With some diverse production and memorable hooks, UK pop duo AlunaGeorge come through with a relatively solid debut album. WATCH THE REVIEW
Despite his quiet demeanor, Ka might be one of the most intense, thought-provoking, and creative MCs you run across this year. WATCH THE REVIEW
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes third full-length album feels even rougher than last year’s Here. However, the band is going in a slightly more retro direction, embracing the sonic palate of 60s psychedelic pop. WATCH THE REVIEW
With Slow Focus, Fuck Buttons delivers more interesting electronic sounds and grooves, but continues to neglect the pursuit of interesting melodies and progressions. WATCH THE REVIEW
While I think California’s letlive. has pulled together some intense performances on this new album of theirs, the obnoxious vocal harmonies and poppy appeals keeps this album’s thrill short-lived. WATCH THE REVIEW
While Autopsy is sounding much heavier on The Headless Ritual, these death metal veterans just didn’t seem to put in the songwriting effort that they did on their last full-length, Macabre Eternal. WATCH THE REVIEW
Even though I’m not completely in love with the new James Holden album, I am impressed by the simultaneously primeval and futuristic vibe he’s been able to evoke on most of the tracks here. WATCH THE REVIEW
Jay-Z returns to putting out rap albums with Maga Carta… Holy Grail, and raps about as well as you’d expect at this point in his career over some pretty fresh production. WATCH THE REVIEW
D.C. rapper Billy Woods comes through with a Blockhead-produced project that might be more autobiographical than he lets on. WATCH THE REVIEW
New York rapper Joey Bada$$ follows up his infamous 1999 mixtape with a collection of tracks that feel more like a sequel from Pro Era’s recently released PEEP: The aPROcalypse mixtape. Still a solid effort, though. WATCH THE REVIEW
