Jeremy Blackmore

Shearwater’s The New World is praised as an ambitious, restless album that navigates global anxiety through richly varied arrangements, incorporating jazz-inflected woodwinds, percussion, art-pop, electronic textures, international instrumentation and field recordings. Jonathan Meiburg’s expressive vocals and empathetic songwriting balance the record’s doubt and anguish with moments of connection to people and nature. Guest musicians broaden the album’s sonic palette, while Laurie Anderson provides a restrained, emotionally powerful closing reflection.

The Rolling Stones’ “Foreign Tongues” is praised as their strongest and most consistent album in decades, drawing on the grooves and styles of “Some Girls” and “Emotional Rescue” while retaining a modern production sound from Andrew Watt. The review highlights Mick Jagger’s enduring vocal power, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood’s complementary guitar work, Charlie Watts’ poignant final drum appearance, and Paul McCartney’s restrained bass contribution. The album moves through rock, soul, disco, reggae, country, punk and blues, addressing subjects including billionaires and American culture before concluding with a Chuck Berry cover.