Qari’s new solo EP IGOTPROBLEMS emphasizes his soulful melodicism.
Category: The Listener
At the Gates’ The Nightmare of Being confronts the tragedy of being alive
The new album from pioneering Gothenburg death-metal band At the Gates confronts the absurdity of existence.
Flowers for an unsung casualty of the post-Nirvana feeding frenzy
Steel Pole Bath Tub made lurid, thrilling, messy noise rock that didn’t sound quite like anybody else.
Parlour Tapes shares the music of the future on a format from the past
Chicago label Parlour Tapes recently released four experimental solo cassettes from its four founders.
Fatima Al Qadiri creates a contemplative space outside history with Medieval Femme
Kuwaiti conceptual artist and composer Fatima Al Qadiri merges traditional Arabic poetry and futuristic electronics on her new album.
Dengue Dengue Dengue create humid beats for the techno averse
If four-on-the-floor club music doesn’t move you, try Dengue Dengue Dengue’s omnivorous tropical fusion.
Sugar Pie DeSanto brings her unbreakable AAPI spirit to soul music
Sugar Pie DeSanto’s seven-decade career has included touring with James Brown, writing for Chess Records, and recording the 1966 hit “In the Basement” with Etta James.
A Chicagoland emo obscurity resurfaces to influence the genre’s fifth wave
Ten years ago, Heccra collided emo, metalcore, and electronics—and today his music is finding a legacy.
Bad Noids give you something non-terrible to scream about
Hollering along with Bad Noids’ punk rock is more fun than arguing with COVID deniers—and it’ll probably do more good.
A barely documented 1989 Chicago rap record gets a surprise reissue
Original copies of Me & E’s Rap have sold for hundreds of dollars, but Canadian archival label Mixed Signals is about to burst that bubble.
A slice of sunshiny soukous for spring
Revisiting an old favorite by Sam Mangwana’s 80s band Tiers Monde Cooperation
Attention Kmart shoppers
Fifty-six freely downloadable in-store tapes hosted by the Internet Archive include the soundtracks of 30-year-old Bluelight Specials.
Mythic Sunship’s new Wildfire feels as untamed and alive as spring
Jazzy Copenhagen psychedelic group Mythic Sunship rewrite their instrumental language once again.
Ezra Furman scores life’s uncertainties on Sex Education
Ezra Furman’s soundtrack for Netflix’s Sex Education provides coming-of-age anthems for all stages of life.
Chicago emo duo OK Cool are not OK
OK Cool write oddly inspiring songs about having a hard time being alive.