Wild Pink Achieve a More Authentic Sound on ‘Dulling the Horns’
On Dulling the Horns, Wild Pink deliver reverberating guitars and new instruments that complement their thought-provoking sentiments and introspection.
PopMatters Picks
Whatever Happened to That Amazing British Punk Band Buzzcocks?
Steve Diggle’s Buzzcocks autobiography Autonomy is a refreshing take in an era when punk’s political and social consequences tend to be over-analyzed.
Drug Church Critique Hypocrisy and Retain Their Edge on ‘PRUDE’
Drug Church’s PRUDE takes its place alongside Gouge Away’s Deep Sage as a highlight of the year in hardcore that could reach outside the flock.
Adeline Hotel’s ‘Whodunnit’ Beautifully Reflects on Breaking Up
Adeline Hotel’s ever-prolific Dan Knishkowy turns inward on his new album, Whodunnit, divorced but devoid of bitterness or blame.
Foxing’s New LP Is a Wild and Unpredictable Triumph
Foxing swing for the fences, and most often, it’s positively thrilling, bending a wealth of influences into something stirring and uniquely powerful.
JD McPherson Adds New Wave Glam to His Rock ‘n’ Roll
Nite Owls is JD McPherson’s most fully realized front-to-back example of his talent yet, and it points the way to an even more exciting follow-up.
Pop Duo Kit Sebastian Thrill on Thoughtful ‘New Internationale’
Kit Sebastian’s New Internationale is a robust pop masterpiece, a boldly artful work that is refined but not restrained, tasteful but never bland.
Punk Troubadour Manu Chao Returns After 17 Years
Latin alternative artist Manu Chao sings for a better future on his first album in 17 years, Viva Tu. This music is meant to be lived with.
Clinic Stars Blend 1990s Slowcore and Dream Pop on ‘Only Hinting’
Detroit’s Clinic Stars draw you into their gauzy, poetic interior world and weave a cozy afghan of 1990s slowcore and dream pop on their debut LP, Only Hinting.
Jamie xx Arrives Fashionably Late with ‘In Waves’
Nearly a decade after his debut, Jamie xx returns with a long-awaited sophomore LP that stylishly swells and retreats with danceable beats and moody romanticism.
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Trace Landscapes of Connection and Resilience
Throughout Woodland, Americana songwriters Gillian Welch and David Rawlings underscore the sinews of relationships that are stretched but never torn.
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The 15 Best Electronic Albums of 2014
The best electronic music of 2014 could be found in thoughtful experimentation and dancefloor-ready fun. But the ones who led the way were the pioneers.