For 4,040 reviews, this publication has graded:
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44% higher than the average critic
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4% same as the average critic
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52% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4 points lower than other critics.
(0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 69
Highest review score: | Channel Orange | |
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Lowest review score: | Revival |
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2,754 out of 4040
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Mixed: 1,215 out of 4040
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Negative: 71 out of 4040
4040
music
reviews
- By Date
- By Critic Score
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- Critic Score
Lyrically, Al Maskati spends Majid Jordan plainly expressing tense feelings of romantic unease, though his candor when singing about his heartache can result in cliches.... The directness of the lyrics can actually be effective when the rest of the arrangements complement their exactness, and Al Maskati and Ullman find that balance here more often than not.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 9, 2016
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The chief complaint with I’m Up is its narrowness. At just nine tracks and 38 minutes (a lot of which is handed over to guests), there’s just not enough of Thug rapping for this to match up to last year’s releases.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 9, 2016
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The talent is there in spades, and the well of influences is a deep and bountiful one. There’s nowhere to grow but up for Sunflower Bean.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 8, 2016
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The Gamble may be a record nearly a decade in the making, but by not putting pressure on themselves to make a grand statement, nonkeen have made a memorable work and showcased their strengths.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 5, 2016
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Smith helps us search for our own emotions, our sadness, and level with it. The unreleased material on Heaven Adores You gives us one more bag of songs to hold close, asking him to save us the same way he asked that of us.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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Pillars of Ash rockets through 11 tracks without looking back, without room for breath. The songs tend to blend together in the spin cycle, one screamed vocal track melting its way into the next, one thundering drum fill inseparable from another.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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While it still falls short in holding attention from start to finish, Big Black Coat signals a welcome return. Junior Boys created their most uncomplicated album yet, which still holds their signature style, and with it comes a jagged body of music made soft to the touch thanks to Greenspan’s buttery vocals.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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It’s a showcase of versatility that plays to its creator’s strengths enough to feel like a definitive statement, no matter how many other projects he’s released before it.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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Though Williams is no stranger to an effective narrative, rarely have her stories captured such a concrete portrayal of human experience at its most unsure moment: the end.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 3, 2016
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Much of the soundtrack feels like papery skin drawn increasingly tight across sharp bones. There’s a tension lying under the surface of stretched notes, threatening constantly to break.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 2, 2016
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Fair has always had a tendency to get too cute in his lyrics, but there’s a contagious positivity to Perfect, even if it’s often oversimplistic.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 2, 2016
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At only eight songs, it’s a shame that Gumption seems to only truly find its footing as it draws to a close in its last couple of songs. That said, as a debut, it has a few moments of captivating beauty and shows plenty of promise for more.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 2, 2016
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Anti takes risks and disregards convention in a way that only a true superstar like Rihanna could pull off.- Consequence
- Posted Feb 1, 2016
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You might want to laugh at points, because a good deal of it is very silly, but somewhere within the second half, you’ll become just a little invested. By the grand finale, you might even feel inspired.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 29, 2016
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This organic quality pops up every so often, as if to reinforce the human element of an album that relies so much on electronic flourishes to get its point across.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 28, 2016
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While Sia’s lines wear a badge of effortlessness, her ripe voice lends gravitas to these “victim to victory” ballads (as the notoriously media-shy singer characterized them to the New York Times in a rare sit-down).- Consequence
- Posted Jan 27, 2016
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In large part, the songs on Nevermen come across exactly as that: songs, specifically made in a studio by a group of individually talented musicians.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 26, 2016
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An ugliness fringes Lee’s delivery, and it’s what keeps Money’s music from dipping into the saccharine.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 26, 2016
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Purple Reign stands as a fine mixtape by itself--neither his best nor worst recent work, it nonetheless works perfectly as a preview of what’s to come.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 22, 2016
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While not a minimalistic record by any stretch of the imagination, Moth greatly benefits from a toned-down approach that gets to the core of what makes each song work.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 22, 2016
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- Consequence
- Posted Jan 22, 2016
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- Consequence
- Posted Jan 21, 2016
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Segall’s output over the last decade is proof that making music is truly its own reward for some artists, and over the course of 11 songs and 38 minutes, Mugger epitomizes that passion like no album of his before it.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 20, 2016
