“Choreomania,” the title of the third track on UK baroque pop institution Florence + The Machine’s latest project comes from a kind of medieval mass hysteria known as the “dancing plague,” in which people would sometimes literally dance themselves to death. Over a decade into a storied career, and frontwoman Florence Welch’s latest set of … Continue reading Florence + The Machine – Dance Fever
Rock Reviews
Jack White – Fear of the Dawn
Four years after his polarizing and wildly creative project Boarding House Reach, garage rock trailblazer Jack White has returned with yet another helping of his eccentric and invigorating twists and turns on the genre that he mastered long ago through his various bands. The first of two albums that he plans to release this year, … Continue reading Jack White – Fear of the Dawn
Machine Gun Kelly – mainstream sellout
For all the media frenzy surrounding his name as of late, it was still surprising that Machine Gun Kelly’s first full-length foray into pop-punk on Tickets to My Downfall was somewhat competent, transforming the genre’s resurgence into the cultural conversation into a full-on, Travis Barker-backed movement with its chart success. But when you’re doing a … Continue reading Machine Gun Kelly – mainstream sellout
Avril Lavigne – Love Sux
20 years since dropping her debut single “Complicated” on an unsuspecting public, pop-punk matriarch Avril Lavigne is back to finding success in pivoting from her downtempo, faith-oriented output in 2019 and whatever "Hello Kitty” was supposed to be back to the power chords of her youth. Linking up with Travis Barker on production, who signed … Continue reading Avril Lavigne – Love Sux
alt-J – The Dream
Four and a half years after their polarizing project Relaxer, British indie-rock titans alt-J have finally returned to sway opinions back in the opposite direction – essentially, by going full The 1975 and crafting a compilation of some of their craziest instrumental palates and songwriting concepts yet. With influences ranging from barbershop to opera and … Continue reading alt-J – The Dream
iann dior – on to better things
After scoring one of the biggest hits in recent memory with his feature (though arguably carrying the song) on 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” emo-rap star iann dior pushes things even further than before from his hip-hop roots into the pop-punk scene. While this might have been a more exciting move when his more innovative peers were riding … Continue reading iann dior – on to better things
The Lumineers – BRIGHTSIDE
Now down to two members and releasing their fourth studio album ten years after their biggest international hit in “Ho Hey,” it would seem that against all odds, Colorado folk-rock outfit The Lumineers are having a bit of a resurgence in popularity, even racking up some impressive streaming numbers. It just goes to show that … Continue reading The Lumineers – BRIGHTSIDE
Snail Mail – Valentine
After breaking through at the age of only 19 to enormous critical acclaim with her debut album Lush in 2018, Lindsey Jordan and her musical project that is indie-rock outfit Snail Mail have returned with an album that responds to the romantic optimism expressed on their debut. Seemingly a prominent theme this year, we now … Continue reading Snail Mail – Valentine
Coldplay – Music of the Spheres
It was the best of Martins; it was the worst of Martins. After reaching new levels of lyrical banality with Everyday Life, their worst-selling album to date that somehow picked up an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys, UK pop-rock titans Coldplay saw fit to recruit pop’s most successful producer – and a … Continue reading Coldplay – Music of the Spheres
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Now having firmly established herself as an artist that you have to look out for at the Grammys every time she releases, Brandi Carlile continues to push on as one of the most celebrated working songwriters of the moment. Taking a break after her critically acclaimed last solo album to join the country supergroup The … Continue reading Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 