Lana Del Rey interprets the American Dream on her latest record.
Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Category: Reviews
Danny Brown – “Best Life”
Hip-hop is full of colorful characters, but none quite like Danny Brown.
Whitney – Forever Turned Around
On their second LP, Whitney's sound is warm and carefully calculated.
Acres Even – “Separate”
On their debut single, Los Angeles-based indie outfit Acres Even embrace the inevitability of change, while proudly flashing their alt-rock sensibilities.
New Music Roundup: August
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Leslie Stevens, Shura, Young Thug and more.
Midland – Let It Roll
It’s been just over a week since Midland released their sophomore album Let It Roll. The band themselves have called their journey in country music a gamble they have gone all in on and it’s safe to say The Gator Boys are clearing house. From hard-hitting honky tonk jams and steel guitar to effortless heartbreak-laden … Continue reading Midland – Let It Roll
Haiva Ru – “Oh, but Lover”
"Oh, but Lover" is another lush mix of bedroom-flavored indie pop fueled by Allie Merrill's growing knack for penning sticky melodies.
Bon Iver – i,i
These days, few singer-songwriters come as universally acclaimed as Wisconsin native Justin Vernon. Since debuting his now prodigious outfit Bon Iver over ten years ago with the indie folk classic For Emma, Forever Ago, Vernon has become a somewhat elusive yet widely admired figure, keen to avoid ever being in the public eye for too … Continue reading Bon Iver – i,i
Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
After arriving earlier this decade with two stellar mixtapes and an unmistakably charismatic persona, Chance the Rapper seemed poised to be one of the most special hip-hop artists of the 2010s. He fulfilled that promise with 2016's Coloring Book, an album that furthered his unique style of gospel-infused pop-rap and polished it enough to blow up … Continue reading Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
New Music Roundup: July
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Big K.R.I.T., Blood Orange, Thom Yorke and more. Ada Lea - what we say in private Are there really still naysayers out there who claim the creative state … Continue reading New Music Roundup: July
Leslie Stevens – “Sinner”
The highly-touted country singer's new album is out August 23.
Angel Olsen – “All Mirrors”
"All Mirrors" finds the singer-songwriter shape-shifting once again, veering her poignant life accounts in a more synthetic direction.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
After five years of anticipation, Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs and Los Angeles beat maestro Madlib have returned with the follow up to their 2014 gangsta-jazz-rap masterpiece Piñata. Their new LP, Bandana, has been on the minds of critics and fans alike since it was first teased in 2016. As Gibbs has regained his footing since being … Continue reading Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
New Music Roundup: June
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Bruce Springsteen, Kirin J Callinan, Polo G and more. Bedouine - Bird Songs of a Killjoy Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Azniv Korkejian's sophomore release Bird Songs of a Killjoy, which … Continue reading New Music Roundup: June
Aim High – “Hazey Days”
On their debut single, the punk-rock outfit present themselves as both stylistically uncompromising and emotionally deranged.
Jeffrey Silverstein Hits Gold-Diggers for L.A. Stop on West Coast Run
As the thick of summer approaches, Jeffrey Silverstein is taking his atmospheric soundscapes on the road throughout the month of August.
Gucci Mane – Delusions of Grandeur
Riffs & Rhymes commemorates the 100th project and 14th studio album of iconic East Atlanta artist, Gucci Mane. It is hard to ignore the influence Gucci has had over the last decade of rap, and since we first heard “Lemonade” on the radio in 2009, he has shown no signs of slowing down. The sheer … Continue reading Gucci Mane – Delusions of Grandeur
The Shorelines – Head Arrangements
As the new decade approaches, California indie rock continues to exist in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Out of the many coastal cities along CA's southern and central coasts, Santa Barbara's local scene is ripe with creative groups chipping away at developing something of a distinct sound. That narrative especially applies to The … Continue reading The Shorelines – Head Arrangements
New Music Roundup: May
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Carly Rae Jepsen, Mac DeMarco, Vampire Weekend and more. Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated What does a new Carly Rae Jepsen album mean? Lovesick synth-pop anthems by the … Continue reading New Music Roundup: May
Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
Few, if any, rappers this decade have endured as significant a personal and artistic evolution as Tyler, The Creator. His last record, 2017's Flower Boy, was a true coming-of-age album. After a half-decade of anti-establishment antics and abrasive hate-raps, Tyler's complicated persona unearthed a previously unknown side of vulnerability and openness that widely changed his public perception … Continue reading Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
The Shorelines – “Love Is Here”
"Love Is Here" packs the same energy that has fueled the band's previous output, albeit with a much more tamed demeanor.
Jackie Cohen – Zagg
The L.A. singer-songwriter's debut is a zany collage of pop, rock and country that is as inventive as it is unabashedly retro.
Alex Cameron – “Miami Memory”
The Autralian pop-rock virtuoso returned to the spotlight last week with a fiery new music video.
New Music Roundup: April
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Foxygen, Kevin Morby, ScHoolboy Q and more. Foxygen - Seeing Other People The always unpredictable and infinitely enigmatic duo returns with their latest venture, Seeing Other People, a … Continue reading New Music Roundup: April
Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
Natalie Mering has a track record of pushing boundaries. Thus far in her career, she's had the odd ability to always seem left-field and out of the ordinary, yet fit seamlessly into multiple indie music circles. Over time, her experimental tendencies constructed a unique discography consisting of artful fusions of chamber pop and ‘70s-inspired singer-songwriter … Continue reading Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
Holiday Sidewinder – “Baby Oil”
Pop's favorite provocateur is back with another glitzy and futuristic tune to further build her mystique as an infinitely desirable chanteuse.
Anderson .Paak – Ventura
Largely in thanks to his undeniable talent and increasingly likable persona, Anderson .Paak's Oxnard, the third studio album from the West Coast rapper-singer-producer extraordinaire, ranked among the most highly anticipated records of 2018. Less than half a year later, Paak has returned with yet another beach-titled LP, the soul-infused Ventura. After relinquishing creative control to Dr. Dre's … Continue reading Anderson .Paak – Ventura
Jenny Lewis – On the Line
Jenny Lewis has been in the spotlight since her childhood acting days in the 1980s. Also the daughter of two Las Vegas lounge singers, you could say she was destined to be a performer. Whichever way you view Lewis, there is little debate her songs have been some of indie rock's most defining tunes over … Continue reading Jenny Lewis – On the Line
Nilüfer Yanya -Miss Universe
The trend of young and extremely talented musicians emerging from London, UK continues. The daughter of two visual artists, 23-year-old Nilüfer Yanya grew up in West London. From her mother playing classical music and her father playing traditional turkish music, to her older sister who would listen primarily to skater rock bands like Blink-182 and … Continue reading Nilüfer Yanya -Miss Universe
New Music Roundup: March
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Hand Habits, Kyle Dion, Stella Donnelly and more. Choosey & Exile - Black Beans LP The long awaited full length collaboration from the CA duo is as jazzy … Continue reading New Music Roundup: March
Riffs & Rhymes 