On their sixth album, Fallen Empires, the Irish band Snow Patrol threatens to get all experimental on us. The first track, “I’ll Never Let Go,” starts with an arpeggiated synth track and a distorted vocal that had me thinking my record player’s needle needed replacing. Cameos by Lissie and background…  [more]

Two legendary musical figures with intertwined legacies passed away last week. Johnny Otis and Etta James, two of the most iconoclastic personalities in all of 20th-century music, were instrumental in the comingling of African-American and Caucasian styles that would eventually lead to modern American rock and roll, pop and rhythm…  [more]

Sure, there have been plenty of "Glee"-esque moments of soul-crushing, cringe-inducing shlock this year, but amidst the detritus have landed meaningful, thoughtful and even spiritual new albums - many of which are defying all sales expectations. Looks like the fire started in 2010 by Mumford & Sons is burning on.…  [more]

Editor's note: Our posts are almost always written by committed Christians. This is something different. On his blog, music critic Andre Salles recently wrote an album review that was also a personal recounting of his faith journey, including the state of doubt he's come to accept. We asked him to…  [more]

Coldplay’s new album, "Mylo Xyloto," is a concept album, the story of a relationship collapsing. Though this theme becomes overwhelmed in spots, there is a clear narrative at work here. That’s half the magic of the record. While romance and break-ups are old material for pop music, singer Chris Martin…  [more]