This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Dec. 5, 2017.
U2 has been battered over these last few years. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Dec. 5, 2017.
U2 has been battered over these last few years. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Nov. 7, 2017.
When Julien Baker released Sprained Ankle, its sparse arrangements and unflinching look at substance abuse, depression and faith made it one of the most cathartic listens in years. Turn Out the Lights digs deeper, exploring her pain in ever more empathetic ways and expanding her musical palette to match. These songs are subtle and focus on Baker’s voice and guitar/piano playing. But some orchestral touches and harmonies give the tracks more room to breathe, rise and fall. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Oct. 23, 2017.
How do you follow up on the buzz and hype of your excellent first EP? If you’re Alex Lahey, write 10 songs in the same mold that are even better. Her debut album, I Love You Like a Brother, is chock-full of catchy tunes, clever wordplay and guitar riffs galore. It’s the kind of record that sounds classic and fresh at the same time, with a high-energy pulse that’s made for bouncing around a club. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Sept. 11, 2017.
To The Bone isn’t Steven Wilson’s first attempt at pop. The idea that the prolific musician was only dedicated to progressive rock is a misnomer. Throughout his lengthy career, he’s straddled the line between both sensibilities. Look at the title track of Hand. Cannot. Erase., or go back to Porcupine Tree’s Stupid Dream. The difference this time around? This is his most concentrated effort at writing concise, straightforward songs yet. But there are still plenty of twists and turns. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on Sept. 5, 2017.
Erika M. Anderson grew up in the outer ring, the suburbs and back roads around major cities across the United States. Between reurbanization, globalization and the Internet’s impact on industry, these neighborhoods are hollowed-out and in decline. The hopes of these communities became as dried up and faded as the American flag behind EMA on the cover of Exile In The Outer Ring. Her latest album explores not only her own experience growing up in these towns, but how those still living there react to their growing sense of abandonment. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on July 30, 2017.
Arcade Fire’s music has always contained an undeniable, unquantifiable spark. Each album, from Funeral to Reflektor, had the unique ability to combine gravity with weightlessness. Every fiber of your being would shout and dance in the hopes of launching off the planet with them. But on Everything Now, that spark has faded in favor of overblown lyrics and weak songwriting. Continue reading
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on June 21, 2017.
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on June 19, 2017.
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on June 9, 2017.
This article first appeared at No Ripcord on May 22, 2017.