Album Reviews 2054
Vagabon : Vagabon
A turn toward synth-pop that doesn't do the singer/songwriter any favors.
Kim Gordon : No Home Record
The former Sonic Youth bassist and vocalist appears to be searching for something new, though it's not clear that she's found it.
Opeth : In cauda venenum
The Swedish prog metal icons' latest is their darkest, and best, in over a decade.
Hovvdy : Heavy Lifter
The Austin-based band's third album is a solace from fear, an opportunity to focus onto the light.
Album of the Week: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen
A double-album meditation on grief that's the prettiest and most devastating album of Cave's career.
Refused : War Music
There's only one tool at the band's disposal this time, and it's a sledgehammer.
Gatecreeper : Deserted
As pure a distillation of old school death metal as one's likely to hear in 2019.
Lightning Bolt : Sonic Citadel
The Rhode Island noise rock duo engages with a broader palette on their seventh album.
Cult of Luna : A Dawn to Fear
A post-metal album that gains its power from patience and subliminally affecting craft.
Big Thief : Two Hands
The rising indie rock outfit follows up their career high with a companion set of songs.
Kamaal Williams : DJ-Kicks
!K7's DJ mix series is at the top of its game with this latest addition from the London jazz superstar.
Chromatics : Closer to Grey
The Portland synth-pop act's surprise album isn't the one you've been expecting, but that's probably a good thing.
Tennis System : Lovesick
The L.A. group delivers one of the strongest shoegaze records of the year.
Album of the Week: Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿
A nod to classic hip-hop from an emcee that's spent his career pushing it into the future.
Mike Patton & Jean-Claude Vannier : Corpse Flower
A record that's far too safe on one side and too far from perfect on the other.
Monolord : No Comfort
A more rock 'n' roll than doom outing from the Swedish stoner outfit.
John Coltrane : Blue World
An inessential but still outstanding posthumous release from the jazz legend.
Wilco : Ode to Joy
The band's most urgent release since <i>The Whole Love</i>, and one of their most tense overall.