Mitski, “Be The Cowboy.” In Western cinema, cowboys symbolize lone heroes facing danger by themselves. Mitski, inspired by a figure of similar essence, channels this on her 2018 release Be The Cowboy. She’s at war with her own solitude. While her music is no stranger to confronting emotion through sophisticated…

Despite her lack of albums released, Tirzah has remained a potent force in the London underground dance music scene for much of the 2010s. Her mixture of glitch pop, trip-hop and house music is both remix-worthy and filled with lovesick songwriting and impressive vocal chops. Partnering with childhood friend Mica Levi,…

Whipped into form by religion and the restrictive indoctrination it often entails, Kentucky singer-songwriter Sarah Beth Tomberlin finds herself searching for answers her religious upbringing could not provide. At Weddings Tomberlin Aug. 10 Toiling with the denouncement of her faith while reflecting on the negative repercussions of her Baptist…

Capturing the personality of country and the grit of alt-rock, Campdogzz have brought a distinct perspective to their take on Midwestern rock. This band doesn’t just scream backroads and cowboy boots, but embodies the inherent diversity within its hometown of Chicago through the dark electronics and tantalizing beats it…

Post-hiatus success can become a challenge for bands when nostalgia for their past successes overshadows their new material. While best known for ‘90s hits “Sit Down,” “Come Home” and “Laid,” British rock band James reached new milestones with recent releases, even following a six-year absence. James’ impact surged during…

Following the success of second LP Little Neon Limelight in 2015 and the departure of keyboardist Kate Toupin, Houndmouth forges a fresh direction with its newest release. Golden Age departs from its roots in Americana and blues-tinged pop and experiments with more digital sonics. Houndmouth’s usual command of the guitar…

For the majority of his young career, Mac Miller was thrown into the circle of cringe of white rap. Miller’s music routinely exuded privilege with no regard for the genre’s black roots. His whitewashed rap was like Eminem for the youngsters—if Em had lived the Full House life growing up. Swimming…

Tennessee roots rockers Lucero looked to flip the script with their ninth studio album. Vocalist and songwriter Ben Nichols wrote Among the Ghosts with a fresh outlook following his marriage and the birth of his now 2-year-old daughter. The band also looked to channel the live feel of its…

With a 10-song album that barely cracks 11 minutes, Tony Molina proves that length pales before songwriting on Kill The Lights. The South Bay singer-songwriter shows off his ability to make the audience feel the depth of his emotion and hear the range of his musical ability in bite-sized portions. Molina…

In Paul Simon’s 1980 film One Trick Pony, a diminutive performer has just left the stage after pouring his heart into sweet songs of longing with complex jazz chords to a lukewarm reception from the audience. He stands at the side of the stage as the B-52s launch into the…