Archive: 2024

Lord Finesse is one of the most underappreciated figures from hip-hop’s golden era. While his production work is well-known, racking up credits with Big L, Notorious B.I.G., and Brand Nubian, another side to his artistry has gotten lost in the shuffle. Before he was one of the more sought-after producers of his era, Lord Finesse […]

In the lead-up to Pokey LaFarge’s newest record, he stated, “I used to think of my music in dark blue, but now I see it in technicolor”. That dour feeling he sometimes brought to his retro-facing songs is mostly absent from Rhumba Country, his third release for New West Records, as he makes a joyful […]

Brad Mehldau’s two latest efforts for Nonesuch Records are heady pieces of work indeed. After some digressions from his customary jazz orientation in the form of Your Mother Should Know, an album of (almost) all Beatles material, and Jacob’s Ladder, a narrative supported by covers of prog music figures including Rush, Yes and Gentle Giant, the keyboardist […]

If there’s a ‘less is more’ school of trumpeters, the late Ron Miles would be its leading purveyor. He never resorted to, shouting, or pull-you-from-your-seat stratospheric fare. He played like the best of the ballad singers, almost like a Nat King Cole of the instrument, warmly, sensitively, as if narrating a story or poem. He […]

What happens when a bunch of bluegrass-playing friends in successful bands decide to pick up electric guitars and live out their rock and roll influences? The answer is the High Hawks, which features an all-star cast of musicians from Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Hard Working Americans, and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. Originally formed during the pandemic as […]

Vlado Nosal is a singer-songwriter from Bratislava. He started his career with an alternative rock band, Queer Jane, who released three acclaimed albums and have been called “the best indie band you have never heard of.” Vlado’s knack for catchy melodies and lyrical wit led to international collaborations, including writing with The Brian Jonestown Massacre […]

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Meagan Aversa melts dreamy and dark tones together to shape her introspective songs. Alongside her solo work, Aversa is 1/5th of Velvet Beach, who released their lush, nostalgia-driven record The Dream in 2023. On her newest song, “Wildflowers,” Aversa explores heavier sonics and larger soundscapes. The lead single announced her debut solo album, Blood Moon, arriving […]

Renowned producer Steve Albini has died at age 61, a week before his band Shellac (pictured) was set to release a long-awaited new album. Albini died of a heart attack, staff at his recording studio, Electric Audio,  As a musician, Albini gained prominence as the guitarist and vocalist for the influential punk rock band Big […]

Kait Warner wrote the single, Bowerbird, from her upcoming debut album, Rodeo Clown, after falling in love with her best friend of 10 years. As she descended into the confusing storm of new love, Kait became obsessed with passages from Maggie Nelson’s Bluets, a resonant masterwork on grief and love themed around the bowerbird. While […]

Masterfully crafted by the duo of Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti and Frank Rosaly, their debut album MESTIZX emerges as an evocative and innovative exploration of identity and heritage. This album not only serves as a canvas for their musical ingenuity but also as a medium to delve into the intricacies of their Bolivian, Brazilian, and Puerto […]

The world of music is an all-encompassing entity, an entire realm of art to get lost in. Most musicians look to contribute to this pantheon by releasing timeless work that inches itself into our daily lives. Once an artist archives the coveted immortal melody, it is easy to shy away from the ever-growing realm of […]

New Wave was a peculiar genre of music by default, producing dozens of oddball one-hit wonders back in its early 80s heyday. One such example was Toni Basil’s quirky 1982 hit “Mickey”, a song that really blew up thanks in large part to its iconic cheerleader-centric music video that was in heavy rotation on a […]

On Monday, May 6, blues icon and living legend Buddy Guy continued to defy Father Time, delivering a scorching performance at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre. As a spry 87-year-old, Guy’s fingers still danced across the fretboard with the agility of a man decades younger. The energy in the sold-out venue was palpable from the moment the […]

We should expect nothing less than a tongue-in-cheek album title from consistent BMA winners Rick Estrin and the Nightcats. Even the clenched fists from all four band members that grace the album cover may induce a chuckle or smile. This is a band that takes the term show business seriously. They play the blues hard, […]

As the elder on the piano-centric new label Artwork, we would expect another solo or perhaps a trio album from NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, who recently turned 80 and garnered a 2023 Grammy nomination for his solo album The Source last year.  Barron’s live shows in recent years have been with his longstanding trio. […]

Wand regenerates again with their most ambitious work yet: Vertigo, out July 26 on Drag City. Turning from their Plum/Laughing Matter-era quintet, Wand now emerges in quartet form (Evan Backer, Evan Burrows, Robbie Cody, Cory Hanson) with a noir-tinged record looming with tension, theatrical elevation, and lush orchestration. With today’s announcement, Wand has shared a new single/video for “Smile” that features crushing riffs and a mysterious edge-harkening Jim […]

Canna Man has been a long-standing and notable character in Danish rap culture. After many years of releasing music in predominately English, he cemented his position as Denmark’s only true reality rap artist. In 2021, Canna Man released his debut Danish album Rabarberkvarter, which created a ripple effect throughout the culture. He’s back to shake the scene’s […]

Bouncy melodies are juxtaposed by eerie storytelling on Reedus 3m’s “Feeling Back.” The artist’s ability to make heavy topics so danceable and infectious showcases a diverse array of talents. The cartoonishly lighthearted instrumental contains a universe of whimsical keys and subtle yet potent drums. The verses are lined with harsh realities and delivered with a […]

GUM / Ambrose Kenny-Smith – made of Jay Watson (Gum, Pond, Tame Impala) and Ambrose Kenny-Smith (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Murlocs) – announce a new collaborative album, Ill Times, out July 19th. This is the debut release on King Gizzard’s newly-announced p(doom) records. As described by King Gizzard, p(doom) records is a label “to put out our own records and […]