New Reviews for May 31, 2024

The Border
Legacy / Sony Music
The veteran country singer balances humor and contemplation on his 75th album.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ship to ShoreEditor's choice
New West
Another confident late period effort of smart songwriting, guitar wizardry, and surprising vigor.
- Timothy Monger
CASSANDRA (cherith)Editor's choice
Warner Records
R&B
An impassioned second album from the Grammy- and Golden Globe-winning singer/actress, this neatly deviates from the throwback orientation of the debut.
- Andy Kellman
Reflejos de Lo EternoEditor's choice
Sony Music
While the singer and songwriter regularly surprises listeners, this set of covers from the classic Latin rock era is revelatory.
- Thom Jurek
Wildewoman [The New Recordings]
Fantasy
A complete re-recording of the band's debut (and one new song with Brandi Carlile) mixes technicolored loyal takes and guest-featuring revisions.
- Marcy Donelson
Night ReignEditor's choice
Verve
On her solo debut for Verve, the Brooklyn-based singer, composer, and producer delivers a poignant, sensuous meditation on the night.
- Thom Jurek
Chaos Angel
Mom + Pop Music
A more self-assured third album recorded with prior collaborators Benjamin Lazar Davis, Will Graefe, and Christian Lee Hutson.
- Marcy Donelson
Big SwimmerEditor's choice
City Slang
A mesmerizing sophomore LP that draws on the sonics of Mazzy Star, the Velvet Underground, Speedy Wunderground, noise rock, haunted folk, and more.
- Marcy Donelson
Hopes and Fears
AllMusic Staff Pick - June 4, 2024
May 10, 2004
What could have been just another overearnest, post-Coldplay collection that fell to the wayside like so many others, this debut is a stone-cold 2000s classic. Celebrating 20 years of era anthems "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing," this set is a no-skips, perfect ten of piano-backed, soaring pop-rock, elevated by Tom Chaplin's distinctive vocals and unabashed big feelings. Check out "Bedshaped" if you need to tap into that well of said emotions.
- Neil Z. Yeung