First Listen: Bruce Hornsby, 'Absolute Zero'
Hornsby's new album is as melodic as his past oeuvre, but it's also an absorbing peek into the veteran musician's love of avant-garde classical, jazz and progressive rock.
Music Reviews
First Listen: Shovels & Rope, 'By Blood'
The husband-and-wife duo's new album is an impressive feat of song craft from one of roots music's most exciting, unpredictable acts.
First Listen: Emily Reo, 'Only You Can See It'
The Brooklyn-based pop artist shines her light on some of the least sparkling realities of the human experience.
First Listen: Glen Hansard, 'This Wild Willing'
Where Hansard's early solo work felt suited to seated shows in elegant theaters, This Wild Willing often seems tailored to rawer spaces, from intimate bars to the open air.
First Listen: Chris Forsyth, 'All Time Present'
While versatile guitarist and composer Chris Forsyth can be a brutally free-form and frenetic player, his music is just as often warm, inviting and inspiring.
With 'Still On My Mind,' Dido Discovers The Magic Of Doing More With Less
It's been six years since Dido released an album. Her latest, Still on My Mind, is at its best when it does more with less.
Marília Mendonça's Live Album Is A Beckon For Women In Brazil
Mendonça, one of Brazil's most popular pop stars, is solidifying her reputation as the face of a new genre: "feminejo," which is injecting a female perspective into the region's pop-country music.
Betty Carter Concert Recording Captures The Singer At The Top Of Her Game
Carter had a late-career renaissance when she performed for New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1992. Critic Kevin Whitehead says the recording showcases how much feeling Carter put in her singing.
How Do You Follow A Masterpiece? Marvin Gaye Tried With 'You're The Man'
In 1972, Gaye began work on a follow-up to his classic album, What's Going On. He laid down over a new dozen tracks, but the project stalled and most of the songs were not released until now.
First Listen: The Drums, 'Brutalism'
With Brutalism, The Drums' sound feels bigger than it's ever been — which is ironic, given than the band itself has never been smaller.