I,I – the fourth album from Bon Iver – begins with “Yi” a 30 second smattering of electronic noise, voices, and an unsettling sense of dislocation, which would lead one to expect another album in the more experimental mode of 2016’s 22, A Million. But soon something more focused and something a lot closer to…
For the first time in some years, Liam Gallagher sounds hopeful on his sophomore solo outing Why Me? Why Not. Sure, the title of the record has attitude, which is expected with Liam’s projects, but what in the past might be thought of as arrogance now comes off as confidence. The rolling and big chorus…
The idea of a collaborative super-group of female country artists is hardly novel, but dates all the way back to early sing-alongs on the Grand Ol’ Opry, but was no doubt given contemporary commercial viability when Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris came together for “Trio” in 1987. And of course, for close to…
Black Pumas are another bright spot on the retro-soul scene as the duo of Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton offer up ten passionate tracks on their self-titled debut. It only takes the first two songs into the record of “Black Moon Rising” and “Colors” to realize the groups talents. The harmonizing on the chorus during…
On their 10th album, 36 years after their self-titled debut that included some of their best-loved songs – “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” and “Add It Up,” Violent Femmes remain as delightfully raw, strange and potent as ever. Singer-songwriter Gordon Gano, who capitalized on his teenage anxiety, lusty imagination and a penchant for musical…
If you’re a fan of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard then you already know that being surprised is an actual key element of the band. For a group that seems to work tirelessly, they still have not ever churned out the same record over 15 studio albums in this short seven-year span. Infest the…
Very few fans of The Hold Steady have any doubts about the story writing ability of singer/songwriter Craig Finn, but if anyone did by the release of the band’s sixth and last release, 2014’s Teeth Dreams, we now have three more solo albums by Finn that speak to his skill set. With the most recent…
Jeff Tweedy’s Warm arrived at the end of last year, offering a more intimate collection of songs from the Wilco and Uncle Tupelo singer/songwriter, echoing some of the country roots that dominated his earlier works, and reflecting lyrically on life as he’s now experiencing it. He added a vinyl release of similar material recorded at…
Bleached have moved their pop senses more to the front with each record so far and their third album, Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough?, takes one more big step towards super radio friendly jams while still retaining some pieces of their retro girl group happenings back on their 2013 debut Ride Your Heart. Right…
The advance word on Western Stars, the nineteenth studio album from Bruce Springsteen was a major change of direction for the singer/songwriting rock star. He’s fresh a year or so back from his sold-out solo stand performing an autobiographical monologue with songs for “Springsteen on Broadway” show, that was filmed for Netflix before it shuttered….
