Gabriel Birnbaum’s New LP Is Filled with Deep Emotion
Gabriel Birnbaum takes many aspects of rock, folk, and indie music that everyone is familiar with and subtly rearranges them in ways we never thought possible.
folk pop
Maya Hawke Gently Kicks Open Another Door With Her Foot
Stranger Things‘ Maya Hawke admits on Chaos Angel she “was born with my foot in the door” and delivers one of the best LPs in the history of singing Hollywooders.
Taylor Swift: The Great American Poet?
It’s not literary devices that make something poetry or the analysis we perform, but the emotion it elicits through them, which is why Taylor Swift is a poet.
Jessica Pratt Addresses the Mystery Found in the Pitch
On Here in the Pitch, indie folk’s Jessica Pratt offers an aural world where opposites are part of the whole. The best interpretation is to accept the mystery.
L’étrangleuse Find Artful Balance with ‘Ambiance Argile’
L’étrangleuse’s music draws from all sides of the Mediterranean and beyond, creating something new and categorically nebulous in a way that works well.
Thin Lear Reveals an Uncanny Ear for Melody
Thin Lear’s EP is a unique and instantly lovable combination of indie folk and chamber pop and a superb showcase for Matt Longo’s immense songwriting abilities.
Alec Benjamin Hits the Right Note on ’12 Notes’
Alec Benjamin writes anthologies, and his fourth album, 12 Notes, is no different. This style of writing suits Benjamin’s propensity for parables.
Cat Power Sings Bob Dylan at the London Palladium
Cat Power and her band are not a simulacrum of Bob Dylan; they gracefully step into the songs, striking the right balance between honoring and making it anew.
The Avett Brothers Are in Long-Term Career Mode
The Avett Brothers’ new self-titled album is solid but not spectacular, which can happen after a group have settled into a long-term career mode.
Abigail Lapell’s ‘Anniversary’ Is Mournful and Celebratory
Abigail Lapell navigates space somewhere between folk, classic country, and lullabies for songs that harness a productive disquiet on Anniversary.
Jackie West Dazzles on the Stunning ‘Close to the Mystery’
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jackie West effortlessly transcends genres and generations on her outstanding debut album, Close to the Mystery.
Call Me Spinster’s Debut Pleasantly Jumps Through Genres
Indie pop’s Call Me Spinster possess rock-solid songwriting. Regardless of genre, they have a strong command of melody and an ear for intriguing arrangements.