RIFF’s best albums of 2023 include Olivia Rodrigo, Paramore, Lana Del Rey, Mitski, boygenius, Slowdive, Hozier, Yves Tumor, Foo Fighters, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kylie Minogue, The Clientele, Avenged Sevenfold, PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Caroline Polachek, Blur, Feist, Sonic Youth and Billy Woods with Kenny Segal. Our album reviews are…

BLUR, “The Ballad of Darren.” Damon Albarn recently described The Ballad of Darren as “an aftershock record.” The long gaps between albums certainly make new Blur music feel like a seismic event. After all, it’s been eight years since 2015’s The Magic Whip, and 20 years since its predecessor,…

In 1966—against a backdrop of protest, riots, violence and thousands of Americans dying for no reason at all—The Four Tops released their signature song “Reach Out I’ll Be There” to a world gripped with anxiety and pain. On the song Levi Stubbs shouts reassurance to a friend in need,…

The Jaded Hearts Club A new all-star band featuring Matthew Bellamy of Muse, Miles Kane of The Last Shadow Puppets, Nic Cester of Jet, Graham Coxon of Blur, Jamie Davis, and Sean Payne of The Zutons—known as The Jaded Hearts Club—has released its second single, “This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It’s Killing…