Reviews music

'Gem' by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra is a time portal back to the early days of blues but run through a modern-day filter of Friedman’s own experiences. Trust me, you’ve never heard anything like this. It’ll sneak under your skin, and you’ll want to keep it there.

Refreshingly, the show doesn't focus on the tragic side of Édith Piaf's biography. It's nice to be reminded that her career was a deserved triumph, that sometimes popular audiences recognize greatness while the great one is alive to appreciate it.

Jeff Rupert and Richard Drexler shout with an inner voice that is deeply emotional and shows a maturity exemplary of musicians who have mastered their instrument.

Flume, The Chainsmokers, and Big Gigantic were among the featured artists at the electronic music festival SnowGlobe in South Lake Tahoe.

Allgood bridges the openness of the 20th century's hardcore bop with the soothing melodic sensibilities of the 21st century.

Nicole Saphos' recording celebrates the nostalgic structures of early 20th century music, even dipping modern folk pop tunes into its legendary pot.

Every song is about something. Maybe not always real people or events, but stuffed to capacity with visceral language and imagery on top of Dropkick Murphys' trademark skull-rattling volume and unison shouts.

Much of Jethro Tull's second album still stands up, so to speak. The bright nasality of the hyperactive mandolin on "Fat Man," the blues-rock/progressive fusion of "Nothing is Easy," and the dark psychedelia of "We Used to Know" are all of their time, yet in the new mixes they leap urgently from the speakers. A 1969 Stockholm concert and a booklet packed with reminiscences and commentary help make this new edition something Tull fans will value.

This was a perfect match of group, orchestra, and venue, a magic night superbly captured.

Over the past five years, these guys – Chris Robinson and Neal Casal – have managed to build a sound and a feeling in their music that I wasn’t even aware I’d been craving...