Jackson Browne: Standing in the Breach
A strong, balanced album that finds the veteran singer/songwriter still fighting and still searching.
Rob Caldwell
A Soundtrack for Me and You: An Interview with Swan Dive
It's been a life-changing five years for Bill DeMain and Molly Felder since the last Swan Dive album, but their new music is still warm and enveloping, often wistful and nostalgic, and always memorable.
Stefano Bollani: Joy in Spite of Everything
There are different ways to experience and to express joy. It can be celebratory, or quiet and introspective. Joy in Spite of Everything balances those poles of sound and style on what is one of the most successful jazz releases of the year.
Chris Smither: Still on the Levee
It all comes down to the songs, and that weathered 'n' warm voice and guitar.
Bruce Cockburn’s 1968: Electrocution to Revolution
Being in the orbit of a group of eccentric artists helped to create a transformative year for Cockburn that would further his path toward becoming a world renowned solo artist.
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80: A Long Way to the Beginning
This is a well-oiled, veteran operation, with a fiery leader capable of carrying the torch of Afrobeat to far borders and bringing the music to new heights.
Various Artists: The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cambodia
The first high profile compilation to spotlight the blending that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s when traditional Cambodian music began to be filtered through the lens of garage rock, surf rock, and psychedelia.
Chris Schlarb: Making the Saint
An unrushed, introspective album -- perfect for a Sunday during a meditation retreat in a haunted monastery.
Spindizzy Jangle: The Reivers’ “In Your Eyes”
Over 25 years after its release, the band and the video’s director reflect back on a song full of promise.
The Library Is on Fire: Halcyon and Surrounding Areas
Sturdy '90s-style indie rock.
Syd Arthur: Sound Mirror
The band's latest statement shows that psychedelic, progressive rock can still sound fresh, while also drawing from past trailblazers.
The Slow Samba Escapism of Michael Franks’ “Tiger in the Rain”
There’s something to be said for escapism, for the armchair-travelling Michael Franks’ music offers.