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1 week ago | 
thelineofbestfit.com | John Amen
Even her last album, the well-polished Ten Fold, included distinct flashes of mercuriality, Bey juxtaposing idyllic scenes (of clouds and flowers, for example) with repeated acknowledgement that all things fade (death is ever-present). Still, while contemporising the R&B genre, Bey clearly drew from feel-good 70s and 80s sources, as well as the laid-back sides of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo.
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1 week ago | 
buff.ly | John Amen
Even her last album, the well-polished Ten Fold, included distinct flashes of mercuriality, Bey juxtaposing idyllic scenes (of clouds and flowers, for example) with repeated acknowledgement that all things fade (death is ever-present). Still, while contemporising the R&B genre, Bey clearly drew from feel-good 70s and 80s sources, as well as the laid-back sides of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and D’Angelo.
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3 weeks ago | 
nodepression.org | John Amen
With his second album, Memphis Medicine, Gary Hector revels in showmanship and indomitable authenticity. Working with vintage sounds while drawing from such lyrical influences as Bob Dylan, Willie Nile, and Rodriguez, the Trinidadian singer-songwriter offers an energetic and uplifting set. The title cut is a bright mix of guitars, drums, and slinky accents. Hector’s voice is buoyant as he fights the siren call of an illicit experience.
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3 weeks ago | 
beatsperminute.com | John Amen
[Young God/Mute; 2025]The term “Zen” is part of the cultural vernacular. Used as an adjective, a noun, even a verb, the mainstream usage typically refers to someone being laidback, going with the flow, or practicing acceptance. But at the heart of Zen, and Buddhism more broadly, are principles regarding the intricacies of suffering, impermanence, and, more elusively, non-self.
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3 weeks ago | 
nodepression.org | John Amen
Building on previous work, Watchhouse—formerly Mandolin Orange—offer their eighth album, Rituals. While Andrew Marlin assumes the majority of lead-vocal duties, Emily Frantz’s supporting parts are integral, giving the tracks depth and range. Additionally, the couple make use of assorted instruments, including bouzouki, harmonium, pump organ, and fiddle. The result is a sequence that underscores the duo’s songwriting skills and their enduring chemistry.
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4 weeks ago | 
thelineofbestfit.com | John Amen
That said, compared to previous outings, her voice is more nuanced. Lyrically, she’s more image-heavy, crafting metaphors that accentuate the savage aspects of human life. Producer Lomond Campbell, who steered 2022’s for you who are the wronged, plays a key role, facilitating soundscapes that oscillate between the earthy and celestial, the austere and noisy.
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4 weeks ago | 
popmatters.com | John Amen
Evangelic Girl Is a Gun Ninja Tune Nat Ćmiel, also known as Yeule, has consistently flirted with and aspired to pop glory. Even with 2022’s Glitch Princess, which featured them circling the atmosphere like a suicidal alien sizing up our blue orb, they displayed an uncommon pop sensibility. Sure, the set oozed disembodiment and downtempo paranoia, but clearly Cmiel wasn’t as “out there” as they seemed. Perhaps, somehow, a steady dose of radio-friendly hooks had been piped into their spaceship.
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1 month ago | 
beatsperminute.com | John Amen
[Backwoodz Studioz; 2025]On “Make No Mistake,” from his new album, GOLLIWOG, billy woods tells us: “I told a few lies in my time / but never once over a beat”. This is undoubtedly true in the artistic sense (as Picasso supposedly said, “Art is the lie that reveals the truth”. As Jeezy succinctly added, “I spit the truth, every noun, every verb”). woods’ raps, however/of course, make use of autofiction as much as autobiography.
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2 months ago | 
popmatters.com | John Amen
A Complicated Woman Republic Rebecca Taylor, aka Self Esteem, has two aspects to her persona, as presented via her second album, Prioritise Pleasure: The indefatigable activist and the unapologetic hedonist. Regarding the former, Taylor adopts the feminist mantle with ease. She extolls the strength, resilience, and resourcefulness of women while advocating for their rights, festively and militantly. Regarding the latter, Taylor celebrates the female body and eroticism in its myriad forms.
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2 months ago | 
thelineofbestfit.com | John Amen
Her last album, 2022’s self-titled release, offered a blend of engaging songs and intriguing instrumental forays, varying from solo performances to full-band renderings. With her latest project, Jellywish, she largely readopts the guitar-and-vocal MO of earlier work, particularly 2019’s Emily Alone. That said, she strikes a more equanimous bearing, even as she continues to explore some of her favorite themes: relational issues, struggles with self-esteem, and concerns about her place in the world.
