhythm.

Wolfgang Voigt contributes to Pop Ambient 2016, which comes out Nov. 13.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Various Artists, 'Pop Ambient 2016'

11:00pm November 04, 2015

by Geeta Dayal

The Kompakt label's series showcases the gentler, more melodic side of ambient electronic music. It may make for a lushly soothing soundtrack, but richly varied and revelatory sounds abound.