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?

Swedish indie folk singer Sarah Klang’s ‘Beautiful Woman’ is stunning

In a clipped Nordic accent, Swedish indie folk singer Sarah Klang politely asked the soundboard operator at Nashville’s Blue Room to turn up her microphone. The

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

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

‘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

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

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

‘Louis in London,’ a 1968 live album, captures a joyful, late-career Louis Armstrong

At the end of his career, every note from Louis Armstrong still exuded the joy of being alive. That’s true of a live album out today

Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets’ is great sad pop, meditative theater

Who knew what Taylor Swift’s latest era would bring? Or even what it would sound like? Would it build off the moodiness of “Midnights” or the folk

Jazz pianist Fred Hersch creates subdued, lovely colors on ‘Silent, Listening’

Jazz pianist Fred Hersch fully embraces the freedom that comes with improvisation on his solo album “Silent, Listening,” spontaneously composing and performing tunes that are often without melody,

NCT Dream try to pin down a vibe in latest EP

When is a good dream not a great dream? When you don’t remember it in the morning. When is a good album not a great album?

MGMT’s ‘Loss of Life’ is a nostalgic return full of hope and heart

They say trends make a cyclical comeback every 20 years. MGMT, an American rock band formed by singers Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser in 2002,

Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson imparts wise and caring lessons of love

The month of February, with its overload of flowers, candy and everything heart-shaped, is an annual celebration of that warm, fuzzy feeling we call love.

Giorgi Mikadze Trio builds engaging musical bridge linking jazz to Eastern Europe

The Giorgi Mikadze Trio’s new jazz album ends with a bit of studio conversation before Mikadze finally says, “Let’s start,” as if the group is just getting

Rolling Stones live album will give you serious party FOMO

How ya doing?” Mick Jagger asks the crowd, arriving for a club gig in Manhattan. You read that right: A club gig. And how would YOU

Chinese boy band WayV prove their mettle with second album ‘On My Youth’

SM Entertainment’s Chinese boy band WayV have come out with guns blazing on their sophomore album, “On My Youth.” It’s no small feat for the six-piece

Ed Sheeran’s beautifully honest exploration of adult despondency

I’ve been up all night, thinking about dying,” Ed Sheeran opens “When Will I Be Alright”, one of his new album’s final tracks. “I’ve just

Allow Jorja Smith to reintroduce herself on her sophomore release, ‘Falling or Flying’

Breaks are privileges awarded veteran acts, most often an effect of long-lasting relevancy. The opposite is also true: New acts are rarely given permission to take

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