Music at the Crane

Lil Wayne: I Am Not a Human Being 2

dcronin — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:45:50 +0000

“Compared to the albums he’s released under the name Tha Carter, Lil Wayne’s I Am Not a Human Being series is noticeably looser. The quality control is certainly above mixtape or street-release level, but stray tracks and Carter leftovers are given their homes here, while the overall album flow is allowed to be reckless…. [A]nyone with four Carters already on their shelves will certainly want this one.” –All Music Guide

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Rodriguez: Searching for Sugar Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

dcronin — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:05:19 +0000

“Whether moved by the documentary or simply interested in a one-disc anthology of Rodriguez’s work, the Searching for Sugar Man soundtrack is a thoughtfully curated celebration of this devastatingly underrated artist.” –All Music Guide

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Brian McKnight: More Than Words

dcronin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:50:49 +0000

“McKnight’s first album since 2011, More Than Words is filled with references to late-’70s and early-’80s R&B and soft rock… This is McKnight’s most enjoyable album since 2006′s Ten. It would be his weirdest release even if it didn’t feature him swapping lead vocals with sons Brian Jr. and Niko on songs titled ‘Ididntreallymeantoturnuout’ and ‘The Front the Back the Side.’” –All Music Guide

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Bilal: A Love Surreal

dcronin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:44:53 +0000

“A Love Surreal is kicked back — lighter, slower, and steamier, more about flirting and lusting than personal and societal turmoil… ['Butterfly'] deserves to circulate as much Herbie Hancock’s similarly lissome composition of the same title. As a producer and songwriter, Bilal has stepped up. As a vocalist, he remains supernaturally skilled and creative — swooping, diving, wailing, and sighing, all with complete command.” –All Music Guide

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The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver

dcronin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:37:14 +0000

“The Music is You: A Tribute to John Denver gathers up an oddball team of contemporary artists with a shared love for the late Muppets/Rocky Mountains loving singer/songwriter, and lets them strut and fret their hours upon the stage by paying homage to a rich assortment of Denver classics.” –All Music Guide

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Alice Smith: She

dcronin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:36 +0000

“Two of her first album’s many attractive attributes were the subtle and surprising twists in song structure and seamless genre fusions. They’re in steady supply here… She has enough skill and character to leave one hanging on her every note.” –All Music Guide

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Vows of Love

dcronin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:16:25 +0000

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Ashley Monroe: Like a Rose

dcronin — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:19:36 +0000

“Monroe is enamored with tradition, pushing fiddles to the foreground and sometimes succumbing to the smoky sway of a slow dance at a dancehall, but she’s not a retro-singer, she’s a modern girl hauling old ways into the present. This blend of contemporary attitudes and classic sounds is insinuating and addictive, particularly because at nine songs, it’s too brief — once it’s through, the album practically begs you to start all over again.” –All Music Guide

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Devendra Banhart: Mala

dcronin — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:15:41 +0000

“Mala streamlines Banhart’s multifaceted muse, and the songs all fit together, if in a somewhat roundabout manner. Apart from the increased cohesion, the quality of the songwriting is far higher, reminding us of the astonishing promise and tossed-off ease of Banhart’s early material…” –All Music Guide

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Kacey Musgraves: Same Trailer Different Park

dcronin — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:09:23 +0000

“Kacey Musgraves could easily be contemporary country’s next big thing. She’s a sharp, detailed songwriter with a little bit of an edge… Musgraves has a sense of humor, too, and all of these traits add up to make Same Trailer Different Park more than a collection of songs just aiming for the country charts.” –All Music Guide

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