Aaron Dessner (The National) and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) join forces once again for their second Big Red Machine endeavor. It’s filled with so many guest appearances that you’re immediately reminded that no matter how personal it gets, music fosters community. That being said, How Long Do You Think…

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…

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,…

Since his Grammy-winning 1986 debut, The Way It Is, Virginia pianist Bruce Hornsby has ridden the line between a musician’s musician and chart-topping songwriter. From his forays into bluegrass and gospel funk, to getting sampled by 2Pac and a stint in The Grateful Dead, Hornsby’s taste matches his technicality. On…

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…