Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I have to admit, I was scared clicking ‘play’ on Narrow Stairs’ opening track Bixby Canyon Bridge.  I was terrified that this album wouldn’t live up to the expectations I have for this band. But I had to do it, I had to find out. So I held my breath, crossed my fingers, and said a little prayer for Narrow Stairs to be all that…

It is amazing how contemporary CRAYONS sounds without pandering to the sound du jour. It could have been released thirty years ago, and sounds like it was released just yesterday. And Summer carries the whole thing. No featured artists (except for a restrained star turn by Ziggy Marley on the title track), and no cluttered arrangements designed to hide the singers weaknesses (primarily because they…

Dizzee Rascal and I have not always gotten along. I used to be an ignorant American, believing we are the only ones who can rap and do hip-hop right. At parties, when someone put on anything that wasn't from the East or West coast, I usually chose that moment to go outside and take a cigarette break, and I don't even smoke. Then, I got…

With the amazing breakthroughs of female multi-instrumental artists like St. Vincent, the groundwork has been paved for more amazingly talented women to create beautiful records that show the wonders of the many instruments they know how to play. And while St. Vincent went for a more poppy sound with catchy hooks and choruses, Shara Worden and her orchestral indie-folk project My Brightest Diamond go more…