The Eloquence of Spareness: A Review of Half Gringa’s “Ancestral Home”
As gifted as she is both as a composer and singer, it’s Half Gringa’s lyrics that launch her into the stratosphere.
Sly Subjugation: A Review of Emily Chloe Quinn’s “My Own Mountain”
The lovely airiness of Quinn’s songs disguises the fact that they’re brilliantly constructed. She pulls off a complete emotional arc with disarming sweetness.
The Beths of Both Worlds: New Zealand’s Finest Hit Chicago
In a perfect world, The Beths would top the singles chart. But folks don’t form bands to become rich and famous, they do it because they have something to say.
Music Top 5: February 2023
Shake off the February chill with these sizzling, must-see acts.
Showing Who’s Bossa: A Review of Ari Lindo’s “Cost of Giving”
I’ve always thought of bossa nova as a literary song form, and the song “Traces” has just the soupçon of ambiguity required to meet that high bar.
Chess Match: When Fleetwood Mac Spent a Day Recording with Legends of the Chicago Blues in 1969, Jeff Lowenthal Caught the Whole Thing on Film
Many of these candid images can be seen for the first time in “Fleetwood Mac in Chicago (The Legendary Chess Blues Session)” by Lowenthal and Robert Schaffner.
East Meets West: Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Suite and Other January Delights
Tan Dun’s new piece blends east and west by taking sonic inspiration simultaneously from Spanish flamenco guitar and an ancient Chinese instrument, the pipa.
Music Top 5: January 2023
The new year kicks off with some can’t-miss performances by genre-spanning artists.
Songs from a Small Room: A Review of Nora O’Connor’s “My Heart”
You can divide folk singers into two vocal categories: the hard-living and the angelic. Nora O’Connor is definitely Door Number Two.
Dealing in Dualities: A Review of Late Nite Laundry’s “Late Nite Laundry”
Like the best bossa nova, there’s real iron in these tunes, while sounding so airy and light the band might be making them up on the spot.
