Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
I was pleased to be asked to revive the old Blogcritics “I Shall Be Released” column, where each week (or more?) we highlight a few major or interesting new music releases. Here’s our first installment!
You Must Remember This
A new star appeared on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week, just in time for the release of a new album from its honoree, Josh Groban. On Cinematic the superstar performs music from films, including “Skyfall” (from the James Bond film) to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King. The Reprise Records release also includes standards that featured prominently in classic movies, like “As Time Goes By” (Casablanca), “Moon River” (Breakfast at Tiffany’s), and “Stand by Me.”
Early next month Groban embarks on a U.S. tour with special guest Jennifer Hudson.
Like a Hurricane
As time goes by? How about as time explodes? Another Reprise release, from a different kind of musical icon, comes out May 29 in multiple formats including vinyl: Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts‘ live album as time explodes, with 13 tracks from their 2025 Love Earth Tour. Young’s latest band, which also includes guitarist Micah Nelson (Willie Nelson’s son), perform songs from Young’s decades-long catalog, including classics like “Harvest Moon,” “Ohio,” “Cortez the Killer,” and “Like a Hurricane.”
Pre-order here.
Black Mozart
On June 16, Decca Records will release Black Mozart from multi-Grammy® and Oscar® winner Jon Batiste. Batiste reinterprets popular Mozart melodies through the lens of Black American classical music, with elements of jazz, blues, stride, ragtime, and more.
Uncovered
And did you know there were Black composers of Western classical music as far back as the 18th century? Joseph Bologne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was popular in France back in the day, but his music is little-heard today. On May 29, 2026 the Catalyst Quartet releases the fourth and final volume of its “UNCOVERED” series with Bologne’s quartets from the 1770s and ’80s.
Read more about the series and find out where to hear and buy at the Catalyst website.
America/Beautiful
Pianist Min Kwon today releases America/Beautiful, a box set featuring variations on “America the Beautiful” that Kwon commissioned from 76 different composers. You read that right: 76. As in 1776. Or the number of trombones.
No trombones here, though – just piano. Stream here.
