Songwriter Tucker Pillsbury reinvents himself as a time-traveling session musician, laying on the charm for an ersatz barroom country record that’s not totally convincing.
Exploring a motley array of grunge-era characters, the latest Mountain Goats album is very polished and very funny, as the band’s performances convey the same nuance and range as John Darnielle’s writing.
On her third album of elaborate art-pop, the British singer-songwriter tackles personal upheaval with dry wit, unconventional production, and a more cohesive vision.
On its sixth album, the Midwest rock group channels a mood of regret and reckoning in songs that balance post-hardcore propulsion with disarming buoyancy.