The Coral, Move Through The Dawn

The Coral, Move Through The Dawn

These Liverpudlian rockers return to the warmer, often folkier side of psychedelic rock on an incredibly pleasant, hook-laded album full of harmonies and infectious guitar riffs. It’s ear candy. We know the Coral can do experimental, trippy, challenging music but this one’s smooth and easy, optimistic and uplifting. The production occasionally veers toward “retro” but for most of the album, the better word is “timeless.” With their jangly, acoustic-electric guitars, and bright harmonies, The Coral could exist at almost any point in rock history and be welcome wherever they go. Highlights: “Reaching Out For A Friend,” “Sweet Release,” “Stormbreaker”

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Richard Thompson, 13 Rivers

Richard Thompson , 13 Rivers Richard Thompson — 13 Rivers Arguably the most consistently engaging artist of the last 50 years, Richard Thompson continues to write deep, dark folk-rock songs with an acerbic wit married to a soft, calm wisdom. This new album isn’t widely divergent from his established catalogue but miraculously Thompson, who was already a guitar hero in the 1970s, still manages to grow as a guitarist and sound fresh. Working highly intricate riffs into the undergirding of each song’s frame, he also solos on every song and as usual, his virtuosity remains connected to the music, always moving the songs forward rather than grandstanding. Plus, Thompson’s one of a kind voice only deepens in resonance over time. Highlights: “Trying,” “O Cinderella,” “Bones of Gilead”

Jacob Banks, Village

Jacob Banks , Village With the British, Nigerian-born future soul singer’s full-length debut, Jason Banks discovers the point at which today’s forward-thinking alternative R&B comes full circle and connect with classic R&B. Banks’s arrangements are contemporary, much of his instrumentation electronic and advanced, and he makes relevant enough cultural references to blend in with the hip hop set. his voice, though, recalls the soul men of yore, with a mighty, stirring baritone of which he is in full command. His voice rings out with power and sensitivity in equal measure. Banks brings some fusion from outside R&B world too, with traces of reggae and African sounds. This one’s worth checking out even if you don’t think you like soul or R&B. Highlights: “Kumbaya,” “Caroline,” “Unknown (To You)”

Czarface & MF Doom, Czarface Meets Metal Face

Czarface & MF Doom , Czarface Meets Metal Face A match made in comic book hip hop heaven, it’s easy enough to predict what happens when Czarface Meets Metalface and it’s even easier to love. Czarface, already a comics-inspired collaboration — between Wu Tang’s Inspectah deck and the Boston underground rap duo 7L & Esoteric — delivers top-notch, east coast, street level boop bap with densely packed rhymes. Supervillain-themed, iron mask-wearing MF Doom offers more abstract, cosmically minded lyrics but his flow is just as kinetic and his vibe is just as pulpy. The two acts commit hard to their fantastical ethos, playing the comics imagery to the hilt in both the songs and in the interludes. If you enjoy your cultural touchstones — musical and fictional — intersecting, this is a blast. Highlights: “Phantoms,” “Forever People,” “Astral Traveling”

Album Reviews by Stefan Wenger

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