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Ta-Nehisi Coates – Between the World and Me (2015)
The three topics you are not supposed to discuss when engaging in small talk are politics, religion, and sex. I find it strange that race is not considered a fourth, though upon further reflection the...[Read More]
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Over the years many, including the late Roger Ebert, have labeled Apocalypse Now as the greatest of all war films, and among the greatest works of cinema. In the most recent Sight & Sound Critics ...[Read More]
Richard Ashcroft – These People (2016)
A welcome return from the British abyss, These People finds Richard Ashcroft in the best form he has been in for quite some time, and while the album may not win over any new converts -- it evokes the...[Read More]
Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams (2015)
Chris Martin‘s divorce — er, “conscious uncoupling” — with Gwyneth Paltrow appears to have made Coldplay more productive. Ever since the band’s international stardo...[Read More]
Adele – 25 (2015)
For years in the music industry, artists either were stars or were just making a living in search of stardom. (Or failing entirely.) Tuesdays, in the music industry of old, were home to big releases b...[Read More]
Eric Church – Mr. Misunderstood (2015)
The chances of me eventually becoming a country music expert are certainly slim to none, but I am enjoying becoming acquainted with some of the best of what the genre’s contemporary artists have...[Read More]
Johnny Marr – Adrenalin Baby: Johnny Marr Live (2015)
I haven’t reviewed any live albums since I began reviewing albums in 2013, so I figured Adrenalin Baby: Johnny Marr Live is as good a place as any to start. And it’s not because this is an...[Read More]
Avicii – Stories (2015)
I’m afraid Avicii‘s game has slipped a bit. His first album, 2013‘s True, was a refreshing take on EDM, revealing Avicii as a pop craftsman in his own right. In other words, the albu...[Read More]
Disclosure – Caracal (2015)
While it wouldn’t quite be accurate to say Disclosure hit the big time in 2013 with their debut album Settle, the record did go platinum in the electronic duo’s native UK and they do seem ...[Read More]
Don Henley – Cass County (2015)
When I first heard that Don Henley was taking another stab at a solo album with Cass County, his first in 15 years and his first country album overall, my feelings were mixed. I had given Henley’...[Read More]
Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down… (2015)
Kurt Vile is truly one of my favorite discoveries of the past few years. I first uncovered the lo-fi rocker when I mined 2013 year-end lists and found his pretty great Wakin On a Pretty Daze — w...[Read More]
Ryan Adams – 1989 (2015)
When I first heard of Ryan Adams‘ preposterous song-for-song cover album of Taylor Swift’s 2014 bestseller 1989, I thought it was some kind of joke. Adams is famously prolific, having reco...[Read More]
Chris Cornell – Higher Truth (2015)
Despite the fact that Chris Cornell is my favorite male vocalist of all time — the Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan is my favorite female vocalist, in case you’re wondering ̵...[Read More]
The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
Honestly, I wasn’t even that familiar with The Weeknd until his performance at the 2016 Grammys, which was pretty good — even without Lauryn Hill. He wasn’t as natural at performing ...[Read More]
Fareed Zakaria – In Defense of a Liberal Education (2015)
I regularly watch Fareed Zakaria‘s weekly current/foreign affairs program Fareed Zakaria GPS every Sunday morning on CNN, and I always find him (and the guests he has on the program) to be start...[Read More]