Jim Shahen

It's easy to become desensitized to the consequences of conflict, or even outright ignore them. But in doing so, we —“we” being society-at-large —lose focus of something important: our shared humanity. That reminder is at the core of Witness, the brilliant new LP from the legendary Kronos Quartet

It should go without saying that America, at its finest, is an example of the wonders and importance of multiculturalism. Of course, there are many who seek to deny or downplay the beauty in people of various social and ethnic backgrounds coming together. Fortunately, the debut LP by the all-female

Whether it’s the state of the world or personal travails, a lot of people are going through it right now. Finding your way through these challenges isn’t easy; it takes resilience, clarity and a sense of purpose. These are the themes at the core of Spirits, the new

Los Angeles outfit The Altons has been a key player in the Chicano soul revival that’s been happening on the West Coast for the past decade or so. With its newest LP Heartache in Room 14, The Altons are now poised to jump from regional powerhouse to the national

Will Oldham is no stranger to collaborative endeavors. But unless specifically noted otherwise —the 2022 Blind Date Party team-up with BIll Callahan and Superwolves with Matt Sweeney, for example—his releases under the Bonnie “Prince” Billy moniker are solo endeavors, consisting of material conceived and composed by Oldham. For his

On last year’s superlative Tears You Hide, Torontian singer-songwriter Jeremie Albino proved himself a talent to be reckoned with. His voice is powerful and malleable throughout the album, allowing him to move between rock, soul, blues, and folk with aplomb. Albino takes these genre-hopping capabilities and his heart-on-the-sleeve intensity