Alexander Szeptycki

Rock Review: Jade Hairpins — Cruising Down “Harmony Avenue”

June 13, 2020
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In the spirit of its mischievous name, Jade Hairpins never takes itself all that seriously, and that is all to the good. Why dampen eccentricity this joyful with any reservations?

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Pop Album Review: “how i’m feeling now” by Charli XCX — What Life is Like, Sheltering in Place

May 29, 2020
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Charli has successfully dramatized her impatiently jagged state of mind, supplying an emotionally honest stream of consciousness that suggests what she (and no doubt many others of her generation) is feeling and thinking in quarantine.

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Pop Album Review: Hayley Williams’s “Petals for Armour” — A Compelling Solo Adventure

May 21, 2020
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On her solo debut, the former Paramore lead singer undergoes a startling transformation.

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Rock Album Review: Car Seat Headrest’s “Making a Door Less Open” — A Bumpy Ride

May 11, 2020
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Car Seat Headrest’s drive to show us something fresh permeates Making a Door Less Open, and that is admirable.

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Rock Album Review: The Mountain Goats — In Praise of Loss

April 28, 2020
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An admiration for certain defeat permeates much of The Mountain Goats’ album Songs for Pierre Chuvin.

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Rock CD Review: The Messy Brilliance of The Strokes

April 17, 2020
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The Strokes are finally growing up — and their maturity is a sight to behold.

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Music Review: Childish Gambino’s “3.15.20” — The Best (And Worst) of Both Worlds

April 4, 2020
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Childish Gambino is hamstrung by ambition, but 3.15.20 still contains a bevy of enjoyable songs, including one or two tracks that brush against brilliance.

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