Annie Zaleski

7/9/21

The best albums of 2021 so far

From Julien Baker to Rostam, Madlib to Mogwai, these are the records that most impressed us at this point in the year

12/15/20

The 20 best albums of 2020

Yes, it’s been a hard year, and yes, we’re also tired of confronting that fact. But the bizarrely repetitive and…

12/15/20

The best albums of 2020: The ballots

The A.V. Club’s list of 2020’s best albums was determined by 10 critics, who each submitted a ranked ballot of their…

12/14/20

Taylor Swift’s deeply affecting <i>evermore </i>continues <i>folklore</i>’s rich universe-building

Taylor Swift’s deeply affecting evermore continues folklore’s rich universe-building

Taylor Swift always commemorates her December birthday by doing something special: having a gigantic party,…

11/2/20

Ariana Grande finds her bliss with <i>Positions</i>

Ariana Grande finds her bliss with Positions

In a recent radio interview, pop superstar Ariana Grande discussed the thought process she went through before…

7/24/20

Taylor Swift writes her own version of history on <i>folklore</i>

Taylor Swift writes her own version of history on folklore

Eavesdrop on any Twitter thread between creatives during the last few months, and you’ll inevitably find…

6/23/20

For disabled and other marginalized fans, online events aren’t a compromise—they’re a lifeline

For some, events like concerts, drag shows, and comedy open mics being moved online amid the coronavirus pandemic is…

5/22/20

The 1975 gets restless on the sprawling, unfocused <i>Notes On A Conditional Form</i>

The 1975 gets restless on the sprawling, unfocused Notes On A Conditional Form

Nobody would ever accuse The 1975 of cutting corners or resting on its laurels. The British band spent time in a…

2/18/20

<i>Changes</i> finds Justin Bieber on the bumpy road to maturity

Changes finds Justin Bieber on the bumpy road to maturity

Justin Bieber last released a studio album in 2015: the Grammy-nominated Purpose. However, the pop star has been…

1/31/20

Kesha strikes a self-assured pop balance on <i>High Road</i>

Kesha strikes a self-assured pop balance on High Road

Kesha’s 2017 album, Rainbow, was deservedly seen as an empowerment victory lap. Released in the midst of her…

12/17/19

With <i>Fine Line</i>, Harry Styles transforms into a California-pop iconoclast

With Fine Line, Harry Styles transforms into a California-pop iconoclast

There’s a long tradition of artists heading for the promised land of California seeking musical fortunes. Don Henley…

11/21/19

The 2010s were the decade of the single

On February 24, 2010, Louie Sulcer logged into the iTunes store and bought an MP3 of Johnny Cash’s “Guess Things…

10/3/19

Angel Olsen’s <i>All Mirrors </i>is a gorgeous but fatiguing listen

Angel Olsen’s All Mirrors is a gorgeous but fatiguing listen

Angel Olsen originally planned to release two different takes on her fourth album, All Mirrors, simultaneously: a…

9/3/19

Lana Del Rey goes confessional on the meandering <i>Norman Fucking Rockwell</i>

Lana Del Rey goes confessional on the meandering Norman Fucking Rockwell

The title of Lana Del Rey’s sixth album, Norman Fucking Rockwell, is meant to be provocative. Is it sarcastic…

8/26/19

Taylor Swift is done proving herself on the resonant <i>Lover</i>

Taylor Swift is done proving herself on the resonant Lover

Taylor Swift has spent much of her career defending her musical bona fides and creative decisions. On her…

6/22/19

The best music of 2019 so far

Just six months into a great year in music, we’ve seen strange, galactic records from R&B innovators Solange and…

5/30/19

Fairweather friends: Elton John’s best collaborations, from Aretha to A Tribe Called Quest

Elton John has assumed many guises throughout his more than 50 years in music. Campy, glammy pop star. Earnest piano…

3/20/19

Singing like she never has before, Jenny Lewis puts it all On The Line

Nobody would ever accuse Jenny Lewis of being circumspect. The catalog of her first band, ’00s indie-pop…

2/11/19

Ariana Grande has no fucks to spare on the thrilling Thank U, Next

Ariana Grande has had a rough few years, starting with the tragic 2017 Manchester Arena bombing after her concert…

1/17/19

Sharon Van Etten embraces the here and now on Remind Me Tomorrow

Sharon Van Etten’s transformative fifth studio album, Remind Me Tomorrow, kicks off with a lyrical sucker punch:…

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