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While this record won’t reel in many new listeners, it’s a worthy and worthwhile addition to the band’s discography, full of catchy grooves that continue to defy expectations.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 19, 2016
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For its lyrical and musical scope, Malibu brings to mind a number of excellent albums, ranging from Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions to, yes, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 19, 2016
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Adore Life is many things, but the thing it feels most like is a celebration. On one level, it’s a celebration of the fact that guitar-driven rock music is probably here to stay. But it’s also a celebration of life at its strangest, messiest, and most vital.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 19, 2016
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Not to Disappear builds on many of the same themes that dominated 2013’s If You Leave, but with an added layer of universality.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 12, 2016
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Blackstar is a battle cry against boredom, a wide-eyed drama set in a world just beyond our scopes. It doesn’t get more Bowie than that.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 8, 2016
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Despite the time off, he brushes the dust off his chaps masterfully, making for a haunting score that hints creepily at the film’s violent depths.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 7, 2016
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- Critic Score
Making an old model feel fresh is no easy task, but Hinds largely accomplish it, embracing the intriguing sloppiness of their predecessors while making steps on their own.- Consequence
- Posted Jan 5, 2016
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While Cage the Elephant deliver a well-rounded record, this one’s not enough to vault them multiple steps ahead.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 22, 2015
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Jeremih’s vision is astounding, and the places in which he gets to indulge in adventurous risk-taking more than make up for the safe plays that surround them.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 21, 2015
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His development extends beyond just his writing. Pusha picks a wide-ranging group of thumping beats from noted rap greats like Kanye West, Q-Tip, Metro Boomin, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and most effectively, Timbaland.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 21, 2015
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Purple is a redemptive statement that’s indelibly human, going far beyond mere notes and music. It speaks to the deeper powers of creation: the artistic struggle to maintain, survive, and somehow have fun in the face of death, a fate Baroness defied and overcame.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 18, 2015
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Asperities conveys a similar sense of place [as previous albums] without ever explicitly detailing where it’s set or why, allowing the listener to envision their own wrinkles stretched over Kent’s richly drawn skeleton.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 15, 2015
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With a seemingly renewed energy, Babyface is back in business with two records in the last two years, and Return of the Tender Lover sets the table for an even bigger return to the public eye forthcoming.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 10, 2015
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Saint Cecilia feels like a new turn, or rather, a much-needed step back. It’s simple, back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll that reaches for the heart and not the last fan in the back of the crowd.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 9, 2015
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On But You Caint Use My Phone, Badu achieves an intimacy and warmth that makes you feel that it’s best to bare your emotions on your sleeve.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 9, 2015
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Lindberg’s range helps the record from feeling too stale. At times, she relies too much on repetition, causing some tracks to feel too familiar to stand out. But, when she shuffles the pieces of her puzzle, the songs are typically the stronger for it.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 8, 2015
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The River Collection isn’t a glimpse of what could have been--it’s raw proof that The River sessions produced too many good songs for one album (even a double album) to contain.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 8, 2015
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Some of the songs’ differences are sanded down, all glossed together in ultra-professional production.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 3, 2015
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At a mere 35 minutes, Kannon is a fleeting journey. But in that allotted time, Sunn do what they do best, crafting an inescapable atmosphere of flowing drone metal, and as a whole, it’s arguably their best composition to date.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 2, 2015
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Rather than reference the work they’ve made before, each project takes on a completely new form. Fever 121614 is no different, as Deerhoof harness their previous material, turn it on its anxious head, and perform it in a way that allows fresh life to creep in.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 1, 2015
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Though Product is billed as a singles collection, its sequencing matters like an album; the track’s placement lets it bow under the weight of all the bizarre moments that precede it, leaving gashes too deep for it to be as treacly and plasticine as its title might suggest.- Consequence
- Posted Dec 1, 2015
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Junun should be approached with a willingness to embrace new ideas. Greenwood is clearly the big audience draw here, but even fans of his solo compositions may feel a little lost. But, someone with an eager ear will find beauty in this blend of cultures and styles.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 23, 2015
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25 doesn’t necessarily meet the fire of its predecessor, but it meets its mark--a whole different undertaking when tasked from the top.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 23, 2015
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Suffice to say, this new album’s darker, tougher production fits him like a snug pair of fingerprint-concealing gloves.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 20, 2015
