Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s collaboration deepen

It started with a movie. Country star Brandi Carlile, so moved after watching a rough cut of the 2024 music documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late,” began

Jessie Reyez returns in triumph with ‘Paid in Memories’

Most artists would make the first song on their new album something welcoming, trendy or pleasing, at least to make the Spotify algorithm happy. Not Jessie Reyez.

The Lady Gaga you loved and missed returns with pop ‘Mayhem’

She hath returned: A new Lady Gaga, like the old Lady Gaga, but a different Lady Gaga. “Mayhem,” released Friday, is a satisfying full-length project of

Blackpink star Lisa’s ‘Alter Ego’ is an ambitious, chameleonic solo debut

Lisa, one-fourth of the K-pop juggernaut Blackpink, has officially stepped out on her own — releasing her first solo album “Alter Ego.” Across rap, dance and pop,

Tate entices with post-Britney Spears, dirty, breathy pop

She can sing. She can dance. She’s mastered a sultry gaze. She can write a smutty phrase. Is Tate McRae the new princess of dirty, breathy pop?

In Grammy spotlight, Khruangbin wants to ‘let the music speak for itself’

If you think your Spotify playlist is getting a little too long, consider the one shared by the members of Khruangbin. It’s got 51 hours of

CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry makes feminist pop on debut solo album, ‘Vicious Creature’

Lauren Mayberry, frontwoman of the Scottish synth-pop band CHVRCHES, liberates herself from preconceptions on a punchy debut solo album, “Vicious Creature.” Mayberry’s striking voice has

Blackpink K-pop star Rosé’s debut solo album is heartfelt

Rosé, the nightingale of the massively popular Korean girl group Blackpink, has flown the nest and launched her first solo album “Rosie.” She’s the first of the

The Breeders’ Kim Deal soars on solo debut

When the Pixies set out to make their 1988 debut studio album, they enlisted Steve Albini to engineer “Surfer Rosa,” the seminal alternative record which includes

‘How to Think Like Socrates’ leaves readers with questions

The lessons of Socrates have never really gone out of style, but if there’s ever a perfect time to revisit the ancient philosopher, now is it.

The Cure return after a long break to look at mortality with one of their best albums

You might think that after being silent for 16 years, The Cure would be in a rush to get things going. Think again. It takes over three

Andy Rourke’s posthumous album is a soft swan song

Blitz Vega, the band helmed by The Smiths’ bassist Andy Rourke and Kav Sandhu of Happy Mondays, formed in 2016 and ended when Rourke died from pancreatic

Dua Saleh’s debut, ‘I Should Call Them’ is arty, experimental pop

The Sudanese-American actor/artist Dua Saleh, best known for their work as Cal Bowman on Netflix’s “Sex Education,” mesmerizes within the first few seconds of their experimental

‘The Best of Bublé’ is an overdue dive into his electrifying work

For Michael Bublé aficionados, “The Best of Bublé” is a gift — a celebration of the Canadian singer’s best work, with a couple previously unreleased songs

Katy Perry returns with the uninspired and forgettable ‘143’

Katy Perry’s new album title, “143,” is code for “I love you,” based on the number of letters in each word of the phrase. She may

Nilüfer returns with the vibrant, spare and breathtaking ‘My Method Actor’

The great news is that Nilüfer Yanya’s third album is about to drop. But that means a little homework on your part: Carving out the time to

Sabrina Carpenter’s new album is flirty, fun and wholly unserious

Say you can’t sleep? Sabrina Carpenter knows. That’s that her espresso. The 25-year-old pop sensation’s smash hit of the summer, “Espresso” — with its grammatical

Beabadoobee’s third album offers up breezy pop basics

This should be automatic. An effortlessly cool English alt-pop performer who has opened for Taylor Swift releases an album produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, and

Chrystabell & David Lynch channel ‘Twin Peaks’ with new album

If you listen to Chrystabell & David Lynch’s new album, there’s a good chance that it will make you dream. Not that “Cellophane Memories,” the latest

Jimin’s ‘Muse’ is charming, not necessarily innovative

Flying solo from the nest of a mega successful band is difficult, but BTS member Jimin did it with last year’s “FACE,” his first studio album

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