Dave Hayden

Diana KrallThe Girl in the Other Room (Verve)Some may question Diana Krall’s decision to include her own compositions on this album. But in the history of jazz, nearly every troupe leader wrote original tunes, so the real question is: Why so late? The six Krall tracks (written with Elvis Costello) bear strong pop ballad sensibilities, […]

Julie DoironWoke Myself Up(Endearing)Great art comes from the extremes of emotional experience. Julie Doiron has always been able to channel those passionate depths, having mastered, over the last 20 years, a style of first-person narratives derived from defining moments in her life. But nothing you have heard from her will prepare you for her latest. […]

Damien JuradoOn My Way to Absence(Secretly Canadian)Once again, Damien Jurado has released a superb record. It should come as no surprise to those who devour his every breath. On My Way to Absence shares many traits with its predecessor, Where Shall You Take Me?—the intimacy and sparse arrangements of folk-inspired nug-gets nestled comfortably alongside songs […]

William ShatnerHas Been(Shout Factory/Sony)Put away any thoughts that this is another kitschy “Lucy in the Sky” laugh-off. William Shatner, ever the overly dramatic thespian, delivers a funny, thoughtful and at times heartbreaking performance here. He manages to hold his own with Henry Rollins and Joe Jackson, and not trip over Pulp’s brilliant “Common People.” The […]

Ani DiFranco Educated Guess(Righteous Babe)Ani DiFranco is an institution and an artist who no longer fears alienating her audience. On her last three albums—larger band recordings that saw her taking risks like never before—she was clearly saying “follow me or get left behind.” On Educated Guess, DiFranco returns to the acoustic stage, performing all instruments […]

Sonic YouthRather Ripped (Geffen)The pre-release reports were not exaggerating when they pinned the latest Sonic Youth release (the band’s 20th) as a rock record. Rather Ripped, at its core, is just that—taking song structure down to its basics. But don’t fret—there are many moments of buzzing guitar noise and guitar neck explorations, usually in the […]

Thurston MooreTrees Outside the AcademyEcstatic PeaceThurston Moore’s second solo record is a superb example of how great artists never cease to explore and take risks. And on this album, with acoustic guitar in hand and backing violin in tow, Moore reminds us that behind all of Sonic Youth’s usual feedback and chaos lies meticulously thought-out […]

Susie Arioli BandLearn to Smile AgainJustin timeThis fourth disc from the Susie Arioli Band is primarily dedicated to the music of Roger Miller, one of America’s finest country songwriters. He mainly wrote comedic songs (“You Can’t Roller Skate Through a Buffalo Herd”) but also crafted serious music that went on to be well respected and […]

VariousRussian Christmas (BBC Music magazine)If you want something beyond the umpteenth version of “Rudolph,” the best source of holiday music can be found at the newsstand. Every year the classical music monthly BBC Music puts together seasonal offerings of a divergent kind. This year the focus is Russia, with a version of Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony […]

SpartaPorcelain(Dreamworks)When At The Drive-In splintered, few thought Sparta would outdo rival offshoot Mars Volta. But it did. On its second full-length, Porcelain, Sparta deals with the consistency problems that marred the debut while also avoiding the trap of trying to appease newfound critical expectations. “Breaking The Broken,” “Lines in Sand” and “Splinters” are unforced, simple […]