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For all of Free TC’s turn-up nut-grabbing, it’s the beating heart that ends up stealing the show.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 19, 2015
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Mutant unfurls like a singular body, and its nuanced empathy with the shame and horror and joy of corporeality makes it an enthralling piece to experience.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 18, 2015
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When given adequate space, Le1f once again succeeds just being the best and most honest version of himself.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 17, 2015
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It wasn’t too long ago that Paypal himself was working his happy hardcore fanaticism into the footwork bass lines. While those hardcore elements are non-existent on this effort, the whimsical spirit remains.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 16, 2015
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If you want true avant-garde hip-hop, you’re better off looking elsewhere. If it’s a melodic, cohesively produced collection of rap songs you’re after, you could do a lot worse.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 13, 2015
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The album is heavier in massive live moment potential than extended narrative.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 12, 2015
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It’s OPN’s most emotional work to date and also his most ridiculous. Its tragedy is bound up with its humor; its sublimity comes from the places where it feels the most broken.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 12, 2015
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Slime Season finds Thugger mastering new conduits to express his idiosyncrasies in addition to spreading like marmalade over familiar territory.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 11, 2015
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He’s legitimizing his side project. Puscifer’s 2011 album, Conditions of My Parole, moved away from the novelty of V is For Vagina, and Money Shot furthers that progression into more mature territories.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 11, 2015
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While some of it falls short of past greatness, the core of the album shows Lynne hasn’t lost his mad genius after more than a decade of silence.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 10, 2015
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After Visions, the only thing Grimes could do was to grow as big as the landscape around her. Here’s her mountain.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 9, 2015
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The result is a record caught between young adulthood and just plain adulthood, but you have to delve into the lyrics to discover that dichotomy. And, even then, the clues come from individual lines instead of a greater narrative.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 6, 2015
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Elaenia stands out as a remarkably assured debut album from an artist who took his time putting it together.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 4, 2015
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The record is a posse cut without pretense and the showpiece of a stylistic partnership that feels long overdue.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 3, 2015
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In the end, Many Moons appears exactly as advertised: an album that showcases many different faces of the same essential thing. These songs won’t spark any revelations with their musings on time and the subconscious, but they might just transport you to a place that feels like a pleasant dream.- Consequence
- Posted Nov 2, 2015
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Teens of Style has plenty of both [mistakes and experimentation], but it’s somehow all the more charming for it. This is an album that will grow on you and frustrate you, probably within the span of the same day.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 28, 2015
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I Am a Problem isn’t the anomaly it might at first seem, but it is also its own beast. And a powerful, eccentric beast it is, snarling and stalking the shadows.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 28, 2015
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The album winds up feeling like the first in Newsom’s catalog that won’t be considered a classic, but it’s proof that a sturdy, thought-provoking, and rewarding record doesn’t necessarily need to stand next to her past work to find its own greatness.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 26, 2015
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While the driving forces behind Pray for Rain might not be ultra-fresh, Vesprille and Hindman do a more than passable job of wrapping them in a brand new package.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 23, 2015
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The band sounds like they’re having fun, and humor is such a scarcity in the super serious realm of modern metal. Deeper Than Sky is fun to listen to, like the carefree thrash of old.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 23, 2015
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On American Tragic, Fortune rises up to squeeze every last drop of drama from her misery.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 22, 2015
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If II proves anything, it’s that Fuzz remains a force to be reckoned with. Segall and co. have only honed their chops in the years since their debut, and it’s almost terrifying to project what will come in the next stage of their evolution.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 21, 2015
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This album is not like anything they have ever done, and gives music fans reason to be thankful.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 21, 2015
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Magnetic Bodies/Maps of Bones falls into the same category as Maritime’s 2004 debut, Glass Floor, and their last record, Human Hearts: It’s an LP of several great songs surrounded by several just okay ones.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 19, 2015
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YACHT balances its snark with just enough warmth to keep its dystopian dreams engaging.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 16, 2015
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Palomo has managed to group everything that catches his eye under one disco ball-laden roof, but Night School rarely feels overstuffed. It stays playful and casual, and its stakes often feel low as a result.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 15, 2015
