Kamasi Washington is giving people a reason to listen to jazz. As America’s oldest music format, jazz has not held a prominent place in pop culture since bop-obsessed beats wrote about Charlie Parker. Of course, […]
Category: Music Reviews
Album and song reviews
Mordecai Puts It All Into ‘It’s Never Enough’
Blending complex and emotional beats with deep, introspective lyrics, the Portland-based band Mordecai has created a strong debut album, “It’s Never Enough.” The duo of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Alexander Endres and violinist Kate Kilbourne create an […]
Toro Y Moi Heals His Soul With ‘Boo Boo’
Toro Y Moi guides listeners on a psychedelic safari through lush landscapes of loops and synths on “Boo Boo,” released Friday, July 7. Chaz Bear, who performs under the moniker of Toro Y Moi, combines […]
Real Estate Creates A Suburban Sound On ‘In Mind’
With a lush landscape painted with beautifully layered guitars, “In Mind,” describes where the heady new Real Estate album puts its listeners. “In Mind” is like a modern “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and […]
Sundara Karma Feeds Off The Energy Of Teenage Tension
On its debut album, Sundara Karma nails 12 indie rock tracks that combine youthful play and smart songwriting.
Julie Byrne Paints A Lyrical Landscape On ‘Not Even Happiness’
Julie Byrne captured the natural beauty she uncovered during her journey across the country on her transcendent folk album, “Not Even Happiness.”
Foxygen Flaunts 70s Sound On ‘Hang’
Foxygen captures retro 70s Hollywood sounds using reel-to-reel recording and a 40-piece symphony orchestra on “Hang.”
The xx Has A Clear Vision For ‘I See You’
The latest album by The xx, “I See You” puts the band in a new light inspired by producer Jamie XX.
Run the Jewels Drops A Diamond With “RTJ3”
Santa had some fresh tunes to bump in his sleigh on Christmas because the coolest duo in hip-hop surprised fans with a free download of the latest Run the Jewels album “RTJ3.” The digital version […]
Mornings With Conor
I spent a couple weeks waking up at 5 a.m. and listening to the latest Conor Oberst album “Ruminations.” Here’s what I learned.