New Reviews
Rough and Rowdy Ways
Six decades into his career, Bob Dylan delivers a gorgeous and meticulous record. It is the rare Dylan album that asks to be understood and comes down to meet its audience. Full Review
RTJ4
On their fourth installment, Killer Mike and El-P are back to tune up the ruling class and the racist police state, this time streamlining the process and settling into their most natural rhythm. Full Review
Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
Mike Hadreas’ fifth album glides between sublime melodies and grimy, guttural dissonance, embracing the joys and burdens of the human body and its innumerable, intangible yearnings. Full Review
Microphones in 2020
Phil Elverum resurrects his beloved Microphones alias for a 45-minute song about art-making, self-mythologizing, and the endless search for meaning. Full Review
Editor's Choice Reviews
YHLQMDLG
Bad Bunny’s second album is outstanding. It’s a big party record that pushes boundaries and pays homage to reggaetón’s past and future, all made by a swaggering star with absolutely nothing to prove. Full Review
Whack World
The surreal, audiovisual album from the Philadelphia artist is only 15 minutes long, but it is overflowing with hooks and a powerful sense of imagination. Full Review
Flower Boy
On Tyler’s sincere and most accomplished album, he gets to the essence of what he's been chiseling at: the angst of a missed connection, the pain of unrequited love, and navigating youthful ennui. Full Review
Culture
The Atlanta trio Migos come back after a commercial and creative dry spell with a #1 single and a definitive work. Full Review
Rap Reviews
Eternal Atake
The Philly rapper has evolved into an untouchable pop artist in sound and style. With deliriously good rapping and immaculate production, Uzi makes an event album live up to its name. Full Review
Legends Never Die
The Chicago artist’s first posthumous release doesn’t feel like a final goodbye, but instead a continued look inside his world. It’s bleak and beautiful. Full Review
Mafia Bidness
The buzzing L.A. rap group flattens some of its personality with its major-label debut, a mix of party cuts and bland compromises. Full Review
Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
The 20-year-old rising star was the voice of Brooklyn drill when he died. On his debut album, executive-produced by 50 Cent, his voice shines through despite a raft of unnecessary features. Full Review
Country/Folk Reviews
Good Souls Better Angels
Drawing as much from punk as roadhouse blues, Lucinda Williams’ loud and unsparing new album is some of the heaviest, most inspiring music of her career. Full Review
Southside
The Nashville star blends genres with charm and style on his first new album in five years, a marker of what modern commercial country can do at its heights. Full Review
Refuge Cove
The Melbourne songwriter’s classic influences guide her toward an album that feels proudly out of time. Its nine songs feel like variations on one stark, psychedelic vision. Full Review
Wildcard
With her seventh album, the country star cheerfully exposes her sometimes-chaotic inner life, wearing her heart on her sleeve as she reaches for another shot of tequila. Full Review