Album Reviews

[rating=8.00] Hans Chew describes his work as piano-based Americana and R&B but that doesn’t go far enough. His music encompasses familiar rock strains from the 70s and even hints of jazz and classical. It’s hard to describe in just a few words or catchphrases. This is an adventurous, interesting listen. At its core, though, it’s […]

[rating=8.00] While James Maddock’s 2015 release, Green, was full of nostalgia and some feel-good gems, the veteran singer-songwriter reveals an angrier side on his latest effort Insanity vs. Humanity. Somehow, the album, which is been out for two months now, seems to have fallen a bit under the radar yet his honest statement certainly demands more […]

In the newest installment of Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle reviews Turn Out The Lights, the new album from Memphis singer-songwriter Julien Baker, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):

[rating=8.00] Prolific, acclaimed and consistent; Stephen Wilkinson’s Bibio project has garnered somewhat of a cult following over the years and has become a sort of quiet royalty alongside the likes of Aphex Twin, Mount Kimbie and Four Tet in the electronica and ‘IDM’ scene. The whole intelligent dance music idea may be more than a little facile, […]

It’s hard to believe that this was the Magpie Salute’s third trip to New York this year. After all, they just started playing as a bad at the Gramercy Theatre in January.  By their summer tour, they’d gelled and opened up their setlists. Now, as they finish off a year of touring, they returned to […]

[rating=8.00] With her recent series of albums, Mavis Staples has successfully completed the transition from her earlier status as a soul and gospel icon to an artist who remains as contemplative, contemporary and vital today as she was when she was while part of her family band, The Staple Singers, five decades prior. She still […]

1977 was a milestone year for the iconic and legendary British rock and roll band, Queen. The band had recorded another exciting, eclectic album that featured rock, blues, punk and even Latin-influenced tracks. It also boasts two monster singles, “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”. Both of which have topped the charts […]

[rating=8.00] Perhaps it’s because (sole) drummer Bill Kreutzmann’s kit is so prominent throughout the audio mix of Dave’s Picks Volume 24, spanning the stereo spectrum in Owsley Stanley’s recording from the Berkeley Community Theatre. Or maybe it’s the unusually taut, wiry nature of Jerry Garcia’s guitar work on “Cold Rain and Snow,” where he and […]

[rating=7.00] With each of her recent albums, Eilen Jewell has meandered ever closer to a style that emulates archival blues, providing a sturdy and assured delivery that also taps her rich Americana authenticity. With Down Hearted Blues, Jewell remains true to that muse, offering up a dozen songs culled from classic sources. Only a few […]

[rating=8.00] It’s a common instinct among people, to link music to the phenomena of the world around us. From the inextricable connection to the land of early indigenous music to Bach’s invocations of color to the array of modern artists using visual backdrops for live shows. Natural imagery often acts as inspiration for the sounds we create as […]