ARCADE FIRE GOES SMALL WITH BIG RESULTS ON ‘PINK ELEPHANT’
It had been since 2013’s “Reflektor” that Arcade Fire recorded an album with no skippable tracks -- “Everything Now” was mostly forgettable, and “We,” from 2022, came close but was done in by some plo...
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DR DOG’S REFOCUSED REBOOT WAS WORTH THE WAIT
When an artist self-titles an album deep into its career, it can be a signal of a comeback or a new direction, a blunt notice that no matter what has come before, this piece of work is representative ...
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KERRY KING’S FIRST SOLO ALBUM SHOWS THERE IS LIFE AFTER SLAYER
With the mixed signals of a farewell tour in 2018-19 and reunion shows later this year, Slayer fans aren't sure what's on the horizon for the heavy metal juggernauts. Against that backdrop, guitarist ...
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BABEHOVEN EXPLORES THE WONDERS OF NATURE ON SECOND FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
On its second full-length album, Babehoven have created a musical and lyrical landscape replete with vivid imagery inspired by the natural world. Throughout "Water's Here in You," the words could stan...
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MICHAEL LELLO’S FAVORITE CONCERTS OF THE YEAR
1. Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers with John Scofield, Kenny Garrett and Christian McBride, Town Hall, New York, June 3 2. Bob Dylan, The Fillmore, Philadelphia, Nov. 19 3. Peter Gabriel, Wells Fa...
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MICHAEL LELLO’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. Paramore– “This Is Why” 2. Peter Gabriel – “i/o” 3. Baroness – “Stone” 4. Lana del Rey – “Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” 5. Yo La Tengo - "This Stupid World" 6. Trevor Ra...
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WILCO GOES STRAIGHT TO THE HEART ON ‘CRUEL COUNTRY’
On “Cruel Country,” the sprawling 12th album by Wilco, the band sweeps aside Nels Cline’s dizzying electric guitar forays and Glenn Kotche's progressive drumming, stripping away the protective layers ...
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JAMES BARRETT TAKES LISTENERS ON LYRICALLY DEEP AND MUSICALLY RICH JOURNEY WITH SECOND ALBUM
On his second album, Northeastern Pennsylvania artist James Barrett is vulnerable and brutally honest with himself about life's disappointments. It's a lyrically rich and nuanced effort, particularly ...
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LANGAN FROST & WANE CONJURE THE MIDDLE AGES ON PSYCH-FOLK DEBUT
Rock musicians have been dipping their toes into the Middle Ages forever, from Incredible String Band's troubadour folk, to Led Zeppelin's piper leading us to reason; from Iron Maiden's historical epi...
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MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA’S MANY MASKS AT WORK ON EPIC 6th ALBUM
A blend of fever dreams, shouted-out self-doubt and resignation, Manchester Orchestra’s “The Million Masks of God” is an epic and existential journey that further solidifies the band as one of the mos...
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