Tag Archives: hear-this

The solo debut from BTS’ Jimin starts off with something unexpected—horns that sound like they’re coming from an energy-depleted carnival band, bleating out a few jaunty notes before completely falling into a heap. It’s not a harbinger of how the six songs that follow will go, but it does indicate …

Early in Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Lana Del Rey highlights a sermon from megachurch pastor-to-the-stars Judah Smith. In the most Del Rey fashion, it was clearly recorded on her phone during a service — you can hear her and a friend’s giggles bump up …

Love in Exile is not jazz, despite featuring pianist Vijay Iyer, a heavy in that world. Nor is it “global music” — whatever that means — even though it showcases Urdu vocalist Arooj Aftab, who won a Grammy in that category last year. Instead, listening to Love in Exile, which …

Ivy crafted one of the Nineties’ great lost indie-pop gems with their 1997 cult classic Apartment Life. It’s one of the decade’s sharpest portraits of modern urban romance: exquisitely moody adult love songs, all purred by Paris-born chanteuse Dominique Durand in her groovy French accent. And now is a great …

“Formula” can be a dirty word among music fans. For many, it evokes thoughts of unimaginative, knackered music by artists dropping off uninspired fan service just to say they did. Artists are pressured by sects of fans to expand their lyrical content, create versatile projects, and promise new innovations with …

WELCOME TO OURweekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more.This week, J-Hope teams up with J. Cole, Boygenius release another great song from their upcoming album, Kali Uchis unfurls a sweet slow jam, and De La Soul finally hit …

Since her breakthrough at the turn of the century, Pink has carved out a niche as one of pop’s most restless real talkers—songs like “Family Portrait,” “Fuckin’ Perfect,” and “Dear Mr. President” have seemed to bubble out of her experiences and ruminations in real time, and the conviction and vocal …

Caroline Polachek knows her way around a pop song—she’s written for Beyoncé and Travis Scott, collaborated with next-wave artists like Charli XCX and PC Music, and toured with the likes of Dua Lipa. On her second solo album, the former Chairlift vocalist uses her encyclopedic musical knowledge and formidable voice …

For nearly 40 years, Yo La Tengo have been carrying on one of the great conversations in rock & roll history, welcoming us into their little idyll of pastoral noise, mumbled epiphanies, and sublime cover song choices. Even a diehard fan might struggle to pass a multiple-choice exam where you …

Little Simz is like a hood BBC anchor. Her songs come off like quiet but spicy broadcasts, as if she checked in for a soothing afternoon chat if that somehow involves a soul-scorching read. Pleasant but snarky, Simz combines Queens Gambit cordiality with Top Boy aggression to marry well-bred flows …