Michael Kiwanuka Records Another Meaningful Record
Michael Kiwanuka’s most striking quality remains his voice, which has the power to evoke deep feelings, as his idols did for another generation.
folk rock
Father John Misty Beautifully Chronicles Our Messed-Up World
Father John Misty has come as close to perfecting his artistry as anyone can. Mahashmashana is a masterpiece of exceptional songwriting and performance.
Chuck Prophet Enlists ¿Qiensave? for a Lively Cumbia Album
Chuck Prophet’s incorporation of Cumbia music on Wake the Dead feels more natural than it sounds, but he remains himself, and we get the best of both worlds.
Charlie Kaplan Embraces Melodic, Psychedelic Grooves on ‘Eternal Repeater’
Office Culture’s Charlie Kaplan takes a little from garage rock and folk rock, producing his most satisfying solo release to date. It genuinely mesmerizes.
Laura Marling Never Misses and Doesn’t on ‘Patterns in Repeat’
Laura Marling’s eighth record, Patterns in Repeat, is a full bingo card of simplicity and sophistication—a win-win for her, listeners, and critics all around.
How Bob Dylan Reinvented the Blues Highway for Contemporary America
Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” captures America at the peak of the civil rights struggle when African Americans were forced to fight for a country that had left them impoverished and disenfranchised.
Better to Burn Out: Neil Young’s ‘Archives Vol. III (1976-1987)’
Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III (1976-1987) is the most substantial of his three archival releases, providing an ecstatic vision of what it means to “burn out”.
Lea Thomas Exudes Warmth with the Expansive ‘Cosmos Forever’
With Lea Thomas and her gifted band at the helm, she has created nothing short of a widescreen, ethereal, sonic gem that one can easily get lost in.
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Mirage Tour ’82’ Features the Hits
Culled mostly from previously-released material, this triple-vinyl set catches Fleetwood Mac in the midst of their world-beating commercial phase.
Neil Young at World’s End: ‘On the Beach’ at 50
Neil Young’s On the Beach lodges not in the heart or brain but in the spleen. Perfect for depressed, alienated teenagers in the soft-rock days before punk.
What If They Had a Folk Festival and Nobody Protested?
What if they had a folk festival and nobody protested? Evanston, Illinois hosted its first folk festival without politics from its stages.
The Complicated Life of Moby Grape’s Skip Spence
This bio about Moby Grape’s Skip Spence dissects and casts a glowing light on his work as a composer of some of the most influential music of San Francisco’s psychedelic scene.