Her "Grace Cathedral Hill" is an improvement overall, but not one which relies on production gimmicks or a stylistic overhaul (I’m looking at you, Nouvelle Vague). · Read this review »
With a multitude of quality releases spanning what will soon be two decades, one would expect Defever's creativity to be spent, but Xmmer proves that is clearly not the case. · Read this review »
A lyric's impact depends so much on the music surrounding it. Case in point: The National's longing refrain from both "29 Years" and "Slow Show". · Read this feature »
Though sometimes sounding a bit too much like the Microphones, Thanksgiving has created about a half hour's worth of decent songs. It's a shame this half hour is spread out over almost an hour and a half of mostly mediocre lo-fi folk pop. · Read this review »
Despite accumulating a considerable listenership, Sam Beam had pretty humble beginnings -- his first album was recorded largely on a four-track. Woman King began the completion of Iron & Wine's progression into a fuller sound and his collaboration with Calexico last year continued it. The Shepherd's Dog is yet another step and may easily be his best album yet, and one of the best this year. · Read this review »
After seeing this band live, I can confidently claim that if schizophrenia were band it would be Akron/Family. Fortunately some of the personalites displayed on this night were impeccable. ·