Smoke DZA: Dream.Zone.Achieve
Smoke DZA's third album, Dream.Zone.Achieve, is strong on beats but weak on personality.
Adam Finley
Stepdad: Strange Tonight EP
Stepdad continues its uninterrupted string of solid releases.
Noah Gundersen: Ledges
Ledges is a gem of an Americana record, maybe the strongest debut in the genre that this new year has seen.
Steve Poltz: Running Wild
Poltz's earthy instrumentals and working-man testimonials work within the context of the Running Wild documentary. As a standalone album, though, they are less successful.
Heidecker & Wood: Some Things Never Stay the Same
Its promotional materials dub Some Things Never Stay the Same a vanity project, and as far as such projects go, you could do worse. But you could also do much better.