Category Archives: Featured Articles
ACL 2026 Winter Music Preview ~ Ambient
Happy New Year! A new year brings new hopes, new dreams, and new music. Hundreds of winter albums are already on the slate, and we can’t wait to share them with you! At such a musical banquet, there’s almost too
ACL 2026 Winter Music Preview ~ Ambient
Happy New Year! A new year brings new hopes, new dreams, and new music. Hundreds of winter albums are already on the slate, and we can’t wait to share them with you! At such a musical banquet, there’s almost too
Ukrainian Field Notes L
The last UFN episode of 2025 is also our 50th. Under different circumstances, this would be a moment for celebration, but in truth we would rather there were no need to keep reporting from Ukraine beyond the simple fact that
Ukrainian Field Notes L
The last UFN episode of 2025 is also our 50th. Under different circumstances, this would be a moment for celebration, but in truth we would rather there were no need to keep reporting from Ukraine beyond the simple fact that
ACL 2025 ~ The Year’s Best Christmas Music
Tired of hearing the same old Christmas songs from the same artists? So are we. Holiday offerings from Laura Cannell, Dave Clarkson, The Antiquarian, MONO and The Second Hand Orchestra, along with new compilations from Subexotic Records, Room in Heaven
ACL 2025 ~ The Year’s Best Christmas Music
Tired of hearing the same old Christmas songs from the same artists? So are we. Holiday offerings from Laura Cannell, Dave Clarkson, The Antiquarian, MONO and The Second Hand Orchestra, along with new compilations from Subexotic Records, Room in Heaven
ACL 2025 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
This year’s top album was a revelation: one of the humblest records we’ve ever covered drew acclaim from our entire staff. In a year of tumult, it comes as no surprise that we would be drawn to the quiet and
ACL 2025 ~ The Top 20 Albums of the Year
This year’s top album was a revelation: one of the humblest records we’ve ever covered drew acclaim from our entire staff. In a year of tumult, it comes as no surprise that we would be drawn to the quiet and
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Rock, Post-Rock, Folk & Jazz
The last of our genre lists brings the guitars, the energy, the aggression, but also the sweetness, as some of these albums include moments of surprising tenderness. Their dynamic contrast highlights their emotional impact. Catharsis is a word often used to
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Rock, Post-Rock, Folk & Jazz
The last of our genre lists brings the guitars, the energy, the aggression, but also the sweetness, as some of these albums include moments of surprising tenderness. Their dynamic contrast highlights their emotional impact. Catharsis is a word often used to
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Modern Composition
Elegance is the key word to describe our Modern Composition slate, whose orchestral timbres speak simultaneously to mind and soul. Whether scoring the weather, remembering atrocities or challenging existing regimes, this music calls its listeners to a higher state of mind.
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Modern Composition
Elegance is the key word to describe our Modern Composition slate, whose orchestral timbres speak simultaneously to mind and soul. Whether scoring the weather, remembering atrocities or challenging existing regimes, this music calls its listeners to a higher state of mind.
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Field Recording & Soundscape
A remarkable year for field recordings was led by forms of minutiae’s incredible Ice Series, from which three albums made our top ten (and a fourth was just outside at #11!). The series highlights the fact that the genre isn’t
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Field Recording & Soundscape
A remarkable year for field recordings was led by forms of minutiae’s incredible Ice Series, from which three albums made our top ten (and a fourth was just outside at #11!). The series highlights the fact that the genre isn’t
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Experimental
Some of the year’s most unique releases appear here, including the sounds of Middle Eastern street protests, traditional Crimean song, diamond on disputed mud and a seminal field recording series. Some of these artists record in perfect freedom and peace;
ACL 2025 ~ Top Ten Experimental
Some of the year’s most unique releases appear here, including the sounds of Middle Eastern street protests, traditional Crimean song, diamond on disputed mud and a seminal field recording series. Some of these artists record in perfect freedom and peace;
a closer listen 