John Cale, “Mercy.” John Cale‘s musical life has divided itself between rock and roll and the avant-garde. The Velvet Underground founder and droner-in-chief’s latest album, Mercy, feels more like the minimalist compositions of La Monte Young than VU’s rollicking and raucous “Sweet Jane.” But at 80, that’s probably to…

Weyes Blood performs at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2022. Chas Alm/STAFF. LOS ANGELES — At the second of two sold-out shows at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel on Friday, Weyes Blood played a stellar show on her In Holy Flux tour on…

The best albums of 2022 include Beyoncé, Gang of Youths, Weyes Blood, Rosalía, The Smile, Nas, The Weeknd, Lupe Fiasco, Spoon and Ho99o9. We’re down to the top 10 albums of the year. Before continuing, check out parts one, two, three, four and five. The conclusion includes the guitar-based rock of Gang of Youths…

Weyes Blood, “In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow.” Natalie Mering is in a lane all in her own. No one else is turning out the kind of transcendent chamber pop that Mering does, recording as Weyes Blood. Her high, pure voice calls to mind ’70s icons like Joni Mitchell, Karen Carpenter…

Kyle J. Kohner checks in with his own list of the best albums of the year. The first part includes ALCEST, Patriarchy, slowthai, Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats, Danny Brown, Tōth, Richard Dawson, Kim Gordon, Weyes Blood, Deliluh, Chasms, Better Oblivion Community Center, Chemical Brothers, Billie Eilish and Mount…

Paul Simon performs at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 11, 2019. Photos: Martin Lacey and Joaquin Cabello. SAN FRANCISCO — The third and final day of Outside Lands 2019 featured music legends Paul Simon and Mavis Staples in addition to…

Weyes Blood, “Titanic Rising.” Natalie Mering, better known as Weyes Blood, made waves from Santa Monica with 2011’s The Outside Room, 2014’s The Innocents and 2016’s Front Row Seat to Earth. Mering’s sultry and commanding voice is now joined by harmonious violins, synths and piano on her Sub Pop…