I used to think that all the good popular music came from the 1960s and 1970s. I was wrong! Even though popular music doesn’t have the same cultural impact that it did in earlier eras, there’s plenty of talent out there. These are the new releases I’ve been listening to.
This week SZA drops an excellent and accessible December album, while veteran Brian Eno and debutant band Caroline provide far more esoteric efforts. SZA SOS 2022, 9/10The publishing of end-of-year music lists has become like a nuclear arms race, pushing…
There are still a bunch of worthy 2022 releases to cover – this week I discuss the weirdo British-folk of Richard Dawson, the pop/rock of France’s Phoenix, and the 1970s singer-songwriterisms of Weyes Blood. Richard Dawson The Ruby Cord 2022,…
This week, the best album has the worst album cover art. Enjoy New Jersey singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten, arty ambience from Spencer Zahn and Dawn Richard, and a tougher sound from Canadian indie band Alvvays. Sharon Van Etten We’ve Been…
Three strong records from experienced solo artists this week. 1990s veteran Beth Orton is back with an album of poised and textural folk. Alex G delivers another well-written, quirky pop/rock album, while Cass McCombs delivers an accomplished singer-songwriter record. Beth…
It’s a strong week of new-ish releases, with two New Zealand acts. Country crooner Marlon Williams expands his range with a fun new album, while power-pop maestros The Beths are also back. London afro-beats/electronic band Ibibio Sound Machine, with lead…
In this week’s set of new reviews, two artists who you may not have encountered previously, as well as global superstar Beyoncé. Emily Wells and Florist’s Emily Sprague both identify as LGBTQ. Wells’ Regards to the End addresses the AIDS…
It’s a diverse week – the folky American of Amanda Shires, the intensity of UK’s Black Midi, and the smooth amapiano of South African DJ Kabza De Small. Amanda Shires Take It Like A Man 2022, 8/10Texas-born fiddler and singer-songwriter…
It’s a surprisingly homogenous week of new reviews. Three American rock acts, all from the heartland, all dabbling a little in psychedelia and country. Surprisingly, Soccer Mommy, based in Nashville, is the least country-influenced of the three. Soccer Mommy Sometimes,…
This week we have new music from Maryland singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, the dreamy pop of France’s Melody’s Echo Chamber, and the mellow, textural indie rock of Shearwater. Enjoy! Maggie Rogers Surrender 2022, 9/10Maggie Rogers delivered an impressive debut with 2019’s…
This week we have Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, Radiohead side-project The Smile, and the smooth monologues of London duo Real Lies. Real Lies Lad Ash 2022, 9/10The sophisticated monologues of London electronic duo Real Lies have an obvious precedent.…
It’s an eclectic bunch this week – Puerto Rican superstar rapper Bad Bunny and English art-pop from Rae Morris. There’s also a new vintage release, with Linda Hoover’s 1970 album finally released from the archives. Notably, half of the songs…
It’s the strongest batch of new(ish) releases for a while – Let’s Eat Grandma’s quirky synth-pop is more streamlined and emotionally affecting than before. Angel Olsen’s previous record, All Mirrors was excellent, but her new one is even better. Grizzly…
This week it’s new releases from rap superstar Kendrick Lamar, the jangle-pop band The Reds, Pinks & Purples, and Gloucestershire’s FKA Twigs. Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 2022, 8/10Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has enjoyed a stellar career…
Three albums from female artists this week – the debut album from Mexican folk/jazz artist Silvana Estrada, the sophomore album from Australian dream-pop artist Hatchie, and the third album from Welsh electronic producer and vocalist Kelly Lee Owens. It’s a…
Three records from established acts this week. Canada’s Dan Bejar is back with another album of sardonic bleating (in the best possible way). Indie-folk band Midlake are much less prolific than London’s Sault; Sault’s classical work Air is their sixth…
IIt’s not my favourite batch of new releases this week – lots of solid 7.5s. Indie band Spoon release their tenth album, Spain’s Rosalía follows up her acclaimed flamenco-pop album El Mal Querer, and Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg…
It’s a strong batch of 2022 records this week – London’s Nilüfer Yanya drops a sophomore album that’s even more impressive than her strong debut. Baltimore dream-pop duo Beach House still sound inspired on their eighth studio album. Black Country,…
This week on the review table, there are new albums from anthemic Australian alt-rock band Gang of Youths – think of a confluence between U2, Springsteen, and War on Drugs. English pop maverick Charli XCX is back with her fifth…
I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s batch of records. Rootsy indie darlings Big Thief deliver the record that should stand as their career legacy. I’m a year late on Jane Weaver’s impressive Flock, while Eddie Rayner and Tim Finn recontextualise their…
The title New Music Reviews is a little misleading this week, given that one of the new releases is a compilation of songs released between 1989 and 1996. Additionally, two of these three albums are from 2021. But read on…
Welcome back to the first instalment of new music reviews for 2022. This week I feature three female artists in their thirties of Asian descent – the art-rock of indie heroine Mitski, the jazz/Hindustani classical hybrid of Arooj Aftab, and…
I think it’s cheating to publish a best albums list during the year in question – like, what if the best album ever is released on the 15th of December? That wasn’t the case this year, but a lot of…
Welcome to the final batch of 2021 music reviews – I’ve reviewed 72 new releases this year, about as many as I can manage in this one-man operation. There are two guitar bands this week – the retro jangle-pop of…
We’ve had a few high-profile artists recently, but we’re back to the niches this week – the folk-prog of Richard Dawson & Circle, the eclectic indie-pop of Mr. Twin Sister, and the dreamy ambient pop of Art School Girlfriend. Enjoy!…