New Reviews for January 10, 2025

The Human Fear
Domino
Franz Ferdinand feel more engaged than they have in some time on The Human Fear, offering some of their most self-assured music.
Look UpEditor's choice
Lost Highway / UMG Nashville
The Beatles' leading country fan records a rootsy, down-home LP that's warm, wise, and thoroughly satisfying.
- Mark Deming
Who Let the Dogs OutEditor's choice
City Slang
With earned outrage cranked up high and apologies at near zero, the U.K. power duo take on misogyny, capitalism, and more on an irrepressible debut.
- Marcy Donelson
How Did This Happen and What Does It Now MeanEditor's choice
BMG / BMG / Universal
The English singer/songwriter's late-career renaissance continues with a rangy and eclectic set of surprising vitality.
- Timothy Monger
Donnacha Dennehy: Land of Winter
Nonesuch
A 12-part seasonal work offers a good example of this increasingly popular composer's style.
- James Manheim
Brahms: Cello Sonatas
PentaTone Classics
Wonderfully varied cello tones and superb coordination between the players in this Brahms cello sonata recording.
- James Manheim
American Sketches
First Hand Records
The sketches on this enthusiastic album by a newcomer are ragtime- and jazz-flavored.
- James Manheim
Rising Sun Variations
Avie
A giant set of variations based on the folk song "House of the Rising Sun."
- James Manheim
Life Carries Me This Way
AllMusic Staff Pick - January 12, 2025
October 22, 2013
The music of pianist (and harmonium player) Melford is bluesy, earthy, lyrical, and spiritual, and she has found inspiration among artists from the Americas to Northern India, leading or collaborating in a wide variety of ensemble configurations. After nearly a quarter century of recordings, this 2013 outing is -- astonishingly -- her first solo piano album. Inspired by the late painter Don Reich, the album is pure Melford at her most beautifully expressive. It was worth the wait.
- Dave Lynch