Ken Tucker

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

Lewis's new album is called The Even More Freewheeling Jeffrey Lewis, the title and cover photo a nod to Bob Dylan's early New York City folky days. A dedicated New Yorker himself, Lewis gets louder and more low-down on this album's centerpiece, a great song about just how painful daily existence can be called Sometimes Life Hits You.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

This is the musical equivalent of hitting your thumb with a hammer, and on the less radio-friendly version of that song, Lewis inserts a pungent four-letter curse between the words ow and that hurts. Lucy Dacus makes clear that she, too, has experienced moments when, in Jeffrey Lewis's phrase, life hits you like a chisel to the chest. Both of these artists have their flaws.

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

Lewis is sometimes too yammeringly self-absorbed. Dacus is sometimes too much of a monotone mumbler. Each can flatten music that ought to sound more airy and buoyant. But their best songs answer Dacus's question that began this review. Why do I have to tell you about it?

For both Dacus and Lewis, the answer is because it feels good to unburden yourself and maybe lift a burden or confirm a feeling for your listeners as well.

For both Dacus and Lewis, the answer is because it feels good to unburden yourself and maybe lift a burden or confirm a feeling for your listeners as well.

For both Dacus and Lewis, the answer is because it feels good to unburden yourself and maybe lift a burden or confirm a feeling for your listeners as well.

Teddy Swims had a big hit last year with the song Lose Control, which showcased his gruff but supple ballad singing. The Georgia-born singer has clearly been influenced by southern soul men like Al Green and Bobby Blue Bland. On his new album titled I've Tried Everything But Therapy Part Two, Swims offers a new set of love songs that demonstrate the depth of his romanticism.

Teddy Swims had a big hit last year with the song Lose Control, which showcased his gruff but supple ballad singing. The Georgia-born singer has clearly been influenced by southern soul men like Al Green and Bobby Blue Bland. On his new album titled I've Tried Everything But Therapy Part Two, Swims offers a new set of love songs that demonstrate the depth of his romanticism.

Teddy Swims had a big hit last year with the song Lose Control, which showcased his gruff but supple ballad singing. The Georgia-born singer has clearly been influenced by southern soul men like Al Green and Bobby Blue Bland. On his new album titled I've Tried Everything But Therapy Part Two, Swims offers a new set of love songs that demonstrate the depth of his romanticism.

On Are You Even Real, he's so swept away he wonders whether he's dreaming the object of his adoration.

On Are You Even Real, he's so swept away he wonders whether he's dreaming the object of his adoration.

On Are You Even Real, he's so swept away he wonders whether he's dreaming the object of his adoration.

Where Teddy Swims offers up his vocals with glowing clarity, Benjamin Booker opts to reduce his singing to just another instrument in the mix of songs and styles found on his new album called Blower. On his previous albums, Booker grappled with then-current events such as the Black Lives Matter protests.

Where Teddy Swims offers up his vocals with glowing clarity, Benjamin Booker opts to reduce his singing to just another instrument in the mix of songs and styles found on his new album called Blower. On his previous albums, Booker grappled with then-current events such as the Black Lives Matter protests.