Some singers shoot for critical reception; others for commercial success. Some aim for none, some for both… and then there’s Adele. The British sensation—officially Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (yes, she’s an order of the British empire now), literally started from the bottom. Born in Tottenham, U.K., and raised by[Read More…]
Tag: album review
First Listen: Hamilton The Musical
Full disclosure: I’ve never understood the appeal of modern musicals. Generally I find them trite, overdramatic, and contrived. My musical theatre friends have constantly to broaden my horizons, begging me to listen to Next to Normal or Rent. “This one’s different,” they say to no avail. It’s especially hard for[Read More…]
Album Review: Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can – Chris Hadfield
Colonel Chris Hadfield, 56, is the first musician ever to release an album recorded in space. Yes, that’s right: Space. To be fair, it wasn’t entirely made in space. Hadfield had to polish up the production upon his return to Earth, which gave the album a clean and atmospheric final[Read More…]
Ludacris — Ludaversal
After going incognito from the music industry for a while, veteran rapper Ludacris has finally reemerged with a bang, with his long awaited album Ludaversal hitting the shelves on March 31. Over the past five years, Luda remained largely committed to Hollywood, appearing in The Fast and Furious franchise; yet, his return[Read More…]
Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer
Over the last decade, fans of musician-producer Dan Deacon have come to expect a certain degree of vibrancy and idiosyncrasy from his work. From the obscure and atonal sine wave explorations of Goose on the Loose (2003) to the infamous spoken word “Drinking Out of[Read More…]
Janet Devlin – Duvet Daze
After rising to the spotlight in the 2011 X Factor series with her awkward, charming rendition of Elton John’s “Love Song,” 16-year-old Irish singer Janet Devlin won the audience over with her quirky image, shy personality, and fascinatingly whimsical voice. Despite leaving the show after[Read More…]
Drake – If Youre Reading This Its Too Late
Last Thursday, Drake dropped his latest opus Beyoncé-style, sending his fans, his peers, and the media alike into a frenzy. In the days since, Billboard has noted that his release is expected to sell upwards of half of a million copies within its first week.[Read More…]
Album Review: Bjork – Vulnicura
Björk’s Vulnicura manages to pull off an admirable feat by balancing intricate production with emotive rawness. The album offers a brutally comprehensive forensic analysis of Björk’s failed relationship with famed visual artist Matthew Barney. The tracks thematically capture the slow death of a long-term relationship and gradual acceptance[Read More…]
Album Review: George Ezra – Wanted on Voyage
George Ezra makes his way across the pond this month—physically and digitally—first through his performance last week in Montreal opening for “Stay With Me” singer, Sam Smith; and then by the release of his debut album, Wanted on Voyage, to the North American market. The album was previously released[Read More…]
Album Review: Dan Mangan – Club Meds
Club Meds constitutes the fourth studio album for Canadian musician Dan Mangan—the first with Blacksmith as his backing band—and takes a departure from the songwriter’s folky style into more abstract musical genres. Attempting to convey a darker, atmospheric flair through eclectic melodies and slow vocals, the album falls spectacularly[Read More…]