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This album is grand. Though it clocks in at 73 minutes, it unfolds with few speed bumps.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 15, 2015
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Are You Alone?, as its title suggests, is an incredibly personal experience, one that benefits from conversing with Welsh as much as he is with you.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 14, 2015
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At nine songs and just over 36 minutes, Fading Frontier is a filler-free opus of experimental rock splendor that never lags and always intrigues.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 13, 2015
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Hallucinogen shows Kelela’s remarkable confidence and strength through a fragility and willingness to admit faults and weaknesses.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 9, 2015
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Even if Sore isn’t the most refined debut you’ll hear, even if it opts for feeling over detail, at least it’s got an attitude you’d be hard-pressed to argue with.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 8, 2015
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While the individual songs have peaks and purpose, the album winds up functioning on the same level.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 8, 2015
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Unbreakable ends perhaps a bit too tidily with “Well Traveled” and “Gon B’ Alright”, the latter a gospel-flavored anthem in the key of Sly and the Family Stone. But they barely dent her best effort since The Velvet Rope.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 8, 2015
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Beach Music feels like the work of an artist a few steps ahead of his audience, jumping to answer their expectations of a DIY darling taking on the trappings of a label.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 7, 2015
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Exhausting Fire has heart, both sonically and lyrically. It moves with confidence, content with its explorations, and it’s engaging because of it.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 2, 2015
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Age of Transparency is that rare record that manages astonishing density without ever feeling crowded. The production swirls in the air like glitter in water, and it catches new light on each listen.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 2, 2015
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It’s been a fascinating journey for both him and his audience, especially when taken in moderation.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 2, 2015
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V is a self-assured record penned by a songwriter who’s anything but sure of himself, and that dynamic shines right through the curtain of fuzz.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 1, 2015
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Disclosure has found the perfect center of the Venn diagram of house music and mainstream pop. This is music you can play at the club and play for your mom; it won’t take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but damn if you won’t have fun getting there anyway.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 1, 2015
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Like Hughes and his signature ’70s-indebted mustache, Zipper Down makes familiarity refreshing.- Consequence
- Posted Oct 1, 2015
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Its audacity and stylistic shifts may have resulted in an album that’s not quite as much like coming home as Sunbather, but it shows a genuine and fascinating maturation in a band that deserves to remain in the spotlight for all the right reasons.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 30, 2015
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What makes Dodge and Burn such a terrific and complete listen is how much ground it effectively covers and how furiously it does so.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 30, 2015
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Throughout Big Grams, Big Boi, Carter, and Barthel demonstrate their ability and willingness to take risks, even if some don’t work as well as others.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 29, 2015
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Holding Hands with Jamie deftly maneuvers and manufactures its own sense and nonsense in equal measure.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 29, 2015
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The refusal to stick to one gender only adds to 1989‘s ubiquitous strength, making it less an album applicable to specific male/female relationships and more about relationships in general.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 28, 2015
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For now, What a Time is the sound of two of our biggest current pop figures using each other’s strengths to bring out their own.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 25, 2015
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Honeymoon clocks in at over an hour; for a full-length of cinematic, defeated, slow songs, that length allows attention spans to drift off, possibly to somewhere happier--or even somewhere darker. Del Rey doesn’t seem to care. This is an endeavor for herself.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 25, 2015
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It’s fun, it’s mysterious, it’s committed to its concept, and it could be the album of the Halloween season.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 24, 2015
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- Consequence
- Posted Sep 24, 2015
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It’s a brutal and lovely album that refines Reservation’s far-flung impulses into a targeted stream of consciousness.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 23, 2015
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Because it’s loaded with guests, there’s a transparent curatorial awareness to Music Complete, one that’s surprisingly engaging and effective.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 23, 2015
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The Mexican garage punk band led by Teri Gender Bender goes for its most straightforward sound yet on A Raw Youth. If they stumble occasionally, that’s only because of the white-knuckled grip they keep on what makes them unique.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 22, 2015
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It should come as no surprise that follow-up b’lieve i’m goin down... finds Vile continuing to self-deprecate, amble, and sigh, despite the new tier of success. Neither should it be a surprise that all those qualities remain entirely charming.- Consequence
- Posted Sep 22, 2015
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