Taylor Swift, “evermore.” Leave it to Taylor Swift to shock the music world by releasing a surprise album just a handful of months after dropping… well, a surprise album. Evermore serves as The Love Below to her own Speakerboxxx. Some of the original cast involved in crafting Swift’s spectacular folklore are back for more, with…

Taylor Swift, “Folklore.” Taylor Swift’s rise from country star to pop icon had lows to match highs. Considering the abysmal, transparent coping mechanism that was 2017’s Reputation, all 2019’s Lover had to do was not be embarrassing. It wasn’t, but the album’s overblown pop sound felt more detached from…

Swamp Dogg is one of the best soul singers most Americans have never heard of. The aging vocalist is a little like those quaint little diners you discover on a road trip: someplace that smells like bacon and coffee, with waitresses who call you “sweetie.” The native Virginian (born…

Clockwise from top left: Aurora, Billy Strings, Honeyblood, Bon Iver, Sum-41, Tool, Opeth, 100 gecs, Subhumans and Lizzo. Welcome back to RIFF’s year-end album roundup! If you’re joining us just now, start with part one. Our album review staff is pretty musically diverse, which might explain why Opeth, Bon…

Formed by Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek from the ashes of the Smith Westerns, Whitney’s lineup and sound has since vastly expanded. String and horn accompaniment elevated the Chicago band’s 2016 debut, Light Upon the Lake, but a subsequent demo collection spotlighted the songs’ organic core. Ehrlich and Kakacek strengthened…

Though often lauded as a trailblazing hip-hop producer or an indie folk visionary, Justin Vernon is reluctant to take credit for Bon Iver. His songwriting chops are remarkable, but the ingenuity brought to the table by his collaborators gives his work a distinct flavor. That’s apparent on i, i,…

Beyond winning Chance the Rapper the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, Coloring Book also distinguished him as a unique force in Chicago hip-hop. The career-defining release’s gospel overtones, pop hooks and diverse flow saw Chancelor Jonathan Bennett come into his own as a suave, God-fearing punchline purveyor. He…

R&B’s ever-increasing popularity stems partly from the movement’s rejection of its past. The likes of Frank Ocean and Blood Orange have pushed far beyond what anyone could have expected during previous decades. Such generational disparities contextualize Jerry Williams, Jr.’s 22nd LP under his Swamp Dogg moniker. Love, Loss, and Auto-Tune Swamp…

Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine performs at Outside Lands in San Francisco on August 11, 2018. Photos: Shawn Robbins and Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — Touting her new record, High As Hope, Florence and the Machine played her first U.S. show Saturday at Outside Lands with the new…

Vivian Shih It’s “love and hate” week at RIFF. We’ve taken on the theme of Valentine’s Day to talk about both sides of love. Today. we asked our writers, photographers and editors about their favorite breakup songs. Additionally, we’ve partnered with talented artist Vivian Shih, who has illustrated some of…