New Reviews for April 19, 2024

Dark MatterEditor's choice
EMI Records / Monkeywrench
An unexpectedly sleek and streamlined evocation of the alt-rock band's 1990s prime.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Other SideEditor's choice
Verve
The great songwriter and producer's first set of new songs in almost 20 years is simple, eloquent, and emotionally powerful.
- Mark Deming
Final SummerEditor's choice
Pure Noise
The band's tenth album is packed with the surging emotions and melodies fans expect, as well as a surprising amount of wisdom and joy.
- Heather Phares
Duets: Ghost on the Canvas Sessions
Big Machine Records
The late country-pop singer's 2011 record Ghost on the Canvas is revised as a duets album.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
This Ain't the Way You Go OutEditor's choice
Communion Records
A jazzier, more collaborative fifth album from the U.K. singer/songwriter, informed by working with Logic and Kwes., and inspired by major life events.
- Marcy Donelson
OrchestrasEditor's choice
Blue Note
The guitarist leads his trio on this lush orchestral collaboration with arranger Michael Gibbs.
- Matt Collar
Tarantula Heart
Ipecac
Monolithic five-track full-length from these heroes of heaviness that was collaged together and expanded on from heavily edited source material.
- Fred Thomas
Luther
Legacy
R&B
The first of two albums from Luther Vandross' 1970s vocal group, reissued for the first time.
- Andy Kellman
Bridge of Sighs
AllMusic Staff Pick - April 20, 2024
1974
Guitarist Robin Trower's watershed sophomore solo disc, released 50 years ago today, remains his most stunning, representative, and consistent collection of tunes. Mixing obvious Hendrix influences with blues and psychedelia, then adding the immensely soulful vocals of James Dewar, Trower pushed the often limited boundaries of the power trio concept into refreshing new waters.
- Hal Horowitz