Vault of Soul: Rick James
Each week of Black History Month, we open the 88.9 Vault of Soul with profiles of iconic pioneers of R&B and soul. To learn more, check out the biography of funkmaster Rick James, best tracks, and awards below!
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New Discoveries: Snail Mail “Dead End”
Snail Mail’s new album is set to come out this March–The track “Dead End” has been released this January for all of your listening pleasure. Lindsey Jordan, AKA Snail Mail, has returned after almost five years to make herself heard (and we are listening!).
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Jonah Kagen Serenades The Sinclair
Jonah Kagen, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Georgia, put up an incredible show at The Sinclair. After recently kickstarting his Sunflowers & Leather Tour to showcase his debut album, Boston is his tenth stop as he continues to build momentum to sing his way across the country.
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Pick of the Week: Mitski “Where’s My Phone”
With the release of her new single “Where’s My Phone?”, Mitski is reminding us why she remains one of the most compelling voices in indie music. The track marks the first taste of her highly anticipated eighth studio album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me. It’s a perfect example of how she can take everyday moments, like misplacing your phone, and turn them into something emotional and relatable.
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Uncommon Concert Calendar: January 30 – February 5
Here at ‘ERS, we love live music! That’s why we created the Uncommon Concert Calendar – your guide to the best concerts in Boston. Each week, our intrepid music staff picks out some upcoming concerts you won’t want to miss.
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New Discoveries: Dijon “Yamaha”
Dijon unites the sultry feel of R&B and out-of-this-world soul, leaving us with a sound that stomps over modern music unapologetically through his new album, Baby.
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Pick of the Week: Courtney Barnett “Stay In Your Lane”
With the upcoming release of her seventh studio album, Creature of Habit, Courtney Barnett is proving why she is still one of the most interesting acts out. The Australian singer has proven to us time and time again that her music is powerful and relatable, and on “Stay In Your Lane,” that line of thinking remains true.
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Uncommon Concert Calendar: January 23-30
Here at ‘ERS, we love live music! That’s why we created the Uncommon Concert Calendar – your guide to the best concerts in Boston. Each week, our intrepid music staff picks out some upcoming concerts you won’t want to miss.
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Pick of the Week: The All-American Rejects “Get This”
A band that has had somewhat of a renaissance this past year is The All-American Rejects. Over the summer and into the fall, they began playing house shows all across the country, and now they are gearing up for what seems to be their first album in over a decade with the release of “Get This” at the end of last year.
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Uncommon Concert Calendar: January 16 – 22
Here at ‘ERS, we love live music! That’s why we created the Uncommon Concert Calendar – your guide to the best concerts in Boston. Each week, our intrepid music staff picks out some upcoming concerts you won’t want to miss.
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Pick of the Week: Greg Freeman “Gulch”
Greg Freeman is someone who simply can’t be boxed into a specific genre. Just when you think he is a normal indie rock artist, he goes and adds a little country twang and disjointed vocals. On “Gulch,” Freeman infuses traditional Americana with indie rock to create a song in “Gulch”” that is raw and indicative of his New England roots.
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Best Albums of the 2020s
Alongside our favorite songs of 2025, we wanted to look back at some of the best albums of the decade so far. From the melancholy of the pandemic to the pop revival over the last couple of years, the 2020s have given us a lot, and here are some of our favorites!
