James Elkington's 'Wading The Vapors' Whips Up A Gust Of Guitar And Cello
The Chicago-based English guitarist finds the space between fire and smoke, tangling complex fingerpicking into quiet melodies that glow.
Music Reviews
Songs We Love: Rachel Baiman, 'Shame'
Equally inspired by old-timey singer John Hartford and Courtney Barnett, the Nashville transplant's playful folk-rock song critiques the intersection of religion and politics.
Songs We Love: Gabriel Garzón-Montano, 'Cantiga'
"Cantiga," a highlight from the vocalist's debut LP, Jardín, is a musical mix of Colombia and 13th-century Spain. It speaks of a water goddess who offers a space for peace and healing.
Music Review: 'Pleasure,' Feist
Canadian singer and songwriter Feist has just released her first album in six years called Pleasure. Music reviewer Tom Moon says it is intimate, raw and rooted in her personal struggle over the past couple of years.
First Listen: Ásgeir, 'Afterglow'
A mix of organic instrumentation, lilting electronics, and Ásgeir's otherworldly voice hits a sweet spot between emotion and mystique
Songs We Love: Endless Boogie, 'Back In '74'
The meditative choogle from the masters of electric-blues boogie is a misadventure involving LSD, freak-shaming and an early, breakthrough live performance by KISS.
Kendrick Lamar Extends His Vocal And Emotional Range On 'DAMN.'
Emotions like lust and love serve as metaphors for social and political struggles on Lamar's new album. Critic Ken Tucker says the music on DAMN. signals the artist's bold refusal to back down.
Songs We Love: Francine Thirteen, 'Lust Heals, Give Me My Sin Again'
In a meditative take on the Bible's creation story, the self-described "ritual pop" singer seeks a feminine-based understanding of the divine — the hidden female face of God.
Gorillaz Are Human After All
The latest album from the dystopian cartoon band — whose lone consistent musical member is the British musician Damon Albarn — emphasizes real suffering and salvation in a contemporary setting.
Songs We Love: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, 'Diaspora'
The trumpeter stretches into trap and electronics on Diaspora. Flutist Elena Pinderhughes guests on the soothing and locomotive first single.