Matt Author

Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Brings R&B Down Home

Justin Timberlake Man of the Woods (RCA Records) Reuniting with the likes of Timbaland, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and acclaimed blues singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton,...

Moby Emerges from Seclusion with “Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt”

Moby Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt (Mute Records) By turns Haunting and filled with despair, the latest release from Moby beautifully tackles the brokenness of...

Kimbra’s Newest Album Delivers Raw Emotion and the Beats of Her “Primal Heart”

Kimbra Primal Heart (Warner Bros.) Best known as the vocalist on Gotye’s inescapable mega-hit, “Somebody that I Used to Know,” New Zealand-based songstress Kimbra fully...

Belle & Sebastian Return to Their Indie Roots For How to Solve Our Human Problems

Belle & Sebastian How to Solve Our Human Problems (Matador Records) Gloriously blending the joy and melancholy of everyday life has characterized the legendary Scottish act...

With Help From Michael Stipe, Fischerspooner Makes a Comeback Album

Fischerspooner SIR (Ultra Records) The celebrated New York electro-pop duo returns with their first new album in nearly a decade. Produced entirely by Michael Stipe, SIR is a...

Move Over, Chris Hemsworth; There’s Another Thor in Town

Drag Queen Thorgy Thor recently sat down to talk with us about what’s making news in her world— and there’s nothing newsier than the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race...

Welcome to Shania Twain 2.0 with a New Album, Now

Shania Twain NOW (Mercury Nashville) On her first new studio album in 15 years, the top-selling female country artist ever exudes confidence, grace and strength....

New Pink Album, Beautiful Trauma, Finds Her at A Creative Peak

P!nk Beautiful Trauma (RCA Records) From sparse, romantic ballads to dance floor anthems, P!nk’s latest is a sonic buffet with a little something for everyone — as exemplified...

Need a Lift? Call the AAA Girls for Buoyant Fun

Music editor Matt Gross caught up with the AAA Girls just as they were about to embark on a national tour to promote their new album, Access All Areas. The results, and the...

“Lust for Life” Sheds New Light On Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey Lust for Life (Interscope Records) The smoky-voiced songbird has returned from a two-year hiatus with her most expansive album to date, with 70 sprawling minutes and...

Tori Amos Goes Internal with “Native Invader”

Tori Amos Native Invader (Decca Records) On this, Tori Amos’ 15th studio album, the veteran presents more questions than answers. She explains herself thusly: “The songs on...

Grizzly Bear Makes Music for a Worried World on “Painted Ruins”

Grizzly Bear Painted Ruins (RCA Records) The longstanding indie darlings break new ground on a sensational, dynamic major label debut effort. Emerging from Brooklyn in the early...