Ed Sheeran exhibits exquisite lyrics on “Autumn Variations”
Rating: 4/5 stars Ed Sheeran (“Subtract”) has once again hit us with a perfect fall album just in time for the leaves to start changing and sweater weather to commence. “Autumn Variations” released on Sept. 29 and has 14 songs,…
Chappell Roan deserves her plastic sequined tiara, applause
Rating: 3.5/5 Chappell Roan (“Love Me Anyway”) has dressed as a cowgirl, a cabaret dancer, a waitress and a cowgirl in the long promotional era for her latest debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Roan’s style…
Kim Petras releases raunchy, infectious French house-inspired album
Rating: 5/5 stars Kim Petras’ extraordinary rise to stardom has gone down in history with her Grammy win alongside English artist Sam Smith (“Desire”). The pair won 2023’s Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their performance of 2022’s hit “Unholy.” The…
Jockstrap releases new single, promises more upcoming music
Rating: 4/5 stars Electronic duo Jockstrap (“50/50”) released a collaboration with rapper Ian Starr (“MEADOW”) and while the track does not even last two minutes, it promises their next semi-remix of their debut song “I Love You Jennifer B.” “Red…
Magnitude breaks scales for hardcore scene with aggressive punk rock
Rating: 5/5 stars North Carolina hardcore punk band Magnitude (“The Truth You See”) has gripped the attention of the hardcore scene ever since their debut album “To Whatever Fateful End” was released four years ago. Their music is heavy with…
K. Flay ‘pays no interest to niceties of politeness’ on ‘MONO’
Rating: 4/5 stars The alt music scene is in for a very reflective treat by K. Flay (“Inside Voices / Outside Voices”) whose newest album “MONO” dropped on Sept. 15. On this record, the singer details her jarring experience of…
Demi Lovato hits sour notes on poorly attempted “edgy” release
Rating: 1/5 stars The past few years revived another wave of pop-punk topping the charts; constant homages to nu-metal and grunge by alternative artists; and country music remembered it requires a guitar and not just a southern accent. Here we…
Mitski embraces pastoral, rustic aesthetic, pleads for hope in modern world
Rating: 4.5 stars Following the announcement of her indefinite retirement in 2019, Mitski Miyawaki (“Puberty 2”) spent three years on hiatus in Nashville, Tennessee, silently contemplating the continuation of her music career. Eventually, in collaboration with her longtime producer Patrick…
Zach Bryan packs stars onto album, lacks signature style
Rating: 2.5/5 stars Country singer Zach Bryan’s self-titled album was released on Aug. 25, and despite the inclusion of features from multifarious stars of differing genres, it fails to break new sonic ground. The 16-song album breaks the traditional flow…
Laufey unites past with present on jazzy, sophisticated “Bewitched”
Rating: 4.5/5 stars Jazz has an awkward position in pop music. Critics used to encounter it in underground clubs and bars, then jazz became synonymous with commercial pop to the ire of snobs as “failed art music” or even capitalist…
