Michaelangelo Matos
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Why Aretha Franklin might be losing respect
Albums of the Week Aretha Franklin “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics” ★ Once upon a time Aretha Franklin was the greatest singer on earth. On this covers album,...
New Jason Aldean album bro’s with the flow
Album of the Week Jason Aldean “Old Boots, New Dirt” ★★ People call the stuff dominating Nashville right now “bro-country” not just because its songs tend to be retrograde toward...
Leonard Cohen a young 80 with new album ‘Popular Problems’
Albums of the Week Leonard Cohen “Popular Problems” ★★★ Eighty years old as of Sunday, Leonard Cohen still tours like a college-age punk rocker and writes songs like, well, an 80-year-old...
Luke Bryan's 'bro-country' a big hit with the ladies
They might call what Luke Bryan does "bro-country," but the overwhelming vibe at Madison Square Garden on Friday night was girls' night out. Though there were lots of couples, groups...
Ryan Adams, Karen O drop new albums
Albums of the Week Ryan Adams “Ryan Adams” ★★★ For years, Ryan Adams’ albums could sound too studied to stick. But his 14th album (and first in three years) is an...
Ariana Grande releases forgettable sophomore album
Albums of the Week Ariana Grande "My Everything" ★★ On her second album, ex-Nickelodeon-turned-pop/R&B star Grande is big-voiced, supple sounding and given serviceable, or worse, material. Big Sean creepily whispering,...
'One' too many for 'Idol' winner Caleb Johnson
Downloads of the Week Caleb Johnson “Only One” ★ ½ The 23-year-old “American Idol” Season 13 winner sings like a Chris Cornell-worshiping ham. This machine-tooled power ballad from Johnson’s debut...
Jenny Lewis’ ‘The Voyager’ a big production
Albums of the Week Jenny Lewis “The Voyager” ★★½ The former Rilo Kiley frontwoman’s ’70s yacht-rock homages can feel overstuffed, even when short. Like later Elvis Costello, she’ll throw in...
Sia's incessant belting on new album gets tiresome
Album of the Week Sia “1,000 Forms of Fear” ★½ Australian pop singer-songwriter Sia’s singing has always been full of ululations and melisma, but on hits like 2010’s “You’ve Changed” and...
Robin Thicke's 'Paula' is a bland apology to estranged wife
Album of the week Robin Thicke “Paula” ★½ It’s pointless to joke that Thicke is a cornball — that’s his calling from Day 1. The test is what he does...
New Lana Del Rey album leaves little to remember
Albums of the week Lana Del Rey “Ultraviolence” ★½ The idea that Lana Del Rey’s cinematic retro-pop is unique conveniently ignores everything from Gnarls Barkley to Adele. Mostly, she offers...
Miranda Lambert shows her range in fifth studio album
Albums of the Week Miranda Lambert “Platinum” ★★★½ Nashville star Lambert’s fifth album is her most ostentatiously wide-ranging. It’s also long (16 songs, and an hour) and therefore doesn’t pack...
The Roots rule with emotionally eclectic 11th album
Albums of the Week The Roots “. . . And Then You Shoot Your Cousin” ★★★ They may play with Jimmy Fallon every weeknight, but the Roots’ albums follow no course other...
Usher's latest teases his upcoming album
Album of the week Tune-Yards “Nikki Nack” ★★★ “Let's not pretend that the world around us isn’t falling,” Merrill Garbus — a k a Tune-Yards — croons on “Look Around,” from her third...
Alicia Keys slings schlock on the new ‘Spider-Man’ soundtrack
Downloads of the Week Alicia Keys Feat. Kendrick Lamar "It's on Again" ★★ This soundtrack cut from the new “Spider-Man” sequel (Prequel? Reboot? It’s hard to remember.) is pert, professional,...
Brad Paisley returns to country's simple pleasures
Downloads of the Week Brad Paisley “River Bank” ★★½ After the debacle of last year’s “Accidental Racist,” you can forgive Paisley for reverting to country music’s simpler pleasures. Even the...
Shakira's lively 10th album gets pulses pumping
Albums of the Week Shakira “Shakira” ★★★ You'd have to be a Scrooge to hate Shakira — she’s one of the most plainly likable pop stars around, comfortable in her...
Dean Wareham shows off darker side on first solo album
Albums of the Week Dean Wareham “Dean Wareham” ★★★ The former singer-guitarist for Galaxie 500 and Luna, Wareham records with bassist-singer wife Britta Phillips as Dean & Britta, but this is...
Beck's 'Morning Phase' may put listeners to sleep
Albums of the Week Beck “Morning Phase” ★½ It can seem like no one takes Beck seriously unless he’s being really dull. In that case, this downcast, heavily orchestrated album —...
Eric Church still a big Boss man
Albums of the Week Eric Church “The Outsiders” ★★★½ Country music is loaded with smart singer-songwriters right now, and Church’s arena-rock-indebted fourth album, made with his crack band, is the...