album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Be Right Back — Album Review
From the very beginning, Jorja Smith grabs the listener by the ears and demands a thoughtful approach in Be Right Back. This album is both melancholy and soulful in a willful approach to love. Travesty seems to carry in the artist’s voice and reverberates in your soul, almost to the point of poignancy. This short album has a certain sound that we don’t necessarily see in American music; as so, I can appreciate the nuance in the dialect and delivery in each song. There is an earthy, jazzy, funky element that is very subtle yet complements the artist so well.
By Josh Herring5 years ago in Beat
Whatever She Wants: A love letter to Phoebe Bridgers and Punisher. Top Story - September 2021.
2019, sometime in summer, 5:15am, I woke up on a friend’s couch to the sun shining in my face and the sound of a woman playing an acoustic guitar. "Jesus Christ, I'm so blue all the time. And that's just how I feel, always have and I always will." The lyrics were striking but intriguing nonetheless, I realized I had fallen asleep listening to some album that had clearly long passed, and I was now listening to whatever Spotify had decided I needed to hear that night. I don’t know how much I believe in things like destiny and fate, but I do feel very lucky that my body had chosen to wake me up to that song specifically. I added it to my library and quickly fell back asleep, and for the next year or so I found myself returning to that song more and more. It’s excruciatingly sad, with the main focus of the song literally being a child’s funeral, but it’s a pain that I seemed to tempt myself with more often than was good for me. Even still, I didn’t visit the rest of Phoebe Bridger’s discography until months later. I’m not sure why considering how fond I was of Funeral, but it wasn’t until after her next release that I became the “Pharb” I am today.
By Trevor MacDonald5 years ago in Beat
Bizzy Bone War of Roses is a masterpiece! Bizzy Bone tops the charts again !
Bizzy Bone War of roses is the album fans have waited for many years. This is Lil Rispta at his best. We did however get some tastes of what was to come on his last two albums Carbon Monoxide and The Mantra. Those were some great albums where we heard what was coming. Also you can now get the album War of Roses on amazon here ! https://amzn.to/3nsLx1Q . You can also get the War of Roses on https://iambizzybone.com/ to get official hard copies of the album was as well as awesome T shirts. Now let’s go on with this review!
By The Sinister Pen5 years ago in Beat
A Young Artist With Mature Talent: 'Sour' Album Review
There is a reason why Olivia Rodrigo is a rising star. Her debut album, Sour, has mastered the juxtaposition of experienced songwriting and a fresh-faced performance. The only other young artist I know can do that is Taylor Swift, which explains the comparison between the two ladies.
By Sarah Loyd5 years ago in Beat
Tony Kaye: 'End of Innocence' Review
Keyboardist Tony Kaye is best known as the founding keyboardist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was on their first three albums and returned during their "Rabin years" after working with the likes of David Bowie, Badger, and Badfinger. In the mid-1990s, he retired from music.
By Steven Shinder5 years ago in Beat
'Hourglass'
James Taylor's semi-comeback in the 1990s, which began on 1991's New Moon Shine, reached its climax on 1997's Hourglass. The album was dedicated to Don Grolnick, the producer of Taylor's previous two albums, who had passed away from lymphoma in 1996. Otherwise the band from New Moon Shine was kept pretty much intact, with some key musician's musicians to spice the soup.
By Sean Callaghan5 years ago in Beat
Dark Matters That Are Detectable - The Stranglers Show Us How-To
I was coming of age when "Peaches" by The Stranglers hit and was hooked. Part garage- and punk-rock and later meandering into synth-pop, but always with a punch and irresistible hooks, the ratters delivered. And now 44 years later, an almost decade-long wait for a new album, The Stranglers are back and I'm still hooked. Next Friday (9/10) "DARK MATTERS" drops and judging from the three so far released teaser singles, we are in for a fabulous 18th album.
By A. Michael Uhlmann5 years ago in Beat
Certified Lover Boy — Album Review. Top Story - September 2021.
In the wake of the feud between two of the rap game’s biggest stars, Drake and Kanye have both released their long awaited albums. Two of the world’s biggest stars have dropped consecutively and will control airwaves for months to come. For now, let’s take a look into the long awaited Certified Lover Boy.
By Josh Herring5 years ago in Beat
