Niall Horan, “The Show.” Despite having a number of years in the music industry under his belt, Niall Horan is still relatively new as a solo artist. After One Direction’s breakup, the Irish artist made two solo albums since 2017. His newest offering, The Show, is an opportunity to further…

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Weathervanes.” In its promotional material, Weathervanes – the ninth album by Jason Isbell since departing the Drive-By Truckers in 2007 and sixth co-crediting the 400 Unit – is described as “a collection of grown-up songs … about adult love, about change, about the…

Janelle Monáe, “The Age of Pleasure.” The video for Janelle Monáe single “Lipstick Lover,” begins with a shot of her lying on the ground poolside while her lover, clad in golden chainmail necklace, leans down to gingerly kiss her. Monáe barely has time to slip the camera a sly…

Big Time Rush, “Another Life.” Ten years that their titular Nickelodeon show ended, Big Time Rush are back with a new 10-track album, Another Life. Another Life  Big Time Rush Bought The Rights/BMG, June 2 5/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. The release came on an already important…

Christine and the Queens, courtesy Paolo Roversi. For someone from a country that loves to analyze art, French singer-songwriter Christine and the Queens is not one to be put in a box. Instead, the artist chooses to express himself through theatricality, authenticity and self-expression. Last year’s operatic and fantastical…

Foo Fighters, “But Here We Are.” But Here We Are is the concept record the Foo Fighters never wanted to make. But Here We Are  Foo Fighters Roswell Records/RCA, Feb. 24 9/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. But a year after the tragic loss of their brother and…

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, “Council Skies.” Freed from the branding of his incredibly famous band, Oasis, Noel Gallagher has become a bit of a musical chameleon. If I were a betting man, I’d say you could play Council Skies, the latest solo album with his band High Flying…

Avenged Sevenfold, “Life is But a Dream…” It’s been seven years since hard rockers Avenged Sevenfold last released an album. The Stage was its first dip into progressive metal, though it still sounded like A7X. The band’s new release, Life is But a Dream…, takes that blueprint and sets…

Tanya Tucker, “Sweet Home Sound.” Tanya Tucker, one of outlaw country’s most cherished voices, is back withSweet Western Sound. Tucker built a career on earnest songwriting and authenticity, which hasn’t changed on her newest record. Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, this album follows in the footsteps of…

Ben Folds, “What Matters Most.” Ben Folds might be the busiest man in music. Since the amicable breakup of Ben Folds Five, he’s been waltzing through the music industry like a latter day Forrest Gump, with solo albums, eclectic collabs, soundtracks and TV work, commissions for the Washington Post,…