The National Shake Things Up on "Sleep Well Beast"
When you talk about a new album by The National, there’s a few concessions you make. You’re not really stressing sound and progression but you do detail the mood and intensity.
Brendan Hilliard
LCD Soundsystem's "American Dream" is a Remarkable Return
LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy has always been obsessed with aging, the process thereof, and the self-awareness of coming that you are no longer the cool person in the room. One of LCD’
Coming Closer with The War On Drugs "A Deeper Understanding"
My first experience with The War On Drugs is in 2009 when I saw them open up five times for The Hold Steady. They had just released Wagonwheel Blues, a promising, if not
On "Everything Now", Arcade Fire Sound Infinitely Content
There’s a real problem of being fatigued through overconsumption. It feels like as a culture we’re maxing out: we now have access to an endless pleasure funnel. If you have the
Waxahatchee Return with the Career-Defining "Out in the Storm"
If you’ve followed the career of Katie Crutchfield and her albums under the name Waxahatchee, it’s clear that she never rests on her laurels. Whether it’s the lo-fi intimacy of
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Reinvent "The Nashville Sound"
Had Jason Isbell stopped making music after his run with the Drive-By Truckers, his output would have already been legendary enough. “Outfit,” and “Goddamn Lonely Love,” alone are inches away from being modern
MUNA Offer More Than Just Making People Move
Listening to the debut album from Los Angeles-based trio MUNA, it would be easy to assume that based on their sunny synth compositions, they’d make propulsive music for the dance floor set.
On "Big Bad Luv", John Moreland Widens His Scope
You don’t find John Moreland. He finds you in the sneakiest of ways. Whether it’s a hat tip from Rachel Maddow or an arresting performance on The Late Show with Stephen
Vinyl Moon's Wild Approach to Monthly Vinyl Subscriptions
Quick heads up: I was provided a complimentary product from Vinyl Moon to review, but all opinions are my own, and no compensation was received. — Vinyl Moon claims to be The Planet&
White Reaper's "The World's Best American Band" is Not Just a Clever Title
You’d think that a band that titled their album The World’s Best American Band may be getting ahead of themselves. But not every band is White Reaper. They might have just
Khalid's "American Teen" is a View to the Future
Plenty of musicians can write about the experience of being a teenager, usually long after the time they were one. It’s one of those few experiences that’s almost certainly better examined
L.A. Takedown's "II" a Journey Worth Taking
You don’t need to have been to Los Angeles to best experience L.A. Takedown’s latest album, II. It’s an album that’s evocative of a time and place, though