MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsBloc Party attempts a revival on the uneven Alpha GamesAlpha Games is the sound of a band trying to reignite its original sense of passion and intensity, to diminished…ByMax FreedmanPublishedApril 28, 2022Comments (7)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsFontaines D.C. can’t deliver on the promise of more with Skinty FiaThe Irish band returns with a third album of post-punk that fails to elevate its Bauhaus and Joy Division-aping…ByLily MoayeriPublishedApril 21, 2022Comments (8)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsKurt Vile returns—and delivers the goods—on (Watch My Moves)Vile’s sprawling new album captures the magic, loss, and wonderment of being aliveByJohn EverhartPublishedApril 15, 2022Comments (6)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsRed Hot Chili Peppers trade easy hooks for surprising depth on Unlimited LoveGuitarist John Frusciante is back, and the band sounds like they want to pretend he never leftByDan BogosianPublishedApril 1, 2022Comments (61)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsWeezer’s Spring EP proves the band can still sound like the good old days when it wants toThough this isn’t the “Weezer-inspired” Weezer EP, it’s hopefully a taste of better things to comeByTatiana TenreyroPublishedMarch 21, 2022Comments (21)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsThe music of In/Out/In showcases the extremes of Sonic YouthThis collection of five rare and unreleased tracks from the band’s last decade of existence reveals both the…ByAlex McLevyPublishedMarch 17, 2022Comments (3)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsCypress Hill fires up a return to its original soundBack In Black marks a return to the L.A. group’s gangsta-rap roots, albeit from older, wiser, and more engaged…ByNina HernandezPublishedMarch 16, 2022Comments (16)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsDrug Church reimagines ’90s alt-rock with a hardcore edge on the earnest and ass-kicking HygieneThere very little that's new here, but that feels like the point—fusing fuzz-pop hooks with barking vocal makes both…ByAlex McLevyPublishedMarch 11, 2022Comments (12)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsThe Weather Station’s quiet new album of piano ballads speaks volumesSinger-songwriter Tamara Lindeman’s surprise release sounds nothing like her recent breakthrough album—but it’s just…ByTabassum SiddiquiPublishedMarch 7, 2022
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsNilüfer Yanya continues to mesmerize on her superlative new recordPAINLESS finds the UK singer in heartbreakingly strong form, delivering a dozen tracks in what's quickly becoming…ByDavid BrusiePublishedMarch 4, 2022Comments (6)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsBasia Bulat’s old songs bloom anew through orchestral arrangements of The GardenWith help from old friends, the Canadian singer-songwriter reworks music from throughout her career to wondrous…ByTabassum SiddiquiPublishedFebruary 25, 2022Comments (3)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsBlood Incantation's Timewave Zero is a death metal album without the death metalThe cosmic death metal masters get lost in the stars on their new ambient recordByMarty Sartini GarnerPublishedFebruary 23, 2022Comments (8)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsSuperchunk’s Wild Loneliness reaffirms the band’s place in the pantheon of indie-rock greatsIt’s one of the long-running group’s most tender albums, but some sly lyricism lends a brittle edge to all the…ByAlex McLevyPublishedFebruary 22, 2022Comments (14)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsBeach House spreads some of its most impressive work across the four chapters of Once Twice MelodyDespite some missteps, the band's new album proves Beach House has more up its sleeve than subdued melodiesByTatiana TenreyroPublishedFebruary 16, 2022Comments (4)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsThere's a perfect record nestled within the engaging sprawl of Big Thief's new double albumLike its title, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You can be a bit much, but Big Thief still crafts the closest…ByAlex McLevyPublishedFebruary 11, 2022Comments (15)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsShamir braves industrial beats—and his trauma—on the remarkable HeterosexualityThe Philly-via-Vegas musician (and Tuca & Bertie voice actor) is at his best when he’s confrontationalByMax FreedmanPublishedFebruary 10, 2022Comments (3)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsBeirut’s Artifacts digs up the spirit of early-aughts indie experimentationListening now, it’s hard to dispute that this collection of early material contains some of the best songs of…ByJohn EverhartPublishedFebruary 4, 2022Comments (10)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsAnimal Collective finds the groove—and refuses to leave—on the consistently compelling Time SkiffsIt may lack the raucous experimentalism of past records, but the tiki lounge exotica vibe makes for a satisfying…ByAlex McLevyPublishedFebruary 2, 2022Comments (8)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsEels' latest album is full of distortion and frustration, but not enough memorable hooksExtreme Witchcraft, the band's 14th full-length, finds Mark Oliver Everett cutting loose but misplacing his knack…ByDavid BrusiePublishedJanuary 25, 2022Comments (10)
MusicReviewsRecordsMusicReviewsRecordsAvant-pop artist Arca undercuts her musical impact by piling on too much at onceThe simultaneous release of Alejandra Ghersi’s four new albums—that’s 47 songs, two and a half hours of music—blends…ByMax FreedmanPublishedDecember 3, 2021Comments (14)