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…
‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ enchants one loyal, nostalgic Swiftie
Rating: 4.5/5 stars I prefer to call myself a “Taylor Swift enjoyer” above a “Swiftie.” I like most of her music, but I will never be the fan who defends her every move. She has written bad songs and released…
Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion pop, lock, flip hip-hop on new bop
Rating: 5/5 stars Historically, the music genre of rap has been dominated by men, with early influential figures being Dr. Dre (“The Chronic”), Tupac Shakur (“All Eyez On Me”, The Notorious B.I.G. (“Ready to Die”) and many more. However, the…
Olivia Rodrigo returns gutsier than ever on long-awaited sophomore album
Rating: 3.5/5 stars Olivia Rodrigo’s (“SOUR”) sophomore album “GUTS” was released Sept. 8. “GUTS” has 12 songs that expand on the issues of girlhood, heartbreak and societal pressures. Rodrigo released two singles off of the album: “vampire” on June 30,…
Mac DeMarco’s 199-track snoozer ‘One Wayne G’ egotistic at its core
Rating: 1/5 stars Readers expect a music reviewer to listen to the entirety of an album. It is only 30-90 minutes of the reviewers’ time, they say. But sometimes it is the artist’s fault. Musicians, like experimentalist AG Cook (“Apple”)…
Post Malone releases cathartic new single on healing
Rating: 4.5/5 stars On his single, Post Malone (“Twelve Carat Toothache”) doubled down on developing his sound, while struggling to free himself from a toxic relationship. “Chemical,” although released as a single on April 21, was included as a part…
