Kendrick Lamar, “GNX.” Kendrick Lamar became one of the world’s most acclaimed rappers for his conscious, intricate penmanship. In the last year, he’s found success in a somewhat different lane: diss tracks against Drake. The most popular from the now infamous rap battle is “Not Like Us,” a punchy…

Tyler, the Creator, “CHROMAKOPIA.” Despite being one of the most prolific faces in hip-hop, Tyler, the Creator has always been intentionally opaque with his personal life, letting his artistic endeavors speak for themselves. On his new album, CHROMAKOPIA, he slowly begins to take off his mask. CHROMAKOPIA Tyler, the…

Leon Bridges, “Leon.” Leon Bridges’ 2021 album, Gold-Diggers Sound, expanded on the soulful feeling of his first two records with some new electronic elements, making for an exciting and fresh body of work. With his new self-titled, Leon, though, he’s returned to the more traditional sounds of his first…

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds perform at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on June 24, 2017. Photo: Paige K. Parsons. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will be headed on a North American tour next spring in support of new album Wild God. The tour begins in April…

Sabrina Carpenter, “Short n’ Sweet.” Since the mid-2010s, when the Disney Channel gave her airtime, Sabrina Carpenter has had difficulty establishing a distinct sound or persona as a pop star. With all five albums she’d made, she threw different sounds at the wall, and while some stuck, she lacked…

Glass Animals, “I Love You So F***ing Much.” Riding on the high of their 2021 mega-hit “Heat Waves,” British pop band Glass Animals have big shoes to fill with their newest album. Can the group achieve another chart-topper while also satisfying their longtime fans, many whom generally prefer the…

Megan Moroney, “Am I Okay?” After a whirlwind year with a headlining tour, a speedy rise to fame and a Stagecoach festival performance in Southern California, Megan Moroney is ready to show the world who she is with her sophomore LP, Am I Okay? Am I Okay? Megan Moroney…

NAIMA performs during BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 24, 2024. This story was first published in the M-A Chronicle.  NAPA, Calif. — Among wine moms, rock bands and DJs emerges a 14-year-old and her guitar. “I’m NAIMA,” she tells the crowd before diving into…

Saint Social, courtesy. Some bands release music soon after meeting each other. But for the three dads in Saint Social, the wait has been years in the making. Don’t Let the Fire Die Saint Social Distrokid, out now Get the album on Amazon Music. Singer Quinn Erwin and drummer…

Ben Platt, “Honeymind.” Since starring in 2012’s “Pitch Perfect,” Ben Platt has found success across the stage, screen and record player. It’s his candid penmanship and evocative, theatrically trained voice that make him so appealing. On his newest effort, Honeymind, he’s reflecting on the impact that queer love has had on…