Three and a half years after a viral video of Pharrell reacting to her music made her one of pop’s most promising new figures overnight, Maggie Rogers is back with a new sound, a new haircut and a degree from Harvard. Sharing its name with her thesis in religion and public life, Surrender finds Rogers trying out … Continue reading Maggie Rogers – Surrender
Folk
George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid
Soulful UK folk-pop vocalist George Ezra hasn’t released a studio album since 2018, but he’s been steadily building his brand as one of his home country’s most recognizable musical figures through other lanes in the meantime. Fresh off of being invited to perform for the Queen, his third project Gold Rush Kid certainly takes things … Continue reading George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid
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
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
Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed
Three-and-a-half years removed from taking home the coveted Album of the Year gramophone for her outstanding Golden Hour, country-pop icon and massive crossover success Kacey Musgraves continues to drift further from her country roots with fourth studio album star-crossed. Coming off a near-universally beloved, critically acclaimed trio of projects, especially given the state of Musgraves’ … Continue reading Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed
Clairo – Sling
Two years after her beloved and critically acclaimed debut Immunity, breaking out onto the scene in a massive way at the age of only 19, bedroom pop singer/songwriter Clairo is already at the stage of her career where she’s receiving the Jack Antonoff treatment. Apparently the producer who never rests for an instant, Antonoff once … Continue reading Clairo – Sling
Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey has been a polarizing figure, and one of the most consistently compelling and thought-provoking songwriters working today, for close to a decade now. But after dropping the borderline worship of all things classic Americana and releasing a raw and honest masterpiece responding to the troubling times we’re living through, what could possibly … Continue reading Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Taylor Swift – evermore
Taylor Swift might be the only person on earth having a truly productive 2020. Deep into re-recording her old songs in the midst of a dramatic custody battle for her masters and only four and a half short months after dropping her masterpiece, folklore, Swift has elected to release another set of tracks in the … Continue reading Taylor Swift – evermore
Taylor Swift – folklore
Who knew that when the music industry’s biggest mastermind at the game of marketing dropped the months-long promotion cycle and released something spontaneous that it would result in her masterpiece? It seems as though the real marketing strategy is great music, as Taylor Swift’s surprise “indie” album folklore is now the 2nd biggest streaming debut … Continue reading Taylor Swift – folklore
G-Eazy – Everything’s Strange Here
Nope. Not in the mood to listen to this one again. Thousands upon thousands of streams on Spotify. For this album. It's 35 minutes but it feels so much longer. I mean, like, FIRST of all, which insane label executive gave the OK for G-Eazy to make an entire album where he sings in that … Continue reading G-Eazy – Everything’s Strange Here
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 