The first solo album from Kim Gordon, formerly of Sonic Youth, is an odd, dissonant, yet somehow supremely fascinating piece of work. The album, titled No Home Record in homage to Chantal Akerman’s personal documentary No Home Movie, consists of nine songs that…
Album Review: Michael Kiwanuka – “Kiwanuka”
Michael Kiwanuka’s third studio album is about the journey toward self-acceptance, and its title – a firm Kiwanuka – is indicative of his mission. The album delivers Kiwanuka’s expected skills as a throwback jazz/soul/funk-rock fusion artist and uses those skills…
Album Review: Julia Jacklin – “Crushing”
With her 2019 release, Crushing, Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin has created a simply beautiful, remarkably succinct album exploring everyday pain in specific yet universal ways. Crushing is a breakup album, broadly speaking, but it’s from the perspective of the person…
Album Review: The Divine Comedy – “Office Politics”
After a dozen outings, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy proves on Office Politics that he can pretty much write about anything and draw out humor, pathos, and absurdly specific details. Office Politics is a double album – a full…
Album Review: Cate le Bon – “Reward”
On her latest release, Reward, Cate le Bon envelopes us in a uniquely ethereal, slightly absurd, world that is more often than not mesmerizingly dreamy, yet shockingly grounded. The album itself is like an ocean wave around your feet at…
Album Review: White Lies – “Five”
For their fifth album, White Lies largely sticks to what it does best while continuing on the pop path continually glimpsed at in all of their previous work. If you jumped straight from their first release in 2008, To Lose…
Album Review: Cherry Glazerr – “Stuffed and Ready”
On their latest album release, Clementine Creevy and Cherry Glazerr have made a choice to shed a bit of the bravado for vulnerability, which allows for creative stretches but loses them some of their distinctive bite. Frontperson Creevy uses these…