“Cherry Bomb” a not-so-sweet creation
Tyler the Creator, devilish mastermind behind the Odd Future label, is back with his fourth studio album, “Cherry Bomb”: a gnashing, at times jazzy revolt against fame, with an in-your-face feel that departs from...
Mountain Goats examine life’s highs and lows from the ropes on “Beat the Champ”
I know almost nothing about professional wrestling.
When I was on my junior high’s annual eighth-grade graduation trip to Washington, D.C., I had to beg to watch the Ducks win the Stanley Cup on TV...
Stevens beautifully explores conflicted feelings of grief on “Carrie & Lowell”
“I should have known better / Nothing can be changed / The past is still the past / The bridge to nowhere.”
We are all constantly grieving. No matter our positions in life, we are...
“Just Kids” Isn’t Alright
Singer-songwriter Mat Kearney’s fifth album, “Just Kids,” is a sentimental evocation of childhood and youth. Although the tracks on the LP are all well-produced and masterfully layered, they suffer from being far too formulaic,...
Locke’s new album, “Time Stands Still” is nostalgic goodness
Having strummed his guitar and sang his heart out for the past 10 years, Taylor Locke is no stranger to the stage, since he played as lead guitarist and singer in Rooney and in...
Cannibal Ox’s new release not in the same vein
Cannibal Ox is a hip-hop duo from Harlem, N.Y., composed of emcees Vordul Mega and Vast Aire. This is the group’s second album and first album release in 14 years, but the group switched...
“Sour Soul” is a sweet album
Ghostface Killah and Toronto jazz band BadBadNotGood’s (BBNG) collaborative album, “Sour Soul,” is a tour de force of gritty hip-hop and smooth jazz. This LP is Ghostface’s third album rapping over live instruments, following...
“The Order of Things” is just and good
The new album "The Order of Things" is the radical seventh studio album by All That Remains. It was revealed by the band that it would be largely melodic and harmonious. This is a...
Jose Gonzalez’s hallmark talents apparent in “Vestiges and Claws”
Jose Gonzalez, Swedish indie folk singer, songwriter and guitarist, has released his most recent work, “Vestiges and Claws,” in a return to much of the same melancholic, spatial folk music he has released in...
“Smoke + Mirrors” caught in the smog of mediocrity
After phenomenal success with their hit album “Night Visions,” Imagine Dragons is back with their latest album, “Smoke + Mirrors.” This album is good news for fans of their previous work, who will recognize...