Music Reviews

Beyoncé; Charli XCX; Vince Staples
The 10 best albums of 2024 (so far)
Usher performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Super Bowl 2024 halftime show review: Usher delivers another captivating (and yes, shirtless) performance
Best + Worst 2023 collage of Victoria Monét; Pink Pantheress and Ice Spice; Billie Eilish; Doechii; Olivia Rodrigo; Jessie Ware; Miley Cyrus
The 10 best songs of 2023
Metallica
M72 Live in Cinemas review: Metallica's 2-night global concert event captures pure heavy metal magic
Janelle Monae, Kali Uchis, Amaarae, Dave Grohl
The best albums of 2023 (so far)
boygenius album. boygenius photo credit: Shervin Lainez
The Record review: On their first album as Boygenius, 3 beloved solo artists become an indie-rock supergroup
Rihanna performs onstage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.
Super Bowl 2023 halftime show review: Rihanna makes a slick, elevated, low-stakes return
Card Placeholder Image
KPOP review: Broadway's newest musical has Seoul, but not enough heart
Joomin Hwang, Rachel Webb, Bobby 'Pocket' Horner, Lorna Courtney, and Virgil Gadson in '& Juliet'
& Juliet review: Hit me Shakespeare one more time
Midnights Taylor Swift 2022
Midnights review: Taylor Swift sleeps to dream in her moody, intimate return to pop
Carly Rae Jepsen
The Loneliest Time review: Carly Rae Jepsen's sixth album is a lovesick study of what makes humans tick
Beyonce Renaissance album
Renaissance review: Beyoncé's seventh solo album is a master class in the evolution of dance music
Pusha T performs at Pier 17 Rooftop on June 16, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images; FKA Twigs attends the BandLab NME Awards 2022 at O2 Academy Brixton on March 2, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage); Thom Yorke of The Smile performs at Manchester Academy on June 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)
The best albums of 2022 (so far)
Drake
Honestly, Nevermind review: Drake hits the dance floor — but does he really move the needle?
Harry Styles
Harry's House review: Harry Styles gently nudges the expectations of what pop should sound like
Kehlani album
Blue Water Road review: Kehlani has made her most confident album yet
Musts and Misses April 8, 2022
Ambulance is berserk, while Camila Cabello grows with Familia and A Black Lady Sketch Show soars
Father John Misty and Jack White
Review: Jack White and Father John Misty serve up two kinds of rock revivalism on their new albums
Maren Morris
Humble Quest review: Maren Morris' impressive latest is far more ambitious than its title suggests
Tears for Fears 2022
The Tipping Point review: Tears for Fears prove their music is still vital on their first album in 17 years
Mary J. Blige
Good Morning Gorgeous review: Mary J. Blige brings the love and the pain
Spoon
Lucifer on the Sofa review: Spoon face down their biggest demon yet, but still find the groove
Animal Collective? Photo credit: Hisham Bharoocha
Time Skiffs review: Animal Collective head back to the future
the weeknd dawn fm
The Weeknd showcases his versatility on Dawn FM
Kanye West, Drake
The highs and lows of Drake and Kanye's Free Larry Hoover benefit concert
Best Songs of 2021
The 10 best songs of 2021
Best of Music 2001
The 10 best (and 3 worst) albums of 2021
Kennedy Center Honors
44th Kennedy Center Honors: Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Trump zingers, and a Stevie Wonder surprise
Adele
30 Review: Adele lets her emotions guide her on her deeply personal fourth album
Silk Sonic
An Evening With Silk Sonic review: Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak ride a retro soul train
Diana Ross
Diana Ross' Thank You, her first album in 15 years, is a love letter to fans
Friday Five October 15
The best new songs we heard this week: Adele returns, Young Thug pops the bubbly, Shamir brings the heat
Santana
Santana is unable to grab the spotlight on new album Blessings and Miracles
Friday Five
The best new songs we heard this week: Mitski grows up, Kylie's disco duet, Kelis' midnight cravings
Friday Five October 1
The best new songs we heard this week: Wale's booty salute, Kali Uchis' SZA collab, and Agnes' night moves
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile is a portrait of grace and acceptance on In These Silent Days
Friday Five September 24th
The best new songs we heard this week: CupcakKe stars as Marge Simpson, Vic Mensa's tasteful summertime ode
Mickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton follows her instincts on the triumphant Remember Her Name
The Fugees
The Fugees' reunion show: Late, but right on time
Friday Five September 17th
The best new songs we heard this week: Kehlani's hymn, Snail Mail's bloody valentine, Nick Cave's confession
Lil Nas X
Montero review: Lil Nas X sounds limitless on his debut album
Friday Five September 10
The best new songs we heard this week: Lana Del Rey seeks sanctuary, Maxo Kream and Tyler, the Creator flex up
Kacey Musgraves
On Star-crossed, Kacey Musgraves goes it alone
Drake
Drake's Certified Lover Boy sounds a little too familiar
Friday Five Sept 3
The best new songs we heard this week: Kanye versus Drake, Damon Albarn, Rosalía's new raucous collab
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
Little Simz dares to question her longevity on Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Friday Five August 27
The best new songs we heard this week: Kacey Musgraves feels justified, Kendrick returns, and CL gets spicy
Chvrches
Chvrches' Screen Violence was made for the streaming age
Aaliyah
Aaliyah stepped into her own on One in a Million — and created the blueprint for modern R&B
Friday Five August 18
The best new songs we heard this week: Ty Dolla $ign and Dvsn get freaky, Olivia Vedder is her father's daughter
Lorde
Solar Power review: Lorde retreats into feathery folk
George Harrison
The parallel paths of the Beach Boys and a Beatle
Friday Five
The best new songs we heard this week: The Weeknd's disco dominatrix vibes, plus Lauryn Hill reunites with Nas
Lollapalooza
The 6 best things we saw at Lollapalooza 2021
Happier than Ever by Billie Eilish
Happier Than Ever review: Billie Eilish grows up, slows down on her intimate sophomore album
Friday Five
Friday Five: Billie Eilish's grungy kiss-off, KESH's mind maze, and a killer Natalie Imbruglia sample
Friday Five
Friday Five: Kanye reunites with some old friends, James Blake finds peace, and Tops just want to party
Friday Five
Friday Five: Swedish House Mafia are back, Pop Smoke's victory lap, and more
Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula's Pink Noise is about shaking off life's struggles
Doja Cat
Planet Her review: It's a hot Cat summer on Doja Cat's sunny, swaggering new album
Best Albums of 2021 so far
Here are the best albums of 2021 (so far)
Migos
Migos return, and mostly stick to the script
Friday Five
Friday Five: Lindsey Buckingham's relationship musings, the return of Migos, and more