ACL 2018 ~ Top Ten Drone
In terms of ACL submissions, drone took a back seat to ambient this year. But when we did hear drone albums, we loved them. As we reported a year ago, drone artists received a surge of inspiration after the Brexit/Trump votes and
ACL 2018 ~ Top Ten Drone
In terms of ACL submissions, drone took a back seat to ambient this year. But when we did hear drone albums, we loved them. As we reported a year ago, drone artists received a surge of inspiration after the Brexit/Trump votes and
ACL 2018 ~ Top Ten Ambient
2018 was a particularly strong year for ambient music. We received over a thousand albums for consideration, in some weeks more than all other genres combined ~ and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. While composing this introduction, we
ACL 2018 ~ Top Ten Ambient
2018 was a particularly strong year for ambient music. We received over a thousand albums for consideration, in some weeks more than all other genres combined ~ and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. While composing this introduction, we
*Press A* 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Videogame Soundtracks
This year the proliferation of unique styles and new approaches to old genres brought videogame soundtracks to what is perhaps a new high in quality and thought. From niche to popular composers, classical traditions to synthwave, everything we celebrate from
*Press A* 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Videogame Soundtracks
This year the proliferation of unique styles and new approaches to old genres brought videogame soundtracks to what is perhaps a new high in quality and thought. From niche to popular composers, classical traditions to synthwave, everything we celebrate from
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Labels
1) Erased Tapes (London) The third time’s the charm for Erased Tapes, which finally breaks through to #1 on our chart ~ in its anniversary year! We reviewed five artist albums from the label this year, and all five made one
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Labels
1) Erased Tapes (London) The third time’s the charm for Erased Tapes, which finally breaks through to #1 on our chart ~ in its anniversary year! We reviewed five artist albums from the label this year, and all five made one
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Album Covers
In the old days, we would flip through LPs in the stacks (and later, CDs), looking for something to catch our eye. Whenever we saw a good cover, we’d pause; and since cellphones didn’t exist, we’d ask the shop clerk,
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Album Covers
In the old days, we would flip through LPs in the stacks (and later, CDs), looking for something to catch our eye. Whenever we saw a good cover, we’d pause; and since cellphones didn’t exist, we’d ask the shop clerk,
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Film Scores
What makes a great film score? There are many ways to answer this question, but on our site, there’s only one criterion: does the album stand on its own? The best film scores, like the best ads, make us want
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Film Scores
What makes a great film score? There are many ways to answer this question, but on our site, there’s only one criterion: does the album stand on its own? The best film scores, like the best ads, make us want
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Packaging
During the giving season, we remember the importance of packaging. Not only do we want our gifts to look well-wrapped, we want what’s inside to appeal as well. One can’t wrap a stream or a digital download. This brings us to one
ACL 2018 ~ The Year’s Best Packaging
During the giving season, we remember the importance of packaging. Not only do we want our gifts to look well-wrapped, we want what’s inside to appeal as well. One can’t wrap a stream or a digital download. This brings us to one
ACL 2018 ~ The Happiest Music of the Year
This is our list of the happiest music we’ve reviewed in 2018. As Ren & Stimpy once put it, “Happy, happy, joy, joy!” But what type of music fits the definition? There’s a wide variety of happy music on the
ACL 2018 ~ The Happiest Music of the Year
This is our list of the happiest music we’ve reviewed in 2018. As Ren & Stimpy once put it, “Happy, happy, joy, joy!” But what type of music fits the definition? There’s a wide variety of happy music on the
a closer listen 