Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
What The Coal Men have that not many amplified Americana bands do is gripping songwriting that makes their dark sound grab hold and sink in.
Read More »Music Review: The Coal Men – ‘Everett’
Album Reviews
Music Reviews: ‘The JFK Inauguration: US Top 100 20th January 1961,’ plus Mike Zito, Vanessa Peters, and Lance Cowan
A fascinating new anthology collects music from the week when President John F. Kennedy took office, featuring most of the songs that made Billboard’s chart that week.
Read More »Music Reviews: ‘You Can Walk Across It on the Grass: The Boutique Sounds of Swinging London,’ plus Paul Collins and Gordon Grdina
A review of an anthology of the sounds of late 1960a swinging London. Plus, new albums from Paul Collins and Gordon Grdina.
Read More »Music Reviews: ‘Les Cousins’ (Folk Anthology), plus Steeleye Span Live and Eric Brace & Thomm Jutz
Reviews of 'Les Cousins,' a folk and blues anthology; a live set from Steeleye Span; and new music from Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz.
Read More »Music Review: Bex Marshall – ‘Fortuna’
On her first album in over 10 years, the blues-rocker's expressive vocals crackle with the years, while her guitar playing is if anything sharper than ever.
Read More »Music Review: Ekmeles – A Choir Pushes Boundaries with ‘We Live the Opposite Daring’
The new music sextet unleashes microtones and nontraditional tunings among other boundary-pushing elements of music by six contemporary composers.
Read More »Music Reviews: ‘Pushin’ Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964–1967,’ plus Rod Picott and Tinsley Ellis
'Pushin' Too Hard,' a new anthology, collects American garage punk from 1964-1967. Plus, reviews of CDs from Rod Picott and Tinsley Ellis.
Read More »Book & Music Reviews: ‘Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan,’ plus the Richard Thompson Band and Fats Domino
Gray’s knowledge of his subject is encyclopedic, and he digs up all sorts of interesting connections.
Read More »Music Reviews: Dire Straits’ ‘Live: 1978–1992,’ the Beatles’ Revamped ‘1962–1966’ and ‘1967–1970,’ and the Weeklings
Reviews of Dire Straits' 'Live: 1978-1992,' upgraded Beatles anthologies, and more.
Read More »Music Reviews: the Rolling Stones’ ‘Hackney Diamonds,’ plus James Talley, Clay Parker and Jodi James, and the Babys
With 'Hackney Diamonds,' The Rolling Stones deliver their first album of new material since 2005. Plus, reviews of James Talley, Clay Parker and Jodi James, and the Babys.
Read More »