“While ‘Pinned’ often feels like the diary entries of someone suffering from a wound that wouldn’t heal, ‘See Through You’ feels like a ‘Fuck you, I’m still here, and I’m happy,’ plus lots and lots of hooks.”
“Finding solace in music is perhaps one of the few truly safe spaces in which we can find a place to grieve. ‘Celestial Blues’ is an important reminder that there is always room for faith.”
“Mining the depths of her own hurt and regret as she does, singer-songwriter Julien Baker has positioned herself as something of a modern scholar on the second chance.”
“Despite confronting our planet’s mortality, ‘We Will Always Love You’ is far from an expression of mourning. Rather, it’s a celebration of the cosmic afterlife afforded to us by music.”
“There’s a casualness and a sense of play to ‘Evermore’ that softens its edges and indicates an artist settling into her groove.”
“Featuring impeccable production and sincere emotions, ‘In Blue’ is a rude reminder of Martin’s dedication to his sound, which is increasingly reflective and always genuine.”
“The main shock of ‘Karma & Desire’ is the acoustic pianos, bathed in reverb, and how they fit so easily with Actress’ tripping-in-slow-motion rhythms…”
“While Cook clearly has his hands on deck operating the machinery, the closing tracks make clear that it’s still Jónsi steering the ship, as impish and wholeheartedly earnest as ever.”
“At its heart, ‘The Ascension’ examines disillusionment and loss of faith – not in God, but in America.”
“‘Faith’ is too misguided and confused to be an actively cynical undertaking, but its desperate rush to the lowest common denominator in a bid for the broadest appeal is still nakedly apparent.”
“‘Pop Songs 2020’ is not a disposable work, but neither is it especially serious. It’s light, punchy and brief — a condensed showcase of its creators’ formidable pop songwriting craft.”
“Olsen may have crept back into her shell, but, on ‘Whole New Mess,’ there’s finally enough space for her to invite listeners inside.”
“After a rough decade out in the wild, Oberst is home and doing what he knows best.”
“Whether enjoyed as a fresh musical offering or an affectionate archival excursion, ‘Candid’ is an easy album to appreciate. Its core interplay, a conversation between the old and the new, is the key to its success.”
“‘Limbo’ lacks some of the irreverent charm that drew listeners to Aminé in the first place, but there’s still plenty of perceptiveness and creativity at the heart of his approach even in this less certain, more contemplative next phase.”
“‘A Hero’s Death’ is an articulate, energetic work, bristling with moody post-punk fury, and it signals an incremental consolidation and increased sophistication to the still-green quintet’s robust, fulsome sound.”
“In its unadorned beauty, immense empathy and self-awareness, ‘Folklore’ might be Swift’s best shot at immortality so far.”
“If one person sees themselves in the anecdotes and idioms of ‘Old Flowers,’ then this is an undeniably worthwhile work. In its brightness and simplicity, though, this record’s reach is sure to be much wider than that.”
“This is an album not bogged down in specifics, yet it is bristling with fine details that tap into the universal experience of heartbreak.”
“‘Healing Is a Miracle’ represents an opportunity for pause, stillness and reflection.”