Ben Howard Becomes More Abstract on ‘Collections from the Whiteout’
Ben Howard’s Collections from the Whiteout, produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner, presents a refracted take on the singer-songwriter album.
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Greta Van Fleet Are Unaware and Unexciting on ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’
Greta Van Fleet seem to lack even a passing familiarity with the last four decades of recorded music on The Battle at Garden’s Gate.
Ariana Grande ‘s ‘Positions’ Is Pure Pop Sugar
Ariana Grande's Positions is a perfect pop album in a very conservative sense of the term.
The Weeknd Gets Lost in Vegas on ‘After Hours’
Despite After Hours' infectious blend of '80s synthpop and dark, alternative R&B, the story's beginning to get old on the Weeknd's fourth studio album.
The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours’ Sets Cinematic Vignettes of Hollywood and Las Vegas Nights
The Weeknd's After Hours naturally weaves together cinematic vignettes of debauched Hollywood and Las Vegas nights, following a new filmic tie to Uncut Gems and a prior decade of character building.
Pearl Jam Liberate Themselves From the Past on ‘Gigaton’
Gigaton sounds like Pearl Jam convincingly doing their very best to not sound like Pearl Jam.
Mika Delivers Undeniably Catchy Hooks on ‘My Name Is Michael Holbrook’
Mika's My Name Is Michael Holbrook contains some of his sharpest lyrical conceits and catchiest hooks, but is often undercut by its too-glossy production.
‘Closer Than Together’ Is Up and Down for the Avett Brothers
The good outweighs the not so good on the Avett Brothers' Closer Than Together, but not by a lot. Is it time for producer Rick Rubin to move on?
Kate Tempest Takes on the UK Establishment with ‘The Book of Traps and Lessons’ and Wins
The Book of Traps and Lessons reveals Kate Tempest's disdain with contemporary society while also envisioning a future where it all can be changed. With a flair for hip-hop laced with Marxism, the album is poetic artistry.
‘Fever Dream’ Is a Mixed Bag of Synthpop Zeal and Treasured Of Monsters and Men Trademarks
Of Monsters and Men lose some uniqueness and quality jumping on a more commercial bandwagon, but their beloved singularity is mostly intact on Fever Dream.
County Line Runner Evokes ’80s Nostalgia on “Our Little World” (premiere)
British rock artist County Line Runner impresses with his latest gem, a post-punk, sure-fire hit song, "Our Little World".
Hold Your Own: An Interview with Kate Tempest
On any given day, you may see Kate Tempest working as a poet. Or maybe a playwright. Or a spoken-word artist with hip-hop connections. As she celebrates the release of her third album, she reflects on where her place is in Britain's powerful cultural moment.