New Reviews for April 26, 2024

All Born ScreamingEditor's choice
St. Vincent / Virgin
Drawing on industrial, grunge, ska, and more, Annie Clark expresses the terror and exhilaration of being alive with ferocious, candid songs.
- Heather Phares
FU##IN' UP
Reprise
2023 concert recording that captures loose, comfortable performances of the proto-grunge rock songs of the artist's 1990 album Ragged Glory.
- TiVo Staff
Light Verse
Sub Pop
Nimble and lush arrangements frame a batch of Sam Beam's lightest, most playful songs that pack the usual, very deep emotional punch.
- Tim Sendra
$10 CowboyEditor's choice
Son of Davy
The Texas troubadour slides into a soulful groove on this exceptional sequel to his breakthrough The Man from Waco.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Pyromania [40th Anniversary] [Deluxe 2 CD]
Mercury / UMR
A 40th anniversary edition containing previously-unheard demos, outtakes, mixes, and live shows from the era.
Rebel Yell [Deluxe Expanded Edition]
Capitol / UMR
Upon its 40th anniversary, Billy Idol's best album was expanded to a double-disc set.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Letters from a Black WidowEditor's choice
Regime Music Group
On her ambitious fourth album, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter directly addresses difficulty, pain, empathy and transformation in funk, blues, and soul.
- Thom Jurek
Hyperdrama
Because Music
Returning from an eight-year hiatus, the duo filters their heavy dancefloor workouts through hazy atmospheres.
- Heather Phares
Kimono My House
AllMusic Staff Pick - May 1, 2024
May, 1974
Arguably one of Sparks' best albums, 1974's Kimono My House (released 50 years ago today) finds the brothers Mael (Ron wrote most the songs and played keyboards, while Russell was the singing frontman) ingeniously playing their guitar- and keyboard-heavy pop mix on 12 consistently fine tracks.
- Stephen Cook