Music Reviews
Review: War is good as 50th anniversary of ‘The World Is a Ghetto’ shines in premium box set
On Friday, a reissue box set of WAR’s “The World Is a Ghetto” arrives. The Associated Press’ Ron Harris writes in a review that the nicely packaged rendition of the band’s best-selling album includes bonus tracks as well as entire LP sides of WAR working through some of its best known songs, such as
Music Review: Todd Snider’s great ‘Crank It, We’re Doomed’ finally arrives after 16 years in the can
Todd Snider recorded the album “Crank It, We’re Doomed” in 2007 before shelving it. Much of the material subsequently surfaced elsewhere and will be familiar to fans when “Doomed” is finally released Friday.
Music Review: Cat Power replicates Bob Dylan’s infamous 1966 electric concert, without the boos
“Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert” is a faithful recreation of Bob Dylan’s infamous concert, from the tour where he played electric guitar for the first time.
Music Review: BTS member Jung Kook’s solo debut, ‘Golden,’ is no-skip pop bliss
Jung Kook, the youngest member of the K-pop group BTS, has released his triumphant debut solo album.
Music Review: Chinese boy band WayV prove their mettle with second album ‘On My Youth’
Chinese boy band WayV forage their own path on their highly anticipated sophomore album, “On My Youth.”
Music Review: Taemin is back with another sultry K-pop EP, his fourth mini album ‘Guilty’
Taemin, the prince of gritty K-pop, is back with a stunning 4th mini album, “Guilty.” It is his first since finishing his mandatory military enlistment in the South Korean army.
Music Review: The Mountain Goats go big on ‘Jenny from Thebes,’ a sequel to an old favorite
On the Mountain Goats’ 22nd album “Jenny from Thebes,” the full band flexes its muscle with a record that at times sounds like Broadway, writes the Associated Press’ Michael Casey.
Music Review: Prince & the New Power Generation’s ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ remastered reissue is a gem
On Friday, an extensive reissue box set of the classic Prince & the New Power Generation 1991 album “Diamonds and Pearls” will be released.
Music Review: K-pop group SEVENTEEN find nirvana on new mini-album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’
How does a group follow up their biggest release to date? In the case of K-pop act SEVENTEEN, they continue to grow their successes and release another mini-album in the same year.
Music Review: Poppy grows up and goes dark pop-y with genre-blending album ‘Zig’
Singer-songwriter Poppy has returned with her fifth studio album. The Associated Press’ Kiana Doyle describes “Zig” as an experimental, immersive mix of several different styles.
Music Review: Celebrate the spooky season with a Duran Duran album, ‘Danse Macabre’
There aren’t that many Halloween albums out there and so tip your masks to Duran Duran for giving us a treat this spooky season, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy.
Music Review: An expanded soundtrack marks 50th anniversary of ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’
An expanded soundtrack for the Thanksgiving season is reason to do the Snoopy dance. “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” celebrates the 50th anniversary of the “Peanuts” TV special, which first aired in November 1973.
Review: Bad Bunny’s latest album a rap-heavy treatise on fame and an ode to his ‘real fans’
Where does Bad Bunny go from his blockbuster 2022 album, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” one of The Associated Press’ top albums of the year?
Music Review: Jamila Woods’ ‘Water Made Us’ showcases what we love, and loathe, about romance
On “Water Made Us,” the third studio album from Chicago-based neo-soul musician and poet Jamila Woods, romantic love is a featured topic.
Music Review: Holly Humberstone gets candid on atmospheric debut album, ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’
A third of the way through her debut album, “Paint My Bedroom Black,” Holly Humberstone initiates a slow dance, but one set in an anxious daydream.
Music Review: On ‘Come June,’ Mitch Rowland, collaborator to Harry Styles, makes a pretty folk debut
He might not be immediately recognizable to the masses, but multi-instrumentalist Mitch Rowland is a household name to a certain cohort of music obsessives: Harry Styles fans.
Music Review: Sam Halen or Van Hagar? Box set showcases Van Halen’s magnificent Sammy Hagar years
Was Van Halen better with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar on lead vocals? The Associated Press’ Wayne Parry asks that question in his review of a new, five LP Van Halen box set called “The Collection ll.”
Music Review: Allow Jorja Smith to reintroduce herself on her sophomore release, ‘Falling or Flying’
Allow Jorja Smith to reintroduce herself on the long-awaited sophomore release, “Falling or Flying.”
Review: Ed Sheeran’s ‘Autumn Variations’ is a beautifully honest exploration of adult despondency
On Ed Sheeran’s sixth studio album, “Autumn Variations,” the English singer leaves his series of releases named after mathematical symbols behind.
Music Review: Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz revive folk songs on ‘Nothing but Green Willow’
The new album from Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz is titled “Nothing But Green Willow.” It’s a real oldies collection, with ballads that date back generations and have roots on both sides of the Atlantic.
Music Review: Breathy, mid-tempo Wilco returns for ‘Cousin,’ which is heavy on the slower tracks
If you like your Wilco mid-tempo, melodic and breathy, then “Cousin” is for you. The Associated Press’ Scott Bauer says the Chicago alt-rock band takes yet another departure in tone after last year’s epic double album “Cruel Country.”
Music Review: On ‘Scarlet,’ Doja Cat’s demons demand attention — as if it was possible to look away
Before Doja Cat released her stellar fourth full-length album, the take-no-prisoners “Scarlet,” she bit the hand that feeds. Sort of.
Music Review: With reissue of ‘Last Splash,’ The Breeders make waves 30 years later
The Breeders are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their second studio album, “Last Splash.” The Associated Press’ Jim Pollock writes that the release surfaces two previously unreleased songs and plenty of opportunities for re-discovery of the landmark album.
Music Review: The Replacements’ ‘Tim: Let it Bleed Edition’ captures the band’s sublime songwriting
For the 40th anniversary of their second studio album, “Tim,” The Replacements are releasing “Tim: Let it Bleed Edition” on September 22.
Music Review: Rootsy harmonies and spiritual uplift from Buddy and Julie Miller on ‘In the Throes’
Buddy and Julie Miller have been married for 40 years. Their new album, “In the Throes,” celebrates the melding of their distinctive voices.
Music Review: Corinne Bailey Rae explores every part of the emotional spectrum in ‘Black Rainbows’
Who would you be if you didn’t have to fit into societal expectations? Grammy Award-winner Corinne Bailey Rae answers this question for herself in her latest body of work, “Black Rainbows.”
Music Review: Mitski dances with the devil and God on ‘The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We’
Mitski, one of the most idiosyncratic and devoted artists in indie rock, has returned. Her seventh album is titled “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.”
Music Review: Harmonica guru Lee Oskar’s all sunshine on funky instrumental album ‘She Said Mahalo’
On the instrumental album “She Said Mahalo,” Lee Oskar plays funk, reggae, a lullaby and more, all while using less than a dozen harmonicas.
Music Review: ‘Who’s Next/Life House’ is a dive into The Who’s masterpiece that mostly slipped away
The Who’s massive box set, “Who’s Next/Life House,” goes deep down the archival rabbit hole to shed light on the development of one of The Who’s greatest records — and one grandiose idea that mostly slipped away.
Music Review: A little too much beauty and not enough beast on new Pretenders album, ‘Relentless’
The Pretenders can rock and they can croon; The Associated Press’s Wayne Parry says they do a little too much of the latter on their new album “Relentless.”
Music Review: Olivia Rodrigo rages against the machine and bad men with humor on ‘GUTS’
On Friday, Olivia Rodrigo released her highly anticipated sophomore album, “GUTS.” It’s an apt title, because audacious she is.