Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Janis Ian's latest could be her best—and her last. Plus, overlooked doo-wop, a fine sister duo, an excellent tribute to Kevin Gordon, and more.
Read More »Music Reviews: Janis Ian, Hollywood Flames, Whitmore Sisters, Julie Christensen, and more
Reviews music
Charlie Doherty’s Top Songs and Albums of 2021
A brief but varied list of favorites of 2021 that includes Neil Young, SZA, Jesse Malin, Julien Baker, War on Drugs, and more.
Read More »Concert Review: Yo-Yo Ma Joins Youth Music Culture Guangdong Symphony Orchestra at Closing Concert
A stellar concert brought the 2022 edition of YMCG to a close with Beethoven and Dvořák from the past, Yo-Yo Ma from a distance, and much promise for the future.
Read More »Music Review: Beast Nest – ‘Sicko’
'Sicko', by Beast Nest, is an example of how so called emotionless electronic music can express feelings as well as any acoustic instrument.
Read More »Concert Review: Three of China’s Top Student String Quartets Play Beethoven at Youth Music Culture Guangdong, China
The Discovery Beethoven Quartet concert featuring three of China's top student string quartets proved one of the most exciting events at 2022's festival.
Read More »Concert Review: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – Beethoven, Schulhoff, Dvořák (18 January 2022)
String quintets and sextets by Beethoven, Dvorak and Schulhoff launched the CMS's 2022 concert schedule.
Read More »Concert Review: Shanghai Quartet Plays Beethoven for the Youth Music Culture Guangdong Festival in China
The renowned foursome presented a Beethoven concert in connection with the 2022 YMCG.
Read More »Concert Review: Emerson String Quartet, Renée Fleming, Simone Dinnerstein, Uma Thurman – ‘Penelope’ by André Previn, Tom Stoppard at Carnegie Hall (NYC, 23 January 2022)
A starry concert event showcased Previn's last composition along with Greig, Fauré and Philip Glass plus new music by Kevin Puts.
Read More »Music Reviews: David Bowie’s ‘Brilliant Adventure’ Plus Elvis Costello’s ‘The Boy Named If’
The fifth in a series of box sets covers David Bowie's work from 1992 through 2001 and includes a previously unreleased album called 'Toy.' Also reviewed: Elvis Costello's 'The Boy Named If.'
Read More »Music Review: Eric Nathan – ‘Missing Words’ (Based on Ben Schott’s ‘Schottenfreude’) with Neave Trio, International Contemporary Ensemble
A two-CD trip through the inventive mind of a composer who's part translator of the human condition, part trickster.
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