Matthew Sweet: Catspaw [Album Review]
Matthew Sweet CatspawOmnivore Recordings [2021] As big a fan of “High Fidelity” as one can be, I’ve always been too much of a completist to … Read more
The Postal Service: Everything Will Change [Album Review]
The Postal Service Everything Will ChangeSub Pop Records [2020] In 2003, Death Cab For Cutie’s lead singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard and electronica musician Jimmy Tamborello (sometimes … Read more
The White Stripes: Greatest Hits [Album Review]
The White Stripes Greatest HitsThird Man Records/Columbia Records [2020] Here in 2020, 13 years after the last studio release from The White Stripes, it’s funny … Read more
Phoebe Bridgers: Copycat Killers EP [Album Review]
Phoebe Bridgers Copycat Killers EPDead Oceans [2020] After releasing her critically acclaimed sophomore release, Punisher, back in the summer only to have it earn her … Read more
The Dirty Knobs: Wreckless Abandon [Album Review]
The Dirty Knobs Wreckless AbandonBMG [2020] Guitarist Mike Campbell, like Little Stephen Van Zandt (E Street Band) and Nils Lofgren (Crazy Horse & E Street … Read more
The War On Drugs: LIVE DRUGS [Album Review]
The War On Drugs LIVE DRUGSSuper High Quality Records [2020] In a year when we’ve all had to forego live concerts, it feels like a … Read more
Chris Stapleton: Starting Over [Album Review]
Chris Stapleton Starting OverMercury Records Nashville [2020] Like many country music artists, Chris Stapleton had already co-written several hit songs for and with artists like … Read more
The Nels Cline Singers: Share The Wealth [Album Review]
The Nels Cline Singers Share The WealthBlue Note Records [2020] Wilco fans can no doubt remember when experimental jazz guitarist Nels Cline came on board, … Read more
Matt Berninger: Serpentine Prison [Album Review]
Matt Berninger Serpentine PrisonBook Records [2020] Given the constant chaos and change in our world right now, we hold on to any signs of consistency, … Read more
Elvis Costello: Hey Clockface [Album Review]
Elvis Costello Hey ClockfaceConcord Records [2020] By now, Elvis Costello’s fans have gotten used to his experimental collaborations and explorations of new musical territory. After … Read more
Love Coma: Love Coma [Album Review]
Love Coma Love ComaSelf-Released [2020] Evidently, San Antonio, TX-band, Love Coma have some unfinished business. Formed in the early 90’s by Chris Taylor, Matt Slocum, … Read more
Jeff Tweedy: Love Is The King [Album Review]
Jeff Tweedy Love Is The KingdBpm Records [2020] If you are looking for a silver-lining here in the eighth month of this long COVID fever … Read more
Bruce Springsteen: Letter To You [Album Review]
Bruce Springsteen Letter To YouColumbia Records [2020] Bruce Springsteen, the very guy who wrote “Glory Days” about folk who spend their adult years looking back … Read more
The Mountain Goats: Getting Into Knives [Album Review]
The Mountain Goats Getting Into KnivesMerge Records [2020] The Mountain Goats’ singer/songwriter John Darnielle may be thought of by some as the poet laureate of … Read more
Kathleen Edwards: Total Freedom [Album Review]
Kathleen Edwards Total FreedomDualtone Records [2020] Kathleen Edwards, Canadian singer/songwriter, returns after 8 years of relative silence with another fine album of exemplary folk/pop songcraft. … Read more
William Elliott Whitmore: I’m With You [Album Review]
William Elliott Whitmore I’m With YouBloodshot Records [2020] You would likely be forgiven if you mistook Iowa-based singer/songwriter William Elliott Whitmore for someone much older. … Read more
Tom Petty: Wildflowers & All The Rest [Album Review]
Tom PettyWildflowers & All The RestWarner Records [2020] As the story has been told, in 1994 when Tom Petty released his second solo record, Wildflowers, … Read more
Laura Jane Grace: Stay Alive [Album Review]
Laura Jane Grace Stay AlivePolyvinyl Records [2020] If 2020 had gone as planned, Laura Jane Grace expected to have recorded a new album with Against … Read more
Travis: 10 Songs [Album Review]
Travis 10 SongsBMG [2020] Scottish quartet, Travis, while often credited for breaking ground for bands like Coldplay and Keane, has always been a bigger deal … Read more
Throwing Muses: Sun Racket [Album Review]
Throwing Muses Sun RacketFire Records [2020] When Kristen Hersh finds a certain metallic tonality on her electric guitar and settles into a steady driving groove … Read more
Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension [Album Review]
Sufjan Stevens The AscensionAsthmatic Kitty Records [2020] By now, fans of Sufjan Stevens have learned to approach each new project with an open mind. On … Read more
Lydia Loveless: Daughter [Album Review]
Lydia Loveless DaughterHoney, You’re Gonna Be Late Records [2020] In the nearly four years since Lydia Loveless’ last album, Real, the country rock singer/songwriter has … Read more
Fleet Foxes: Shore [Album Review]
Fleet Foxes ShoreANTI- [2020] There are a handful of songs in the middle of this fourth album from Fleet Foxes that feel very much in … Read more
Bob Mould: Blue Hearts [Album Review]
Bob Mould Blue HeartsMerge Records [2020] Bob Mould was raging against the machine a full decade before Rage Against the Machine was a band. Early … Read more
Semisonic: You’re Not Alone EP [Album Review]
Semisonic You’re Not AlonePleasuresonic Recordings [2020] Google the Minnesota power/pop trio Semisonic and the first listing will always be their big hit single for 1998, … Read more