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.
sub pop
Girl and Girl’s Debut ‘Call a Doctor’ Is a Lively Outing
Girl and Girl’s Call a Doctor nearly delivers as a concept yet still captivates with its jangle pop charm. They should be a band we follow for years to come.
Amen Dunes Dabbles in Electronics But Delivers Human Connection
Death Jokes finds Amen Dunes tackling big issues and exploring influences from his youth, but the connection with his listeners still creates deeper meaning.
Iron & Wine Take a Mature Approach to ‘Light Verse’
A mix of mature realism and lingering hope gives Iron & Wine’s Light Verse its heart. Sam Beam only needs to search for sweetness when it’s hidden.
Shabazz Palaces Resist Profiling on Elusive ‘Exotic Birds of Prey’
Following Robed in Rareness from last fall, Shabazz Palaces continues a provisional series with the cryptic and digressive Exotic Birds of Prey.
METZ Embrace Melody ‘Up on Gravity Hill’
Canadian noise punks go widescreen on their latest to thrilling effect. METZ embrace melody but still bring the noise Up on Gravity Hill.
Omni Wield Post-Punk Precision on ‘Souvenir’
Souvenir finds Omni continuing to carve out a distinct identity (with an exacto knife) and shining among the glut of post-punk revivalist bands.
J Mascis Stalls Out on ‘What Do We Do Now’
The venerable J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. drifts on this unimaginative release that takes no risks and leaves little enduring impression.
‘Robed in Rareness’ Elaborates Shabazz Palaces’ Afrofuturism
On Robed in Rareness, Ishmael Butler aka Shabazz Palaces takes yet another step in his forward-thinking, far-sighted project of Afrofuturistic hip-hop.
Bully Make Music Out of Melancholy on ‘Lucky for You’
Bully’s Lucky for You is tight, compact indie guitar rock that will get into your head even when you aren’t sure what Alicia Bognanno is singing about.
Mudhoney Confront Fascism and Little Dogs on ‘Plastic Eternity’
The theme of survival forms the subtext of Mudhoney’s Plastic Eternity and topics of environmental crisis, overrun capitalism, and anti-democratic politics.
Quasi Return a Decade Later ‘Breaking the Balls of History’
Quasi have become one of the more enduring musical collaborations from the Pacific Northwest, and Breaking the Balls of History is a peak moment in their discography